White Throne

• 1^st – Millennial Kingdom … vs. 1-6
  • 1^st – Binding Satan … vs. 1-3
    • The Angel… vs. 1
      • Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven.
      • After the battle of Armageddon – and the fall of the Antichrist…
      • John saw an Angel coming down out of Heaven…
      • Likely MICHAEL [מִיכָאֵל] – who is like God – the ARCHANGEL [chief]!
      • Too often people make the mistake of thinking satan is the EQUAL of God…
      • If you are looking for an EQUAL – it would be Michael – who always defeats him… 
      • He defeated satan when he tried to get the body of Moses – Jude 1:9
      • And he is the ANGEL who kicked satan out of Heaven – Revelation 12:7
    • The Pit… vs. 1
      • [Michael] has the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand!
      • Michael comes with a CHAIN – which he will use to BIND…
      • He also has the KEY to the BOTTOMLESS pit [ἄβυσσος]
      • The same PIT and KEY we saw unlocked at the FIFTH trumpet – Revelation 9:1
      • The place where DEMONS are locked up waiting for their JUDGMENT – Luke 8:31
    • The Dragon… vs. 2
      • He laid hold of the dragon – that serpent of old – who is the Devil and Satan!
      • Who does Michael BIND – and cast into the BOTTOMLESS pit…
      • We are given his TITLES – same ones we that we saw back in – Revelation 12:9
      • DRAGON – the one with SEVEN heads and TEN horns [god of this world] – II Corinthians 4:4
      • SERPENT – a title that takes us back [old] to the Garden of Eden – II Corinthians 11:3
      • DEVIL [διάβολος] – the one who throws [βάλλω] accusation us – Revelation 12:10
      • SATAN comes from the Hebrews word [שָּׂטָן] – it simply means our ENEMY!
    • Thousand years… vs. 2-3
      • [Michael] bound him for a thousand years – and he cast him into the bottomless pit.
      • And shut him up – and set a seal on him!
      • Satan will be BOUND [chain] – and CAST [βάλλω] into the PIT [ἄβυσσος]
      • There he will remain SHUT up – SEALED [σφραγίζω] – for a THOUSAND years!
      • There are some in the church [Catholics] who hold a view known as PRETERIST…
      • They do NOT believe in a literal RAPTURE – RETURN of Jesus – and MILLENNIAL kingdom…
      • They view the book of Revelation as an ALLEGORY [hidden or second meaning]
      • They BELIEVE the church is building the [millennial] KINGDOM of God today…
      • But if satan is already bound – then he has WAY to long of a CHAIN!
      • That is why using ALLEGORY is a very dangerous way to interpret the Bible…
      • It IGNORES the clear interpretation of a passage – and instead seeks a DEEPER meaning…
      • ABANDONING boundaries – the Bible is left to mean ANYTHING we want!
    • No Satan … vs. 3
      • [Satan] should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. 
      • But after these things he must be released for a little while!
      • The REASON why satan will be BOUND – is so that he cannot DECEIVE [πλανάω]
      • Because that is ALL that satan knows how to do – He is the father of LIES – John 8:44
      • But for a THOUSAND years our ENEMY [שָּׂטָן] will NOT be able to LIE!
      • This begins to set up just how AMAZING the MILLENNIAL kingdom will be…
      • The FIRST thing that happens – is there is NO more satan to cause trouble…
      • The ROARING lion is silenced – and there will be PEACE – I Peter 5:8
  • 2^nd – Millennial Kingdom…
    • Literal 1000 years…
      • The Bible is to be taken LITERALLY – unless it says otherwise [like or as]
      • The MILLENNIAL kingdom reign of Jesus – will last for a THOUSAND years!
      • If you add up the genealogies in the Old Testament – 4000 years from Adam to Jesus…
      • There has been an additional 2000 years since the resurrection of our Lord…
      • From Adam to us – the history of the earth is 6000 years!
      • II Peter 3:8 – “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.”
      • God created the earth in SIX literal days – and He rested on the SEVENTH day…
      • The world has existed for SIX thousand years – and the MILLENNIUM of REST is coming!
    • Jesus rules on Earth…
      • Isaiah 2:3-4 – “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD – to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths. Out of Zion shall go forth the law – and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations – and rebuke many people.”
      • During this THOUSAND years – Jesus will RULE the world from Jerusalem…
      • He will TEACH the people from MANY nations so they will WALK [sequential] in His path…
      • Because the WORD [λόγος] – will JUDGE and CORRECT many people!
      • I was talking to a brother the other day – so much of what we see online is negative…
      • The NEWS is always BAD – and social MEDIA makes us narcissists!
      • Imagine a world where all the NEWS – all the MEDIA – is filled with the WORD…
      • A world that has NO bad news – only the BLESSING of knowing Jesus…
      • Where ANYONE – at ANYTIME – can go to Jerusalem and see sitting on His Throne!
    • Time of Peace…
      • There will be no WAR during the Millennial Kingdom…
      • The world will make their SWORDS into plows and SPEARS into grass clippers – Isaiah 2:4
      • The LION will lay beside the LAMB – a young child will play with the VIPER…
      • Isaiah 11:9 – “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD.”
      • It will be a world where there is NO fighting – NO war…
      • Even among the animals – they no longer eat one another [back to vegetarians]
      • There may not even be a need for HOSPITALS – Jesus is there to HEAL…
      • As a RESULT – people will live VERY longs lives!
      • Isaiah 65:20 – “No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!” [NLT]
    • The Residents…
      • ANYONE who takes the MARK will be put to death when Jesus returns – Revelation 19:21
      • So WHO will be able to enter into the MILLENNIAL kingdom…
      • The 144 THOUSAND Jews who were sealed by God – Revelation 7:4
      • The THIRD of Israel who were protected in Petra – Zechariah 13:8
      • As well as ANYONE who did not take the MARK [and was not martyred]!
      • Considering their LONG lives – the population of the world will EXPLODE…
      • Even if only several MILLION make it out of the TRIBULATION…
      • By the time we come to the end of the MILLENNIAL kingdom – that number will be BILLIONS!
  • 3^rd – Ruling with Jesus… vs. 4
    • I saw thrones – and they sat on them – and judgment was committed to them!
    • John saw THRONES – and those who SIT on them are given [passive] authority to JUDGE…
    • No doubt a reference to the ROLE of the CHURCH in the MILLENNIAL kingdom…
    • After we return with Jesus [white horses] in our glorified bodies – Philippians 3:21
    • We will JUDGE the fallen Angels – and we will JUDGE the world!
    • I Corinthians 6:2-3 – “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world!”
    • We will be BUSY for a THOUSAND years helping Jesus to rule the world…
    • Since there will be a MORE of us then people on earth – all OT SAINTS – all of the CHURCH…
    • Is it no wonder people will be on their BEST behavior [we are always watching]
  • 4^th – Tribulation Saints… vs. 4
    • I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus – for the word of God.
    • Who had not worshiped the beast or his image.
    • And had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.
    • And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years!
    • Included in the list of those who will RULE with Jesus – the TRIBULATION saints…
    • BEHEADED [πελεκίζω] – only here NT – the word just means to be EXECUTED…
    • NOT the typical words used to describe BEHEADING [ἀποκεφαλίζω]
    • They will be EXECUTED – because of their WITNESS for Jesus and His Word…
    • And because they refused to take the MARK and worship the Beast – Revelation 13:15
    • But they will LIVE – and reign with Jesus for a THOUSAND years!
    • What a CONTRAST – people who take the MARK are given SEVEN more years of LIFE…
    • But people who refuse the MARK – are given a THOUSAND years of LIFE!
    • People today live for the MOMENT – with no thought for FUTURE…
    • If the world would just stop and consider how things END – they would all follow Jesus!
  • 5^th – First Resurrection… vs. 5-6
    • Waiting… vs. 5
      • The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished! 
      • The list of those who are allowed into the MILLENNIAL Kingdom is LONG…
      • The 144 thousand Jews – THIRD of Israel – those who did NOT take the MARK…
      • Resurrected OT saints – resurrected NT saints – the raptured Church – Tribulation Saints…
      • But those who DIED – but did not have FAITH in Jesus – will not be allowed in…
      • They will not be RESURRECTED until AFTER the THOUSANDS years!
      • Do not think they are just LEFT in their GRAVES…
      • The moment someone dies – they are IMMEDIATELY in eternity…
      • If they rejected Jesus – then they will WAIT in HELL for the Judgement day…
      • If they put their faith in the Gospel – then they are with the LORD!
      • II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord.”
    • No Death… vs. 5-6
      • This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. 
      • Over such the second death has no power! 
      • Those who are a part of the FIRST resurrection – are BLESSED – TWO reasons:
      • FIRST – because the SECOND death has no power over them:
      • Everyone is going to die one day PHYSICALLY [result of the fall] – Genesis 3:19
      • And those who do NOT accept the Gospel will also die SPIRITUALLY – second DEATH…
      • But if believe in Jesus– then the SECOND death has no power over us – I Corinthians 15:55
    • Ambassadors… vs. 6
      • They shall be priests of God and of Christ – and shall reign with Him a thousand years!
      • SECOND – because we will REIGN with Jesus for THOUSAND years…
      • We will be PRIESTS for God and for Jesus Christ – I Peter 2:9
      • The purpose of the priest was to be a mediator – an AMBASSADOR for God…
      • God will make us His PRIESTS – represent Him during the MILLENNIAL Kingdom!
      • II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christs ambassadors. As though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

• 2^nd – Final Choice… vs. 7-10
  • 1^st – Satan released … vs. 7
    • Now when the thousand years have expired – Satan will be released from his prison!
    • As soon as the THOUSAND years have ended – Satan [שָּׂטָן] will be released [passive]
    • The big question that should come to mind is WHY would God FREE satan…
    • People will live for a THOUSAND years under Jesus – they will HAVE to be GOOD…
    • But once satan is FREED – all those who have never had a CHOICE – can CHOOSE!
    • When God created the world – He put TWO trees in the Garden of Eden…
    • One that gave LIFE – the other that brought DEATH [tree of Knowledge] – Genesis 2:17
    • WHY would God put a TREE that ultimately led to the FALL of man!
    • It all comes down to LOVE – there can be no LOVE with a CHOICE…
    • If someone came up to us with a loaded gun and told us to LOVE them…
    • We would say YES – but in our heart there would be no LOVE – because there is no CHOICE…
    • True love requires a CHOICE – so God allows ALL men to CHOOSE!
  • 2^nd – World Deceived… vs. 8
    • [He] will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.
    • Gog and Magog – to gather them together to battle – whose number is as the sand of the sea!
    • Satan will DECEIVE [lie] the nations – and MANY will believe him…
    • As many as the SANDS of the SEA [innumerable] will come to make WAR with God…
    • Their leader will be Gog [person] from Magog [Russia] – not the same as – Ezekiel 38:2
    • But WAIT – we just saw how this went for the Antichrist [Armageddon] – Revelation 19:20-21
    • And it did not go well for Gog and Magog in their FIRST battle with Israel – Ezekiel 38:21-22
    • Why would the world be willing to TRY again!
    • I know how to drive a CAR – I have been doing it for many years…
    • But my knowledge does NOT pass on automatically to Hallel – I have to TEACH her!
    • God has NO grandchildren – each generation needs to CHOSE to come to God…
    • Which is why it is so important to TEACH the TRUTH of Jesus to our KIDS – Ephesians 6:4
    • If we do NOT – they will be easy target for satan to come and deceive…
    • And they will make the SAME mistake as so many before them – and reject Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Fire from Heaven… vs. 9
    • They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints…
    • And the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them!
    • This great ARMY of satan – will come up and surround the city of Jerusalem [beloved city]
    • Jesus and all of the SAINTS [believers] will be trapped inside…
    • I am sure they will think they are UNSTOPPABLE – because they are so MANY…
    • But rather than VICTORY – God will send down FIRE from heaven to KILL them!
    • We are seeing in the world today – OPINIONS being changed – and LAWS being challenged…
    • No longer is homosexuality – abortion – or divorce wrong…
    • And if enough people AGREE  – they think WRONG becomes RIGHT!
    • People think they are going to WIN – just because EVERYONE agrees with them…
    • Just because EVERYONE is doing something – does NOT make it RIGHT…
    • Just because a LAW is passed – does not keep someone from being JUDGED!
    • Romans 3:4 – “Indeed – let God be true but every man a liar.”
  • 4^th – Lake of Fire… vs. 10
    • The devil – who deceived them – was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.
    • Where the beast and false prophet are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever!
    • This is when satan FINALLY gets what he DESERVES…
    • He is thrown into the LAKE of fire that was created just for him – Matthew 25:41
    • He will become the THIRD permanent resident – after the Antichrist and False Prophet…
    • Where they will be TORTURED [passive] day and night FOREVER!
    • True story – in 2015 a SHEEP jumped off a cliff – all 1500 SHEEP in the flock FOLLOWED…
    • ONLY the first 450 died – after that the rest had a softer landing…
    • SHEEP are really DUMB animals – they tend to blindly FOLLOW!
    • We need to be very CAREFUL who we chose to FOLLOW…
    • The WISDOM is to look and see where are they GOING – where do they END up…
    • Because if we are following them – we will end up in the SAME place!

This is where Jesus – having received the VICTORY – makes a NEW Heaven and Earth!

3^rd – Final Judgement… vs. 11-15

1^st – White Throne … vs. 11

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it.

From whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them!

John saw a GREAT [μέγας] white THRONE – with Jesus sitting on it – John 5:22

And all who were on EARTH and in HEAVEN tried to RUN from Him…

But there was NO place where they could hide!

Psalm 139:7 – “Where can I flee from Your presence.”

The greatest FEAR of all men is the fear of DEATH – because we will be JUDGED…

The truth is we FEAR because in our hearts we know we will STAND before Jesus…

And there is NO place on EARTH or in HEAVEN we can HIDE when that day comes!

2^nd – The Books… vs. 12

The Record…

And I saw the dead – small and great – standing before God and books were opened.

The dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books.

Everyone will STAND before the GREAT White Throne…

From Adam – to the very last person born in the MILLENNIAL kingdom…

And the BOOKS will be opened – filled with the RECORD of their lives…

Every ACTION – every WORD – even ever THOUGHT…

And according to what is WRITTEN [passive] – they will be JUDGED!

Matthew 12:36 – “Every idle word… they will give account of in the day of judgment.”

Most people have the idea that their WORKS will be WEIGHED in heaven…

If their GOOD works – outweigh their BAD works – then God will let them in…

NO – it only takes ONE sin to keep us OUT of Heaven – James 2:10

The BOOK are not opened to see if someone can go to Heaven…

They are opened to remove ANY doubt – why they will end up in Hell!

Book of Life…

Another book was opened – which is the Book of Life!

There is HOPE – anyone who has their name in the Book of Life – will NOT be JUDGED…

They are the ONLY ones who will be allowed to enter HEAVEN – Revelation 21:27

HOW can we get our name in the BOOK of Life – there is only ONE way…

When we put our FAITH in Jesus – our names are WRITTEN in the BOOK – Revelation 3:5

Everyone will Stand…

Every man will have to one day stand before Jesus – John 5:22

Either we will stand before the BEMA seat of Christ – and be rewarded – II Corinthians 5:10

Or we will be JUDGED before the WHITE throne – and condemned – Revelation 20:11

We are told – that every knee SHOULD bow to Jesus for salvation – Philippians 2:10

But we are also told – every knew WILL bow to Jesus in judgment – Romans 14:11

Because there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…

SINNERS who by GRACE have been forgiven – and are GIVEN the REWARD of heaven…

SINNERS who reject the GOSPEL – and will one day bow their knee to the JUDGE of all!

3^rd – Second Death… vs. 13-15

Temporary… vs. 13

The sea gave up the dead – and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. 

And they were judged – each one according to his works!

SEA – thought to be a reference to those who died and were NOT buried…

DEATH – is NOT the end of our LIFE – it is when ETERNAL life begins…

HELL [ᾅδης] – is where people go who reject Jesus – as they WAIT for the final JUDGEMENT!

Before the cross no one went to heaven – everyone went to the GRAVE [שְׁאוֹל]

There were TWO compartments – Abrahams Bosom and Hell – Luke 16:22

PARADISE – was a place of COMFORT for those who died in faith…

It is now EMPTY – Jesus set the prisoners free after His death – Isaiah 61:1

HELL [ᾅδης] – is place of torment for those who did not have faith…

Sadly HELL is a place that is getting more crowded each day!

Permanent… vs. 14-15

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire!

ANYONE who ends up in HELL – will ultimately be cast in the LAKE of Fire…

This is the SECOND [spiritual] death – eternal separation from God!

This is BOTH incurably SAD and extremely exciting…

It is SAD for those who have rejected Jesus – because this is the END…

They will be ETERNALLY separated from God – NO hope of redemption…

But it is EXCITING – because this is just the beginning for those who are SAVED…