Revelation 20:1–15

Review…

• OUTLINE…
  • THREE times – PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Revelation 1:19
  • THREE events – RAPTURE – WRATH – RETURN of Jesus
  • THREE judgements – SEAL – TRUMPET – and BOWL judgments
  • Return of Jesus Christ…
  • Hallelujah…
    • With the FALL of the RELIGIOUS system – Revelation 17
    • The FALL of the ECONOMIC system – Revelation 18
    • The FALL of the POLITICAL system – Revelation 19
    • There is great rejoicing in HEAVEN – because in the end Jesus is VICTORIOUS…
    • And because of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
  • Second Coming…
    • Then John saw Jesus riding out of Heaven – on a white HORSE – to make WAR…
    • He had the name KING of kings – and LORD of lords…
    • He was NOT alone – the CHURCH comes back with Him – Jude 1:14
    • He goes to WAR with the Antichrist – and the armies of Men – II Thessalonians 2:8
    • And throws the Antichrist – and the False prophet – into the Lake of Fire!

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