Revelation Part 28
Revelation 19:20
In Revelation 19:20-21 the Bible says,
"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."
The Book of Revelation reveals to us the person of Jesus Christ. It also reveals to us some important details about the future. The bad things that will happen will be short-lived and will have a definite end. One of the worst parts of the judgement will be the reign of the antichrist. He will come into power and no one will stop him. As believers we do not fear the antichrist. He will come into power after the Lord has removed His church through the rapture. How do I know that we will miss out on the antichrist. Because the Bible says that we will. In Revelation Chapter 3 and verse 10 we read the great promise:
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. "
Concerning the destruction of the antichrist and the false prophet that will take place at the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, it is important to notice where they are placed for their final destiny. Revelation 19:20 says that they
"were cast alive into a lake of fire."
There is a place of final torment, called Hell. Hell is torment. Hell is fire that burns continually but never consumes. This is where satan and his demons, the antichrist, the false prophet and all who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ will spend eternity. There is a heaven, and we study some very wonderful things about heaven in the balance of our study of Revelation; but there is also a hell. The Bible teaches that there is a hell. In fact Jesus taught more about hell and judgement than he did about heaven. There is a hell. Many in our day would like to believe that they are living in their hell already and that when they die they just go to sleep forever that life is ended at death. I must tell you that is a very false and baseless assumption. Jesus told the abbreviated life stories of a rich man and a poor man in Luke Chapter 16. Speaking of the rich man, Jesus said in Luke 16:23-24,
"And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."
There is a hell! It is a place of flame and fire and torment.
- Be warned by the teachings of Jesus.
- Be warned by your own conscience.
There is a hell, but thank God there is also a heaven. According the Bible God created hell for the devil and his fallen angels. God created man to be His children: to know Him and to be with Him forever. It was never the intention of God; that man should go to hell. To this day it is not God’s intent. Scripture declares, in II Peter 3: 9:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
The problem of mankind is sin. It’s your sin that has alienated you from God; and if you add to your sin an obstinate determination to remain alienated from Him, then you are choosing a destiny of hell.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
God has provided a way through the cross of Calvary. The shed blood of Jesus Christ so that everyone can be saved. Jesus said,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."
We have been told about the destiny of the antichrist here at the end of Revelation Chapter 19, and at the beginning of Revelation Chapter 20 we are told some of the details concerning the destiny of Satan. Revelation 20:1-3 says,
"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
A little later in the Book of Revelation we will be told the final destiny of the devil, but here we are told where the devil will temporarily be bound up in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
We know that when Jesus returns to the earth, He will return as a King to rule the entire earth from the city of Jerusalem and from the throne of David. This will be the one thousand-year reign of Christ. It will be a wonderful time for the earth, both because Jesus will be King and because the devil will be locked up in the bottomless pit. During the time of the one thousand-year reign of Christ, the devil will not be causing the problems that he has since the time of the Garden of Eden. Man is responsible for his actions, but much of the evil that humans do is stirred up by the devil.
- If you understand the character of the devil, then you will more accurately understand the spirit of this world. I
- If you understand the character of the devil and the work that he has done in the world, then you will have much understanding of what is really taking place in the world.
Some people have a wrong view of the world and what is happening in it, and therefore they have a wrong view of reality. The character of the devil is revealed to us in Revelation 20:2 by the words that are used in reference to him:
Revelation 20:3 says that he deceives the nations. He is called a dragon to emphasize his violent and murderous nature. "He was a murderer from the beginning." If you are wise, you will understand the nature of this world in which we live. This is not a place of peace. It is a place where the innocent are pursued by predators, and the greatest predator of all is the devil. In I Peter 5: 8 we read the following:
"Be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
You should view the world as a dangerous place. If you do not, then you do not understand the one who is in the world because he has not yet been cast into the bottomless pit. You are not a wise person.
The devil is also called the old serpent. In ancient times a serpent was symbolic of craftiness because of the manner in which serpents capture their prey. Often a serpent will sneak up on an unwary victim. The devil is called a serpent because of the method that he often uses to catch people and ensnare them. Knowing that this is the tactic of the devil, we must be vigilant. Every day we must realize that some great temptation may be put into our path that could destroy us. No wonder that Jesus told us to pray to the Father,
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
We also must realize that the devil is smarter than we are. He will outwit us unless we seek after and ask for the wisdom of God. James told us in the first chapter of his epistle that to whom lacks wisdom but asks God for wisdom to them it will be given liberally. Watch out. You have an adversary who is more clever than you are. He is called the old serpent. He is also called the Devil. The word "devil" means slanderer. He slanders the believers. He will try to slander you before God, before man, and before your own conscience. There are some things that you can do to get the victory over the slanderer. Most importantly you can rely upon the shed blood of Christ. If you have been born again and saved by Jesus, then you are totally and completely forgiven of all your sins. Romans 8: 2 tells us:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."
The devil will slander and accuse you, but God will pardon and forgive you. The devil will try to accuse you based upon your past sins, and he will also gladly use more material against you if you give it to him. If you do the right thing more consistently, you will give the enemy less material to use against you.
Remember that satan is against you. That’s why he is also called Satan. The word "satan" means adversary. The greatest competition taking place in the world today is the competition between good and evil. Which side are you on? If you are on the side of good, then you will have adversaries, and your greatest adversary is Satan. It makes the battle a little easier and the burdens a little lighter when you already know that you are on the winning side. That’s one of the blessings of this part of the Book of Revelation. It tells us about the final doom of that old serpent, the devil. The Christian hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God" touches this theme. Part of the third verse of the hymn says:
"The prince of darkness grim – We tremble not for him. His rage we can
endure, For lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him."
It’s nice to know that the devil’s doom is sure, but it has not happened yet. Yes he was defeated at Calvary. Yet he is still the ruler of this world. He will not receive his just reward till he is thrown into the lake of fire forever.
- He is still doing what he has always done.
- He is still murdering and destroying and motivating humans to help him in his work.
- He is busy about his work of assisting in the damning of souls.
- He is lying and deceiving the world.
- He is behind the popular philosophies and life-styles of the world come from the lies and deceptions of the devil.
If you have not been set free by the truth that is in Jesus Christ, then you are held in bondage by the deceptions of the devil. One of the reasons that the one thousand-year reign of Christ will be so wonderful is that all of these deceptions and entanglements will be taken away. It will be the greatest period of enlightenment that the world has ever known. The Bible declares:
"The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the land as the waters cover the sea."
A few more details concerning the thousand-year reign of Christ are given in Revelation 20:4-6. It says,
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
We have seen already here in Revelation the fact that believers will share with Jesus in His rule as King and in His judgment when He returns to the earth. We who believe in Jesus Christ are heirs to the world. We have an inheritance that He is going to give to us. Our Father loves us so much that He has prepared for our future to make it secure.
Notice that Revelation. 20:4 says concerning the believers in Jesus that;
"judgment was given unto them."
In our judicial system we take citizens and put them on the jury in the trials of the accused. Sometimes this system fails and the interests of the victims get lost in the process. But God will take the victims and make them the judges. Justice will be served in the Kingdom of Christ, and it will not be a happy day for the guilty. It will be a day of victory, triumph and glory for the believers. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said,
"Know you not that you shall judge the world?"
These promises to the believers concerning the Kingdom of Christ to come and the role that believers will have in His Kingdom were especially meant as words of encouragement to those who will suffer during the period of the Great Tribulation.
"All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Persecution can take many forms, and it can be painful regardless of what form it comes. If you live for Jesus Christ in this world on the one hand you will be respected, but on the other you will be rejected and lied about. Depending upon the generation in which you live, you may be called upon to also suffer in a physical way. It has happened before that believers in Jesus Christ were put to death because of their belief, and it will happen again. It will especially happen during the time of the Great Tribulation because believers will be beheaded. That is one of the reasons I point out so frequently the urgency to come to Jesus today. Yes there is tribulation and trial and persecution in the world today, but not like what is on the horizon. If you fail to make the rapture you will be left behind and as a result the challenge to become a believer will be greater than at any other time in all of recorded history. Further as we studied before from II Thessalonians God is going to send a great delusion so that man will believe a lie. Does that mean that those who failed to respond to the Gospel message before the rapture will fall prey to the lies of the antichrist and never be saved. Truly we cannot know, therefore it is even more important and more imperative for you to come to Jesus today. All the signs are pointing in the direction of Christ’s soon return. That being said it is so important to know Him as your personal Lord and Savior before that great and frightful day of His vengeance. In II Timothy 2: 11&12 we read:
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"
If you follow Jesus you will have burdens to bear. One of the things that the Bible gives us in reference to our sufferings and our burdens is the fact that we may have to suffer for Christ in this life, but never forget that the sufferings are only temporary and are nothing when compared to the glory that awaits us.
The Kingdom of Christ will be set up, and we will be there, we will enjoy its blessings. We will reign with Christ for a thousand years, and that will only be the beginning. The rest of the Book of Revelation gives us some details of what will come after the thousand years when we live with God forever. The infinite God has many plans for eternity and many new ages that we will share with Him.
The first of the new ages to come is the thousand-year reign of Christ. The mechanism by which all believers will be there is the resurrection. The Bible does not teach reincarnation. Instead it teaches resurrection. There will be a resurrection of the dead, and this passage in the Book of Revelation makes it clear that the resurrection from the dead will actually be divided into two resurrections. There will be the resurrection of the saved that will take place at the start of the one thousand-year reign of Christ, and then there will be the resurrection of the unsaved or the lost that will take place after the one thousand year reign.
The Bible says in Revelation 20:6,
"Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection."
If you are a part of the first resurrection then you are blessed. We know there are many blessings that come from God. This will prove to be the greatest blessing of all! You will live on the earth for just a few short years, but you will live somewhere else forever. As I often quote Pastor John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX:
"There was a time when you were not. However, now that you are, there will never again be a time when you are not."
Sound confusing? Not really, for it is a simple message. You are either lost or saved. You will either spend eternity in the Kingdom of God or in a firey everlasting Hell intended for the devil and his minions not for man. But you will have chosen to go there if you reject the message of Jesus Christ. God will not send you there! You will choose to go on your own.
Jesus said,
"What shall it profit a man should he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?"
If you understand what is important, then you understand the importance of being part of the first resurrection. The way that God has provided for you to become a part of the resurrection of the saved is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 11:25-26,
"I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die."
Won’t you come to Jesus today? He is standing at the door of your heart beckoning you to open and invite Him in. He has already committed to coming in if you will but just open the door. Tomorrow may be too late for you may never see tomorrow. The Bible states that today is the day of salvation. Won’t you come to Jesus right now.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 6: 23 says that God in is infinite love and mercy decided that although the wages of that sin is death, eternal separation from God, He has provided the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son.
Romans 10: 13 says that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, (that is Jesus), shall be saved.
Won’t you call out to Jesus today?