The book of Revelation is chock-full 1 with revelations from God. The revelations speak of events in The End Times.
Prophetic Scriptures | Reference: Romans 16:26
These are God-inspired words, 2 “prophetic Scriptures“ foretelling real events that will take place at the end of time as we know it. Specific, cataclysmic, 3 real future events are prophetically given to us 4 – here in the book of Revelation, and throughout the Bible. 5
They are coming around the corner. Be warned. Be ready.
Let’s look into this passage of Revelation 20 (all 15 verses). 6
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Revelation
Verses 1-3 And then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand.
2 And he overpowered and laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and bound him [securely] for a thousand years (a millennium);
3 and the angel hurled him into the abyss, and closed it and sealed it above him [preventing his escape or rescue], so that he would no longer deceive and seduce the nations, until the thousand years were at an end. After these things he must be liberated for a short time.
The dragon will be imprisoned (Verses 1-3)
The Bible indicates that it is “Michael, the great [angelic] prince” who will bind up the devil (according to verse one of Daniel 12). Satan, often called “the devil, “the dragon, or “that old serpent” – will be bound, inprisoned in “the abyss” for a thousand years – unable to interfere with the 1000 year rule of Christ on earth (“The Millennium“). What a beautiful period of time that will be!
The “great prince” Michael “overpowered and laid hold of the dragon“. That is happening soon! But first must come The Rapture, The End Times Tribulation, The Battle of Armageddon, The Second Coming of Christ (this time in glory and power). See: Five Big Time Events Coming Soon and About The End Times.
Inprisoned for 1000 years, Satan will then be released, “liberated for a short time“, to do his last evil acts on earth – at the end of Christ’s 1000 year rule, then, he will be defeated again, captured, and cast into Hell – forever:
Revelation 17:8
“he is about to come up
out of the abyss
(the bottomless pit,
the dwelling place of demons)
and go to destruction (perdition)“.
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Revelation
Verses 4-5 And then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom judgment [that is, the authority to act as judges] was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had refused to worship the beast or his image, and had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed.
During the Millennium where Christ will rule verse 4
There will be appointed judges on earth (with “the authority to act as judges“) for the 1000 year reign of Christ. Those who accept Christ during The Great Tribulation period, will be raised from the dead (“they came to life”) after the great battle of Armegeddon. All the born again, the “saints”, who died over the centuries, were raised-up at the Rapture prior to Armegeddon.
The implication is that all who turn to Christ during The Great Tribulation period will die for their faith. They (1) “refused to worship the beast” nor “his image”, and (2) “had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand”. Because they had this testimony, and “because of the word of God”… they were beheaded.
“They came to life and reigned”
The reward for all followers of Christ (“saints”) is eternal life (John 3:16) and they will reign with Christ during the Milennium (verse 4 of Revelation 20).
Who will rule with Christ:
(1) All believers from ages past will be resurrected from the dead, and
(2) we who have been following Christ in this present age and are Raptured (together with the resurrected dead), and –
(3) all those who will die for their faith during The Great Tribulation…
— they will all then rule with Christ during the Millennium.
So if you find yourself “left behind” when the Rapture happens, turn to Jesus – believe in the Name of Jesus. Don’t delay. Then, when they start to gather all Christians (so-called rebels against the Beast), fear not – knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Great will be your reward in the next life – if you die for your faith instead of denying Christ. You will reign on earth with Christ during the Milenium Rule of Christ verse 4.
“they came to life and
reigned with Christ
for a thousand years”
“The rest of the dead” verse 5
Then there is the matter of “the rest of the dead” (v5). All those who died during The Great Tribulation – “without Christ“… “did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed”.
There is no getting away from death. God has destined us all to die.
“…it is appointed
and destined
for all men
to die once
and after this [comes certain] judgment….”
– Hebrews 9:27
And, there is no getting away from your eventual resurrection. We all get resurrected from the dead (except the lucky ones who escape death by the Rapture!). Those “in Christ” are resurrected to life eternal with God. Those who rejected Christ – are resurrected to eternal damnation.
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Revelation
Verse 5 The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
The first resurrection is in verse 4. The second resurrection is with “the rest of the dead” verse 5.
All who never believed, never called on the Name of Jesus, the “non-believers” – they will stay dead “until the thousand years were completed“. They will not be raised at the Rapture, nor before the Millennium.
From since the death of Cain, Adam and Eve’s son who killed his brother Abel — to the last un-believer who dies during Armageddon — to the last un-believer who dies during Christ’s 1000 year reign… they will all stay dead in the grave” – “until the thousand years were completed“.
Swift Note: At death – we put on immortality. We are transformed with new bodies (like the body of Jesus after His resurrection), and our true citizenship – Heaven. Hallelujah! Heaven itself is timeless, but the 1000 year Reign of Christ will be on earth where time continues. Time will continue there… for a thousand years. I assume we will be able to go in-and-out of “time“, to-and-from Heaven, during these thousand years as we reign with Christ on earth.
“This is the first resurrection” Verse 5
The “first resurrection” happens with The Rapture. For this event: (1) All the dead in Christ, and (2) all true believers still alive – will be “raptured”;
first – the dead in Christ will be raised up from their graves;
second – “those who are alive and remain”… will be raised up from where ever they happen to be living at that moment
— to meet the Lord in the air.
“…and so we will always be with the Lord.” (v17)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [a]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, [b]comfort one another with these words.
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Revelation
Verse 6 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) and holy is the person who takes part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [which is eternal separation from God, the lake of fire] has no power or authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him a thousand years.
Those who take part in the first resurrection …the “first” after that of Christ’s (Verse 6)
What we are told here about our resurrection from the dead (or our Rapture — if we be so lucky to be one of those few who participate in The Rapture):
We will:
* Be “blessed” (happy, prosperous, to be admired)
* Be “holy” (transformed with new bodies, without sin)
* Not experience “the second death” for it “has no power or authority” over us
* “Be priests of God and of Christ”
* “Reign with Him a thousand years”.
Draw near to our Loving God
You really do want to be right with God – and ready for “the first resurrection” from the dead. If not… you will regret it forever. The second resurrection… will be horrendous, for they are resurrected to eternal judgement.
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Revelation
Verses 7-10
7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss), 8 and will come out to deceive and mislead the [c]nations which are in the four corners of the earth—[including] Gog and Magog—to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore.
BibleGateway Note “c” of Revelation 20:8 Non-believing descendants of the survivors of the Tribulation.
9 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints (God’s people) and the beloved city [[d]Jerusalem];
but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
10 And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
After we reign a thousand years (Verse 6)
After the first resurrection and the Rapture, we will then reign with Christ — a thousand years (v6). Can you get your head around THAT? You and I. We will rule with Christ on the earth. Wow.
Satan will be imprisoned the entire 1000 years, kept securely in the escape-proof place prepared by God.
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Revelation
Verses 11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away].
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth].
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, every one according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God].
15 And if [e]anyone’s name was not found [f]written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
BibleGateway Note “f” of Revelation 20:15 Since everyone who goes before the great white throne is to be tried and sentenced for his deeds, and no one is sinless, the only way to escape condemnation and the “lake of fire” is to have one’s name in the “Book of Life” through authentic faith in Jesus as Lord (see Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5).
The “great white throne” judgement seat of God is Holy. That is why “heaven and earth will pass away” (v11) – because God cannot have evil persist. God is being patient with the world for now — in order to give each one of us time to repent and receive Him. But He will not allow evil to be in His Kingdom. So the time will come for all unrepentant sinners to be judged.
Books kept by God… of the acts of our life
There are books for judgement kept by God in Heaven that will be opened, records of the acts of our life, which will be used for the Judge to judge unrepentant sinners. (v12)
“…and books were opened.
Then another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life;
and the dead were judged
according to what they had done
as written in the books
[that is, everything done while on earth].
– Verse 12 of Revelation 20
Only the blood of Christ wipes away all our sin. (See hymn lyrics: What can wash away my sin) Have your sins been covered? The substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross – was necessary to “wash away” our sin. In the Holy Courts of Heaven, His justice system legally wipes away all our sin, and makes us legally heirs of God. Are you an heir?
“and He
will wipe away
every tear from their eyes;
and there will no longer be
any death;
there will no longer be
any mourning, or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.”
– Revelation 21:4
FOR MORE:
Further Reading: Revelations 20, 21, 22; Daniel 12.
Forecasting prophecies as they growl and thunder over yonder!
The End Times Tribulation – Source: Words of Life Ministries | Study 7 THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Christ’s Spectacular Millennium
Are you ready to meet your Maker?
Believe in the Name of Jesus
Excerpt:
Accepting Christ as Lord
Believing “in the name…” means you believe in “all that Jesus Christ is and does“. 7
When you (if you did), or I, said, “I accept Christ as my Lord and Savior”, a whole lot of “accepting” is going on there in that moment in time. Are you aware of what-all it actually requires to truly “accept Christ”?
There comes a time to stand for Jesus or deny Jesus
What we know about the Rapture
List of references to the Rapture
Jesus promises an end time Rapture
The Battle of Armageddon
What Is the Battle of Armageddon? Its Meaning and Significance
From christianity.com/wiki; by Hope Bolinger | The Battle of Armageddon is the great battle mentioned in Revelation that takes place in the Last Days before the new heaven and the new earth.
Armageddon: What? Where? When? From BlueLetterBible; by Dr. J. Vernon McGee.
What Is the Battle of Armageddon? From DavidJeremiah.org
Is the Battle of Armageddon around the Corner? From Crosswalk; by Dr. Roger Barrier.
Timeless: not affected by time
Infinite: immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive
Continuum: a range or series of things that are slightly different from each other and that exist between two different possibilities. *See the Britannica.com Encyclopedia article about continuum
“The first things” (our time now) of Revelation 21:4
God forgives sins by His Holy Holy Justice
Me, When I Die…still in sin
…still in sin not forgiven by Christ. Are you still rejecting Christ? Do you know that if you die in sin, you will die without hope, lost forever, never to see the goodness that is in God?
The Kingdom of God is very exclusive, very luxurious, very special
At death – we put on immortality
There is a broad road that says heaven but goes to Hell
Today is your last day – and Hell is Home tonight
Freed from a righteous “God Damn”
Jesus warned us not to be dishonest with Him
Freed from a righteous “God Damn”
Footnotes
- merriam-webster.com/dictionary: brimful, brimming, bursting, chockablock, crammed, crowded, fat, filled, full, jam-packed, jammed, loaded, packed, stuffed.
- God-inspired: 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:27; Romans 16:26; 2 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 3:16.
- definition of cataclysm: a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition | broadly: an event that brings great changes.
- Revelation 1:1-2 “…He sent and communicated it by His angel (divine messenger) to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions].“
- Revelation 1:1-3
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
1 This is the [a]revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries], which God [the Father] gave to Him to show to His bond-servants (believers) the things which must soon take place [in their entirety]; and He sent and communicated it by His angel (divine messenger) to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions]. 3 [b]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near.
- Biblegateway Footnote: The Greek words for “And I saw” are used seven times in chs 19 through 21 to indicate a progression at the end of time from the marriage supper of the Lamb to the millennium to the new heaven and new earth.
- See BibleGateway list of references to: “the name of Jesus“.
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