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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. “ The King of Kings RULES AND REIGNS!”. REVELATION CHAPTER 20. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. INTRODUCTION WE HAVE SEEN: Up to Chapter 16 – Unfolding of “Revelation future” culminating in the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST “The King of Kings RULES AND REIGNS!” REVELATION CHAPTER 20
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION WE HAVE SEEN: Up to Chapter 16 – Unfolding of “Revelation future” culminating in the RAPTUREOF THE CHURCH Chapter 16 – 17 – 18 - Pouring out of GOD’S WRATH Chapter 19 – The Worship and “Wedding” in Heaven Chapter 19 – (Last Half) – The RETURN OF JESUS to conquer his foes at ARMEGGEDON and the setting up of His Kingdom on earth.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST NOW WE COME TO CHAPTER 20:1-10 The Millennial (1000 years) Reign of Jesus Christ!
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST • Rev 20:1-6 • 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. • 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. • 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. • 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. • 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. • 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST • Rev 20:7-10 • 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison • 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-- Gog and Magog-- to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. • 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. • 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. • (NIV)
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST Focused look at verses 1-10 A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: CHAPTER 20:1-10 - IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE IN ITS INTERPRETATION among Bible scholars. It has such a diversity of interpretations because it is a particularly difficult passage. It deals with subjects found ONLY here in the scripture (1000 years, Satan loosed again, first resurrection, second resurrection, another “rebellion” against Jesus).
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST Focused look at verses 1-10 A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: THE FOUR “BOTTOM LINE” TRUTHS FROM THIS PASSAGE – regardless of the nuances of interpretations: • The ENEMIES of the “Church” will be defeated! (The antichrist, the false religious systems, Satan himself, and the godless that have joined them.) • The CHURCH will reign triumphant! • 3. The EARTH WILL ACKNOWLEDGE – Jesus as the rightful King of Kings! • 4. GOD’S PEOPLE will be vindicated – We will RULE AND REIGN with Jesus!
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: • QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK: • What is this “1000 years” – literal or symbolic? • Why bind Satan for 1000 years only to “loose” him again ? • Why and how can the nations be “deceived” again – under the rule of Jesus? • What is the “First Resurrection” vs. the “Second Resurrection”? • Why use the term “resurrection” – where have the “dead” been all this time? • 6. What happens to the earth and us – after the 1000 years? • 7. Chapter 19 says that all were destroyed at the coming of Jesus…who will be left on the earth to “rule and reign” over? • 8. Why reign for 1000 years “on the earth” in the first place? What is THAT about?
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: • QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK: • What is this “1000 years” – literal or symbolic? The only place in Scripture where this is mentioned specifically. It is, of course, where we get the terms “millennial” or “millennium”. Greek=“chilioi” – an uncertain long length of time. Used also to denote a thousand. Could be symbolic of a “long period of time”. Some even see it as symbolic of the “rule and reign of Jesus in men’s hearts on the earth – without a literal presence of Jesus on a throne in Jerusalem.” Most scholars interpret it as a literal period of time and a literal reigning of Jesus on the earth.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: • QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK: • Why bind Satan for 1000 years only to “loose” him again ? Note that the text says – in verse 3 – that “he must be loosed again.” - Indicating that this is directed by God’s sovereign will. Apparently Satan is “bound”, “set aside”, “taken out of the way” – to allow a vast period of time when man’s FREEWILL is not subject to the evil and demonic temptation of Satan. A kind of a “garden of Eden” without the “Serpent”.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST • QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK: • Why and how can the nations be “deceived” again – under the rule of Jesus? A CLOSER LOOK AT VERSE 11: Here I think is a glimpse into the intricate detail of Jesus’ Justice and Fairness… This is all a part of His plan for the “ages”. For “1000” years – man (the earth) has been “freely” under the rule and reign of Jesus (absolute righteousness and fairness). All that is wrong, corrupt and evil has been made right and the nations have been “instructed” in righteousness at the feet of Jesus Himself. Yet…just as in the Throne Room of Heaven – EONS ago, when Satan and some of the angels, in their freewill rebelled… The nations will once again been given a “test”. They will now be “without excuse”. The Greatest Deceiver of all time will once again be “used” by God – to “test” the hearts of the nations. When this final test and rebellion is over (And apparently, it will be SHORT! Gk. – “mikron”),The Great White Throne of Judgment will take place. RIGHT NOW IS OUR TEST! This is “boot camp” a “separating” process – Sheep or Goat?