Lesson 7, Revelation 20,21, and 22 The Last Invitation

Judgment of satan and his crew

REVELATION 20

This chapter follows chronologically on the heels of chapter 19. We begin with the end of the Tribulation and the start of the millennium. The 1,000 year reign of Christ is not explained in detail, but we do see where it fits in God’s timetable. For the millennium see also Zechariah 1- 2. See also Ezekiel 40- 48.

I. The Judgment of satan 20:1- 3, 7- 10

English Standard Version (Chapter 20)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

a. The Binding. 20:1 3 a, b. There cannot be a millennium without the binding of satan. If there is any doubt as to whom God is binding in the bottomless pit, then you have to re-read verse 2. Most every name the devil has claimed is in this verse. “Shut him up-KJV,” or “shut it” means that he is chained (see also verse 1.) Just as the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, so satan is sealed in the pit. The believer is sealed to be on the move. Satan is sealed so that he will be immobile.

b. The Loosing vs. 3 c, 7. The loosing of satan cannot take place until the millennium is finished.

c. The Deceiving. V.8. whom will satan deceive? Millions! The saved who enter the millennium, having made it through the tribulation alive, will have offspring during that time. There will be ideal conditions for having babies (the curse is removed.) The point being made is that God will still not have grandchildren. People will need to be saved in the millennium. Mankind will rebel to the stern rule of the King of Kings. They will gladly chase satan to battle against the Lord Jesus if they have not been saved.

d. The Judging 20:9, 10 – Though Jerusalem and the saints are surrounded, the deceived are heavenly fried for their rebellion. The devil himself is booted into the lake of fire, bypassing the Great White Throne. Satan’s judgment, like the beast and the false prophet, will be forever and ever in the lake of fire in torment.

*** Please take note of the shakeup in the outline. We are now going back to deal with verses 4-6.

II. The First Resurrection 20:4- 6.

English Standard Version (Chapter 20)

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for 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 is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

a. Those who take part in the Millennium. V 4- 6.

- Those who sit on the thrones of judgment. Paul gives insight into this verse in I Corinthians 6:3. Take a look.

King James Version (Chapter 6)

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

- All martyrs of the tribulation will sit in judgment.

b. Those who take part in the first resurrection. 20:5, 6

- Believers only

- Unbelievers are not raised at this time

c. Those who do not take part in the second death. 20:6 see also 21:8. Anyone who takes part in the first resurrection will not taste of the second death.

III. Judgment of the Wicked 20:11-15

King James Version (Chapter 20)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

a. The Great White Throne. V.11. Jesus Christ is the one on the throne. The babe in the manger will be the man on the throne. The man on the cross will be the man on the throne. Believers will not be judged here.

b. The Opening of the Books. V.12 The lost will only be able to stand before God when they have been prepared for eternal punishment. For this terrible judgment, the sea gives up its dead and all unbelievers up to this point will be judged at the Great White Throne. Death and hell are even judged. Those who stand before God at the Great White throne will be cast into the lake of fire with the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and the devils angels.

Revelation 21

I. The New Heaven and the New Earth. 21:1

English Standard Version (Chapter 21)

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more

The new ones will be needed because the old ones have passed away. See 20:11 and II Peter 3:12, 13.

King James Version (Chapter 3)

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

The statement of that there will be no more sea means a greatly extended or expanded land mass.

II. The New Jerusalem 21:2-27

a. A New Jerusalem and a Great Voice comes from Heaven. 21:2, 3, 4

King James Version (Chapter 21)

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

To tell about the Lord and His people and their new future together… Much has passed away. It will be nothing like we have ever imagined.

Does it seem a little odd that there will be pain up to this point, even through the millennial kingdom. But there will be the absence of pain, death, sorrow, crying and anything associated with it. Until that time, we can expect it.

b. The One on the Throne speaks 21:5- 8

King James Version (Chapter 21)

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

- He makes all things new v.5

-He speaks to John to write. V.5

-He proclaims the end of the old order and the start of the new.

-He identifies Himself. 21:6

-He offers satisfaction to spiritual thirst. V.6

-He offers sonship. v.7

-he warns of judgment. V.8. this is the soul-winners list of people who need Jesus Christ. This is looking back to them, but a forward look for us.

The second death needs to be comprehended by mankind today. Id you are born again, there will never be a second death.

c. The Holy City comes down to the New Earth. 21:9 -27

King James Version (Chapter 21)

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The New Jerusalem has been decked out with no expense spared. V.2

v.9 – One of the seven angels of the seven last plagues gives John a sneak preview of the Lambs wife.

Cs.10-27 – The City and its life are described.

- It has the glory of God: the radiance of a diamond. V.11

- It has a great wall with 12 gates, 12 angels guarding, and the names of the 12 tribes. V.12.

- There are 3 gates in each direction v.13

- The wall has 12 foundations with the names of the 12 apostles. V.14

- It has measurable boundaries v.15-17. 1500 by 1500 miles.

- It has an embellished finish. V.18-21

- It has no temple (v. 22), no sun, no moon v.23.

- It commands the respect of all people. Vs. 24, 26.

- It operates around the clock. V.25

- It has a select group of people. .v.27. your name has to be in the Lambs Book of life in order to be there.

The Last Sayings of Jesus 22:1-5

Now through the end of the book, Jesus bares His heart for all of us. He is coming quickly!

English Standard Version (Chapter 22)

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

There is no river, on Earth or imagined in your mind that can come close to the grandeur and magnitude of refreshment that comes from a river that has “real” life flowing in it’s course. It is as good as already done, even though it is a future event. The real life-giving water produces fruit:

-It all happens on both sides of the river. vs.2

-It feeds the tree of life. vs.2 This tree has been missing from Earth since the garden of eden.

-The tree bears 12 kinds of fruit, each month

-leaves from the tree are for the healing of the nations. vs.2 Nations still need healing at this point because of what they have been through.

Vs.3- No more will the accursed thing be made manifest. Because the throne of God and the presence of the lamb and his servants in worship!

vs.4 The name of Christ will be in their foreheads. There is no more night. No Sun, No moon, no power companies, because the Lord God will be their Light!

vs.5 Their purpose is to reign with Jesus for ever and ever.

The Continued Importance of the Word of God. vs.6- 11

English Standard Version (Chapter 22)

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,

9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”