Revelation 20 (Satan Bound a Thousand Years)

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 20

The Thousand Years

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.

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.

The Defeat of Satan

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.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and 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 by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This week we’re beginning to reach the final chapters of John’s Apocalypse, and we’re going to look specifically at chapter 20. Now, Revelation chapter 20 is likely one of the most difficult chapters in the Bible to understand, and probably the most controversial chapter in all the Bible. So, if this is your first time here today then you might be wondering, “Well, then, is this really a good idea?” Well, my answer to your concern is simply, “Yes, yes it is.”

While we don’t make any particular point to preach difficult Biblical texts, or to have certain theological hobby horses, we do seek to preach the whole Bible. Therefore, in the process of doing so we’re frequently confronted with challenging biblical texts, and I don’t think it does you or I any service to avoid them. We believe with the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” So, I don’t think our Lord intends for us to avoid certain parts of the Bible. Now, it’s obvious that some doctrines are more essential than others, but we should always remember that all of it breathed out by God and intended to profit us and equip us for every good work.

Three eschatological positions

Now, chapter 20 is the chapter from which all major eschatological positions get their name (premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism). Now, if those terms are unfamiliar to you please don’t let them scare you or cause you to stop listening. My point here is that there are several interpretive positions that have arisen throughout church history that get their name’s sake directly from Revelation chapter 20.

Chapter 20 is most well known for its reference to a thousand year reign of Christ, or the millennial reign of Christ. This is why the names of these eschatological positions all refer to the millennium. The controversy surrounds the timing of Christ’s second coming in relation to the thousand years described here in Revelation 20. A comedian once said that the millennium is a thousand years of peace that Christian’s like to fight about.

Now, the premillennial position argues that Christ’s second coming will take place before the millennial kingdom, while the other two positions argue that Christ’s second coming will take place after the millennial kingdom. Now, there are various nuances that we won’t have time to get into, but I want you to keep this basic difference between the positions in view as we look at chapter 20.

Redemptive context

With all that in mind, I believe the point of Revelation 20 is to chronicle and describe Christ’s victory over the devil, both when he bound him at his first coming, and when he will eventually throw him into the Lake of Fire at his second coming, when death is finally destroyed. We’ll also see at the end of the chapter the consummation of all things, when Christ judges the whole world, separates the sheep from the goats, and the resurrection of the dead. Revelation 20 wraps up the events associated with his first coming, and then looks forward to his second coming.

If you’ll recall, back in chapter 12, we were told that war arose in heaven, that Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. That eventually the dragon was defeated and thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, and that he was thrown down to the earth.

And after being cast out of heaven John wrote that he was furious and made war on the saints, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. That he stood on the sand of the sea and proceeded to hand over his authority to two beasts (Rome and Jerusalem), to make war on the saints and to destroy the church of the first century. All of which was a result of Christ’s victory over sin and death, and his ascension to his Father’s throne in heaven, when all authority in heaven and on earth was given to him.

The church had been called, earlier in chapters 2-3, to endure and to conquer by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony in John’s seven letters to the seven churches. It was Jesus’ intent to prepare the church for the great tribulation of the first century when the dragon would make war on them, when Rome and Jerusalem would persecute them and seek to exterminate them. Therefore, chapters 6-19 describe this war against Christ and his church.

However, no matter how formidable these two beasts appeared Christ and his church were frequently pictured as conquering them. Much of the book, the seals, the trumpets, and the bowl judgments, were directed at Jerusalem and the covenant breakers, but eventually even Rome. Until, finally, the beast and the false prophet (or Jerusalem) were described as being thrown into the lake of fire, the instruments of the devil destroyed by Christ, who was described in chapter 19 as riding on a white horse with the church following close behind.

Despite the severe persecution levied against the church in the first century, despite the circumstances of the great tribulation, the church endured. And finally, when we reach chapter 20 the devil is bound from deceiving the nations any longer. The nations will be unable to thwart the spread of the Gospel, to stop the advance of the kingdom of heaven in the world.

The binding of Satan

And it’s at this point in the story we reach the beginning of Revelation 20, starting there in verse 1. If you have your Bible please follow along,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

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.

It’s almost as if chapter 20 picks up where chapter 12 left off, after the dragon had been thrown out of heaven by Michael and his angels. Listen to what John wrote back in chapter 12, verse 9, and then compare it to what we read here in chapter 20, verse 2.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—

then again here in chapter 20, verse 2,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

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,

Notice that in both instances he’s specifically called the “dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan”, and then in both instances a reference is made to his ability to deceive. He’s called “the deceiver of the whole world” back in chapter 12, and then here in chapter 20 he’s bound for a thousand years, why? “So that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” Do you see the connection?

You see, the two beasts that were depicted back in chapter 13, one that arose out of the sea and the other that arose out of the land represented two nations, or two earthly powers that exercised the authority of the dragon to make war on the saints, both Rome and Jerusalem in the first century. And it was the devil’s ability to deceive the nations that made that possible, however, by the time we reach chapter 20 that ability to deceive the nations is curtailed, it’s restrained; Satan is now bound from deceiving the nations any longer.

This is our present reality, the devil has been bound from deceiving the nations, in order that the Gospel might spread to all nations. This doesn’t mean that the devil is not at work in this present age, but that his activity has been limited. As I’ve pointed out before, Jesus spoke of this during his earthly ministry. He told the Pharisees when they accused him of casting out demons by the power of the devil that his authority to cast out demons, rather, signified 1) that he had come to bind the strong man, 2) that he intended to plunder his house, and 3) that he had the power and authority to do so.

Therefore, when John describes the devil as being bound for a thousand years here in Revelation 20, he’s describing the culmination and result of Jesus’ ministry in the first century. This isn’t a future event that we’re looking forward to, but the result of Jesus being given all authority in heaven and on earth.

We read in Matthew 12:28-29,

Matthew 12:28–29 ESV

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

In other words, if Jesus intends to enter the strong man’s house and plunder his goods (which was precisely the intent of his ministry), then obviously he was going to have to bind the strongman, who is the devil, which is what’s depicted for us here in Revelation chapter 20.

The application for us today is that nothing is fundamentally hindering us from taking the Gospel to the nations. Satan’s ability to deceive the nations has been removed. Will we still encounter opposition, of course, but that opposition has been fundamentally weakened. This also means that there’s no earthly power that will ever successfully oppose the advance of the kingdom of heaven, or be able to destroy the church.

Apocalyptic symbolism

Now, if you haven’t been here up to this point it’s worth pointing out that what we’re dealing with here is apocalyptic literature, which is a type or prophetic literature that’s highly symbolic and filled with imagery. For instance, notice how the devil, who is a spiritual being, is portrayed as a dragon, or how he is bound with a great chain, and thrown into a bottomless pit. John is utilizing symbolic imagery to describe spiritual realities. In other words, it would be silly for us to imagine that Satan is a literal dragon bound by a literal chain. John’s Apocalypse is not a literal description of historical events, but describes real first century events using imagery and symbolism.

Now, that doesn’t therefore mean that we aren’t taking the text seriously, not at all. If we tried to interpret the Psalms literally we wouldn’t be taking them seriously, because we would be ignoring the fact that they’re poetry, not straightforward historical narrative. We use the the literary rules of poetry to interpret the Psalms, that’s taking the Psalms serious. Therefore, similarly, because John’s Apocalypse is primarily apocalyptic prophetic literature, we interpret it as such. This is a book of symbols, therefore we don’t interpret them literally, we try to understand what the symbol or image is pointing to.

This is also why I don’t believe John is talking about a literal thousand year span of time when he says there in verse 2,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

John’s point isn’t to tell us the precise span of time between Jesus’ first and second coming, or the precise span of time that the devil will be bound, but that the messianic age will span a very large, but purposefully complete block of time. In the Bible a thousand is frequently used to describe a large but complete number. In the ancient world, the number ten signified completeness. For instance, having all 10 digits on your hand was a mark of completeness. A thousand was also considered to be a very large number in the ancient world. In fact, this is always the way the Bible uses it.

For instance, in 2 Peter 3:8 a thousand years is used to describe God’s patience, when Peter says,

2 Peter 3:8–9 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

or in Deuteronomy 7:9 when a thousand is used to describe God’s covenant faithfulness, saying,

Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

And there many more examples like this throughout the Bible.

So, again, the picture painted here for us is that at Christ’s first coming the devil is thrown out of heaven, makes war on the saints, is defeated, and finally, bound for a thousand years, that he might not deceive the nations any longer, in order that the Gospel of the Kingdom might be proclaimed throughout the world. This is our present experience of the messianic kingdom, until the devil is released again for a short time, and is destroyed once and for all at the second coming of Christ. This is why John says there, briefly, at the end of verse 3, “until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.”

Reigned with Christ for a thousand years

But we’re going to put that on the shelf for a minute and look at verses 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.

Now, by my reckoning, this is the hardest text to understand here in chapter 20. What makes it difficult is that, other than here, the Bible seems to only speak explicitly of one general resurrection on the last day, at Jesus’ second coming, but John seems to indicate here that there may be more than one when he uses the phrase “the first resurrection”, so this seems to imply that there is a second resurrection. That being said, let’s walk through this text and see if we can make sense of it.

Now, what we need to see, at first, is that John is witnessing the outcome of Jesus’ first coming, his death, resurrection, ascension, and the result of Satan being bound. He’s sees thrones in heaven, which are presumably a reference to the 24 elders who were described as seated on thrones in heaven as far back as chapter 4 when John is first caught up to heaven and given these visions.

Then John sees “the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and 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.” This is likely a reference to the souls under the altar in heaven back in chapter 6 when the fifth seal was opened and John saw under the alter in heaven, “souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.” And he wrote then that “they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” (Rev. 6:9-11)

In other words, there are martyrs under the alter in heaven crying out for vengeance, but they were told to wait a little while longer until the number of their fellow servants was complete, who would be killed as they themselves had been, and by the time we reach chapter 20 that number is complete and the judgment of God has been poured out on their enemies in chapters 6-19, culminating in the beast and the false prophet being thrown into the lake of fire at the end of 19.

They’re described as those who did not compromise their faith, those who did not worship the beast or receive its mark, but rather, despite the events of the great tribulation, despite the pressures exerted by the Roman Empire and those in Jerusalem, they remained faithful. In fact, they were even willing to be beheaded or slain for their testimony. Therefore, John says that “they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

So, the immediate context here are those Christians of the first century who conquered by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And that they were promised that if they would remain faithful that they would be rewarded, and share in Christ’s victory over sin and death. Therefore, they’re depicted here as coming to life and reigning with Christ for a thousand years.

Share in the first resurrection

Then John goes on and says there in verse 5,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

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.

This is where it gets difficult, and there are a multitude of interpretations that have been proposed over the centuries, however, I think one stands out among the rest. I think the key verse here is verse 6 when John says, “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!” I believe the first resurrection may be a reference to Christ’s own resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20 describes Jesus’ resurrection as a firstfruits, and then later in Colossians 1:18 that he is the firstborn from the dead.

And when Christ rose from the dead all believers were spiritually resurrected with him, that because of his resurrection we also share in his resurrection, even now, whether on earth or in heaven. As Colossians 2:13 puts it, that we’ve been made alive together with Christ, even now. Or as Romans 6:4 puts it, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

In other words, we share, even now, in Christ’s resurrection, the first resurrection. The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4-6 that, “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ … and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. Whether now, or in heaven, we’re described as being made alive and seated with Christ in heavenly places.

This is also why the theologians have historically described the church on earth as the church militant, and the church who are now exclusively in heaven as the church triumphant. Those of us who are still on earth are engaged in a spiritual conflict, yet we share in Christ’s resurrection even now, and those who of us who have died reign triumphantly in heaven with Christ. And we all share in his resurrection, the first resurrection, even now. However, all of us, await our bodily resurrection at the end of the age, when the thousand years have ended and Christ returns bodily to the earth, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, when the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality.

Whereas, as it relates to the verse 5, where John says that, “the rest of the dead that did not come to life until the thousand years were ended”, I believe is a reference to the general resurrection of the unjust at the second coming of Christ, at the end of the chapter. The unjust are described later as remaining in Hades until the end, or “until the thousand years are ended.” Until Christ returns, the unjust are subjected to torment in Hades, the grave, or as the OT calls it, Sheol. Then, at his second coming, Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Anyone’s name who is not found written in the book of life are thrown into Hell with the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet.

Satan released

Now, let’s turn to verses 7-10,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

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.

Just as John had indicated earlier, at the end of verse 3, Satan will be bound for a thousand years, but when the thousand years are ended, after that, Satan must be released for a little while. Then, here in verses 7-10 John tells us that he will come out and deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, or in other words, nations from every direction, and gather them for battle against the camp of the saints and the beloved city.

The idea here is simple, just like the great tribulation of the first century the dragon will be permitted to make one final attempt to destroy the church. And to illustrate his point John draws on one of Ezekiel’s prophecies back in Ezekiel 38-39 when the prophet described an assault that would come from the north, from Magog, against Israel, but that God would deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Some have tried to identify Magog with modern day nations, but this isn’t John’s point, he’s referencing a historical event as an analogy of the threat that these nations will pose at the end of the age. However, John also tells us that these enemies will be vanquished just as they were when Ezekiel’s prophecy was fulfilled hundreds of years earlier. And just as quickly as Satan had been released, he will be thrown into the lake of fire with the the beast and the false prophet were.

Now, I suspect most of us, when we read this text, immediately ask ourselves, “Why would God release Satan from his prison for a little while at the end of the thousand years? What would be his purpose in doing so?” Well, the Bible doesn’t tell us explicitly, but I think there are hints that may get at the the reason.

Tares exposed among the wheat

The best answer I think is found in Jesus’ parable of the Wheat and Tares, in Matthew 13:24-30. In the parable Jesus is described as a man who sowed wheat in his field, and the seed is the sons of the kingdom. However, under the cover of darkness, the devil sows tares in among the wheat. At first, no one notices until the plants mature and the servants notice that tares are growing among the wheat, but Jesus tells them to wait until the end of the age when he will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the the fiery furnace.

What’s interesting about the tares is that the particular plant Jesus is referring to looks just like wheat up until harvest time. In other words, the tares appear to be wheat to the naked eye. The point is that there will be many who profess the name of Christ, who look like Christians, until their fruit is exposed and the plan is seen for what it really is, a weed. Therefore, I can’t help but wonder if Satan’s release for a short time is an occasion to expose the tares among the wheat at the end of the age.

Second coming

Now, let’s wrap this us by quickly looking at verses 11-15,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and 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 by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

One of the defining characteristics of Jesus’ second coming is his final judgement, which is why I believe verses 11-15 are clearly descriptive of his second coming, following his millennial kingdom described earlier. Matthew records Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-33 like this,

English Standard Version Chapter 25

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

English Standard Version Chapter 25

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

This is precisely what’s described here at the end of Revelation chapter 20.

White throne

One is seated on a great white throne in heaven and the dead, great and small, are standing before the throne, and books are opened, including another book which is the book of life. And the dead are judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10,

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Furthermore, we’ve seen Christ seated on a white cloud in chapter 14 and sitting on a white horse in chapter 19, therefore I think it’s safe to say that the one who is seated here on this white throne is Christ. He is sitting in judgment over the nations.

Books were opened

And we’re told that the nations are judged using detailed biographies, that the dead are judged by what is written in the books, according to what they had done. In other words, their punishment will fit their crime. This is because God is just. Now, many have been erroneously taught that all sin is equal. And while it’s true that all sin is equally deserving of death, there are degrees of wickedness, therefore you will be judged according to what you’ve done, unless, of course, your name is found written in the book of life, then your deeds are forgiven. Or as the prophet Isaiah put it in Isaiah 53:5,

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Millions upon millions of people believe they will be saved by their good works, but this is a fool’s errand. It’s foolish to think that you can suppress the truth about God, and yet somehow be good without God, and even expect to escape judgment of God on the last day. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 2:16,

Galatians 2:16 ESV

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

You see the good news, the Gospel, is that God gave his son as a sacrifice for sin, that we might be reconciled to God, our sins forgiven, that we might have peace with God, and have our names written in the book of life. And what must we do to be saved? Repent and believe, confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.

Otherwise, anyone’s name not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.

Conclusion

Now, as we close I want to mention a few points of application. 1) We should take great courage knowing that the devil has been bound from deceiving the nations, for the sake of the Gospel among the nations, and realize that we are therefore commanded to go and make disciples of all nations, 2) those who endured the great tribulation have modeled for us how to conquer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, 3) we should be warned of the pressures that are exerted on us in our own day to compromise our faith, 4) Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares is a warning for all of us to consider the genuineness of our faith, to examine ourselves whether we’re in the faith, and that we haven’t believed in vain, and lastly 5) to be reminded that “the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

Prayer