A Glimpse Of Glory 16

The Kingdom Has Come!

Text: Revelation 20:4-15

Introduction

I would like to step us briefly through the Bible leading up to where we are now:

God created a kingdom; the Garden of Eden. It was here where he placed man. He was to live in this kingdom of God’s love. He was to joyfully take care of it while in perfect relationship with it’s creator.

Man chose a different kingdom; the kingdom of which he becomes the king. This kingdom was ushered in the moment man sinned. At the moment of sin, man then lived in a kingdom where Satan became the prince. In a sense, Satan took out a lease and has lived here ever since.

From that point forward, from a predetermined plan by Father, Son, and Spirit, God has gradually been ushering the world and humanity back to a Garden of Eden-like kingdom where He finally revokes the Devil’s lease, removes him, and set’s up His eternal kingdom.

Throughout time there has been a people God has used to bring about a way of which His Son could come and give His life’s blood as a eternal payment for the sins of the world. God chose Israel for that purpose.

Kings and kingdoms have come and gone throughout time leading up to Christ child being born. The king was born!!! However, he didn’t come as a triumphant king, but as a humble child. He grew into a time of adulthood to where He readied His church, shed His blood for His church, one day will come back for her, and will soon set up His physical kingdom with her. That is where we are in our text today!

Revelation 9. The Millennial Age (20:1–10)

The judgment of the earth is complete. The beast from the land and the beast from the sea, along with the great prostitute, have all been cast into the lake of fire. There remains only one item of judgment—the dragon who lies behind it all. The judgment of the dragon will involve also the millennial reign of Christ on the earth, and so the two, together with the final judgment of all of the lost of the time of the millennium, are the subject of chap.

1) The Restraint Of Satan (20:1-3)

A. Christ has the keys to the bottomless pit

a) What is this “bottomless” pit?

This is a different location than where the Antichrist and False Prophet are. Satan will eventually meet them there though!

Remember when Jesus cast out the legion of demons in the swine?

Luke 8:31 “31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.”

Revelation 9:1–5 “1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.”

First we learn that it is a holding place for demonic grasshopper-like creatures.

Second we learn that any demonic being kept there is under the rule of Christ!

1 Peter 2:4 “4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,”

Jude 6 “6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

So, this pit represents the place of fallen demons and the king of demons; Satan — Revelation 9:11 “11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

b) How did this angel acquire the keys to the bottomless pit?

Revelation 1:18 “18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Possibly the same angel as the fifth angel in chapter 9.

B. Christ has authority over Satan

a) The angel comes in the authority of Christ

First of all, the angel get a firm grip on the old DRAGON!

Secondly, binds him with a righteous chain.

Thirdly, the angel tosses him into the pit for 1,000 years.

Yes, I personally take the 1,000 years as a literal span of time.

This number is repeated in different ways (42 months, 1,260 days, time and times and half time)

Fourthly, the angel locks him in there!!!

The purpose of casting Satan into the pit is not for punishment. That comes later. It is to prevent him from deceiving the nations for 1,000 years (aka the millennial reign)

b) All things operate in the fulfillment plan of Christ

You know, I am sure Satan had other plans for that day, LOL!

The Bible is a story of God fulfilling His plan.

Aren’t you glad it is God’s plan that reigns supreme?

Revelation (1) The Binding of Satan (20:1–3)

When Jesus was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, the tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. The seal was not so much an impediment to entry as it was a warning based on established authority. Whoever broke the seal would be guilty of rebellion against Rome, so now the seal of God is on the Abyss. Since there is no higher authority than God, none is able to loose Satan from that abyss.

2) The Reigning Saints (20:4-6)

A. The first resurrection

a) What is the “first” resurrection?

There are a few different views.

Let’s take a look at the language of the N.T.

Acts 26:23 “23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”

Colossians 1:18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Revelation 1:5 “5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Who all were classified as being a part of the first resurrection?

You have those who died prior to the tribulation.

You have those who were “caught” up in what we call the rapture.

You also have those who died during the tribulation period (v4).

Who were not part of this first resurrection?

Those who were the unrighteous dead.

Those who worshipped the beast, his image, and received his mark on the foreheads or the hands.

So, the classification of “First” resurrection is NOT emphasizing “order” but “life.”

1 John 5:12 “12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

What is classified as the “first” resurrection has come in waves over the centuries.

b) Those of the first resurrection will reign with Christ as His priests.

Now, there will be no need for intercessory work or teaching in the role of priest. We do this kind of labor today.

The aspect of the priest that needs to come into view is the fact they will have access to the very presence of God!!!

B. The Second resurrection

a) Those who expired their moment of receiving grace and therefore ended their life in rebellion and unbelief toward God.

Also described as the “second death.”

Revelation 2:11 “11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Revelation 21:8 “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.”

Matthew 10:28 “28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

C. Why would a millennial reign take place on earth?

There are a few popular view of the millennial reign (aka 1,000 year reign). This will get a bit technical for a moment.

Amillennial

This view interprets the 1,000-year reign in Revelation 20 as a symbolic representation of Christ's ongoing reign through the Church.

It suggests the millennium began with Christ's first coming and ascension and continues until His second coming.

Amillennialists believe the binding of Satan, described in Revelation 20, is already happening through Christ's victory over sin and death.

Post millennial

Postmillennialists believe that through the spread of the Gospel, the world will gradually become more Christianized and experience a period of peace and prosperity (the millennium).

Christ's second coming will occur after this period, ushering in the eternal state.

This view often emphasizes the importance of social reform and evangelism to bring about the millennium.

The world is getting better before the millennial kingdom ushers in.

Premillennial

Premillennialists believe that Christ will return to earth before the 1,000-year reign (the millennium).

This view often includes a period of tribulation before Christ's return and the establishment of His earthly kingdom.

Q — If the book of revelation was given to you on a desert island without knowing any theological prior to receiving it, how would you read the events of it: Allegorical (or) literal?

Satan still has a following during this time.

Maybe, it is God’s way of showing in greater detail what it is like to live under His reign of unending love and grace.

3) The Revolt Of Satan (20:7-10)

A.

4) The Recompensing Of Sinners (20:11-15)