Millennium Part II

Rev. 20:11-15

A study on Revelation

Millennium Part II

Rev. 20:11-15

Introduction:  The last time we learned about what God wants us to know about the millennium.  While we do not know all the specific fine time points, we do know the things God wants us to know.

There are three ways to interpret this passage and our focus is the pre-millennial approach because it doesn’t spiritualize away the passage and takes the Scripture literally.   

Last time we were together we learned that Satan is bound in vv. 1-3.  An angel is sent from heaven with a key to the bottomless pit and a chain to confine Satan for a 1000 years in a place of confinement.  It seems to be a condemned cell. 

We also learned Saints will reign with Christ vv. 4-6.  The Bible in verses 4-6 teach of a resurrection as John tells us in 5:28-29:  “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29

The question comes in this first resurrection:  who is in this? 

The occurrences when God will raise the righteous are as follows: First, He raised Jesus Christ who is the first fruits of those who sleep (1 Cor. 15:23). Second, He raised some saints near Jerusalem shortly after Jesus’ resurrection (Matt. 27:52–53), though this was probably a temporary resurrection like that of Lazarus. Third, He will raise Christians at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13–18). Fourth, He will raise the two witnesses during the Great Tribulation (11:3, 11). Fifth, He will raise the Tribulation martyrs at the beginning of the Millennium (vv. 4–5). Sixth, He will raise the Old Testament saints at the same time (Isa. 26:19–21; Ezek. 37:12–14; Dan. 12:2–4). Seventh, He will apparently raise the saints who die during the Millennium (cf. vv. 12–13).[1]

A. The character

1.  Lived a Godly testimony for the Word of God v. 4

2. Loyal to The Word of God.

3. Refused to compromise.

4. Blessed refers to happy and holy means they were genuinely Godly.

B. The confidence

1.  They are now kings and priests exalted with Christ and entrusted with some type of ministry.

2. These ministries are of great dignity and responsibility.

3. No fear of death for them ever again.

4. The inhabitants of the earth during the millennium will include not only glorified saints, but also citizens who bow in submission to Jesus Christ.

5. The earth’s conditions will be perfect and so they will marry, have children who will outwardly conform to the Lord’s righteous rule-though not all will be saved or born again-this is why Satan at the end will gather an army of rebel v. 8.

III. Satan is loosed vv. 7-10

A. The inspiration of rebellionvv. 7-9a

1.  Now that Satan is loosed for a short time, he comes in strong and dramatic fashion.

2. As generations pass, children will be born with a sinful nature, though under the rule of Christ

“Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works!

Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

4 All the earth shall worship thee,

And shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.” Psalm 66:3-4

3.  Satan will seek the fertile hearts of rebellion to gather a mighty army together for one last effort to fight against Christ.

4. This is where man fails the test because man has been living in a perfect environment, perfect rule, and yet he rebels.

5. The problem is the heart and not the environment.

6. Even though everyone will know who Jesus Christ is during the millennium, not everyone will trust Him as Savior.  Only believers will enter the millennium, but everyone born during that time will need to trust Christ to experience eternal salvation.

7. The four quarters refer to the worldwide rebellion in the last battle.

8. The phrase God and Magog refers to world’s rulers and nations in rebellion to God.  God, the ruler, and Magog, his land.

B. The termination of the rebellionvv. 9b-10

1.  God will send fire out of heaven to destroy them.

2. They will compass Jerusalem and yet, God will defeat them before any battle actually starts.

3. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire with his flowers.

4. He will be punished and tormented forever-please notice this lake of fire for the devil and his angels. 

IV. The unbelievers judged

Without a doubt this will be one of the most awful periods in the future.  It is all that is point all hope is dashed and judgment comes.  God now deals with the finality of sin in these final verses as the Millennium comes to a close.  This will be the second resurrection and the unsaved will stand before God’s judgement.  This is NOT the judgement seat of Christ which is for the believer.  Heaven and earth will pass away where is not place for the sinner to hide.

A. The setting vv. 11-12

1.  Here is the fact of a great white throne of God, dazzling the eye with a perfect purity unlike any other-guilty men will come before God and there is no place to hide.

2. John sees Jesus Christ as the Judge whom the Father hath given all authority to judge

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I sayunto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:28

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: John 5:22

3.  Fear will grip each heart as they look upon the face of Jesus as the sting of death and hell become the reality-the heavens and the earth are fled away-the ungodly hated Him and rejected Him now face Him in judgment-everything is stable, solid, and familiar in the universe is gone.

4. The dead regardless of position or finances are brought before the judgment-dead souls are united with their dead bodies to face this judgment-all sinners of all ages who have rejected Christ will be there.

5. There are record books in heaven.

a.  Book of life-these are the names are all who have been saved through the centuries-people of every nationality, background, position, known or unknown by the world, God keeps the record.

b. Book of life-the works of those who stand there-they will be judged according to their works-not sure what that looks like-it may be “I did my best-yet God wants us to fall on the mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ-Jesus will judge man according to his secrets as well as open sin

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Rom. 2:16

c.  Book of God

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hathone that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

B. The summons v. 13

1.  The earth and seas will give up all the lost dead.

2. God will summon every lost man from wherever he is right now to stand before God.

3. God ushers every living man who has rejected Christ before His presence.

C. The sentence vv. 14-15

1.  Death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire-the ultimate judgment is the lake of fire.

2. Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God who judges sin and provides a sacrifice as a payment for sin through Jesus Christ.

3. Men send themselves to hell because they reject Christ.

4. Those whose names were absent from the book of life are cast into the lake of fire.

5. Second death because they will never be raised again.

Conclusion:  The future for the believer is bright as the promises of God.  What a blessing to know God is in control.  However, the future for the unbeliever is only judgment.  This urges us to do all we can to reach people with the gospel of Christ. 

[1] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Re 20:5.