Judgment

The Final Proof of Man’s Sinfulness (7-9)

Revelation 20:7–9 (NASB95)

7When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,

8and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.

9And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Application:

Satan’s singlemindedness in deceiving and destroying is on full display.

Just as under the wrath of God during the Tribulation, so even after 1,000 years of peace and prosperity, men reject God unless He draws them to Himself.

The season of patience and grace is over, and there is an immediate and final end to the rebellion.

The Final Proof of God’s Righteousness (10-15)

Revelation 20:10-15 (NASB95)

10And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

12And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Application:

This is not Game of Thrones. Only God reigns, and He reigns absolutely.

God does not play favorites. Everyone stands or falls before Him according to the same standard.

Hell and the Lake of Fire are real, and unending, and should not ever be taken lightly.

Death is all about breaking relationships through violating the perfect standards of a loving, relational, God. Ultimate death is the ultimate separation from relationship with God, and every sin we commit is part of a network of lesser relational rifts.

The Lake of Fire is the final answer to the question, “How serious is sin?”