Sermon Tone Analysis
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Do not fear the devil.
Don’t blame the devil for your sin.
This is probably the hardest chapter in the Bible to understand if you do not have a solid foundation.
There’s a lot of theology wrapped up in the ten verses we’ll be covering today, and it will be hard work to understand them.
I’m going to give you the application up front, then for those that want to dive a bit deeper, we can.
You ready, here’s the application for this passage: Tremble before God, not Satan.
If you remember to tremble before God, not Satan, you will have peace.
And fearing the wrong things is a big deal to God.
That’s why one of the most common commands of the Bible is “do not be afraid”, but says to fear God.
I want to remind you of what I said last week about triumphal entries.
I’m going to leave it on the screen as I talk before and after the verses so you have a reference to what’s going on, because understanding this symbol is essential to understanding this passage.
If you don’t understand the symbol, you can make it mean whatever you want:
“Remember 9/11”, Matthew 18:15-20, Phil.
4:13, etc.
1. Victor rides in on a white horse.
(Rev.
19:11)
2. Victor wears a purple toga laced with golden thread over his tunic.
3. Victor wears a crown on his head, depicting himself as God.
4. Citizens wear white robes, honoring the victory of the emperor.
5. Emperor surrounded by his army, which would wears symbols of their victory.
6. Main attraction is the leader of the enemy bound in chains being led behind the white horse.
7. The Victor leads the enemy to the steps of the temple and executes him there.
With that reminder, let’s get into the text:
Most of you are understandably confused.
This passage is hard.
Let me put up the seven things to remember about a triumphal procession again.
Keep these in mind as you have your own questions about this passage.
Tremble before God, not Satan because the word of God is what Satan uses to get the saints killed in verse 4, but in chapter 19, the word of God is what destroys those who oppose Him, including Satan.
Okay.
So, the question to ask of Revelation 20 is "What is the relationship between Revelation 19 and Revelation 20?"
These are the verses from which some people build entire end-times positions.
And this is the place from which all of them are named: these seven verses.
(Premillennial, Amillennial, Postmillennial, Preterist- brief definition of each position)
This section is a recapitulation- there’s that word again.
(Redefine) If you want my reasoning for it, I’d be glad to provide it, but for the sake of time, I’m just going to tell you that’s what it is, and if you care to know why I believe that, we can talk about it.
But recapitulation is all over this section as a reminder to us that Satan has no real power, but God does.
Tremble before God, not Satan.
Remember, this is apocalyptic literature, so we’re using symbols!
So we see this angel with a Key- this is a metaphor for power or authority over something.
Who has keys to your house?
Do you just hand them out to everyone?
No.
This key points to the sovereignty attained at the Christ event- his birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection.
This word shows up four times in Revelation, and every time, it points to this concept.
I’m not going to go through the other three instances right now, but I have the information if you want it.
So here in Revelation 20:1, what should we think about this key?
How was it earned?
At the Christ event.
The 1,000 years kicks off with Satan being bound, and Revelation indicates that this happened at Christ's first coming.
Something happening to Satan at the Christ event is not new to Revelation.
Remember Revelation 12?
The word for threw him into the pit is the same word John uses in Rev 12:9, and that at Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection.
If this is the same time, how did the angel get the key?
Jesus gaining power over death at the Christ-event.
This is supported by other parts of the New Testament and you can look them up if you like:
Luke 10:18 (after 10 disciples are sent out casting out demons, etc.)
John 12:30-32 (Jesus about to die on the Cross is NOW driving out the prince of the world)
John 16:11 (Satan now stands Judged) Jesus' ministry is an assault- a death blow- to Satan's dominion and reign.
Now there's another symbol we need to look at- the chain.
Does bound mean eradicated?
Does it mean negated?
No!
He is severely limited, or restrained.
But a handcuffed person can still do damage, can't they?
Col. 2:15
Does that mean that they have absolutely no power?
No.
It means that compared to God, they are powerless.
This is why we Tremble before God, not Satan.
Mark 3:27
Jesus' opponents claim miracles done by Satan's power.
A kingdom divided cannot stand.
And in Mark 3:27, the word for "tie up” is the same word for what the angel did to Satan in Revelation 20:2.
How is Satan bound?
1. Satan cannot enter heaven.
2.
He lost the power of death (Heb.
2:14-15)
3. Satan lost his stranglehold of authority over pagan nations by the spread of the Gospel (Truth came to set people free) and the Gospel has infiltrated every nation.
4. Satan is kept from deceiving the nations.
Deceiving the nations in the OT- what percentage of people followed Yahweh?
Binding and imprisonment are separate.
If they are the same, how is he released from the binding that happened at the Christ event?
How does he regain power over death?
Is he now allowed back into heaven?
What does Satan's imprisonment mean?
It's wrapped up in the word deception.
Talking about Salvation.
Salvific deception.
Deception is defined by its intention.
He intends to damn people.
And that goes on now.
So how is he kept from deceiving?
Specifically to destroy the Church.
Gates of Hades, anyone?
Satan cannot and will not wipe out the church.
He can persecute, but God will always save for himself a remnant.
Satan will never be victorious over the church.
That is the imprisonment of Satan.
Let me put up the seven things to remember about a triumphal procession again.
Thousand years.
Do you see the recapitulation?
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