The Best Is Yet To Come
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Revelation
In spite of the pain, there is joy in heaven as history's end comes.
As the glorified figure of the Lamb prepares to battle His enemies on earth, we hear the multitude shouting: Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! Rev. 19:6-7
Immediately Christ Himself enters the battle. "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood," and "He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty" (Rev. 19:13, 15).
The armies of the beast are gathered on earth to make war against Christ. . . .
But their efforts are futile.
The two human members of the evil triumvirate are "thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur" (Rev. 19:20).
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
As for the rest of their army, all are killed in the battle, and "all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh" (Rev. 19:21).
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The irresistible power of the Lamb who is also King of kings and Lord of lords ends the battle almost before it begins!
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Immediately Christ Himself enters the battle.
"He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood," and "He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty" (Rev. 19:13, 15).
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
The armies of the beast are gathered on earth to make war against Christ. . . . But their efforts are futile. The two human members of the evil triumvirate are "thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur" (Rev. 19:20).
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
As for the rest of their army, all are killed in the battle, and "all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh" (Rev. 19:21).
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The irresistible power of the Lamb who is also King of kings and Lord of lords ends the battle almost before it begins!
The Thousand Years
The thousand years Now we find, somewhat surprisingly, that the battle described in Rev. 19 is followed by a period of a thousand years (Rev. 20:3-4, 6-7).
During this period several things happen.
First, Satan is "locked and sealed" in the Abyss, to "keep him from deceiving the nations anymore" until the thousand years end (Rev. 20:3).
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Second, The "first resurrection" (Which consist of the resurrection of the old testament saint, the raptured saints of the new testament, the 144 thousand priest, saints slain during the first 3 1/2 years of tribulation, and the two witnesses) at which believers will rule are given new life.
They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6).
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Then, after the thousand years of Christ's rule on earth, Satan is released from his prison, and the final battle is fought (Rev. 20:7-10).
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Why a thousand-year interlude?
One suggestion is that during this time sin's true nature will again be demonstrated.
Sin has found expression throughout the ages in the characters of both individuals and societies.
Often today society itself is blamed for individual failure: the environment, some argue, programs people into actions which, in a just and moral society, they would never voluntarily choose.
The rule of Jesus and the resurrected saints will provide a truly just, moral society, and thus an ideal environment. Individuals will be released from those social pressures that now stimulate them toward wrong choices.
Will human beings be "good" under ideal conditions?
Revelation suggests that once Satan is freed
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
He will succeed in deceiving the nations.
Millions will choose, against their environmental setting, to follow Satan and rebel against God.
As we look at Revelation's terrible picture of final judgment, we can never forget that those who have taken sides against God have done so by their own free choice.
The character of sin is again revealed in the final rebellion, and the judgment of God is shown to be just.
Fire flares from heaven to destroy the rebellious host.
The devil is "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown." And Scripture adds, "They will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Great White Throne
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.