THE LORD WINS (2)

REVELATION 20:1-15

SERMON TITLE

“NOTHING CHANGES WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGES”

1000 YEARS - SYMBOLIC

10 =NUMBER OF COMPLETENESS

3 = NUMBER OF PERFECTIONS

10 MULTIPOLIED BY ITSELF THREE TIMES = 1000

I. DESPITE WHAT YOU SEE THE DEVIL IS DEFEATED

Revelation 20:1 ESV

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

Revelation 20:2 ESV

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

Revelation 20:3 ESV

and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

A. THE LORD IS IN CONTROL OF HIS EVERY MOVE

1. THE DEVIL WAS CREATED AND NAMED BY THE LORD

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER BECAUSE WHEN THINGS CHANGE - THIS REALITY DOES NOT

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

THE DEVIL IS NAMED: DRAGON, SERPENT, DEVIL, SATAN (V2)

Revelation 20:2 (ESV)

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

2. THE DEVIL WAS BOUND BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

3. THE DEVIL WAS RELEASED BY THE DESIGN OF THE LORD

V3D

Revelation 20:7–8 ESV

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:9 ESV

And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

WHY DOES JOHN TELL US OF THIS ORDERED CONTROL OF THE LORD OVER THE DEVIL?

BECAUSE WHEN THINGS CHANGE NOTHING CHANGES

THIS SIGNIFIES THAT THE LORD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERY MOVE THE ENEMY MAKES:

IN THIS WORLD

ON THE CHURCH

IN YOUR LIFE

The enemy is trying to deceive you, not because he wants you to think differently or to simply act differently; he wants you to spend eternity apart from the Lord. BUT WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT NOTHIHG HAS CHANGED - THE DEVIL IS DEFEATED

Destroyed (10-11)

II. DESPITE WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE - THE CHURCH IS / YOU ARE - VICTORIOUS

A. What Is the Victorious Life?

1. They judged righteously (4a)

Revelation 20:4 (ESV)

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.

2. They died for the faith (4b)

Revelation 20:4 (ESV)

Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God...

3. They lived for Christ (4c)

Revelation 20:4 (ESV)

and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.

THESE CAME TO LIFE -

B. The Victorious Is Powered By the Resurrection

Revelation 20:5 (ESV)

“… This is the first resurrection.

The first resurrection takes place the moment you believe in the Lord

At that moment you are raised from death to life

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 3:1 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Therefore:

1. The proof of my eternity is and will be determined by God on the basis of my life in Christ (Rev 20:11-15)

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

Revelation 20:11 ESV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:12 (ESV)

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

The only way to experience the final (second) resurrection of the Lord is to be empowered by the resurrection of Christ - by trusting in Christ - so that the life of God is reflected in my life.

It is not salvation by works but works are the irrefutable evidence of my actual relationship with God”

Romans 2:6 ESV

He will render to each one according to his works:

Romans 2:7 ESV

to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Romans 2:6–7 ESV

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Romans 2:8 ESV

but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Romans 2:9 ESV

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

Romans 2:10 ESV

but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

Romans 2:11 ESV

For God shows no partiality.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

III. IN CHRIST THERE IS NO FEAR OF JUDGMENT