Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Our study of Revelation has brought us to the last three chapters.

We saw the introduction to the book and Christ’s message to the seven churches.

Chapter 4-5 in the throne room revealed Jesus Christ as one who is worthy.

We spent the next 14 chapters looking at what takes place during the Tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel.

Now as we come to chapter 20 there is information that covers 1000 years.

Five events are recorded by John in Revelation chapter 20

Satan is bound vs. 1-3

An angel comes down from heaven bringing with him the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

He then lays hold of Satan and there are four names given here vs. 2

Dragon - used throughout Revelation

Serpent - Genesis 3

Devil - slanderer

Satan - one who opposes God

vs. 3 cast into the bottomless pit… cannot deceive the nations.

Some claim the binding or chaining of Satan took place on the cross.

It is true the defeat or decisive victory over satan took place on the cross.

He had his sentence given but it is not yet in effect.

James Gray (as quoted by Wiersbe) “If Satan is bound today, it must be with a terribly long chain!”

Peter gives us the idea that Satan is free to roam.

I Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Paul seemed to agree.

Ephesians 6:10-18 “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all pers…”

If there is no literal millenium, how is Satan bound?

If we are living in the spiritual kingdom, why is Satan given this freedom?

Bottomless pit - Abyss - it is where teh locust like demons are released from in Rev. 9:3.

Some angels have been held there Jude 6 “6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” II Peter 2:$

What kind of chain would hold a spirit like Satan?

Whatever John sees...

Vs. 3 Satan will be loosed for a little while - more on this in verses 7-10.

The Reign of Christ with His Saints vs. 4-6

The phrase “One Thousand Years” is used six times in these 7 verses.

We refer to this period as the Millenium, (mille = 1000; annum = year).

“At last, Christ and His church will reign over the nations of the earth, and Israel will enjoy the blessings promised by the prophets (see Isa. 2:1–5; 4:1–6; 11:1–9; 12:1–6; 30:18–26; 35:1–10).

(Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 619.)

Is this literal or spiritual?

Literal would take place on the earth with Christ on earth.

The spiritualized would apply to the church and the idea that Christ is reigning from heaven through the church and his people.

The idea of no literal kingdom , no millenium is referred to as amillennial.

Who is reigning with Christ?

Believers vs. 4 I saw thrones and they sat on them.

Who is they?

Who has been promised to reign with Christ?

Believers!

Rev. 1:6 “6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen.”

Rev. 2:26-27 “26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;” Rev. 5:10 “10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.””

I Cor.

6:2-3 “2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?

How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

Daniel 7:22 “22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”

Luke 22:30 “30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.””

Mt. 25:21-23 “21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of your lord.’

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

Tribulation saints who are risen.

vs. 4b Rev. 6:9-11 “9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

Rev. 7:9-14 “9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen!

Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Rev. 13:7 “7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”

Rev. 14:12-13 “12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’

” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.””

Rev. 19:2 “2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.””

One difficulty with spiritualizing this is the resurrection of martyrs from the dead...

What should be expected in the Millennium?

Peace - Isa. 2:4 “4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Isa 9:7 “7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Isa 11:6-10 “6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. 10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.””

cf.

Isa.

32:17, 18 ; 54:13; 65:25; 66:12; Ez. 34:25-26; Micah 4:1-3; Zechariah 9:10 ;

Righteousness - Isa. 1:26-27 “26 I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning.

Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.”

Isa 4:2-4 “2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.

3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,” Isa 35:8-10 “8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.

The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others.

Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.

9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there.

But the redeemed shall walk there, 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads.

They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

cf.

Isa 65:20; Jer.

31:23; Zeph 3:13; Zech.