Lake of Fire

Introduction

Today we close out Deep State - our series on Satan

So far we’ve seen:

Satan’s creation and fall

His influence at the fall of man (Adam and Eve)

He went after Job, then Jesus

Today, we’re looking at his defeat and ultimate punishment

YouVersion: Lake of Fire

We’re in Revelation 12:7-12 and Revelation 20:1-15

We could easily go through the entire book of Revelation

Satan is a very key player along with the false prophet and the Antichrist

But I think his defeat is the most important part

Before we jump to the text, let’s read a reminder of what we saw in week 1

If you missed it, it might be helpful to go back and watch

Revelation 12:1–5 ESV

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

Remember, there is important imagery here about the big picture

The woman with 12 stars is Israel

She’s giving birth to Jesus the Messiah

Satan fell, taking 1/3 of the angels to be demons

On earth, Satan is waiting to destroy the child

Massacre of the Innocents, Jesus being tempted, the crucifixion

The child is to rule the nations BUT

He was caught up to God an His throne

After resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven

This is where Jesus is now - this is present day

What is He doing in heaven?

John 14:2–3 ESV

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jesus kingdom is already established in our hearts...

But Jesus will also someday rule the nations as king

Now, Satan lost his position in heaven

However, he still returns and interacts with the Father

Remember, we saw that in the book of Job

Let’s go to our text and see how this plays out

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

At some point, Michael and Satan throw down

It should be known, Michael is mentioned by name in four places in Scripture

Here in Revelation, Daniel 10, Daniel 12, and Jude

Every time, he is ready for battle

Michael is the only angel in Scripture described as the archangel (lead or chief)

However, the apocryphal book of Tobit is recognized as “inspired” by the Catholic church

This book says there are 7 archangels who stand before the Lord

Catholic church says Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (from Tobit) are 3 of 7

The only one we know for sure is Michael is the archangel

I mentioned thinking Jesus/Satan being opposites is not true

Satan is not God’s opposite

Actually, the best opposite of Satan would probably be Michael

Satan leads the fallen angels, Michael leads the heavenly angels

This isn’t the first time they have issues

In Jude 9, Michael and Satan dispute over Moses’ body

We don’t know exactly what happened, but there was a tussle

There is a war in heaven - Satan and his demons lose and are stuck on the earth

This is not modern day, this is during the future tribulation

The Tribulation is a 7 year period in the future where Satan is on the earth

And he is going to wreak all the havoc he can - watch this:

Revelation 12:10–12 ESV

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

This will be a great day for mankind

Satan will lose his audience in heaven

At this point, Satan cannot accuse us anymore

BTW, this is a small piece of evidence for the rapture

The Church is not on earth and so Satan couldn’t accuse these people anymore

There is no accusation for the saints, but it says “woe to you, O earth and sea”

However, the Saints rejoice because we have conquered!

Not by ourselves, but by the blood of the Lamb - Jesus Christ

Now Satan is out of heaven and stuck on the earth, and he is ANGRY

He takes out his great wrath on the earth because he only has 7 years (actually down to 3 1/2)

Let’s jump to Rev. 20 and see the next phase of Satan’s story:

Revelation 20:1–3 ESV

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 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.

An unnamed angel (not Jesus or the Father) chains him up and imprisons him

This is the 3rd fall of Satan - the fall into the bottomless pit

Some people think this is now - I don’t see how it can be

Why is Satan in the pit? Not a punishment for being naughty...

It is to prevent him from deceiving the nations

Take a look at the nations around us now and ever since Christ ascended… are they deceived?

North Korea believes Kim Jung Un created a star at his birth, doesn’t use the bathroom, and invented the hamburger

I can tell you church, the world is still being deceived by Satan...

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Interesting, Peter wrote that AFTER Jesus’ ascension...

Satan is still at work for the time being

That’s why Scripture gives us so many warnings about him

Notice he must be released for a little while...

Revelation 20:4 (ESV)

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

This is called the Millennial Kingdom

1,000 years Jesus rules the earth with no Satanic influence

The Saints rule with Jesus and the world becomes pretty perfect

Christians will rule with Jesus for 1,000 years

But it’s not actually perfect - watch

Let’s jump ahead to v.7

Revelation 20:7–8 (ESV)

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 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.

This is crazy - when Satan gets out, he organizes a rebellion against God

Jesus reigns wonderfully for 1,000 years, and yet people still rebel when Satan goes back to work

Actually sounds like a repeat of the Garden of Eden...

David Guzik: “For all of human history, man has wanted to blame his sinful condition on his environment. “Of course I turned out the way I did. Did you see the family I came from? Did you see the neighborhood I grew up in?” With the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus, God will give mankind a thousand years of a perfect environment – with no Satan, no crime, no violence, no evil, or other social pathology. But at the end of the 1,000 years, man will still rebel against God at his first opportunity. This will powerfully demonstrate that the problem is in us, not only in our environment.”

This is an intimidating sight

Huge armies will march on Jesus’ kingdom - must be terrifying!

Think of the numbers of people!

Futuristic warfare - tanks, planes, infantry, and it’s like the sand of the sea!

And this army must believe it is going to win - to defeat Jesus!

You would think the world would know better, but this is how good Satan is at deception

Things are looking grim here, but check this out:

Revelation 20:9–10 (ESV)

9 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, 10 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.

Wow, that ended quickly!

The final battle will be over before it begins!

Everyone lines up and fire comes down from heaven

Then, the devil gets his due

We always think of the devil being in hell - this is the moment that happens

He’s not in hell now, it’s not until after all this other stuff!

Right now, Satan is prowling the earth, getting us to sin, and running up to accuse us to God!

We also think of Satan like he created hell and uses it for his torture chamber against us

Actually, it’s a place God created for Satan’s suffering

Some people want to cling to annihilationism

Belief that we don’t suffer in hell, we just disappear and are annihilated

After all, fire burns things up

I would love to believe that church, but I have to go with Scripture here

Satan and his Tribulation cronies suffer day and night, forever and ever

Ultimately, this is where Satan ends up

So what does the post-Satan world look like?

Revelation 20:11 (ESV)

11 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.

This means there is no escaping God’s judgment

Every guilty being on earth and in heaven will want to flee from God - but there’s nowhere to go

Fortunately for us, the wrath of God has been satisfied in Christ’s death

Right now, you may not think much of salvation - maybe even feel entitled to it

If you have the blood of Jesus, you will be so thankful on that day

Revelation 20:12–13 (ESV)

12 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. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

There’s more than just saved/unsaved

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 (ESV)

13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This is not a trial where you argue your position - the facts will be clear as day

This is a sentencing!

Many people will stand before God believe they are good people

I’ve done this, done that, earned this, whatever...

But many people will come to find out their work is nothing

They will be saved, but may find out they missed out on great opportunities

For others, it will be even worse! they may not be saved at all!

Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV)

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

This is a terrifying reality

For all of God’s love, mercy and kindness - He is also a just God

People WILL face that someday - it is not a joke

Every person lands in one situation for eternity

Let that sink in for a minute

You have a choice to make now, and the consequences are eternal

There is no middle ground

Johnny Cash: “How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell. There is a deep, wide gulf; a chasm. And in that chasm there is no place for any man.”

If you don’t know Jesus, you should be terrified

You’re probably not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be

Here is the ultimate cost for that:

Revelation 20:14–15 (ESV)

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

That same place of eternal torment and misery is where people who don’t know Jesus are going

I know we like sermons where everything is hunky dory

But hell is a real place where real people will go someday

Now, many of you may be terrified now, and maybe some of us should be

But I need to say something

Hell is not bad - it’s a place made for things that are bad

Your trash can doesn’t stink, the things in it stink!

God did that for a reason, and that reason is that good will ultimately win!

Here’s the crazy thing - we all deserve to end up with Satan and his demons

And if he gets his way, he’ll drag you down with him!

BUT there’s something we need to know

Revelation 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

This book wasn’t written to scare the mess out of us

The end of this story should give us hope!

Our God is so good and kind, He doesn’t leave it that way!

This isn’t a story of the scary God believers will face one day

It’s a story of the fulfillment of hope that He gave us!

A promise that the death we deserve has been defeated

It’s the revelation that Satan has lost, Jesus has won, and we have a chance to be on His side!

When you look at yourself and the things you’ve done, you’re right to see you’re not good enough!

You might be scared right now, wondering if you’ve done enough to be saved

But when it comes to being saved, we cannot look to ourselves anymore

I cannot stress to you enough, being saved isn’t about you!

It’s what’s been done for you!

If you were in a restaurant and racked up a $10 billion bill, you could not pay it!

But Jesus walked in and paid it for you! All you have to do is accept it!

If you’ve accepted Christ, your debt is paid!

So get up, and follow Him!

The enemy is defeated, death is defeated!

Take your victory in Christ, and live it out in the world everyday