Last Things 4 - The Millenium - Part 2
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Psalm 39:1–3 (ESV)
1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” 2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. 3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
Revelation 20:1–15 (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. 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 worshipped 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. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Introduction
Last week we began to study this chapter but only looked at the first two sections. Today we look at the next two sections. Once again I stress the importance of this chapter in our understanding of the Last Things.
The Binding of Satan v1-3
The Reign of the Saints v4-6
The Final Conflict v7-10
The Great White Throne v11-15
3. The Final Conflict v7-10
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (I. From the Binding of Satan to the Final Judgement)
A very brief period of most severe persecution: Satan marshals the army of Gog and Magog against the Church. This is the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:16).
4. The Great White Throne v11-15
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (I. From the Binding of Satan to the Final Judgement)
The one and only second coming of Christ in judgement.
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1 - The Final Conflict v7-10
1 - The Final Conflict v7-10
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. 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.
a. Release v7
a. Release v7
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7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
When the thousand years are finished, Satan is released from his prison. Then it becomes very clear that the final and most terrible persecution, by means of which antichristian forces are going to oppress the Church, is instigated, in a most direct manner, by Satan himself. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 193). Baker Books.
b. Gog and Magog v8-9
b. Gog and Magog v8-9
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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. 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,
We reject the following interpretations of Gog and Magog:
a. That they symbolise the most distant nations, e.g., China, Japan, India, which will attack the Christian nations in physical warfare.
b. That the same nations will wage a spiritual warfare—the culture and religion of the far away nations invading Christian nations.
Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Baker Books.
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Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
Not certain where it is situated.
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6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT King of Macedon from 331–323 bc. One of the greatest military conquerors of all time.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes [manifest as God] - 175-164 BC
Antiochus IV is known for his harsh attempts to Hellenise Judea and Jerusalem, and for his desecration of the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus sought to unify the diverse Seleucid territories by instituting a shared culture of Hellenism. He was aided in this initiative by Jason, the brother of the high priest Onias III, who bought the high priesthood from Antiochus. Because of Jason and Menelaus’ fight for the high priesthood, Antiochus and his army attacked Jerusalem in 169 BC, resulting in the slaughter of many people. Following this attack, Antiochus entered and looted the temple.
Two years later, Antiochus dispatched Apollonius with 22,000 men and attacked Jerusalem on the Sabbath, resulting in the death of much of the male population. He banned all Jewish rights and rededicated the temple to Zeus.
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Daniel 11:31 (ESV)
31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
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15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Returning now to the second application of the prophecy, namely, to the days just previous to Jerusalem’s fall (A.D. 70), when the Roman armies would arrive and desecrate “the holy place,” that is, the soil which, together with its “holy city” and “holy Temple,” had been historically consecrated to the Lord, Jesus warns his followers that when this occurs those in Judea should “flee to the hills.” Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Vol. 9, p. 858). Baker Book House.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
The Jewish Wars began in 66 A.D. and they were a direct revolt by the Jews against Rome’s authority. Titus with his Roman legions arrived at the outermost northern Wall of Jerusalem, the Passover of 70 A.D. The Romans built embankments of earthenwork, they placed battering rams and the siege began.
General Titus, later to become Roman Emperor
In AD 70 the Roman army lead by General Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple leaving only the outer retaining wall of the Temple known today as the Wailing Wall where Jews and others of faith place small pieces of paper containing personal requests into the crevices of the 65-foot high wall, hoping for answers to their prayers.
The book of Revelation uses this period of affliction and woe as a symbol of the final attack of Satan and his hordes upon the Church. Observe the resemblance. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 193). Baker Books.
Speaking of Gog and Magog
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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,
Finally, remember that the defeat of the armies of Syria—that is, of Gog and Magog—was most unexpected and most complete. It was clearly the work of God. Also for that reason the onslaught of Gog and Magog against Israel could serve as an excellent symbol of the final struggle of the godless world against the Church. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 194). Baker Books.
c. The Devil Judged v10
c. The Devil Judged v10
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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.
The first beast comes up out of the sea. The second arises from the land. The first is Satan’s hand. The second is the devil’s mind. The first represents the persecuting power of Satan operating in and through the nations of this world and their governments. The second symbolises the false religions and philosophies of this world. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Helpers of the Dragon (13:1–18))
In 14:8 a third agent is mentioned, namely, Babylon, the harlot. So, in all, three agents are employed by Satan in his attack upon the earth. They are antichristian persecution, antichristian religion, and antichristian seduction. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Helpers of the Dragon (13:1–18))
Revelation 13:1 (ESV)
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Revelation 13:11 (ESV)
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
We have here one and the same battle. It is the battle of Armageddon in all three cases. It is the final attack of antichristian forces upon the Church. The ‘new’ thing which Revelation 20 reveals is what happens to Satan as a result of this battle. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 195). Baker Books.
They all go down together, Satan, the beast and the false prophet. This must be true, for the beast is Satan’s persecuting power, and the false prophet is Satan’s antichristian religion. Wherever Satan is, there are also the other two. In this lake of fire and brimstone all three are tormented for ever and ever (Mt. 25:46). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 195). Baker Books.
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41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:46 (ESV)
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
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2 - The Great White Throne v11-15
2 - The Great White Throne v11-15
rev20 11-15
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. 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. 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.
a. The Throne v11
a. The Throne v11
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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.
Christ’s coming in judgement is vividly described. John sees a great white throne. Upon it is seated the Christ (Mt. 25:31; Rev. 14:14). From His face the earth and the heaven flee away. Not the destruction or annihilation but the renovation of the universe is indicated here. It will be a dissolution of the elements with great heat (2 Pet. 3:10); a regeneration (Mt. 19:28); a restoration of all things (Acts 3:21); and a deliverance from the bondage of corruption (Rom. 8:21). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 195–196). Baker Books.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
b. Judgement v12-13
b. Judgement v12-13
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Revelation 20:12 (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.
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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.
c. Condemnation v14-15
c. Condemnation v14-15
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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.
Therefore, symbolically speaking, Death and Hades—now personified—are hurled into the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was also flung into the fiery lake. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 196). Baker Books.
Conclusion
The Church in Sardis
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Revelation 3:5–6 (ESV)
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’