(Revelation 20:1-3) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
Jesus will resurrect those who became believers during the Tribulation who were martyred, and they (with all believers up until this point: those who had been raptured, and those who became believers during the Tribulation who are still alive) will join Jesus as He sets up the Millennial kingdom...
(Revelation 20:4-6) Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and 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 completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Because there will be many, many people born into the Millennium, even though Jesus is right there on earth, and even though there won't be any demonic activity, there will still be those who choose not to become believers. And they will join Satan at the end of the thousand years, thinking that they can challenge God. This battle will be even swifter than Armageddon...
(Revelation 20:7-10) When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
All unbelievers of all time will be resurrected and brought before Jesus at the White Throne Judgment...
(Revelation 20:11-15) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 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.
From this we see:
- Satan is also called the dragon, the serpent of old, the devil (20:2)
- Satan is the deceiver of nations (20:3)
- an angel from heaven will have the key of the abyss on a great chain (20:1)
- the abyss is also called Hades, where the dead await their resurrection and judgment (20:1, 13-14)
- the angel will lock Satan away in the abyss for a thousand years (20:2-3)
- at the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released for a short time (20:3)
- when Satan is released, he will deceive the nations and gather all unbelievers together to wage war against Jesus (20:7-8)
- Satan will be thrown into hell for eternity, where the beast and the false prophet will already be (20:10)
- death and Hades (the abyss), and all unbelievers will be thrown into hell (the lake of fire and brimstone) (20:14-15)
Personal experience: how quickly people are deceived even in very safe, and very wealthy environments. When people have it so good. they do not see the need to be saved, so they think there is no need for God. One can easily start to think that they are responsible for creating such a lovely existence.
Right now, this is one of the deceptions that Satan will try to get people to believe. "I'm already a good person, so I don't need any help in order to get to heaven" - or - "What I'm doing right now is working, so I shouldn't rock the boat."
I've heard about some baseball players who, after they've had a really good game, will think "Okay, so what did I all do that day leading up to the game? - I'm just going to keep doing that every time." These very quickly become superstitions, and someone's personal religion.
Today's takeaway: no matter how much good a person does, it would never be enough to gain salvation or earn their way into heaven. Only through Jesus, can one be saved...
(Isaiah 64:6-7) For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
7 There is no one who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
(Matthew 19:16-26) And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Romans 3:19-26) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
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