May 14, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Revelation? Here’s today’s reading:
Revelation 20 (NIV)
The Thousand Years
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time..........Continue Reading
I believe in a literal, 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, preceded by His second coming, concluded by the decimation of Gog & Magog, and with the end of time, the Great White Throne.
There is a first resurrection, souls collected by Jesus at his coming. Souls who witnessed for Jesus who were murdered during the tribulation by wicked men. They live and reign with Jesus. There is a final resurrection, the resurrection in the last day. Martha expected Lazarus to see that day, and he will. All who ever lived, died will stand before God.
Thy kingdom come! Surely I come quickly.
Revelation 20 is the end of death and evil. Death swallowed up in victory! Mortality shall have put on immortality, corruption has put on incorruption.
Beast & false prophet enter eternal hell at the second coming. Satan joins them in Rev. 20 at the end of time. Revelation 20 clears the way for a new heaven and earth. Peace! What a refreshing review of Revelation! -Gordy
The more I study Revelation, the more I come to realize my own ignorance and misconceptions carried as a Christian. I do not have all the answers I WANT TO HAVE ANSWERED [EMPHASIS MINE]. I want to understand prophecy where everything makes PERFECT sense. I’d like the old and new testament to spell exactly what happens and when.
Revelation study on Saturday mornings with Mike D and the group, this daily study, and my own independent at home, helped me to understand, that Scriptures are given as truth in every statement, and not necessarily as I will ever understand it. I just give it up to the Holy Spirit, it is truth, accept it as much as I can, let it mold me to follow Christ more wholly today, than yesterday.
What a terrific study! Peace on Mother’s day. -Gy
The start of the millennial reign Satan is bound with a chain and cast into the bottomless pit for a 1,000 years. After this he will be set free for a limited time. People will still have a chance to repent and come to Christ. How loving and merciful is our God. Even now giving people that are still alive to come to Him. This will be their final chance to come to Christ. God will now open the books and another book which is the book of life. Those that are written in the book of life will be with Jesus forever. Those not found will be cast into the lake of fire. Also death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire. These other books must be records of every person throughout history that rejected Christ. For the Old and New Testaments do tell of Christ by the prophets starting in the book of Genesis. [ Genesis 3; 15 I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise the head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.] I can`t wait to see my loved ones who are already in heaven. Like my sister Susan and my mom. There will also be those that we shared Jesus with that we lead to the Lord and perhaps many others that we shared Jesus with or gave a gospel tract to. Maybe didn`t have an opportunity to do these things but prayed for their salvation. Maybe being a chain of many sharing with an person over time, Sometimes God will give many chances to hear the gospel. As Paul says sometimes we plant the seed and others lead a person to Jesus. We all have our part in sharing the good news with others. As children [ my sister, brother, and myself ] listened to Billy Graham on t. v. on a regular basis. Including the great hymns and solos by George Beverly Shea. We also went to church with our mom and we were taught the Bible stories in both testaments so we had a foundation of God, Jesus the son of God who died on the cross for all people. But in our church we were never taught that we could have a personal relation with Jesus. So take heart to those who teach Sunday school or Awana`s our students are listening. Parents and grandparents also be encouraged for God says that His word doesn`t come to him void. In regards to our family we all found Christ Jesus at separate times. Now as a grandparents [ Melodye and myself ] pray for our children and grandchildren to come to Jesus and walk with Him as Lord and Savior. God bless all.
Well said Gordon! Sometimes Revelation can be a hard read and we want exact time lines, dates, and confirmations of what we can expect. I read it knowing that if I hold true to His word, His promises, and obey His commandments whatever part of end times I am facing or will face I will have Him with me and I will endure to end much greater than any temporary pain I might face here on earth!
Revelations 20 The dead are judged, sounds like we will all stand before the throne even the people who are in hell and we are all judged according to what we have done and for anyone who’s name isn’t written in the book it will be their second death and they will be thrown into the lake of fire. It’s so important to share the word with unbelievers no one wants that for their loved ones we want them to share in the glory, the victory.
Chapter 20 vs 11-15. Certainly sounds like we are held in hades or asleep until this judgement happens. Very controversial topic. Doesn’t matter to me at all. My name is written in the book of life. Jesus you are everything to me! The new heaven and a new earth what will it look like and where will it be?? A glimpse of heaven Impossible to describe. Light shinning everywhere. Every question you have answered in less than a split second. A voice that does not speak but fills your thoughts. River of love peace joy and freedom flowing like a wave of clear honey engulfing your body till it is about to burst. . Senses are so alive you can’t describe. Sinful nature and satan have been removed. Forever to have this is beyond all we can imagine.
Paul tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And so for us, we die, we are in God’s presence, the rapture units us with our new spiritual body, we face the bema seat judgment where our works are tested, and then some believe we are part of the army that returns with Jesus and/or rule with Him in the millennial reign. The great white throne judgment is not for us.
Thanks for that concise summary, Pastor. That is my general understanding of the timeline as well.
Revelation 20
It is interesting to consider what life on earth will be like without satan being around. And how nice it will be for Jesus to reign with martyred saints from the tribulation and possibly others for a thousand years. It will show all those in human history who blamed government for their unbelief to see even with just and righteous government, once satan is loosed, those numbering the sands on the sea shore will still come to oppose Him. But after this brief spell of deception and opposition to God, the ancient enemy will be put in the place that was made for him, the lake of fire. And then comes the final judgment for those who didn’t believe in all ages preceding the tribulation as well as all those who died during the tribulation and the millennial reign. And most certainly the reality and nature of this final abode for all those who reject Jesus should make us very passionate about sharing our faith. It is unfortunate the hearts of people will become harder and harder as time goes on.
It’s interesting to think about the first and second death and the first and second resurrection.
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
First death – regular bodily death.
First resurrection – the rapture of believers and the resurrection of the Tribulation saints?
Second resurrection – after the 1,000 years, all the dead rise to judgment. Those not in the book of Life (in Jesus) are judged by their works – the Second death.
Amy, I know we are way past Revelation in this study, but I read your comments, and they struck me as critical thought. You are a deep thinker!
This is what I read from Scripture. Acts 17:11.
BLUF: The first resurrection is reserved for those who suffered the great tribulation at the day when Jesus Christ returned the second time to remain on earth.
There will also be a final resurrection at the last day, separate from the 1st. Rev. 20
Rev. 20:4 indicates a vision of souls who were beheaded, who gave witness to Jesus, who refused the mark of the beast, sitting on thrones of judgment, and with Jesus literally on this earth, they reigned 1000 years. A favorite memory verse!
Timing of the 1st resurrection saints? See 19:11ff shows Jesus Christ on earth, His second coming. There will be an army with Him. Who is this army? There will be battle, and defeat of the beast & false prophet. Ezekiel 38. Read what happens to the corpses of those who opposed Christ. Ezekiel 39. The tribulation is over. Jesus, all saints, and these souls resurrected reign on earth!
Jude 14, 15, Enoch prophesied the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints. 2nd coming.
Timing of 2nd coming? Matthew 24. After great treat tribulation shall the Son of Man return, angels gather his elect, 24:27-31. See 24:28 and consider Rev 19. One might think eagles are in the air, perhaps with “bodies”. Who are they? They are corpses, dead, slain. The birds are eating carrion. Read Rev 19:17 & 18.
What will it be like? Like the days of Noah, Mt 24:37-51. Two people, one left, one taken. Question: When Noah entered the ark, who was left? Who was taken?
Don’t be upset that you do not know the answer; the disciples asked that very question. Where will they be taken? Jesus answered: “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.” Read Luke 17, 21, and Mark 13 for comparison and confirmation. Rev 1:7, nations will wail when Jesus comes again in the clouds.
Eagles gather where the corpses lie. And that is where the others are “taken” at the Second Coming of Christ.
Of the saints and murdered souls at the 2nd Coming? Are they not gathered from the four corners of heaven and earth? Did not Paul assure the Thessolanicans that at the 2nd coming, Jesus would first gather the dead in Christ? (Rev 20:4) Shall the resurrected dead, and saints at His coming not be with Jesus forever, on earth? Unless I endure the tribulation, I do not expect to be there.
Of Martha, concerning Lazarus, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11. The first resurrection is not the last day, for there will be a millennium of days following. When the heavens and earth flee away, without a place to exist, that will be the last day. Rev 20:11. No need for sun, moon, stars. Time without meaning or division. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Satan, death and hell are forever consigned to eternal separation from God. I Corinthians 15 speaks of this day. My dear loved ones in Christ, with Lazarus, with me if I die before the tribulation, will finally see that day together. Rev. 20:11-15 demands a final resurrection of all to stand before God.
To be clear:
I believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He stays on earth. I see no evidence He comes in clouds and goes back to heaven.
I believe in the first and second “final” resurrection, “book ends”, as it were, around the Millennial Reign. Rev. 20
I believe time ends on Judgment Day, the “last” resurrection.
I believe the last enemy to be destroyed is Death, at the last day, at the fervent destruction of the universe. II Peter
I believe God is all-merciful, and wants every soul to be saved, and He has and does call everyone, not just a few. This is His preordained plan before the world began.
I believe Jesus will come quickly, as the ancient church believed, and it is unwise for me to live as though he will not.
Peace to all, gordy, your comments welcome!
Thanks, Gordon
I believe in the rapture of the church before the tribulation as explained in Thessalonians 4 and 5 and John 14.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
There are many other indications that the church is not part of the tribulation, that it is the 7th week designated for the Jews. There will be those who become believers during the tribulation, but that is not the church at that point.
I meant 70th week.