STUDY THEME: VICTORY IN JESUS--NOW AND FOREVER
"WHAT ABOUT THE JUDGMENT?" REV. 20: 1-15 4-2-00
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO REVELATION 20.
Our lesson closed last Sunday with the Antichrist leading the Kings of
the earth to do battle against Christ and His armies after the Antichrist
and the False Prophet had been defeated. They will be thrown into the
lake of fire, to be punished forever. Their armies will be killed with
the sword out of Christ's mouth.
The 20th Ch. of Revelation begins with the affirmation that Christ has
defeated Satan, but that after the 1,000 years, he will be set free for a
short time. Once again, the Devil will be permitted to delude humans in
rejecting God.
One final act must be carried out before Christ officially becomes the
"King of kings and Lord of lords" over the remaining inhabitants of the
earth. In vision, John sees an angel having a key to the "bottomless
pit." He is carrying a massive chain.
John writes in Rev. 20: 1-3, "He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of
old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and
he cast him into the bottomless pit" so that Satan "should deceive the
nations no more till the thousand years were finished."
At last, God has removed the destructive spirit of Satan from the affairs
of man. The government of God--bringing peace, prosperity and spiritual
health comes to the human race. Now the wonderful world of tomorrow can
begin.
The 20th chapter of Revelation sketches a brief outline for human beings.
It briefly answers the question people have asked for centuries, "What
happens to the dead who lived and died during the millennia?
Revelation 20 is the most controversial chapter in the Book of
Revelation, for in this chapter John referred to a period of a thousand
years, which in Latin is Millennium. He indicated Satan's being bound for
a thousand years and to Christ's reigning for a thousand years. In
addition, he wrote that resurrected saints will reign with Christ for
this period. Nearly every verse in Ch. 20 has been interpreted in more
than one way by Bible-believing Christians. Mature Bible students
recognize the variety of opinions about future events but do not let
difference of opinion divert them and others from their common faith and
mission. One area of agreement is that a final judgment will occur. At
some point in the future, every person will be judged. The differences
are in the time, place, and number of the judgments. Our lesson today
focuses on what is involved in the final judgment.
In 1 Thess. Paul writes, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumph of
God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." Those who experience the
first resurrection will reign with Christ for a thousand years. Prior to
the Millennium, Satan will be bound; after it, he will be loosed for a
short time. Satan's final rebellion will result in his being cast forever
into the lake of fire. The dead will be raised to stand before the great
white throne to be judged out of the books. Those whose names are not in
the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. We will look at
three of these items in greater detail in todays lesson.
1. PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 4-6.
One of the most treasured subjects in the whole Bible is its indisputable
presentation of life after death. Practically all human beings dream of
walking from death into an eternal state of bliss, but only the Bible
gives authoritative details about it. In fact, it is mentioned so
frequently that if there is no resurrection of the dead, the Bible
becomes unreliable. Every promise to believers concerning an afterlife is
predicated on a bodily resurrection. The expression "the resurrection
from among the dead" is found 49 times in Scriptures. Rev. 20: 4-6 is the
only passage that labels the "beliver's resurrection."
It is important to understand that just as there are two phases to
Christ's second coming--(1) the Rapture of the church and (2) the
Glorious Appearing--so there are three phases to the resurrection of
believers.(1) the Church, (2) seven years later the O.T. saints, and
finally (3) the Tribulation saints. John merges them all together when he
says "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.
This occurs before the Millennium. The raising of the lost at the close
of the Millennium is called "the second death."
Rev. 20: 4 portrays "the souls of those who have been beheaded for their
witness to Jesus." These are the virtuous individuals willing to obey God
at any cost. They often suffer extreme persecution and sometimes death
for their beliefs. They comprise the Church or spiritual nation of God. 1
Peter 2:9 portrays these as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people." The primary emphasis for our study is
that those martyrs will be raised to experience "the first resurrection."
The reward of those in the first resurrection is they are seen ruling
with the Messiah for l,000 years or a millennium of time. In Vs. 4 John
sees thrones for the saints "and judgment was committed to them." They
are said to be "blessed and holy." The saints are now immortal--"over
such the second death has no power." Those who experience the first
resurrection are freed from experiencing the "second death." The "second
death" refers to the condemnation of the wicked. This is also a primary
emphasis in this week's study. The Apocalypse tells us in Vs. 6 they
will be "priests and of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years."
To be a priest, one must be a priest to someone. To "reign" presupposes
one must have subjects over which to rule or teach. To "have judgments"
means these individuals must make decisions about situations that affect
others. Where and over whom the saints carry out these functions is seen
in Zechariah 14: 9 and Daniel 7: 22 & 27. The Hebrew prophets speak of
this as the time when the Messiah rules the inhabitants of earth with
justice, mercy and truth. The conclusion is that the immortal saints
will reign on earth for l,000 years. They will govern and guide humans to
whom salvation is universally made available.
While our primary focus in this lesson is on judgment, we should be aware
that John firmly declared that Christ will return to the earth to
establish His rule or reign. When this occurs, evil's short-lived victory
will be brought to an end and judgment will be meted out. Believers
should rejoice in view of the blessed future in Christ. When life is at
its darkest and all around us things seem to be coming apart, let us
remember the future we can have in Christ and rejoice because of it.
2.PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 7-10.
The Devil will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle
whose number is as the sands of the sea." (Rev. 20:8) The expression
"four corners of the earth," points out the universal nature of this
deception.
It would take a little time for Satan to do his evil work of persuasion.
Revelation does not explain either how he accomplishes his nefarious task
or the exact circumstances of this worldwide rebellion.
Revelation does tell us that Satan will collect a vast army called "Gog
and Magog." They symbolize the population center of the world that unite
for an assault on God's government. They eventually sweep across the
earth and surround "the camp of the saints and the beloved city." This
would refer to Jerusalem and God's people living at peace in the Holy
Land.
Satan fails again. His human soldiers who refuse to accept God's
salvation are destroyed. The Apocalypse tells us in Rev. 20:9, "Fire came
down from God out of haven and devoured them." The devil's gathering of
"God and Magog" is an eerie replay--1,000 years later of the final battle
at Christ's return.
The original war during the Messiah's coming is described in Zecharia 14.
Christ then exterminated the vast army besieging Jerusalem. Satan's human
army is likewise destroyed at the end of the Millennium. Immediately
after God annihilates this enormous horde, Vs. 10 says, "The Devil, who
deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." From this
point on, Satan, and his demons are forever isolated from God and the
resurrected saints. This passage relates to the final destruction of
Satan and his forces. We must hold to the truth that our God and His
Christ will be victorious in this cosmic conflict. In the style of true
prophets, John provided no extensive or lurid details of the final and
complete victory of Christ over Satan. But a detailed description of
Satins being cast into hell is found in Isa. 14:9-17. Those who refuse to
believe in the existence of hell must remember that Jesus Christ believed
in this concept. He said in Matt. 25: 4l " Depart from Me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Unquestionably the Son of God believed and preached that there was a hell
to shun.
Satan's last rebellion also sets the stage for one of the great dramatic
events of the ages--"The Great White Throne Judgment." God's ultimate
aim; and design for the majority of the human race is about to be
fulfilled.
3. PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 11-15.
Although this passage is not pleasant to hear, it is as much the Word of
God as any other portion. John 5:22 says that the father has committed
all judgment to Christ. Because of the perfect unity of the Trinity, it
seems safe to say that all the Godhead will be represented in this
judgment.
John saw the "dead, small and great" stand before God. All these whom
John saw were the lost dead, from wicked Cain to the last one who with
Satan rebelled at the end of the Millennium. Every man and woman who has
rejected Christ is there: those who were drowned in the sea; those who
were eaten by animals; those whose ashes were scattered to the winds of
heaven. God calls them forth, says John, from "death and hell."
The bodies are in the graves, they are dead. Their souls are in Hades;
they are conscious. The graves give up the bodies and Hades gives up the
souls of the lost, and they come together in this last resurrection to
stand before God, there to receive the final word of destiny. Vs. 13 says
"And they were judged, each one according to his works."
This judgment is not arbitrary, but is based on absolute justice. The
record books are opened and every thought, word and deed of these lost
ones is brought forth as evidence of the justice and righteousness which
He (God) is about to meet out to those who have rejected Him. "Why is the
Book of Life brought out here?" you may ask. God had said
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." They
all had their names in the Book of Life. If all these at the Great White
Throne are lost, why is this Book of Life here? The answer is in Vs. 15.
It is God's "double check" on the lost. First they are judged because of
what is written in the book of their deeds, and then they are judged as a
double proof of the righteousness of God by the fact that their names
are missing from those in the Book of Life.
"And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life
was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15.)
This judgment at the Great White Throne concerns the degree of the
eternal punishment of the lost and not the fact of their punishment. The
place of punishment was determined when they died. The moment these lost
ones died, their eternal abode was forever settled. God declares the
degree of punishment that each will receive on the basis of his record.
He will take into account the opportunities each has had to accept
Christ, the amount of light he has enjoyed, the environment in which he
has lived and the degree and amount of his sin.
Every child of God must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give
an account of the things he did after he was saved. Do not confuse the
judgment seat of Christ with the judgment of the Great White throne of
which we are reading today. The judgment seat of Christ will occur before
the Millennium, and there will be only believers there. There will be no
unsaved at the judgment seat of Christ.
Believers will be judged not according to their salvation, for that is
done by grace, but according to what they have done with the light and
the opportunities God has given them. They will be saved, but their
rewards will depend upon the record of their works. The judgment of the
Great White Throne, on the other hand, will occur at the close of the
Millennial Kingdom age, and there will be no believers there. This is the
judgment of the lost.
What the punishment of the unenlightened heathen will be we may not know,
but be assured that God always deals in justice and righteousness. You
may rest assured that God will do everything right.
God's purpose with man is now complete. The Lake of Fire that destroys
the unrepentant wicked sweeps around the earth. The apostle Peter wrote
in II Peter 3:7 "The heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in
store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men."
Peter tells us in II Peter 3:10 that this fiery destruction will purge
the earth of man's works. "The heavens will pass away with a great noise,
and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will burned up."
But that isn't the end of the story of Revelation. Next Sunday we must
consider something called the "new heavens and new earth." That the
subject of Ch. 21.
A.V. DAUGHERTY APRIL 2, 2000.
STUDY THEME: VICTORY IN JESUS--NOW AND FOREVER
"WHAT ABOUT THE JUDGMENT?" REV. 20: 1-15 4-2-00
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO REVELATION 20.
Our lesson closed last Sunday with the Antichrist leading the Kings of
the earth to do battle against Christ and His armies after the Antichrist
and the False Prophet had been defeated. They will be thrown into the
lake of fire, to be punished forever. Their armies will be killed with
the sword out of Christ's mouth.
The 20th Ch. of Revelation begins with the affirmation that Christ has
defeated Satan, but that after the 1,000 years, he will be set free for a
short time. Once again, the Devil will be permitted to delude humans in
rejecting God.
One final act must be carried out before Christ officially becomes the
"King of kings and Lord of lords" over the remaining inhabitants of the
earth. In vision, John sees an angel having a key to the "bottomless
pit." He is carrying a massive chain.
John writes in Rev. 20: 1-3, "He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of
old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and
he cast him into the bottomless pit" so that Satan "should deceive the
nations no more till the thousand years were finished."
At last, God has removed the destructive spirit of Satan from the affairs
of man. The government of God--bringing peace, prosperity and spiritual
health comes to the human race. Now the wonderful world of tomorrow can
begin.
The 20th chapter of Revelation sketches a brief outline for human beings.
It briefly answers the question people have asked for centuries, "What
happens to the dead who lived and died during the millennia?
Revelation 20 is the most controversial chapter in the Book of
Revelation, for in this chapter John referred to a period of a thousand
years, which in Latin is Millennium. He indicated Satan's being bound for
a thousand years and to Christ's reigning for a thousand years. In
addition, he wrote that resurrected saints will reign with Christ for
this period. Nearly every verse in Ch. 20 has been interpreted in more
than one way by Bible-believing Christians. Mature Bible students
recognize the variety of opinions about future events but do not let
difference of opinion divert them and others from their common faith and
mission. One area of agreement is that a final judgment will occur. At
some point in the future, every person will be judged. The differences
are in the time, place, and number of the judgments. Our lesson today
focuses on what is involved in the final judgment.
In 1 Thess. Paul writes, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumph of
God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." Those who experience the
first resurrection will reign with Christ for a thousand years. Prior to
the Millennium, Satan will be bound; after it, he will be loosed for a
short time. Satan's final rebellion will result in his being cast forever
into the lake of fire. The dead will be raised to stand before the great
white throne to be judged out of the books. Those whose names are not in
the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. We will look at
three of these items in greater detail in todays lesson.
1. PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 4-6.
One of the most treasured subjects in the whole Bible is its indisputable
presentation of life after death. Practically all human beings dream of
walking from death into an eternal state of bliss, but only the Bible
gives authoritative details about it. In fact, it is mentioned so
frequently that if there is no resurrection of the dead, the Bible
becomes unreliable. Every promise to believers concerning an afterlife is
predicated on a bodily resurrection. The expression "the resurrection
from among the dead" is found 49 times in Scriptures. Rev. 20: 4-6 is the
only passage that labels the "beliver's resurrection."
It is important to understand that just as there are two phases to
Christ's second coming--(1) the Rapture of the church and (2) the
Glorious Appearing--so there are three phases to the resurrection of
believers.(1) the Church, (2) seven years later the O.T. saints, and
finally (3) the Tribulation saints. John merges them all together when he
says "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.
This occurs before the Millennium. The raising of the lost at the close
of the Millennium is called "the second death."
Rev. 20: 4 portrays "the souls of those who have been beheaded for their
witness to Jesus." These are the virtuous individuals willing to obey God
at any cost. They often suffer extreme persecution and sometimes death
for their beliefs. They comprise the Church or spiritual nation of God. 1
Peter 2:9 portrays these as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people." The primary emphasis for our study is
that those martyrs will be raised to experience "the first resurrection."
The reward of those in the first resurrection is they are seen ruling
with the Messiah for l,000 years or a millennium of time. In Vs. 4 John
sees thrones for the saints "and judgment was committed to them." They
are said to be "blessed and holy." The saints are now immortal--"over
such the second death has no power." Those who experience the first
resurrection are freed from experiencing the "second death." The "second
death" refers to the condemnation of the wicked. This is also a primary
emphasis in this week's study. The Apocalypse tells us in Vs. 6 they
will be "priests and of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years."
To be a priest, one must be a priest to someone. To "reign" presupposes
one must have subjects over which to rule or teach. To "have judgments"
means these individuals must make decisions about situations that affect
others. Where and over whom the saints carry out these functions is seen
in Zechariah 14: 9 and Daniel 7: 22 & 27. The Hebrew prophets speak of
this as the time when the Messiah rules the inhabitants of earth with
justice, mercy and truth. The conclusion is that the immortal saints
will reign on earth for l,000 years. They will govern and guide humans to
whom salvation is universally made available.
While our primary focus in this lesson is on judgment, we should be aware
that John firmly declared that Christ will return to the earth to
establish His rule or reign. When this occurs, evil's short-lived victory
will be brought to an end and judgment will be meted out. Believers
should rejoice in view of the blessed future in Christ. When life is at
its darkest and all around us things seem to be coming apart, let us
remember the future we can have in Christ and rejoice because of it.
2.PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 7-10.
The Devil will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle
whose number is as the sands of the sea." (Rev. 20:8) The expression
"four corners of the earth," points out the universal nature of this
deception.
It would take a little time for Satan to do his evil work of persuasion.
Revelation does not explain either how he accomplishes his nefarious task
or the exact circumstances of this worldwide rebellion.
Revelation does tell us that Satan will collect a vast army called "Gog
and Magog." They symbolize the population center of the world that unite
for an assault on God's government. They eventually sweep across the
earth and surround "the camp of the saints and the beloved city." This
would refer to Jerusalem and God's people living at peace in the Holy
Land.
Satan fails again. His human soldiers who refuse to accept God's
salvation are destroyed. The Apocalypse tells us in Rev. 20:9, "Fire came
down from God out of haven and devoured them." The devil's gathering of
"God and Magog" is an eerie replay--1,000 years later of the final battle
at Christ's return.
The original war during the Messiah's coming is described in Zecharia 14.
Christ then exterminated the vast army besieging Jerusalem. Satan's human
army is likewise destroyed at the end of the Millennium. Immediately
after God annihilates this enormous horde, Vs. 10 says, "The Devil, who
deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." From this
point on, Satan, and his demons are forever isolated from God and the
resurrected saints. This passage relates to the final destruction of
Satan and his forces. We must hold to the truth that our God and His
Christ will be victorious in this cosmic conflict. In the style of true
prophets, John provided no extensive or lurid details of the final and
complete victory of Christ over Satan. But a detailed description of
Satins being cast into hell is found in Isa. 14:9-17. Those who refuse to
believe in the existence of hell must remember that Jesus Christ believed
in this concept. He said in Matt. 25: 4l " Depart from Me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Unquestionably the Son of God believed and preached that there was a hell
to shun.
Satan's last rebellion also sets the stage for one of the great dramatic
events of the ages--"The Great White Throne Judgment." God's ultimate
aim; and design for the majority of the human race is about to be
fulfilled.
3. PLEASE READ REVELATION 20: 11-15.
Although this passage is not pleasant to hear, it is as much the Word of
God as any other portion. John 5:22 says that the father has committed
all judgment to Christ. Because of the perfect unity of the Trinity, it
seems safe to say that all the Godhead will be represented in this
judgment.
John saw the "dead, small and great" stand before God. All these whom
John saw were the lost dead, from wicked Cain to the last one who with
Satan rebelled at the end of the Millennium. Every man and woman who has
rejected Christ is there: those who were drowned in the sea; those who
were eaten by animals; those whose ashes were scattered to the winds of
heaven. God calls them forth, says John, from "death and hell."
The bodies are in the graves, they are dead. Their souls are in Hades;
they are conscious. The graves give up the bodies and Hades gives up the
souls of the lost, and they come together in this last resurrection to
stand before God, there to receive the final word of destiny. Vs. 13 says
"And they were judged, each one according to his works."
This judgment is not arbitrary, but is based on absolute justice. The
record books are opened and every thought, word and deed of these lost
ones is brought forth as evidence of the justice and righteousness which
He (God) is about to meet out to those who have rejected Him. "Why is the
Book of Life brought out here?" you may ask. God had said
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." They
all had their names in the Book of Life. If all these at the Great White
Throne are lost, why is this Book of Life here? The answer is in Vs. 15.
It is God's "double check" on the lost. First they are judged because of
what is written in the book of their deeds, and then they are judged as a
double proof of the righteousness of God by the fact that their names
are missing from those in the Book of Life.
"And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life
was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15.)
This judgment at the Great White Throne concerns the degree of the
eternal punishment of the lost and not the fact of their punishment. The
place of punishment was determined when they died. The moment these lost
ones died, their eternal abode was forever settled. God declares the
degree of punishment that each will receive on the basis of his record.
He will take into account the opportunities each has had to accept
Christ, the amount of light he has enjoyed, the environment in which he
has lived and the degree and amount of his sin.
Every child of God must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give
an account of the things he did after he was saved. Do not confuse the
judgment seat of Christ with the judgment of the Great White throne of
which we are reading today. The judgment seat of Christ will occur before
the Millennium, and there will be only believers there. There will be no
unsaved at the judgment seat of Christ.
Believers will be judged not according to their salvation, for that is
done by grace, but according to what they have done with the light and
the opportunities God has given them. They will be saved, but their
rewards will depend upon the record of their works. The judgment of the
Great White Throne, on the other hand, will occur at the close of the
Millennial Kingdom age, and there will be no believers there. This is the
judgment of the lost.
What the punishment of the unenlightened heathen will be we may not know,
but be assured that God always deals in justice and righteousness. You
may rest assured that God will do everything right.
God's purpose with man is now complete. The Lake of Fire that destroys
the unrepentant wicked sweeps around the earth. The apostle Peter wrote
in II Peter 3:7 "The heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in
store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men."
Peter tells us in II Peter 3:10 that this fiery destruction will purge
the earth of man's works. "The heavens will pass away with a great noise,
and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will burned up."
But that isn't the end of the story of Revelation. Next Sunday we must
consider something called the "new heavens and new earth." That the
subject of Ch. 21.
A.V. DAUGHERTY APRIL 2, 2000.