REVELATION 20
THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST
We come now to the aftermath of that great turning point in Earth’s history when Christ has returned and fought the battle of Armageddon. We will now take up the subject of his long anticipated reign on the Earth. The theological term for this future day is the Millennium. This word comes from the Latin word for one thousand. The Greek word is cilia (chilia). It is used six times here in the first nine verses of chapter 20. Some theologians call those who believe that Jesus will literally reign on the Earth for a thousand years, "chiliasts". There are three major theological positions in the Church today in connection with the thousand-year reign of Christ.
1. Post-millennialism This view says that Christ will come after the Millennium. It originated with Augustine who felt that the Church would dominate the world for a thousand years and then, afterwards, Christ would return. Many people hold various forms of post-millennialism. For many years in liberal Christianity, people held a humanistic millennialism that taught man would get better and better until man himself would bring the Kingdom of God on Earth. But they didn't believe Christ would ever literally return. This position was popular early in the twentieth century but lost most of its adherents because of World Wars I and II.
2. Amillennialism This view says that there will be no Millennium. Amillennialists do not believe that Christ will literally reign on Earth, but they do believe in his return. They simply see Christ as coming one day, judging the wicked and then going straight on into the new heavens and the new Earth.
3. Pre-millennialism This position says that Christ will return before the Millennium. It is based on the literal, grammatical, historical interpretation of scripture that takes the words of scripture at their face value. This view says that Christ's return to Earth will be followed by a literal thousand year reign just as the Bible states (Revelation 20:4-5). The pre-millennial view is the correct view, in my opinion, since it alone strictly adheres to consistent principles of Biblical interpretation. In other words, it is based on sound Biblical hermeneutics. If you would like to read up on these all-important principles of Biblical interpretation, you might begin by reading Bernard Ramm's book, Protestant Biblical Interpretation.
The Old Testament is full of prophecies concerning the future millennial reign of Christ on Earth. Before we proceed with our study of chapter 20, it would be well for us to look at one prophet that had a great deal to say about the Millennium, the prophet Isaiah.
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek him, and his resting place shall be glorious. It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon shall obey them. The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; with his mighty wind he will shake his fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams, and make men cross over dry-shod. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt." Isaiah 11
"I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it." Isaiah 41:18 -20
"For the LORD will comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3
"Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Isaiah 55:13
As you can see from Isaiah's words, the Old Testament scriptures speak in no uncertain terms about the glorious and literal reign of Messiah on Earth one day. The Jewish people were, and still are, correct in anticipating it.
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Rev 20:1-3
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 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, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while."
Click here to see the "The Angel with the Chain" picture
Click here to see the "Satan Chained in the Abyss" picture
20:1-3
After the battle of Armageddon, Christ will literally set foot on the Mount of Olives and begin his millennial reign on Earth. As you have it in Zechariah 14:3-4 (KJV)...
"Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east andtoward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and the half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south."
Our text states that the first order of business will be to remove Satan from the Earth and send him to the abyss where he will remain bound for a thousand years. Back in chapter 12, Satan was tossed out of Heaven and restricted to Earth at, or just after, the beginning of the Great Tribulation. You will also remember from chapter 12, it was Michael the archangel who bodily threw Satan and his demons out. I strongly suspect that this angel with a great chain is Michael as well. How Satan will hate that, aye!? His demons will also be confined to the abyss during the Millennium. Isaiah supplies us with that information.
"It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his elders, gloriously." Isaiah 24:21 -23
Our text tells us that the purpose of this confinement is that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. Without Satan around, sin will be restricted to the flesh apart from his instigation and deception. During the Millennium no-one will be able to say, "the Devil made me do it". For a thousand years, the nature of man will be tested and displayed under ideal conditions for all to see it as it truly is. And, once again, man will fail. His total depravity will clearly demonstrate itself apart from any interference or influence from Satan at all (Romans 3:9-18).
Lets consider for a minute the identity of these nations that the Devil will no longer be able to deceive during the Millennium. Who might they be? Jesus said there would be a judgment of the nations that would take place at the beginning of his reign on Earth. As you have it in Matthew 25:31-46...
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you? And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then he will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
This famous passage is probably the most misunderstood and often taken out of context passage in the Bible. Jesus is not talking to the Church here at all. As far as the Church is concerned, there will never be any dividing of saints from non-saints anytime or anywhere. This is not speaking of the Rapture of the Church as is so often preached. Christ specifies that this coming is the one with his holy angels. It is a clear reference to his Second Coming. As you have it in Second Thessalonians 1:7-9...
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God (battle of Armageddon), and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (after the preaching of the 144,000, the two witnesses and God's angel who circumvented the globe) who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power..."
In Matthew 25, Jesus is speaking of the beginning of his millennial reign when those who are still left alive at the end of the Great Tribulation will be gathered before him to be divided as sheep are divided from goats. This is the judgment of the nations. It will be a very unique judgment. The sole criteria for this judgment will be how each individual person has treated Christ's brethren during the dark days of the Great Tribulation. On that basis alone, people will either enter the Millennium or be sent away to the Lake of Fire. In reality, this will be a separating of the remaining Tribulation saints from the remaining wicked earth-dwellers. The righteous, those saints who cared for and helped God's people during the Tribulation, will go on into eternal life, which they already possess. Their actions toward God's people in the Great Tribulation, you see, demonstrated their faith. Real faith always demonstrates itself by good works and the love of the brethren. As you have it in First Peter 1:22 (KJV)...
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"
Many nations will continue to be represented in the Millennium. Both Zechariah and Jeremiah speak about these left-over seed nations that will constitute the new populations of Earth during Christ's reign. As you have it in Zechariah 14:16...
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations (following the Judgment of the Nations cited above) which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."
"At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts." Jeremiah 3:17
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Rev 20:4-6
"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
20:4
Here, we find two different groups of saints who will have important administrative roles during the Millennium.
"Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" 1 Corinthians 6:2
"If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us."2 Timothy 2:12
"And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'; as I also have received from my Father;" Revelation 2:26-27
"So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matthew 19:28 (This speaks of the special position the Apostles, the founders of the Church, will hold in regard to Israel during the Millennium.)
This led to John's exclamation, "Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first resurrection". "They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years". Clearly, both of the above mentioned groups have a part in the first resurrection and will serve Christ on the Earth during the Millennium. Notice they are said to be immune from the second death. Verse 14, defines what that is.
Now, it is important to understand that the first resurrection is not a single event in time. Rather, it designates more than one event. It means the resurrection of all righteous people regardless of when their resurrection might occur. The first resurrection has been called the resurrection of the just as opposed to the second resurrection, which could be called, the resurrection of the damned. Dr. McGee very appropriately likens the first resurrection to a parade. At the beginning of the parade is the Grand Marshal, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the firstborn from the dead. Many others will follow him. Paul writes in Acts 26:23...
"... that the Christ would suffer, that he would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Next in line in the parade of the first resurrection are the dead in Christ who will be resurrected at the Rapture of the Church. As you have it in First Thessalonians 4:16...
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."
After that, still other saints will have their resurrections. There will be the resurrection of pre-Mosaic Old Testament saints (Adam up until Moses). And there will be the resurrection of Israel (Daniel 12:2). And finally, the resurrection of the Tribulation saints. Although we are not given the exact time of these three resurrections in scripture, nevertheless it is certain they will take place at or near the end of the Great Tribulation. Daniel, speaking of this resurrection of Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation, says...
"At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:1-2
This prophecy, speaking in the context of the events of the Great Tribulation, places the resurrection of Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation. Godly Israelites, who were under the Old Covenant, will enter Messiah's Kingdom on Earth just as the scriptures promised them. For example, Ezekiel said that David himself would one day enter the kingdom to rule over Israel again.
"Therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." Ezekiel 34:22-24 (KJV)
The resurrection of pre-law saints also will occur at the second coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. Job fills in this piece of the puzzle for us where he says...
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me (i.e. 'frightened out of his wits')." Job 19:25-27
20:5
The text says, "the rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished". All other people who have died from Adam's day to the last day who did not have a part in the first resurrection will not be resurrected until the thousand years are finished. These people will not experience their resurrection until all the ranks of the wicked of all time are filled. Many such, I'm sorry to say, will die during the reign of Christ on Earth. This resurrection is called, by default, the second resurrection. It will consist only of wicked humanity from all of human history. We will see its sobering account at the end of this chapter.
20:6
Without comment, let's simply read again this wonderful verse again. "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
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Rev 20:7-10
"Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and 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 sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where [NU inserts] also the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Click here to see the "Satan Loosed and Gathering the Nations to War" picture
For a thousand years, the Earth will experience unprecedented peace and righteousness under the benevolent but strict reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. I say strict because that is what egocentric sinners will continue to require. This is why our text says the Lord will rule them with a rod of iron. Saved sinners will enter the Millennium but multitudes of unsaved sinners will be born during the Millennium. These offspring will possess the same sin nature that mankind has always had. They will need to be saved and sanctified by faith in the Son of God just as people need to be today. Death will also be in the Millennium but, according to the scripture, it will be rare. Isaiah speaks of the world being repopulated and having longevity restored in the Millennium. He prophesied that life spans would once again be as they were in the days of Methuselah, who lived 969 years (Genesis 5:25-26). As you have it in Isaiah 65:20-21...
"No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit."
Undoubtedly, by the end of the Millennium, there will once again be billions of people on Earth . However, as Isaiah says, "But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed". This statement makes it clear that for many, a thousand years of righteousness and absolute justice will wear very thin indeed. To those people, there will probably be nothing worse in their thinking than having to live one more day under the righteous rule of Christ. Zechariah was referring to people of this ilk when he said...
"And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles." Zechariah 14:17-18
This is an example of the use of Christ's rod of iron.
20:7-8
We come here to an amazing prophecy to consider. We read that after the thousand years has expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations. Why would Christ do that? Someone has said, "Well, if you can tell me why God turned him loose the first time, I'll tell you why he turns him loose the second time!" I believe, however, that there is ample evidence here as to the "why" of Satan's release. When he is released from the abyss at the end of the Millennium, this great archenemy of God will go forth like an giant evil magnet to draw and assemble all of the world’s malcontents to one last desperate rebellion against Christ. Incredible as it sounds, once more, armies will march against the Holy City and against our blessed Lord, just as the armies of their ancient forefathers had done a thousand years before at the great battle of Armageddon. It is at this precise point in time that Psalm 2 actually fits and is fulfilled.
"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath, and distress them in his deep displeasure: yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in him."
Our text says, when Satan is released, he will go throughout the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Ezekiel's prophecy of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is the greatly amplified version of this future event. It describes this final battle with the Evil One and his armies in great detail. It would be good for us to look at some of it here.
"Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops; many people are with you. Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you. 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: you will say, 'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'; to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land." Ezekiel 38:1-11
Contrary to some, clearly these words can only apply to Satan's final rebellion at the end of the Millennium. Ezekiel continues...
"Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come up against my people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes." "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that my fury will show in my face." "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." Ezekiel 38:15 -16,18,22-23
The next chapter in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 39), has to do with the aftermath of this battle and not the battle of Armageddon as many seem to think. It is clear from Ezekiel 39 that the Millennium itself will continue the perfecting of Israel. Strange as it may sound, many Jews will be born during Christ's thousand year reign who will not understand who Jesus really is. Many of them will not become born again, you see. We are still under the days of the seventh trumpet here, and the mystery of God will only be on the verge of being complete. As for these names, Gog and Magog, there has been much speculation. They refer to specific ancient cities in the territory of what is Russia today. Apparently, these cities will be restored during the Millennium and resume their ancient names.
20:9
From Ezekiel's prophecy, we learn that Satan's final invasion which will surround the beloved city (Jerusalem) will come from the north. At that time, just as Ezekiel predicted and as it is seen here in our text, fire from heaven will consume the enormous army that Satan will have gathered. And we read, "the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are". PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW, Amen? The great tempter, deceiver, murderer and tormentor of the human race will on that exact day be permanently dealt with, never to be heard from again! The Lord Jesus will summarily consign him to the lake of fire and brimstone as easily as he previously deposited the beast and the false prophet there at the battle of Armageddon. Satan's downward spiral will at that time be complete. Having fallen from Heaven to Earth, then from Earth to the Abyss, he will be cast into Lake of Fire and brimstone, his final and eternal abode.
Click here to see the "Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire" picture
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Rev 20:11-15
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before [NU omits "God"] the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
Click here to see the "White Throne Judgment" picture
20:11-12a
After the final rebellion, at least seven months will go by. This is to allot for the time that Ezekiel said would be required to bury the bodies of those who came up against the Lord. As you have it in Ezekiel 39:12 (KJV)...
"And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land."
After that, all that pertains to Christ's millennial kingdom will have been accomplished and the mystery of God will be complete. Then, the dissolving of this present universe and the judgment of the great white throne will take place. As it is described here, "the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them". Peter puts it this way....
"But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which 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 be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?" Second Peter 3:7,10-12
Jesus said...
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35
On the day of which we are reading, these scriptures will be fulfilled. The universe as we know it, will pass away with a great noise. The "Big Bang" theory partially correct ... but they have it backwards. The "Big Bang" comes at the end of the universe not the beginning. It did not create the universe but it will end it!
Then suddenly, like being caught as a thief in the night, the wicked of all time will find themselves resurrected and standing before a great white throne. Theologians speak of this as The Great White Throne Judgment. No unsaved and ungodly person who has ever lived will be absent from this event. Verse 13, says death, hell and the sea delivered up the dead that were in them. That just about covers it, doesn't it? All people from all time who did not have a part in the first resurrection will be raised for judgment before God's great white throne.
I once had a non-Christian friend with whom I discussed this judgment. He found it difficult to believe that God would be able to resurrect bodies from the sea after so many years had elapsed. He argued they would have simply disintegrated. I told him that his god was too small. He then replied, partially in jest but with a disturbing vein of seriousness, "Well, I won't be judged because I'm just not going to show up!" The fact remains however, that unless my college buddy has since come to Christ (and I still pray that he will), he will absolutely have no choice. The day is coming when the heavens and the Earth will pass away with a great noise and he will find himself standing in the midst of all the wicked of all time at this fearful judgment.
20:12b-13
John says, "and books were opened". You can take it to the bank, God keeps track of men's deeds. He needs no book to do so either. These books are for man's benefit. I suspect they will be free to read in them for themselves if they wish. Verse 13, says, "And they were judged, each one according to his works". The works of each person that is summoned to the Great White Throne judgment will be gone over and evaluated meticulously. All will be fair. All will be accurate. Now believe me, friend, I surely never want to stand before Holy God on the basis of my works, do you?! Let me give you a few scriptures as to why.
"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6
"... knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Galatians 2:16
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior: that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5-7 (KJV)
Jesus said...
"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37
The second and third stanzas of that great old hymn , Rock of Ages, says it well:
Lost souls, who find themselves at the Great White Throne Judgment, will quickly discover to their horror, just how inadequate the filthy rags of their own deeds will be before Holy God. On that day, one's evil works and words will be glaring and inescapable. According to Jesus, not only will very wicked, thoughtless, blasphemous or unloving word be brought up, but an explanation will be demanded as well! When the books are opened at the Great White Throne Judgment, men’s puny cases for their own righteousness will evaporate like pitiful puffs of vapor before a hurricane.
Can we step aside here for a moment? Did you notice that sin wasn't mentioned here? Why is that? Well, its because the sin issue was taken care of at the cross. The world has been reconciled to God through the death of his Son. As you have it in I John 2:2..
"And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
God's wrath towards sin has been propitiated (satisfied), brother. It's no longer an issue between God and man. As you have it in II Corinthians 5:18-21...
"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
I repeat, sin is no longer an issue between God and man. The issue today is, "What have you done with my Son?" As you have it in John 3:36...
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
This is why sin is not taken up at the White Throne Judgment ... just works ... followed by the issue of whether or not one's name is found in the Lamb's Book of Life (verse 16). Notice that the destiny of those who will stand before the White Throne will be based solely on the entries in this one all-important book. The only question will be whether or not one's name is or is not found in this book. It will have nothing to do at all with men's works, good or bad. As far as eternal life is concerned, the only thing that God is holding man accountable for is belief in his Son! As you have it in I John. 5:11-12...
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
The books of works were opened first to demonstrate the true nature of each life that chose to exclude and live apart from Christ. This will be fresh on everyone’s mind when the Lamb's Book of Life is opened to fairly determine if any of these wicked people are found there. They will find none written there. Only those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have accepted the gracious gift of God's salvation through his shed blood will have their names written in that book. That's why it’s called the Lamb's Book of Life (verse 8). It is not a book of works as was the others, it is a record of faith. It contains the names of all those who have responded to Christ in faith and are continuing to have their sins washed away in the blood of the Lamb and have received his free gifts of righteousness and eternal life. Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 10:20...
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
The Apostle Paul also speaks of this book.
"And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." Philippians 4:3
Doubtless, it will be a horror beyond description, when these people hear the awful words, "No, Lord, his name ... her name ... is not here." Dear reader, is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? Believe you me, no one will ever enter Heaven on the basis of their good works. Faith in Christ alone that fits one for that holy place. Second Corinthians 5:21 says...
"For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him."
Righteousness is a gift. It fits you for Heaven. It is received from the hand of God by the mercy and grace of God when one places their trust and hope squarely on the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you a real believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you are as righteous as he is! I say that reverently, because I have God's word on it. We believers have been given God’s own righteousness. It has been imputed (counted as our own) to us (Romans 4:21-24). Isn't that wonderful? What a trade, aye? He took our sin, in return we by faith are given Christ's own righteousness. Romans 8:1 says...
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Let me say one more word about the books of works before we leave this subject. These books may also be used to determine the extent of judgment each individual will experience in the Lake of Fire. Not all punishments will be the same. Jesus said that some will have fewer stripes (Luke 12:48). That will be scant consolation, however, to those who must spend eternity in outer darkness.
20:14-15
Finally John says, death and hell were cast into the lake of fire". I like that. My father died a while back and I have come to hate death more than ever. Praise God, it too will be dealt with at the Great White Throne Judgment. There will be no more purpose for death and hell after that, you see. There will be no more dying because there will be no more sinning. Hell, that awful temporary holding place where all the wicked dead are being held today (Luke 16:19-31), will no longer have a purpose either. After the Great White Throne Judgment, all death and judgment will be over. The wicked will have been fairly judged and disposed of and all of Christ's enemies will have been put under his feet, including death and hell. As you have it in First Corinthians 15:25-26...
"For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
NOW ... "THE MYSTERY OF GOD IS COMPLETE" (10:6-7)! We have come to the end of the days of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, you see, and everyone ... and I do mean everyone ... will know who Jesus is! PRAISE GOD FOR THIS GREAT COMING DAY!
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