Tag: Revelation 20
The Devil’s Lake of Fire
Scripture reading for December 26: Revelation 20
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”” Revelation 20:7-10
Every story has a villain and Satan, also known as the devil, is the ultimate villain in God’s Story. The villain was allowed to deceive the nations and blind those who refuse salvation through God’s Son. The devil provided people with a clear choice between God and eternal life or the devil and eternal torment. But he was apprehended and imprisoned in the pit for a thousand years while the saints ruled the earth under Jesus Christ. Jesus’ throne was in the ‘beloved city’ of Jerusalem. He was released from his prison and again was allowed to deceive the nations and those born during the thousand-year reign of Christ. Satan gathers the unbelievers for battle and surrounds the camp of the saints and Jerusalem confident of victory.
But Jesus Christ sends fire from heaven and consumes them. The devil was then thrown into his final place of judgment and eternal torment, the lake of fire and sulfur. The beast or antichrist, and the false prophet were also thrown there to suffer eternal torment. John was shown the ‘Great White Throne”, the place of final judgment by Jesus Christ for those people who had refused the Gospel of grace through faith. Books were opened and each person was judged by his deeds. (Revelation 20:12-15) Those not found in the “Book of Life” were cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternal torment with the devil and his cohorts. This vision of eternal justice and judgment is meant to warn us of the need to choose today.
Have you ever thought of the devil as just a cartoon character who was created just to scare us? Has anyone ever told you they wanted you to go to hell? If these descriptions of hell and those who will go there are true, do you need to make some changes in your life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have stated that You desire none to go to hell or the lake of fire. I have received Jesus Christ as Lord and trust His promise of eternal life in His blessed kingdom. I look forward to the thousand year reign with Jesus in peace on earth. Use me to share the Good News! Amen.
The Thousand Year Reign
Scripture reading for December 30: Revelation 20
Those who have studied Scripture love to look at how God will bring everything on earth and heaven together. Revelation 20 tells us how God will lock up Satan in a pit for a thousand years. He will be bound with a great angelic chain and locked away to keep him from deceiving the nations. It also reveals that the Devil will be loosed again for a short time after that thousand years.
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4
Those believers coming out of the great tribulation through martyrdom were now seated on thrones as judges! This great reversal occurs when Jesus Christ sets up the millennial kingdom. These who had stood firm for Jesus and proclaimed God’s Word now were rewarded as Jesus promised. They had refused the mark of the beast and refused to bow to the religious and political system of Babylon. They now ruled in the Kingdom of Peace with the Prince of Peace!
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved City, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur . .” Revelation 20:7-10
After the thousand years, Satan is again allowed to deceive those who will refuse to accept the truth of Christ Jesus as Lord during this thousand years. Deceived by Satan, these will gather together and surround Jerusalem to challenge Jesus and the saints. This foolish move will bring their destruction by fire and Satan’s return to the lake of fire! At the great White Throne judgment, all rebels and those not written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Sobering truth about our need to remain faithful and humble!
As we end this year, be sure that you know true salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Check your heart and surrender again to the King of kings. Invite Him to lead you into His eternal kingdom coming soon!
Justice is served!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 20
“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 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.” (Revelation 20:1-3) The Abyss is the jail for Satan during the millennial reign. The “jailer” is an angel with a special chain that is able to bind a spirit being!
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4) The faithful and martyred saints are rewarded with resurrection and the kingdom that was promised them! They rule with Christ for a thousand years!
Satan is released for a short time and a final battle after the thousand years. Fire comes from heaven and devours those opposing Jesus! “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10) God is just and true in all His judgments!
Finally, the wicked dead are raised to life and stand before the great white throne with Jesus seated on it. Books are opened and the Book of Life is checked. Each person is judged for their deeds as recorded in God’s perfect books. None written in the Book of Life will be judged here. “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire.” Revelation 20:14) The final and eternal sentence is passed on those who have died in their sins! This is a warning!