Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:01 — 23.2MB)

Revelation #41          

            Hello dear friends, hope you’ve all been peaceful in the Lord during the week. Today we continue our study of the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. If you don’t know the book of Revelation, you’re missing out on all that the Old Testament has to say. If we don’t know the Old Testament, we don’t know how good and blessed the words revealed in the New Testament are, because the Old Testament relates to things to come, not just events in the past. Our Lord said that the word of God is spirit and life, and we need to read, hear, and know from Genesis to Revelation, to truly understand what the whole Bible is all about. Just as you put the puzzle pieces together to see the whole picture, you also have to know the entire Bible. God gave us one single book, the Holy Bible for us to read during our lifetime of 70 to 80 years on earth. If we do not know all of the Bible, what will we say when we stand before the Lord? The Bible tells us In Hebrews 4, that we’ll stand naked and be judged with every word of God.

            Let’s continue with Revelation 20, as it contains very important prophecy about the millennium. ¶ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (Revelation 20:1 KJV) It’s a literal chain, but it’s not the chain we see at a hardware store. This may be something we’ve never seen before. It has to be very powerful. (2 Peter 2:4 KJV) shows us the chain: For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (Revelation 20:2 KJV) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, In chapter 20, the phrase thousand years appears six times in verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Interestingly, this shows that before Satan was bound, the history of mankind, when Adam sinned and the god of the world ruled, would have lasted 6,000 years. Scientific truth accompanies the great prophetic truth, which, as spoken through the apostle Peter, ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 KJV) The Bible says the earth will be here for 7,000 years, and the seventh period of the millennium is the time to rest. It’s the sabbath. The word is also mentioned in Isaiah 14:7, and God created this earth in 6 days as we see in Genesis. And he rested on the seventh day, says Genesis 2:1. So this earth has had war and bloodshed for 6,000 years, and the final thousand years will be a period of  rest, which is also the Sabbath mentioned in Hebrews. Hebrews 3:18 speaks of the rest in the land of Canaan, which the ancient Jews came out of Egypt and entered through Joshua. Hebrews 4:4 is the rest after creation. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of the thousand-year rest, which refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ. Of course, the rest of the saints is found in Hebrews 4:9,10, and this verse also applies to the thousand-year rest  of the saints. This thousand-year period is one of the most important doctrines of God’s Word. It’s very important. The amillennialists who believe there is no millennial reign, that Jesus will not return to reign on this earth, or the postmillennialists, who claim that another vicar, the head of the Roman Catholic Church will rule on this earth for the next millennium, are biblically blind, deaf and mute. The Lord did say that the blind lead the blind. The premillennial system of Jesus Christ coming to earth and reigning for a thousand years is the only complete, intelligent, and rational approach to the New Testament. Unfortunately, many scholars whp have been heavily influenced by phoilosophy claim that the thousand years should not be taken literally. If a thousand years is not literal, why did God mention it six times? He is a God who does not repeat meaninglessly in vain. He also told us not to repeat vain meaningless repetitions. Many commentaries speak of a thousand years as an indefinite period. If the thousand years is an indeterminate period, when did that period begin? Does that mean there is no beginning? The heads of the Roman catholic, Popes, priests, and some heads of denominations say that the thousand years began at the first coming of Christ. Then shouldn’t the devil have already gone to the bottomless pit? If this were true, that is, if Satan were bound, there would be peace and no war in the current world.

            Even through the apostle Paul, the Bible warns us about the endtimes in (2 Timothy 3:2-4 KJV) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; How could this be if Satan was imprisoned in the bottomless pit? Satan is still looking for someone to devour like a roaring lion. Therefore, The Biblical doctrine will be a giant mess if we look at the binding of Satan in Revelation 20 as the time of the First Coming. Therefore, postmillennium claims the world will get better because the Pope will rule on behalf of Christ. This can be seen as an evolutionary doctrine conjured up by the Roman Catholics. But the world isn’t getting better. Our Lord said that when tares and wheat grow together, tares will look like wheat during the endtimes. And then, Luke 8:18 says that with the introduction of leaven, the false doctrine will run rampant and no faith will be found on earth when the Lord comes.

            The binding of Satan in 20:2 is well described in Isaiah 14:12-18. Please look into it. Let’s continue reading (Revelation 20:3 KJV) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. The thousand years here corresponds to the seventh day of the thousand-year rest. Find the relevant verses in Genesis 2:1-3, Hosea 6:2 and Hebrews 4:9. Our Lord spoke to His disciples about this period. ¶ A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. (John 16:16 KJV) The expression “a little while” is used seven times in John 16:16-19. You will find that this period is 7,000 years. Nothing coincidental. The Holy Spirit will not give you understanding unless you study the Bible thoroughly. Pontius Pilate asked the Lord at the trial what he was doing here. Jesus answered He came into the world, that He should bear witness unto the truth. Upon this, Pilated said unto Jesus; What is truth? Then he went out to the jews. What is the truth? Do you really want to know what the truth is? Could you know the truth by going to church once a week listening to a 20 minute sermon? The disciples went around studying day and night with the Lord for three and a half years, and YET they still didn’t understand Him. If so, I do wonder how many children of God really read the Bible? You will end up eternally regretting for living a vain life If you misunderstand the Bible. If you make a mistake, you can correct it again out here in this current materialistic world. However, if we lose sight of the eternal Word of God now, we will lead a vain life. Even though you have been saved, if you do not know the truth of God on this earth, you will live a vain life, and you will only pile up things that will burn by doing useless things and build castles on sand. You will be beating your chest regretting eternally for not building a house built a foundation on a rock solid foundation that won’t collapse with floodwaters.

           and after that he must be loosed a little season. After the thousand years, Satan will be released for a while. For a thousand years, Satan will not be on earth, nor will he be active in the first, second, or third heavens. For a thousand years, Satan’s activities will be confined to the bottomless pit, and the activities of demons will be completely eliminated from the earth, and people will have nothing but their fallen nature and their own bodies. Now, here’s something we need to pay close attention to. When Satan rises from the bottomless pit, as we see at the end of verse 3, we know that he will have his allies and supporters ready to cooperate with him. Countless people will be born during the thousand years having zero clue about what’s about to happen. When Satan appears, there will be an enormous number of people who will fall into his deceptions. This wonderful kingdom has been set up on earth, the order of this wonderful kingdom is moving anew as in Matthew 19:28. All things are fully protected, and it is mentioned in Isaiah 11:1-11. It will be heaven on earth. It is not the sort of heaven on earth the Jehovah’s Witnesses talk about. All things are glorious, beautiful, and harmonious, and with Christ on this earth, millions of raptured saints looking like Christ. Philippians 3 and 1 John 3 says  the raptured saints are transformed just like Christ. Also, Jews return to their native land as written in Ezekiel 44-48. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. (Amos 9:15 KJV)  This wonderful environment has been created. Since the devil is imprisoned and sins are blotted out, earth finally gets to rest for a thousand years. This is the prayer Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 KJV) coming true finally. This was especially said to the Jews, and through the entire Bible we can see that the Jews now repent and believe in the Lord, receive Christ as their king, and are born again as a nation of priests. At the end of the thousand-year period, people will continue to fall prey to Satan’s temptations. This is the final judgment, and afterwards, the eternal new heaven and new earth will unfold after Revelation Chapter 21.

            (Revelation 20:4 KJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is about the tribulation saints. People living in these times will be saved not only by believing in Jesus, but also by keeping the commandments. These people will not receive the mark of the beast as they will be beheaded. These tribulation saints reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom. They were naked, but now they are clothed. Details of their deaths has already been explained in Revelation 6. again, from verse 4, And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: they have been granted power to judge. They have become rulers. and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, It is evident that they have been beheaded. In this way, we see the saints of the church age and the tribulation age at the same time. The thrones are, of course, the thrones promised to Christians of this age. (2 Timothy 2:12 KJV) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: Also, in Matthew 29:27-30, the twelve apostles were told that they would sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. It means they will rule as kings. Matthew 8:11 tells us there is a kingdom of heaven, and these crowns and thrones are promised to Christians in Paul’s epistles. We already know there are five crowns written in Paul’s epistles, and you will remember studying them 2 weeks ago. (Matthew 8:11 KJV) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. The Bible is clearly saying there is a heaven. Words about crowns in Paul’s epistles: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)  Also mentioned earlier, (2 Timothy 2:12 KJV) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: In other words, if we bear the cross here in the present world, then we will receive the crown. There is no crown without the cross. The lyrics to Hymn 544, here’s verse 1 and it goes something like this: Just a few more days to be filled with praise, And to tell the old, old story;
Then, when twilight falls, and my Savior calls. I shall go to Him in glory. I’ll exchange my cross for a starry crown, Where the gates swing outward never; At his feet I’ll lay every burden down,
And with Jesus reign forever. If you do not suffer for the Lord on earth, there is no reward. Jesus said If you want to follow me, take up your cross and follow me. The Lord said those who do not take up their cross and follow him are not worthy of him. No cross no crown. There is no crown without the cross. At Christ’s first coming, Satan offered Jesus a crown IF he bowed to him. He took the cross instead of the crown. He offered the whole world to Jesus IF he’d only bow to the devil. But the Lord rebuked him instead. In order to wear his crown for a thousand years, Jesus Christ first threw away his crown, died for our sins, and resurrected so that more people could enter the kingdom of God.

            He gave grace so that not only Jews but also all Gentiles could enter and be born again of the Holy Spirit. Therefore Revelation 5:10 and 1:6 says when the Lord comes wearing many crowns, we who have suffered on this earth will also receive the crown with Him. Kingdom of heaven is not here right now. It will be when the Lord comes back. When the Lord passed away, the kingdom of heaven was taken by the devil, as mentioned in (Matthew 11:12 KJV) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. However, when the Lord comes back, when He returns as the Lord of judgment, kingdom of heaven will be established on earth, as it is said in the Lord’s Prayer, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 KJV)

            A king must have a throne and crown. There can be no throne without a crown. The Bible says that in the thousand year period we will come and reign with Christ. Before our Lord Jesus Christ was born, the angel Gabriel prophesied to Mary in (Luke 1:32 KJV) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: The throne of David is the throne located in the temple in Jerusalem on earth. Jesus returns and restores the throne of David. God said to David, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (2 Samuel 7:16 KJV) David is dead, as there is no longer king of Israel, but the Lord will come and reign forever. This is not a throne in the spiritual kingdom of heaven. It is literal physical throne of David on earth and of the Savior in Jerusalem in the land of Palestine. Matthew 25:31 says that Jesus will come and sit on the throne of glory and judge all nations. However, Antichrist, the incarnation of Satan, knows this and during times of tribulation he first sits on the throne claims himself to be God. He will fall into the lake of fire at the Second Coming of Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that he will fall into the lake of fire along with the false prophet who helped him. During the thousand year period, Christians will sit on thrones and rule together with the Lord. The tribulation saints will also rule together during that time. The kingdom of God, into which the saints enter as they are born again, is done in our hearts now. The Apostle Paul said in (Romans 14:17 KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Then the Lord said in (John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And in (John 3:5 KJV) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

This is not the current earthly reign, but the present believers enter the invisible kingdom of God inside until the Lord comes. It is the hidden kingdom of God. But when the Lord comes, the kingdom of God will be visibly revealed on earth. It will be where righteousness dwells. Christ’s reign on earth is literal, physical, and visible, coming with a throne and crown as David’s savior at the kingdom of Palestine, and no one takes that crown or throne until Christ comes again. Now it is our job to bear the cross. Hebrews 13:10-14 tells us to go out of the city bearing the shame and suffer with him. Once people are incorrectly taught that the kingdom of heaven has come to the church, the church has been foolishly attempting to establish the literal and physical kingdom of the church on earth in flesh and blood. But clearly, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. As of now, we are still encased in flesh and blood. According to 1 Corinthians 15:50, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Kingdom of Heaven is not here right now. Only When the Lord returns, when we put on a new body together with the Lord, the kingdom of heaven is then realized. We are born here in the kingdom of God. Those who are born again are born into the kingdom of God. But you cannot inherit that kingdom until Christ comes back. Moreover, without suffering with Christ, one will not inherit the kingdom. We will rule the earth as joint heirs with Christ. It is the Christian soverignty that is given in the millennial kingdom as a reward for bearing the cross on earth. Salvation is given unconditionally by grace, but the inheritance is given as much as the person has suffered with the Lord. The servant who gained ten pounds governs ten cities, the one who gained five pounds governs five cities, and the servant who wrapped the same given 1 pound in a napkin will have that taken away as well, and will be rebuked as a wicked and lazy servant, but will not end up in hell, thus receiving a shameful salvation. The kingdom of God mentioned in Romans 14:17 is different from the millennial kingdom where the Lord physically comes to reign. It is a invisible spiritual kingdom coming into the hearts of the believers. That is why the Lord said: …the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21 KJV) So, unlike what 20:4 says, we aren’t to rule with Christ right now. We haven’t put on an eternal body yet. Our bodies will transform when we are raptured. Flesh and blood are gone upon resurrection, as we are completely clothed in glory, then we will reign with the Lord for a thousand years. Let’s continue to verse 5.

            But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5 KJV) The first resurrection is not spiritual resurrection; When a sinner is saved, his inner man is reborn through the Holy Spirit. This is a spiritual rebirth. Not the first resurrection. The first resurrection is a physically visible resurrection. The physically dead will be raised and put on their new body at the Rapture. A living person just changes in the blink of an eye. This is a visible, literal, physical resurrection. That’s why (2 Timothy 2:17-18 KJV) says: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Hymenaeus was a Bible teacher. He said the resurrection is spiritual, that when a person is born again, he is spiritually already resurrected, asd there is no resurrection again. What does (1 Timothy 1:20 KJV) say about these people? Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Proclaiming resurrection has passed is to blaspheme God. Therefore, the first resurrection is not the spiritual resurrection of the saints when they are born again. It is a literal, physical resurrection. Resurrection is not once, but twice. The second resurrection comes with the second death. We must know that the Bible teaches two separate resurrections. We will continue our study of this first resurrection next time. May you be at peace in the Lord until next week, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.