Monthly Archive for January, 1999

Revelation 20:15

Published on January 31, 1999 in Revelation. 2 Comments
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“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire“
 
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
 
The word “found” indicates that God makes a careful search of accounts of the Book of Life. After this careful search, He consigns anyone not in this book to the lake of fire.
 
Anyone not found to have received Christ as his or her personal Savior and thus not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire forever. The moment we receive Christ as our Savior, God writes our name in the Book of Life. No one can erase our name out of that Book.
 
God puts everyone into a roll book of physical life. When people die, He removes them from that book. God opens another book, the Book of Life, only to show that no one standing at the Great White Throne Judgment has his or her name in it. Rejection of Christ places them at this judgment.
It is not the absence of good works for which God casts a person into the Lake of Fire. It is the absence of the “name” that sends a person into the lake of fire. God will write no one’s names into the Book of Life on that day.
The Great White Throne is not a trial. There is no determination to be made at this judgment. All the facts are already in. God accumulated all the evidence. He will ask only one question – “Have you believed in Jesus’ death on the cross as adequate to take away your sins?” Either our name is already in the Book or Life or it is not. The Great White Throne judgment is simply a proclamation of those who have not believed in Jesus’ death as the only way of salvation.
Principle:
The reality of eternal damnation should motivate us to share Christ with our friends.
Application:
Understanding of the lake of fire is crucial for effective motivation for witnessing. God does not condemn people based on their sins but because they reject Christ as their Savior.
The lake of fire takes place after the Millennium. Only the unsaved will stand at the Great White Throne Judgment. The purpose of this judgment is not to determine who is a believer. Rather, this judgment is against those who stand on their own works instead of the work of Christ on the cross. The result of this judgment is eternal separation from God.
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Revelation 20:13-14

Published on January 30, 1999 in Revelation. 15 Comments
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“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.”

 

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.
 
When non-believers die before the Great White Throne Judgment, they go to Sheol [Old Testament] or Hades [New Testament]. These are temporary hells, a holding place until the final judgment. At the final judgment, God will raise non-believers out of these temporary hells to be judged at the Great White Throne. Then He will cast them into the permanent Lake of Fire.
 
The ideas of “giving up the dead” and “delivering up the dead” has to do with restoring physical bodies to their spirits. Their physical bodies long died but their spirits were in Hades. Although the sea swallowed up a person hundreds of years ago, God will restore that body to judgment in Hell. 
 
And they were judged, each one according to his works.
 
God judges people according to their good deeds. God will not judge on circumstantial evidence. He will not be fooled by trumped up charges. God uses what they thought was religious and righteous against them. It is righteousness independent of God’s righteousness.
 
Eternal life is a gift. We cannot earn it nor deserve it. It is God’s gift to us. 
 
Ep 2: 8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
 
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
 
God casts temporary hell [Hades] into permanent Hell. The Lake of Fire is the same idea as Jesus’ term “Gehenna.” God throws both Death and Hades into the permanent and eternal Lake of Fire. 
 
This is the second death.
 
The Lake of Fire is the “second death.” Death means separation. Physical death is the separation of the physical body from the immaterial part of man. Spiritual death is the separation of the non-believer from God. Eternal death is the separation of an individual from God eternally.
 
PRINCIPLE: Those who are born once will die twice; those who are born twice will die once. 
 
APPLICATION: M. R. DeHaan said, “They that are born but once will have to die twice, and they who have been born twice will die but once.” God permanently assigns people to eternal death because they rejected the death of Christ for their sins. This is the “Second Death.” 
 
If a person accepts the death of Jesus as a substitute for our sins, then God will accept him eternally. Jesus took our Hell that He might give us His Heaven. If we believe that Jesus took away our sins on the cross, He will give us eternal life. 
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Revelation 20:11-12

Published on January 29, 1999 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“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 God, 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“
 
This section of Scripture presents the Great White Throne Judgment. This is a judgment against non-Christians only. This occurs immediately before God ushers believers into the eternal state. This is indeed a solemn and sad scene.
 
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it,
The Great White Throne judgment, occurring just after the Millennium, is the final judgment of the lost of all ages by Jesus Christ. No believer will stand before this throne. Everyone who rejected Jesus Christ will give an account for his or her rebellion against God’s will. Thus this is a “great” judgment in contrast to the other preceding judgments. This is also a “white” judgment, the insignia of God’s purity and righteousness.
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.
The whole universe will flee away from the awesome Judge on the Great White Throne. They cannot tolerate the stark glory of God.
God will destroy the entire universe as we know it (Hebrews 12:25-27; 2 Peter 3:7-12). No one but believers will inhabit the new heaven and earth. God will replace the entire present order of the cosmos after the Great White Throne Judgment. This new order will suit those who believed while on earth.
And there was found no place for them.
In chapter twenty-one, God institutes a new heaven and earth. The present heaven and earth will disappear (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10-13).
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,
The “dead standing before God” refers to the second resurrection of all non-believers. All those who rejected God’s plan of salvation throughout history will stand before God’s Great White Throne. These people are dead both physically and spiritually that is, eternally. Death puts everyone on the same plane, the “small and great.” Both the President and the garbage collector will face eternal death.
The first resurrection is pre-millennial and the second resurrection is post-millennial.
and books were opened.
God opens a number of books including the “Book of Life.” Status will not influence this judgment because Jesus will judge the great as well as the small. First, God opens books other than the Book of Life. This is a book of works. These people stand on their inadequate works and not on the work of Christ on the cross. The Bible will be one of the books opened at this judgment.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
The “Book of Life” is the record of those who received eternal life at some point in time. These are believers (3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27).
And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
God’s final judgment will be according to the evidence – works. The word “works” means deeds whether good or bad. The issue at the Great White Throne Judgment is the degree of punishment.
We are justified by faith but judged according to (not by) our works. God’s final judgment vindicates God’s righteousness. The evidential test to decide their eternal state is their works. People’s deeds reveal what their heart is like. It shows what their true beliefs are. When people stand on their works, they expose themselves to the perfect and absolute righteousness of God.
Principle:
God wipes away the sinful record of the Christian.
Application:
Jesus takes away the sinful record of the believer. The government keeps a record of every crime a criminal commits. God wipes the slate of the Christian clean because Jesus paid for our sins.
Every shady situation, every dishonesty, God knows them all. There is no way to evade God’s judgment apart from the gospel of God’s grace.
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Revelation 20:9-10

Published on January 28, 1999 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“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 the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever“
 
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.
 
The armies of the world surround God’s army [camp] throughout Palestine. God’s army encamps in the beloved city, Jerusalem.
 
And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
God immediately destroys the armies of the world with one fell swoop by fire. This is the final defeat of the Devil and his troops.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.
After the defeat of Satan’s armies, God throws him into the lake of fire. He was unable to deceive the nations during the Millennium. This is the doom of the devil. He joins the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire and his prophet in the lake of fire (19:20).
The devil does not want us to read the book of Revelation because it describes his final end. As we look at life now it looks as if the devil is triumphant but the last book of the Bible tells of the doom of the devil. He constantly peddles the propaganda that no one can understand the last book of the Bible because this book gives hope to those who feel hopeless about life.
And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan’s punishment along with the beast and false prophet is eternal, not temporal. There will never be any relief to this torment. There is no implication of annihilation in this passage. The fire in the lake of fire has no end. This is so ominous that most people cannot even bear thinking about it.
Principle:
There is payday someday.
Application:
The fact of eternal judgment means God cannot bear sin. An absolute God cannot stomach sin to the slightest degree. Vance Havner said there is a “Pay day someday.” There is no second chance beyond this point. There is no promotion from Hell to Heaven. The state we find ourselves at the Great White Throne judgment is the state we will find ourselves for eternity.
Everyone must make his or her decision for Christ. We can date a person for years and never marry him. We can date Jesus for years and never make our decision to embrace Him as our Savior.
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Revelation 20:7-8

Published on January 27, 1999 in Revelation. 2 Comments
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"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"
 
Revelation 20:7-10 brings us to the final fate of Satan.
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
When the Millennium ends, God will release Satan from his prison for a short time. This will not happen until God finishes His purpose for the Millennium.
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.
When Satan comes out of his 1,000-year imprisonment, he again deceives the nations. The nations once more come together to battle with armies as numerous as "the sand of the sea." John calls this world-wide conglomerate and revolt of nations "Gog and Magog." This is the Devil’s last stand.
How is it possible that such worldwide rebellion can occur against Christ’s millennial reign? Survivors of the Tribulation will enter the Millennium without their resurrection bodies. They enter the Millennium with their natural bodies and sin capacities. Although they are believers, children born to them during the Millennium may not be. These non-Christian children will revolt against Christ at the end of the Millennium.
If this is the case, why does John use the names "Gog and Magog?" In Ezekiel, Gog was the ruler of Magog the people. "Magog" is the name for nations to the north of Israel who came from Japheth’s descendants (Genesis 10:2). These names may be equivalent to "Sodom and Gomorrah." Sodom and Gomorrah stood for debauchery. Gog and Magog stand for rebellion against God.
The war of Revelation 20 is not the same war as that of Ezekiel 38-39 where Gog and Magog come from the north. The Ezekiel battle only involves a few nations of the earth. The battle in our passage involves nations from the "four corners of the earth."
Principle:
People, by their own efforts, cannot change their behavior.
Application:
It is clear that man is inveterately evil. Even in a perfect environment, he will revert to sin and evil. Satan will resume his reprehensible activities at the end of the Millennium. Rebels in the Millennium will follow Satan and march against the kingdom of Christ.
It is also clear that human beings even under the most advantageous state of affairs will plunge themselves into sin if left to their own preferences. This shows the righteousness of God’s judgment on mankind. A perfect environment will not help. Mankind is always gullible. People in a perfect environment are just as susceptible to sin as they always were.
Only personal regeneration can truly change a person. Neither time nor a perfect environment will change people, only new life in Christ will do that. People are inherently sinful. They fail even without the devil’s help for the devil has not deceived them for 1,000 years.
People feel that they do not need God. "I have enough education. I am progressing so that I will come to the point of perfection." Rebellion in the Millennium proves that idea a lie. The basic philosophy of mankind is autonomy from God. We call this "humanism." Mankind is god.
The devil will hoodwink us. He will make us think we are going north when we are going south. He will make you think that you are good enough to go to Heaven when you are going to Hell. Good non-Christians are more easily deceived than evil non-Christians are. It is always more difficult to reach religious rather than non-religious people. Satan wants us to think that everything but the death of Christ will get us to Heaven.
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Revelation 20:4-6

Published on January 26, 1999 in Revelation. 2 Comments
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“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“
 
We come now to the resurrection and reward of the saints. Two groups of saints will enter the kingdom:
 
1) those that God resurrected before the Tribulation and Tribulation martyrs and
2) those that come out of the Tribulation physically alive.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
John sees certain people sitting on thrones have the privilege to judge in a vision. He does not give their identity. Other Scriptures tell us that saints will judge the world.
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 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 6:1).
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.
A second group who will reign is the martyrs of the Tribulation. The word “beheaded” means smitten with an axe. The guillotine was just one form of Roman punishment. They probably detached Paul’s head from his body.
The word “for” in “for their witness to Jesus” and “for the word of God” means for the sake of, on account of, because of. The reason they were beheaded was for the sake of the gospel.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The martyred dead of the Tribulation will come back to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years on earth. During this time, the wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like an ox. There will be world peace and no more war. Nations will beat their swords into ploughs and spears into pruning hooks.
The earth will know no curse as it does now. The ground will produce its crop abundantly. People one hundred years old will be very young (Isaiah 65:20). Isaiah goes on to say that some will sin and that will affect their life span. Jesus will rule with a rod of iron to control injustices due to sin. That is how righteousness prevails in the Millennium. Justice will triumph.
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
The rest of the dead will not come to life until the end of the Millennium. This is the resurrection of the lost of all ages (20:11-15). This resurrection will not occur until after the Millennium (v.11).
This is the first resurrection.
The New Testament uses the word “resurrection” 40 times. It always refers to physical, bodily resurrection except in Luke 2:34.
The “first resurrection” is not the first chronological resurrection because Christ was the first to rise from the dead. “Many” rose from the dead when Christ rose (Matthew 27:52-53).
The “first” resurrection is in contrast to the “last” resurrection (20:12-13). The word “first” carries the idea of “before.” All the righteous dead are raised before the resurrection of the wicked dead at the end of the 1000 years.
The resurrection of the righteous comes in phases (1 Corinthians 15:23). Christ rose first, then the “many,” then the church, then the Tribulation saints and finally the Old Testament saints (Isaiah 26:19-21; Ezekiel 37:12-14; Daniel 12:2-3).
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.
Those who participate in the “first resurrection” are “blessed and holy.” All the righteous dead will rise before the Millennium. This is a bodily resurrection. They are “holy” because they have reached the point of ultimate sanctification.
Over such the second death has no power,
The “second death” [eternal death] has no authority over those in the first resurrection. Their blessing is that they will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with Christ for a 1,000 years.
The “second death” refers to those eternally consigned to the Lake of Fire following the second resurrection (v.14). Death means separation. Jesus took the believer’s spiritual death upon Himself at the cross so there is no eternal separation of the believer from God.
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years
Those who participate in the first resurrection [believers] will become “priests of God and of Christ” and they “shall reign with Him a thousand years.” This is the worship responsibility in the Millennium.
The normal life span will cover the entire duration of the Millennium. A child will die 100 years of age (Isaiah 65:20). There will be no shortened life span because of sickness or old age except for those who rebel against Jesus’ kingdom authority (Isaiah 11:4; 65:20b).
Principle:
God will raise all saints in the first resurrection.
Application:
The first resurrection is for the just and the second resurrection is for the unjust.
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice “and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28).
Revelation 20 separates the two resurrections by 1,000 years. There is a sequence to the first resurrection. God will raise the saints by a certain order.
“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).
The word “order” means troop, company, battalion and rank. Each resurrection will occur by their company. The picture is an army marching by ranks, one company following another. Each has a rank for resurrection. First, God will raise the church before the Tribulation. After the Tribulation, He raises the Tribulation saints and Old Testament saints.
Old Testament saints, the Lord Jesus, the church and Millennial saints all participate in the first resurrection. The first resurrection is for the Lord Jesus and all believers.
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Revelation 20:1-3

Published on January 25, 1999 in Revelation. 6 Comments
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“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“
 
Chapter 20 presents the millennial reign of Christ on Earth. Structurally, this is the third main section of the book of Revelation (1:19). The first section presented the past, the person of Christ (chapter 1). The next two chapters set forth the present (the church). Chapters 3 to 22 develop the future: the Tribulation period, Millennial reign of Christ and the eternal state.
 
Now we come to the millennial [1000 years] reign of Christ (chapter 20).
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
The “then” indicates a sequence: the defeat of the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire and his false prophet (chapter 19) and is followed by the second coming of Christ.
An angel descends from heaven holding the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. This “chain” indicates rigorous restraint.
The angel possessing a “key” to the bottomless pit indicates that he has authority over the bottomless pit, the place for fallen angels [demons]. This is the same place Peter calls “pits of darkness” [tartaros, 2 Peter 2:4,5; Jude 6-7].
He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
The angel seized Satan and bound him for a 1000 years. The words “thousand years” occur six times in this chapter. Many passages both in the Old and New Testaments tell of a coming Kingdom but only Revelation 20 tells us how long that Kingdom will last.
Notice the four titles of Satan: the dragon (12:3), that serpent of old (12:9), Devil (2:10; 12:9) and Satan (2:9, 2:13, 3:9, 12:9). Revelation makes it perfectly clear that it is Satan who will get his comeuppance.
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.
The angel casts Satan into the “bottomless pit.” This angel limits his sphere of operations to a specific locale – a hell for angels.
The purpose of the binding of Satan is that he would not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were finished (20:8,10). Satan was cast out of heaven during the Tribulation. He then deceived the earth (12:9, 13, 15, 17; 13:4). God limits and diminishes his power of deceiving the nations by putting a seal on him.
Satan cannot be bound today otherwise he would have to have a very long chain in order to do what he does!! Some claim that this securing of Satan is when Jesus bound him at the cross. However, the natural language of these verses will not allow this interpretation. Clearly, the angel will bind Satan for a specific period of 1,000 years for the specific purpose of not deceiving “nations” anymore (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 12:9).
Jesus did disarm the power of Satan at the cross (Colossians 2:15; cf. Luke 11:21,22) but he is still today the prince of the powers of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The binding at the cross was only true for those who place their trust in Jesus’ forgiveness by the cross. Here, however, the binding has to do with “nations” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). This binding does not occur at the cross but at the end of the Tribulation and following the second coming of Christ. This clearly relates to the events of chapter 19.
But after these things he must be released for a little while
Satan will make a final stand of rebellion at the end of the Millennium. This clearly shows that the final defeat of Satan did not occur at the cross. Jesus defeated Satan and the sin issue in principle at the cross but Satan is still active today. At the beginning of the Millennium, the angel will bind Satan so that he is not free to influence the nations of the world. God will allow his release for a short period at the end of the Millennium.
We blame many things on the devil but people in the Millennium will not be able to do that because he will be bound. People then will live in a perfect environment and still they will commit sin. There will be perfect government, perfect health, perfect climate and even formerly wild animals like lions will be tame. There will be perfect justice.
Adam and Eve had a perfect environment in the Garden of Eden. A perfect environment will not keep man from sinning. This is the great hope of governments today. If they can create the proper environment then man will be kind to man. This is a delusion. Even under the perfect environment of the millennium, people will not choose God.
In God’s economy, He “must” release Satan for a short time. It is a logical necessity that He must release Satan. It is in God’s divine appointment (20:7-9).
Principle:
A perfect environment will not solve humanity’s problems; only personal trust in the person and work of Christ will change a person’s heart.
Application:
Satan is in the business of deception. Throughout history he propagated the lie that mankind by it’s own efforts can provide the perfect environment. This never succeeded nor will it ever succeed. Communism was an attempt to provide a social environment whereby people would be equal. However, no amount of government can create perfect people. People cannot reach their ultimate potential by their own efforts.
The one thing we learn from the millennium is that a perfect environment is not the solution to mankind’s problems. People will fail even under the perfect environment of the millennial reign of Christ. A perfect society is one of the greatest deceptions of Satan. He loves to put this in the minds of national leaders. His deception in the Tribulation was that internationalism is the panacea for mankind.
Satan is on the loose today. He is out to deceive. Only faith in the Word of God will enable us to resist him today.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan is not bound today; he is free to roam about “seeking whom he may devour” [literally, gulp down]. However, Satan’s power cannot control us if we operate by faith in the promises of God.
Satan’s main deception involves the Word of God. He wants to destroy its credibility. If he can do that, he can destroy the credibility of God.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3).
Satan deceives us about the true values of life. He instills values of power lust, sex lust and greed. These things are the polar opposite of faith in Christ as the One who provides everything we need.
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Revelation 19:17-21

Published on January 24, 1999 in Revelation. 0 Comments
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“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh“
 
Now we come to the destruction of the armies of the world at the last great battle. This is the war to end all wars. This war will end civilization as we know it. The battle of Armageddon follows the second Coming of Christ. The battle begins before He comes. When He comes, He will end the war by military prowess.
 
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
An angel calls for vultures to come to have a great feast of soldiers supplied by God. This is a slaughter of the armies of the world, the Battle of Armageddon in the land of Palestine (Ezekiel 38,39; Joel 2; Daniel 11; Isaiah 24).
The “supper of the great God” is very different from the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9). The supper of God is the destruction of the armies of the world on earth. The marriage supper of the Lamb is a celebration of the saints in heaven.
“that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great”
The plentiful menu for vultures consists of flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, and finally all sorts of people.
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
The ruler of the Revived Roman Empire will build up his troops to fight against the army of Christ. This is “the battle on the great day of God Almighty” (19:14, 19-21). Two million soldiers gather together to make war with the Lamb.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
In the battle, Christ captures the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire and his false prophet. This signals the final defeat of Satan and his program for earth.
These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Jesus throws both the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire and the false prophet alive into the fiery lake of burning brimstone [sulfur]. Up to this time in history, no one is in the lake of fire. They were in Sheol [Hades]. This fiery lake is a place prepared for the Devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41). Homo sapiens will not occupy that lake until later (20:14-15).
And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh
Jesus kills the remaining armies with His sword. This is a picture of Jesus as a Mighty Warrior, not the normal depiction of Him by the media or even evangelicals themselves.
Principle:
God consistently holds in tension His justice and His love.
Application:
The same Bible that depicts God as love also demonstrates His righteousness, justice and truth. God is a God of grace but that grace has run its course for world history. At this point in history [chapter 19], there is no more grace. God gave abundant opportunities for mankind to accept His grace. Human beings in obstinacy refused God’s grace. God’s longsuffering finally comes to an end. “Pay day someday” has finally come. God now enters the final judicial phrase of His sovereignty over earth.
The book of Revelation presents the plain, bald facts of the Bible. To keep these things from people is to be unfaithful to reality and to God’s Word.
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Revelation 19:12-16

Published on January 23, 1999 in Revelation. 1 Comment
Read Introduction to Revelation

 

“His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS“
 
His eyes were like a flame of fire,
 
Jesus judges with piercing, penetrating insight into the reality of the situation (1:14). People cannot hide from Jesus’ examination of their soul. They cannot camouflage themselves behind some facade. Jesus looks right through the facades into the truth of the matter. He will see through the sham, hypocrisy, make believe and phoniness. No one will fool Him.
 
and on His head were many crowns.
Jesus wears “many crowns.” The Greek word here is not the term for the victor’s crown but the diadem, the crown of sovereignty. This is the crown of a king. Jesus will win this war and become the universal sovereign over the world. He wears a crown for every nation in the world. He has full authority to do what He pleases.
He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
Jesus’ greatness is inexpressible and begs description.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
The robe [outer garment] dipped in blood here is the blood of His enemies. He will defeat His enemies once for all. This is not the palaver of “peace and brotherhood for all” that some people preach today. Jesus will shed more blood than anyone before Him has.
Jesus’ name in this context is “The Word of God.” A “word” expresses a thought in the mind. The definite article “the” points to the Word as noteworthy from other words. Jesus manifests God. He is the revealer in the Trinity (John 1:1-18).
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Jesus will come with His “armies in heaven.” These armies are armies of angels (Mark 8:23; 13:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8) and the church (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10). Jesus will come with His angels.
“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” (Matthew 25:31).
“…and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7).
Jesus will come with His saints.
“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Corinthians 3:4).
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’” (Jude 14-15).
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.
The word “sword” in this verse is the long sword [sometimes used as a spear]. Roman soldiers used this sword to pierce their foes. This sword comes out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus. Jesus uses the Word of God to defeat His enemies. Most of us have experienced the cutting edge of the Word of God in our lives (Hebrews 4:12,13). Jesus’ words of judgment will kill the soldiers gathered at Armageddon.
And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.
Jesus will rule the world in the Millennium (chapter 20). Jesus will rule the world with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27). He will abide no anarchy or unfairness.
The word “rule” means to shepherd. The nature of Jesus’ rule will be like a shepherd. A shepherd leads His sheep to water and green fields. A shepherd also uses his crook to discipline sheep and retrieve sheep from trouble.
The phrase “rod of iron” indicates that His rule will be unyielding. Normally, shepherds worked with a wooden crook. The power of this crook will be poles apart from that of a shepherd in a field.
He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
When Jesus comes, He will come with “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” His judgment is a dreadful judgment. His judgment is like someone in a winepress vat crushing grapes with his feet so the crushed grapes produce juice.
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
Jesus openly displays His title (Philippians 2:9-11). The Greek definite article [the] does not occur before either title thus emphasizing His qualities of authority and deity. These titles were partly on His robe and partly on His thigh and extended from His robe down to His thigh. No one will break His rule because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Principle:
God’s Word powerfully penetrates our souls.
Application:
The Word of God can quicken our consciences. God makes us aware that He can see into our souls. The Word of God convicts us of our sin. The Word of God “cuts to the heart.”
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12).
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Revelation 19:11

Published on January 22, 1999 in Revelation. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Revelation

 

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
 
In 19:11-21, we come to the climax of the book of Revelation — the Second Coming of Christ.   In verses 11-13, we have the rider on the white horse. 
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.
The Second Coming of Christ is not the same as the Rapture of the church.  In the rapture, Jesus comes in to the clouds (1 Th 4:17).  In the Second Coming, He comes to terra firma itself.  There is nothing in chapter nineteen about the translation of living believers to heaven.  To the contrary, the saints of the Tribulation remain on earth when Christ comes back. 
The rider on the white horse in this passage is not the same as the rider on the white horse in 6:2.  The rider in chapter six is the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire.  The rider in this verse comes from heaven. 
The idea of a rider on a white horse in the first century was a victorious conqueror.  Triumphant Roman Generals rode on white horses into the city of Rome coming back from war.  As the General came into Rome on the Via Sacra [a main street of Rome], wagons filled with booty and captives tramping on foot preceded him (2 Co 2:14; Co 2:15).  His army, friends and relatives followed him.  This is a march of triumph on a white horse from the Forum to the Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill.  Jesus in our passage marches against the ruler of the Revived Roman Empire and his cohorts. 
And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
This sentence calls the rider on the white horse “Faithful and True.”  The reason for this is that Jesus makes judgment and makes war “in righteousness.”  He is faithful because He will fulfill His promise to return and deal with evil in the world.  Everything He does is perfect justice.  They will find no perversion of justice in Him. 
A “faithful” person is someone on whom we can rely (1:5).  We can count on Jesus because He is true to His word and character.  He will flawlessly fulfill His promises.  We can trust Him absolutely to be fair.  He is fair because He always must be true to Himself. 
Jesus is also “true.”  He is genuine as over against false (Jn 14:6; Ep 4:21).  No one will find any falsehood of any kind in Him.  He is true to His word.  Many people promise peace but Jesus delivers on His promises.  Jesus is true because He is the truth, the absolute truth.  He is utmost veracity.  It is impossible for Him to lie.  He can never go back on a promise.
Jesus will judge and make war with the armies of the world ready for war on the plains of Megiddo.  When Jesus comes as judge, no one will bribe Him.  He will know all the facts.  He will overlook no detail in His judgment because He is omniscient.  He will infallibly, “in righteousness” mete out verdicts (Is 11:1-5).   
Is 9: 6  “For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
2 Ti 4: 1 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom…”
Jesus will also “make war.”  His war will end all wars.
PRINCIPLE: God is faithful and fair. 
APPLICATION: God is always free to relate to a believer no matter how bad he might be.  God is never free to fellowship with an unbeliever because he does not accept the demands of His character met at the cross.  Jesus’ death on the cross is the only resolution to the sin problem. 
A person who rejects Christ and His work on the cross, violates the standards God holds for Himself.  If a person does not accept the judgment of Jesus for his sins, he must bear the judgment himself in eternal hell.  God always stays consistent with His righteousness and judgment.  He must comply with the standards of His own being.
Sin brought pain into the world.  God, in order to be consistent with Himself, must punish sin.  His immutability demands that He be absolutely consistent with Himself.  God never changes.  God’s relation to us is a faithful relationship.  He always loves us the infinite love.  He can never change that. 
We have difficulty in accepting this because we are so fickle.  We all have a tendency to live our lives toward other people based on their attitude toward us.  God knew from eternity every sin that we would ever commit; yet, He still loves us. 
The fact that Christians are still alive demonstrates His faithful love to us.  Each of us deserves to be in our plot six feet under.  We have been unfaithful to Him but no matter what we do, He continues to love us because He is faithful to His own love for us.  No matter how we fail, He persists and insists on loving us. 
1 Co 1: 9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Ti 2: 13 “If we are faithless,
He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
1 Jn 1: 9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God’s faithfulness to us may demonstrate itself in disciplining us (He 12:6-11).  He may demote us or even kill us.  If He does, He does it for our good.  He never changes His attitude toward us.  Although we face duress and pain, God always designs suffering for our blessing.
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