I need to reinstate the purpose of Bible prophecy is to prepare us and not scare us. Prophecy foretells future events so that Christian’s are alert when we see the fulfillment of major signs and we can trust Jesus and walk by faith and hope that a better world will come (our blessed hope when Christ returns). Remember the current state of this world is not our home, and the millennial rule of Christ will be a major upgrade as wars will cease and righteousness will be Christ standard for all of us. But even the 1000-year reign is not the endgame, but merely a part of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.
We have covered in a prior blog series the reality of the new heavens and the new earth and believers dwelling with God forever and this is our completed salvation story and the fullness of our Fathers plan for us…it will be glorious and we will over welled at with gratitude! However, there are several key things that God has stated will happen at the end of Christ 1000-year rule and that is what we will cover in this blog. What happens after the millennium reign? John’s revelation gives us detailed understanding of this brief period after the millennium.
Revelation 20: 7-10 starts with, “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.” It is almost to hard to fathom that after living in a period of a 1000-years of righteousness (meaning ever person is inclined to do what is right before Christ and with each other) and no wars existed. Yet when the father of lies is once again released he does what he has always done, DECEIVES mankind. Satan will go to the leaders of the tribes of the earth and tell them how oppressed they have been, how they could be far better kings than Jesus (self rule). Just like in the garden, they will hear the lie, ponder the lie, and act on the lie in total rebellion to King Jesus and they will experience devastating consequences.
Satan hatred of God’s people (whether Israel as a nation or His Church made up of Jews and Gentiles) manifests once again as he has had a 1000-years to plan his last rebellion, Vs. 9 “And they marched up over the board plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city”. Ever individual person before the millennium or born during the 1000-year reign has decision to make. Will I repent of my sin, and surrender my life to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord our precious Jesus. No one experiences eternal life without a personal encounter with Christ and as in John chapter three states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. We who rule and reign with Christ have already made this decision and lived for Christ and have glorified resurrected bodies; however, those who did not receive the mark of the beast at Christ 2nd coming and their children born during the millennium must decide who they will live for. Will I live for self or bow my life to King Jesus?
The text tells us that many choose to believe Satan’s lies and follow the rebel Gog and Magog (human leaders); and here is God’s response, “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”. Can I get a hallelujah from someone? The most insidious evil being who has caused so much pain, suffering, hatred and destruction is finally and completely judged and will never deceive again. Thank you, Lord, for bringing Satan to his end and having him justly judged for all eternity in torment for all of his deception and complete evil!
But, this is not the end of the story as the great white throne and Him who was seated on it appears. Now I want to make a very important point, we as humanity and individuals think way to highly of our selves as people. Paul states in Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. All means all, you, me and our sweet old grannies. There is a day of giving a personal account for every human that has ever been born or will be born.
For the believer who has truly repented (turned away from a life of sin and selfishness) and daily followed Jesus guidance then for that person all their sins have been pardoned. When we slip in sin in attitude, word or action we quickly acknowledge our sin and ask Jesus for forgiveness and as I John 1: 9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. This is the day by day commitment of all true followers of Jesus, and we all know that perfection only comes the day we meet the Lord Jesus face to face. So, forgiveness is assured when we walk in this way in humility, and we will joyfully enter into His rest.
But what will happen to the non-repentant person, the one who never saw there need of a savior in pride or even if they did they choose to rebel and go their own way. Read Rev. 20:5 and Revelation 20:11-15 tells the rest of the story. All human’s past, present or future will experience a physical resurrection. Those who partake in the first resurrection are declared blessed Rev. 20:6 and this happens before the 1000-year reign of Christ; but for the proud sinner this will not be the case and they will have to pay for their own sin and give a full account of their entire life and this is called the second death when they are cast into the lake of fire. Hell is a temporary jail so to speak, and it too will cease and all that were found there will be released before the Great White Throne Judgement.
Rev. 20: 12-15 states, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades (Hell) gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they have done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”.
This is a VERY sobering truth, and some may think this is too harsh and God is not fair. The truth is each person is judged based on their own life decisions (it will not be God’s fault or their parents or any other person) and it is all recorded so no person can make excuses why they did not receive the grace of God when it was extended to them possibly thousands of times through their life. Truthfully, what was really harsh was when Jesus in His first coming was completely innocent, without any sin and He was condemned to one of the cruelest forms of execution on the cross. He did this out of His eternal love to redeem humanity and God desires no person to perish 2 Peter 3:9.
God justice is not like what we see or experience here on the earth which is often distorted or not given at all. But in Vs. 12 and 13 is is repeated, “And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done”. Each person will have to pay for their own sin and rebellion. This will be true justice, and it will happen exactly as God’s Word has stated.
If you have not repented of your sin then now is a good time to humble your heart and ask Jesus to save you and give you His great peace and joy that is only found in His salvation. The heart of God and Jesus is to save and rescue the lost and restore us to a loving relationship with Him and that we would learn to walk in His ways. Read John 3:16-18. Jesus stated, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, NO ONE comes to the FATHER EXCEPT through ME” John 14:6. His invitation is for LIFE (here now and into eternity) and I trust you have already come to peace with Him.
Next week will be my last blog, on Why Bible Prophecy Matters, and I will do my best to summarize where I believe we are in God’s Prophetic clock. Yes, I have not covered ever single prophetic topic possible, however I have tried to cover the major issues and to help prepare you for what is soon to unfold. This blog has been good for my own soul and life to dig into God’s Word and such important topics. As I have stated I cannot see 100% clearly how all of God’s prophetic words will unfold (no person can honestly claim that); but humbly I believe I am mostly on track since I have been consistent to point us to what God’s word clearly states. Remember God’s prophetic word is to REVEAL, not conceal, and to be taken literally.
From a friend, Bill W…if you have found these studies insightful and encouraging pass them on to a friend! Maranatha…Our Lord, come!