The Revelation of Christ – Part 45: The Thousand Years

The Revelation of Christ –

Part 45: The Thousand Years

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

Online Audio Files | HOF Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Today we will be looking at “The Thousand Years,” as described in Revelation 20. This can sometimes seem confusing for many reasons. Many think when we die, we “go to heaven” when actually we will live on the new earth when all is said and done. Some think when we die, we become angels; however, angels and humans are two different creations, and though we will receive new bodies, we will never actually become angels.

Last week we finished looking at Revelation 19, the fall of Babylon, and the threefold hallelujah celebration over its demise.

We saw in Revelation 19:11 Christ on the white horse, and He is called Faithful and True. With Justice (honesty, integrity, fairness, impartiality, righteousness) he judges and wages war.

By the end of this chapter (Revelation 19:19), we see two parts of the unholy trinity (666), the beast (antichrist) and false prophet, were thrown “alive” into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

However, nothing was done to Satan for his plan to take over the world and rule mankind as a god. This brings us to Chapter 20.

SERMON SERIES – The Revelation of Christ

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment

TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

Part 45 – The Thousand Years

 SCRIPTURE READING

Revelation 20:1-6

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the Dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³ 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.

⁴ 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 about Jesus and because of the word of God. They 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 a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

             I.        THE ABYSS

a.    The angel with the key and a great chain

                                                 i.    This takes place immediately after the antichrist and the false prophet were cast alive into the lake of burning sulfur.

                                                ii.    This is an excellent illustration of how an angel can easily over-power Satan and lock him up simply because God commands him to.

                                              iii.    We also have the ability through the power of Christ Jesus to over-power Satan, demons, and their evil influences in our lives, if we are obedient and submit to the will of God.

b.   The angel seized the Dragon, the Ancient Serpent, The Devil, Satan

                                                 i.    Satan is given three names in this verse to describe him and his plan of destruction

                                                ii.    The Dragon – represents Satan displaying his power of destruction. The Dragon tried to destroy the woman, the child, the Jews, the Christians, and when he could not, he spewed forth a great deluge of false teachings, gods and religions in hopes of drowning the children of God.

                                              iii.    The Ancient Serpent – A reminder that in the garden, he was the first cunning deceiver, and continued to deceive through the rest of history.

                                              iv.    The Devil – the accuser of those who belong to the Lord.

                                               v.    Satan – Our adversary, rival, and enemy.

c.    The angel threw him into the Abyss

                                                 i.    The angel throws Satan into the Abyss

1.    In Luke 8:31 the demons who possessed the pigs pleaded with Jesus not to cast them into the Abyss.

2.    In Revelation 9:11 we were told that the King over those in the Abyss was Abaddon in Hebrew, Apollyon in Greek, both meaning Destroyer. He is not Satan, but was released during Tribulation and serves Satan to empower the antichrist.

3.    Satan is cast into the Abyss locked in great chains, and the Abyss sealed over him to keep him from deceiving the nations any more.

                                                ii.    Until the thousand years were ended, after which he will be set free for a short time.

                                              iii.    Why?

1.    We aren’t told why the Lord didn’t cast Satan into the fiery lake of sulfur along with the antichrist and the false prophet.

2.    We aren’t told why the Lord will set Satan free once more after the thousand-year reign.

3.    Perhaps it is because the Lord is a righteous judge, and before casting Satan into the eternal, everlasting lake of burning sulfur, the final “hell” which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), called Gehenna by Jesus, the Lord wanted to show Satan what the world would look like without him (the thousand-year Kingdom Age)

            II.        THE JUDGES

a.    The 24 elders

                                                 i.    12 who represent the Old Testament, and 12 who represent the New Testament

                                                ii.    In other words, they represent the entirety of God’s law and plan on earth. They are the perfect religious rule, and therefore judges for the Lord.

b.   The tribulation saints

                                                 i.    The souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and the Word of God.

                                                ii.    They had NOT worshipped the beast, or its image, or taken its mark

                                              iii.    They came to life

c.    The first resurrection

                                                 i.    They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years

                                                ii.    This is the “First Resurrection”

                                              iii.    Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection

          III.        THE KINGDOM AGE

a.    The second resurrection

                                                 i.    This will take place at the time of judging where all of those who did not serve the Lord will be condemned.

b.   The second death has no power over the saints

                                                 i.    Once we (those who serve the Lord) have died, and are part of the “first resurrection,” we will receive our new bodies and made complete and whole, never to die again.

                                                ii.    Those who were part of the second resurrection will be judged and cast into the eternal lake of fire, and this is the second death.

c.    The saints will reign with Christ over the earth

                                                 i.    Those who are part of the first resurrection will;

1.    Never die again, no second death

2.    Be priests of God

3.    Be priests of Christ

4.    Will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years

5.    This is the Kingdom Age

CONCLUSION –

At this point this is what has taken place in the scriptures;

·        God, through the Word and Holy Spirit, created all that exists

·        Man is deceived by Satan who wants to be a god over humankind and earth

·        This sin breaks the communion between God and His people

·        The Word is made flesh to redeem humankind and mend the communion between God and His people

·        Satan tries to destroy Israel so the Word cannot become flesh, but fails

·        Satan tries to kill the child (the Word made flesh) but fails

·        Satan tries to destroy the Jews, but fails

·        Satan tries to deceive the Word made flesh in the wilderness, but fails

·        Satan tries to destroy Jesus with the cross, fulfilling prophecy, so the Word redeems humankind and mends the communion between God and His creation through Christ Jesus

·        Satan tries to destroy Christian followers of Christ, but fails, and the Holy Scriptures are penned

·        Satan spews forth a deluge of false teachings, teachings of men and false gods and religions in hopes of drowning the children of God, yet many still follow the Lord

·        Satan decides to make himself a god on earth and creates the unholy trinity (666) by imploring Abbadon to empower the False Prophet and bring up the antichrist, which ushers in Tribulation.

·        He fails, and the Lord casts the antichrist, the false prophet into the fiery lake of sulfur.

·        Satan is then bound in chains and cast into the Abyss, where he is locked up for the Kingdom Age.

·         During the Kingdom Age, the first resurrection takes place, and God’s people reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years. At the end of this, Satan will once again be released from the Abyss and face judgment.

NEXT WEEK: The Judgment of Satan

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The Revelation of Christ – Part44: The Judgment of Evil

The Revelation of Christ –

Part44: The Judgment of Evil

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

Online Audio Files | HOF Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Today we are going to look at the next part in our series in The Revelation of Christ and see judgment has finally come for those who waged war against The Lamb.

Often I have people say to me, “why does God allow evil on earth?” or “why doesn’t God just destroy them?”

The simple answer is this, for God to remove (destroy or take away) evil people from the earth, He would have to “Judge” them.

We need to remember that God is no respecter of persons, (Romans 2:11) therefore if He were to judge one He would most certainly have to judge ALL, including you, me, and those who have not yet submitted their lives to the Lord, even though they will do so in the future!

God cannot go against His word because that would make Him out to be a liar. So He set aside a “Judgment Day,” where ALL will stand before God to be judged, good and evil, great and small, free and slave. (Revelation 20:12)

Today we are looking at Revelation 19:15-21, where the beginning of punishment on the evil and wicked is being doled out.

SERMON SERIES

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment

Part 35 – The Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues

Part 36 – The First Bowls

Part 37 – The Last Bowls

Part 38 – The Punishment of the Great Prostitute I

Part 39 – The Punishment of the Great Prostitute II

Part 40 – The Punishment of the Great Prostitute III

Part 41 – Rejoice Babylon the Great has Fallen

Part 42 – Threefold Praise of God

Part 43 – The Second Coming

TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment

Part 44 – The Judgment of Evil

SCRIPTURE READING

Revelation 19:15-21

Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, ¹⁸ so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ²¹ The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

             I.        THE SHARP SWORD TO STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS

a.    Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations

                                                 i.    Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the “Sword of the Spirit” is the Word of God

                                               ii.    The imagery here is that the Lord is “Speaking the Word of God.”

                                             iii.    “Sharp” signifying its perfect ability to accomplish what it is for, a dull sword is of no use, while a “sharp” one is perfect for its goal, so this Word of God being spoken by the Lord is perfect.

                                              iv.    How does He strike down the nations with it?

                                               v.    Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

                                              vi.    This sharp sword, perfect speaking of the Word of God by the Lord against the nations, is a judgment against them.

                                            vii.    Thus, striking them down.

1.    Remember, God “Spoke” everything into existence, Creation from Words; He can also destroy with words as well.

2.    Speaking He strikes down nations…there is no “battle,” no “fight,” there is no waging war against the Lamb of God!

3.    With a word, His enemies are brought down!

b.   He will rule them with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9)

                                                 i.    Psalm 2:1-10 “Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.

                                               ii.    The Psalmist speaks of those who partner with Satan to wage war against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, …and scripture even warns the Kings of earth to be “wise,” but we know, not all will listen.

c.    He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty

                                                 i.    Who walks the winepress?

                                               ii.    On His robe (He that treads) and on His thigh He has this name written:

                                             iii.    KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS

                                              iv.    Jesus Himself

           II.        THE GREAT SUPPER OF GOD

a.    I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried out in a loud voice to all the birds of the air

                                                 i.    Standing on the sun simply means this angel was in the sky, and a light shone about it

                                               ii.    Remember the “loud voice” could mean authority, volume, multitudes, but here it appears to mean authority as the angel commands the birds of earth

b.   “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,”

                                                 i.    This imagery makes me think of the old westerns when the buzzards would circle above the dead and those who were close to dying.

                                               ii.    “Come, gather together.”

                                             iii.    I can see large clouds of birds forming, preparing to feast upon the dead

                                              iv.    The enormous amount of dead will be provided by God wiping out His enemies who have gathered to make war against Him, thus, “the great supper of God” provided to the birds who were called to gather.

c.    “so that you can eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

                                                 i.    All who have taken the number of the Beast, and worshipped his image, they have all waged was against the Lamb, and will soon be fodder in a field, supper for the birds.

         III.        THE BEAST AND ALL WHO WORSHIP ITS IMAGE

a.    Then I saw the Beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider and His army

                                                 i.    The legitimate rider upon a white horse (opposed to the imitation rider who came upon a white horse during the Apocalypse who came in peace but prepared for war, the antichrist)

                                               ii.    This ride is the Lamb of God and those who belong to Him who ride with Him

1.    Not because He “needs” an army, but because the Lord has chosen to include us in His retaking of Creation and as a witness to the destruction and punishment of evil.

2.    In the same way, God created the garden and everything in it before Adam as a witness, now, we, followers of Christ, will be the witnesses to the New Creation!

b.   But the Beast was captured and with it the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf

                                                 i.    With these signs, he (the Beast) had deceived those who had received the mark of the Beast and worshipped its image

c.    The two of them (the Beast and False Prophet) were thrown alive (because they are human) into the fiery lake of burning sulfur

                                                 i.    The rest (the kings, generals, armies, all people alive who had received the mark of the Beast and worshipped its image) were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse

                                               ii.    And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh

CONCLUSION –

The Lord will stand on that day upon a great white horse covered in the name: King of Kings and Lord of Lords with all who serve Him.

The Beast and the False Prophet will be cast alive into the Lake of Burning Sulfur. All of those who stood against the Lamb (kings, generals, armies, people great and small, free and slave) and took the sign of the Beast and worshipped its image, will fall dead from the Sword proceeding from the mouth of the Lord and be eaten by the birds of the air.

Next week we will look at the 1000 year reign, the Judgment of Satan, and Judgment of the dead.

NEXT WEEK: Conclusion of Revelation

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