The Revelation of Christ –
Part
46: Judgment of Satan and the Dead
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
Online Audio Files
| HOF
Church Facebook | Truth Digest Facebook
Today we will be looking at “the judgment of
Satan and the dead,” as described in Revelation. 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.
Part 46 – The
Judgment
of Satan and the Dead
Revelation 20:7-15
I.
AFTER THE THOUSAND YEARS
a.
Satan created the false godhead
(666) to be a god
i. Satan planned from the beginning of
creation of earth and humankind to deceive them and rule over them
ii. Satan wanted to be “greater” than
God (Isaiah
14:12-17)
iii. During Tribulation Satan used the
power of Abaddon (Apollyon or the Destroyer) who was released from the Abyss to
lead demons (who numbered so many as to appear as a cloud of locusts) to
possess human armies to wage war against the Lamb of God
iv. This king of the Abyss who ruled
over demons also gives power to the False Prophet (who is a human) so as to
enable him to give signs and wonders to promote the Antichrist (who is also
human)
v. This creates “The Beast” (666)
1.
Satan acting as “the father”
2.
Human Antichrist acting as Christ the son
3.
Human False prophet empowered by Abaddon acting as Holy Spirit giving
signs and wonders to promote the Antichrist
b.
During Tribulation (the time when
Satan created 666)
i. Satan brought up the Antichrist,
placed him in power, and formed the new world order where he controlled most of
the greater nations through the Antichrist.
ii. It is during this time he uses these
nations to wage war against the Lamb of God
c.
The False Prophet and Antichrist
(two parts of the unholy godhead Satan created) are judged
i. Two weeks ago we read they were
“thrown alive into the lake of burning sulfur.”
ii. Satan’s attempt to wage war against
the Creator obviously failed
iii. With a simple word the Lord destroys
all of Satan’s armies, and casts the Antichrist and False Prophet into the Lake
of Burning Sulfur
iv. In Revelation 20:20 we see
Satan is then locked up in chains and cast into the Abyss for a thousand years
v. After the “Fall of Babylon the
Great” the “Wedding of the Lamb” has come, and the Bride is ready (the Church)
which receives fine linen, bright and clean which was given to her to wear.
1.
This is where those who worship and serve the Lord receive their “new”
garments, and names and are now blessed and fully in Him.
2.
Revelation 19:9b “Blessed are those who are invited
to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”
3.
Revelation 19:14 At this point we ride with the Lord acting as His
armies, not because He needs us, but so we can witness the judging of sin and
Babylon.
vi. Revelation 20:4 We see thrones (probably placed upon
the earth to replace all the nations who made war against the Lamb and were
just destroyed by Him) and on the thrones those who were “given” the authority
to judge
1.
The Lord placed these judges over the earth to rule for a thousand years
vii. These rulers are those who stayed
obedient to God and His word during Tribulation (The Tribulation Saints) (Revelation
20:4)
viii. Revelation 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come
to life until the thousand years were ended. This (the Tribulation Saints) is
the First Resurrection
1.
Revelation 20:6 “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.”
II.
SATAN WILL BE RELEASED
a.
After a thousand years Satan is
released
i. For a thousand years the Lord and
the Tribulation Saints who had been given authority to judge have ruled the
world without the influence of Satan
ii. During this time, people will marry,
have families, and life will continue, only instead of corrupt governments,
Tribulation Saints will rule the nations in the Name of the Lord, and there
will no longer be any satanic influence of man.
iii. There will be peace, Love will rule,
and scripture says even the beasts of the land will get along with each other
during this time.
iv. However, the “ability” to chose
wrong still exists in those who are being born and live during this time. Free
will is not taken away, they just do not have the influence of Satan and his
minions against them, but they can still choose to do wrong.
v. This is why there are “judges”
during the Kingdom Age to rule over the people, to teach and admonish in the
way of the Lord and His Holy instruction.
vi. In Revelation 20:6 we are
told that the Tribulation Saints (judges) will be “priests of God and Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand
years”
vii. As judges, and priests, their
responsibilities will be just as one would imagine for a priest, a counselor,
teacher, preacher, leader, ministering those alive and born during the thousand
year reign about Christ and God.
viii. After a thousand years of this,
Satan is then released from the Abyss
1.
Why did God not throw Satan into the Lake of Burning Sulfur along with
the Antichrist and False Prophet after Tribulation and Satan’s attempt to make
war with the Lamb?
2.
I believe it is because the Lord wanted to show Satan that his plans to
destroy humankind failed, and within a short span of a thousand years of
Christ’s rule the world was greater than had ever been with Satan’s influence.
b.
Satan still manages to deceive
enough people to build another army
i. Satan, once released, immediately
begins to deceive those upon the earth.
ii. I expect that of him, it is his nature;
however, I find it alarming that some still believe Satan’s lies and follow Him,
showing that even in the perfect environment of the Lord’s rule with no satanic
influence, there will still be men who chose not to serve the Lord!
iii. Satan builds another army, but
instead of waging war against the Lamb of God, he focuses his attention and
anger on Israel and surrounds the camp of God’s people.
c.
Then Satan is judged
i. It is at this point Satan is judged
ii. He now sees that his attempts of
becoming a god would never be
1.
He failed to take over heaven
2.
He failed to take over man at
the garden
3.
He failed numerous attempts to rule over humankind through satanically controlled nations and kings
4.
He failed to destroy the Jews
(multiple times over the ages)
5.
He failed to stop Moses
6.
He failed to stop the birth of
Jesus
7.
He failed to rule over Jesus
when he tempted him in the desert
8.
He failed to stop Israel
9.
He failed to stop Christianity
10. He failed to create a New World order
11. He failed to create himself a
godhead (666)
12. He failed to destroy the teachings and truth of the Word
13. He failed at Tribulation
14. He failed to wage war against the Lamb of God
15. And now he failed at building a new army after the thousand
years to destroy God’s people
iii. Satan is now cast into the Lake of
Burning Sulfur to be tormented day and night forever and ever where the False Prophet and Antichrist were thrown
alive.
1.
To those who think hell is not eternal torment, rather you just stop
existing…that is NOT what the Word of God says.
2.
Revelation 20:10 “And the
devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the
beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and
night for ever and ever.”
III.
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
a.
The dead (all who have ever died)
i. Regardless of their temporary
holding place of their departed spirit after it left the corrupt flesh
1.
Old Testament dead were kept in Sheol
a.
Paradise – located in Sheol, “Abraham’s
Bosom” (Luke 16:19-31) where the righteous would await the savior to take
them to heaven (Job 19:25-27; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:48) since the
cross had not yet taken place and they could not be with Christ yet because
their sins had not yet been atoned. After Christ atoned with His blood at the
cross he went to Paradise in Sheol (Luke 23:43) where he received those in
Paradise and took them all to heaven as promised (Psalm 68:18) now that
their sins had been atoned with His blood.
b.
Torment – Located in Sheol across from
Paradise with a “Great Abyss” between them (Luke 16:19-31). This is
where all those who are disobedient to the Word, all the unrighteous and wicked
whose souls have departed their corrupt flesh go to await Judgment Day.
2.
New Testament dead
a.
Those who belong to Christ – To be a righteous soul apart from
your body (dead) you are present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), who
is now sitting at the Right Hand of God upon the Throne (Romans 8:34; Luke 22:69).
b.
Those who do not belong to Christ – the souls of those who do not belong
to the Lord (unrighteous) still go to Hades (Sheol – Torment) where they will
wait until Judgment Day (2 Peter 2:9; John 5:28:29).
b.
They were judged according to what
they had done as recorded in the books
i. Books were opened
(which are more than likely the following);
1.
Book of Remembrance - This
book is a record of the good deeds of those who fear the Lord – those who obey
Him. (Malachi 3:16-18) The Lord wants us to know that every good deed
doesn’t go unnoticed by Him (Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:23;
Revelation 21:12). This is what is meant when the Lord tells us to
“store up treasures of good works in heaven” in Matthew 6:20.
2.
Book of Records of Sins - The Psalmist
says that God marks our iniquities in His book (Psalm 130:3). Paul teaches that everyone will appear before Christ at the
judgment and receive a sentence according to their deeds, whether it be good or
bad (2
Corinthians 5:10). John in
Revelation confirms that the dead will be judged according to their works, by
the things which were written in the heavenly books (Revelation 20:12).
3.
And perhaps the Commands – Which we would all be judged by if
our names are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
ii. The Book of Life was opened (the book of life of the Lamb who was slain Revelation
13:8; the Lamb’s book of life Revelation 21:27; Book of the Living Psalm
69:28. This is the book where your name is recorded if you are “saved”
and belong to Christ Jesus.
iii. Everything you have ever said or
done is recorded, and you will be judged for it! (Matthew 12:36, 37; Romans 12:6-11).
c.
There was no escaping judgment at
the Great White Throne
i. The sea gave up the dead that were in it (meaning even those lost at sea
will be found for Judgment Day)
ii. Death gave up the dead that were in it
iii. Hades (Sheol) gave up the dead that were in it
(Specifically Torment where the unrighteous are awaiting Judgment Day)
1.
Basically meaning all who have died will face judgment, there is no
escape or exemption.
iv. Each person was judged according to
what they had done (good and bad recorded in the books)
d.
THEN death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire
i. Death cast in because no one will
die any more.
ii. Hades (Sheol – place of departed
spirits, specifically Torment which is the only part used at this point) cast
in because no more “unrighteous” to hold for judgment day, Sheol is no longer
needed.
iii. The Lake of Fire is not Sheol,
Hades, the Abyss, it is Gehenna, the “final” resting place for the unrighteous,
also referred to as the Lake of Burning sulfur. (Matthew 13:49,50; Matthew
25:41; Mark 9:43; Revelation 21:8) THIS is the “Second Death”
CONCLUSION –
ANYONE whose name was
not found written in the book of life was thrown into the Lake of Faire.
Is your name in the Lambs Book of Life? It
must be written in! Only Christ can do this, because it is His Book!
Moses knew about the Book of Life – Exodus
32:32-33
Daniel 12:1 tells us our name must be found written
there to be delivered.
Paul tells us about the Lambs Book of Life in
Philippians
4:3
HOW TO GET YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE
1.
We have all done, thought or said bad things,
which the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). The result of sin is death, spiritual separation from God (Romans
6:23), and if unresolved in life will result in Judgment and facing “The Second Death”, eternity in the Lake
of Fire.
2.
However,
The Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly”—a complete life full of purpose (John 10:10).
3.
Jesus died in our place so we could have a
relationship with God and be with Him forever. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). But it didn’t end with
His death on the cross. He rose again and still lives! “Christ died for our sins. … He was buried. … He was raised on the third
day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus is the
only way to God. Jesus said, “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me”
(John
14:6).
We can’t earn
salvation; we are saved by God’s grace when we have faith in His Son, Jesus
Christ. All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, that Christ died for
your sins, and ask His forgiveness. Then turn from your sins—that’s called
repentance.
Jesus Christ
knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart,
your honesty.
Read His Word, attend
a bible believing church, and surround yourself with other believers. Pray to
Him and seek Him and you will find your name among countless others in the
Lamb’s Book of Life!
NEXT WEEK: New Heaven
and New Earth
Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting
Saved?
Want
to hear the audio to this sermon?
No comments:
Post a Comment