Sunday, June 21, 2020

The Revelation of Christ – Part 46: Judgment of Satan and the Dead

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

 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 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.

 Last week we finished looking at the 1,000 years, and the Kingdom Age.

 

 SERMON SERIES – The Revelation of Christ

 THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

 TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE

Part 46 – The Judgment of Satan and the Dead

 

 SCRIPTURE READING

 

Revelation 20:7-15

 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 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.

 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

             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 20:10And 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

 

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