Revelation 20,21

The Millennium

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Today, we continue with our study in the 10^th prophecy in Revelation.

 

Before we start with Chapter 20, I want to highlight a couple points.

 

First, you need to remember that the 10^th prophecy begins with Revelation 10:11 and ends with Revelation 20:10.

 

Second, to fully appreciate the contents of Revelation 20:1 we have to understand its context. So consider this: Revelation 19 should have 31 verses. However, it has only 21 verses.

 

Translators started a new chapter after Revelation 19:21 because they didn’t know anything about the rules of interpretation centuries ago. Remember, the single purpose of chapter and verse designations is for reference, nothing more.

 

So, let’s start with Revelation 19:19 to make sure that we properly understand the setting for Revelation 20:1.

 

Revelation 19:19   Then I saw the [composite] beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.

 

[This scene in Chapter 19 aligns with the sixth bowl in Chapter 16. If you remember, three demons were sent out in the 6^th bowl to convince the ten kings that they should join forces with Lucifer in destroying Jesus at the Second Coming. The sixth bowl consists of a very short battle called Armageddon. This battle will end almost as soon as it begins! Here’s why….]

 

Revelation 19:20   But the [composite] beast was [easily] captured, and with him the false prophet [Lucifer, the lamb-like beast] who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he [Lucifer] had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur [which will burn intensely for 1,000 years.]

 

A few words about this lake of fire are necessary….

 

[Lucifer, his angels and all of his employees (those working in his one world church/state will be thrown aliveinto a fiery lake of burning sulfur at the Second Coming. Jesus uses fire to destroy the prostitute because she is the fallen government on Earth. Now listen carefully to what I am about to say because this part of the story confuses a lot of people.

 

When Jesus arrives at the Second Coming, He will throw the devil, his angels and all of his worldwide government into a huge lake of burning sulfur that suddenly ignites. This fire will breakout from the Lord and I believe it will engulf the oceans. Remember, at this point in time, everything in the oceans is dead. The oceans will burn for 1,000 years as though they were full of kerosene.

 

Millions of people who served in Lucifer’s government will die in the fire, but Lucifer and his angels will not die in this fire.

 

Only their assumed bodies will be destroyed. By taking away their physical bodies once again, the devil and his angels are returned to the abyss – the spirit realm. More about this in a moment….

 

For know, you need to know that (a) Lucifer and his angels will have their bodies destroyed but, they returned to the abyss at the Second Coming, (b) all of the wicked who served in Lucifer’s government will also be thrown into the lake of fire and (c) all of the remaining wicked will be killed by a command that comes out of the mouth of Jesus.]

 

Revelation 19:21   The rest of them [e.g., the wicked who are not employees of Lucifer’s government] were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse [e.g., Jesus speaks. The voice that calls the righteous dead to life is the same voice that commands the wicked to die. His command to destroy the wicked is called “a sword that comes out of His mouth”], and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

 

Ok, let’s make sure we have this clearly understood – At the Second Coming, a giant lake of fire will ignite. The oceans will merge. They will be set on fire and they will burn continuously for 1,000 years.

 

Now you know why there will not be any more sea at the end of sin’s drama. Revelation 21:1   “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And there was no longer any sea.”

 

In other words, when the Earth made new, I believe the oceans will not be present. God converts the space covered by water into land so that every saint who has ever lived can each have a generous inheritance of land!

 

For the moment, you need to understand that the physical bodies which the devil and his angels assumed at the fifth trumpet will be burned up in the lake of fire that begins burning at the Second Coming, but the devil and his angels are not harmed – rather, their bodies are destroyed. The destruction of their bodies explains how Lucifer and his angels are put back into the abyss.

 

But, those people who serve in Lucifer’s government will be thrown into this fire and they will totally perish and people now perish in fire. Employees of the great prostitute will be thrown into this lake of fire this is how they will die at the Second Coming.

 

This destruction is not to be confused with the second death. The second death does not occur until the end of the 1,000 years. No one but Jesus has experienced the Second Death.

 

The rest of the wicked on Earth will be killed by a command that comes from Jesus’ mouth. This is not the second death for them, either.       

 

So, the wicked will die at the Second Coming in two ways. Some will be burned up and some will die as a result of Jesus commanding them to die.

 

Also, those who participated in the crucifixion of Jesus will be resurrected to see Jesus appear at the Second Coming, and then, they will die with the wicked.

 

Keep in mind that the second death does not occur until the end of the 1,000 years. So everyone who dies at the Second Coming is “put to sleep.”

 

So, Jesus leaves the vultures a great feast as the saints depart this totally ruined planet for their heavenly home that Jesus has prepared for them. 

 

Now, we are ready for Revelation 20 verse 1.

 

Revelation 20:1   And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.

 

Revelation 20:2   He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

 

Revelation 20:3   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.”

 

Two points:

1.   Lucifer and his angels have been locked in the abyss ever since they were cast out of Heaven on Resurrection Sunday. This means that Lucifer and his angels cannot leave Earth and they cannot be seen. (Remember, before Resurrection Sunday, Lucifer could meet with other angels? See Job 1.)

 

KJV Revelation 12:9   “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

 

Here’s an important point.

Even though the devil has been locked in the abyss for the past 2,000 years, he has been able to trouble and deceive the nations of Earth at will. This fact is declared in Revelation 12:12

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