INTRODUCTION This chapter is not that difficult to understand. The problem with chapter 20 is the many who have tried to make it say things it does not say. The contents here are confused with the supposed contents. Men have “read into” this passage many things that are just not there. This chapte... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;_ A. After the judgment of the immoral mother of harlots, the persec... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while._ A. He is “tied to the tree” by being cast into this pit. He is li... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection._ A. There are two views here. 1) The rest of the dead are all the non-Christians. 2) The rest of the dead are the faithful Christians who were not killed, but died natural deaths.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years._ A. If you have participated in the first resurrection (baptism into Christ) you are blessed. B. If... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison_ A. Admittedly, this is a difficult verse to understand. It will help if we understand that the limitation of Satan is the preaching of the gospel. B. Satan is limited because the gospel is having an influence on... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea._ A. Where the gospel does NOT go, Satan will be given greater room to roam. He will go to the four corners of the earth. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them._ A. Sin will literally take over the world. The entire world will be plunged into wickedness. B. The faithful Christians will be sur... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever._ A. This is the final defeat. Satan has lost his great harlot, Babylon. He has lost his persecuting governments. He h... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them._ A. All that remains is the final judgment. John sees a great white throne. The power and majesty of Christ is so strong that all look away. B. Bec... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books._ A. All the dead appear before God. All the dead will appea... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works._ A. Some have devised theories of as many as seven different resurrections. God only discusses one bodily, physical resurrection. We have... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death._ A. The ultimate end of all things is here. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26) All have been raised from the dead. Death ends. All have been raised to eternal life or eternal sep... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire._ A. God’s record is accurate. Is your name written there? B. All not written in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire. Summary of Revelation 1:1-20; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 4:... [ Continue Reading ]