Revelation 20 Thousand Year Millennium

In Revelation 20:1 - 3 Satan is bound for a thousand years. He is cast into the bottomless pit and shut up. During this time he is not able to deceive the nations as before. Nations do exist at this time. There will be those of every nation who survive the tribulation period and enter into the thousand year millennium period.

In verse 4, John sees thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. These would have to be the ones of Revelation 11:18 who are to be rewarded before the bowl judgments. The servants, the prophets, and the saints, and them that fear the name of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 also speaks of these.  They will rise at the shout of the Lord. And verse 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The souls that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God are a different group, These are tribulation saints which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. Their fate is to be beheaded. They will also be resurrected and will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. 

Verse 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. The first resurrection is an on going event which ends when the beheaded tribulation saints are made to live again. It started with Christ who was the first fruits and the saints of old whose graves were opened and their bodies arose as told in Matthew 27:52. And they came out of the graves after the Lords resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. It continues with the rapture of the believers referenced in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The first resurrection concludes when the beheaded tribulation saints are made to live again. Revelation 20:4.

The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. People will die of natural causes during the thousand year reign and will be judged at the end of that period along with the rest of humanity from all the ages. Revelation 20:12.

Verse 6.. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. These resurrected saints will have no part in the final judgement at the end of the thousand year millennium.

In verse 7, Satan is loosed once again. Verse 8.. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Verse 9.. An they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Verse 10.. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever an ever. Satan finally gets his due. He takes his place along side the beast and the false prophet who were dispatched at the beginning of the millennium period.

Verse 11.. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. The awesome power of God holds an atom together. Such tremendous force pushing against itself. Only the hand of God keeps it in check. Look what happens when an atom is split. That tremendous force is released. That is just one atom. Imagine what will happen when God releases his grip on creation. Heaven and earth will indeed flee away.

Verse 12.. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those thing which were written in the books, according to their works.

13.. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14.. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15.. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

In Revelation 13:1 we found that the sea of humanity gave power to the beast. It could be that this same sea is being referred to in verse 20:13.

Revelation 21 A New Heaven, A New Earth

Verse 1.. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. So there will come all things new. The earth is not necessarily destroyed but redesigned. 

Verse 2.. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The new Jerusalem is a physical place. Separate from the earth. Possibly in orbit around the earth. 

Verse 3.. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. God's promise is finally realized. He is dwelling among His people.

Verse 4.. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. The human condition has greatly improved. Death, sorrow, crying, pain all cease to exist.

Verse 5.. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write; for these words are true and faithful. We can take it to the bank. God said it. It will happen.

Verse 6.. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. What has been promised for thousands of years is now accomplished. From progressive sanctification springs forth absolute glorification. 

Verse 7.. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Inherit what things? No more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Co-existence and fellowship with God the Father. 

Verse 8.. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Verse 9.. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Believers are the Lamb's wife in Revelation 19. Now the Lamb's wife is the New Jerusalem.

Verse 10.. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. In Revelation 16:20 all mountains are removed from the earth. At the time this is revealed to John there are mountains. John was taken away in the spirit to a high mountain. 

Verse 11.. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12.. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written theron, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; 13.. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14.. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Israel is restored. Each tribe has access to the city. The twelve apostles which include Paul will govern the twelve tribes. (Matt 19:27-30) King David will be over the twelve tribes. (Ezekiel 34:23-24, 37:24-25) The apostles also represent the church.

Verse 15.. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall therof. 16.. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17.. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. Twelve thousand furlongs equal about fifteen hundred miles. Fifteen hundred miles wide, long and high are the dimensions of this city. This could accommodate one billion believers with each able to have a 14,000 square foot apartment and room left over. 

Verse 18.. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19.. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, and emerald; 20.. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 

Verse 21.. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of on pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. So gold in it's purest form is as transparent glass.

22.. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. God is no longer housed in a temple. The temple is housed in God!

Verse 23.. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. This doesn't necessarily mean that sun and moon don't exist but they are not required to light the city because the glory of God will lighten it.

Verse 24.. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Ethnic differences will fade away during this period.

25.. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26.. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 

27.. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. This verse leads one to think that the New Jerusalem must come down at the beginning of the millennial kingdom. Why else would you talk about a problem that cannot exist.

After the creation of the new heaven and earth, there will be no more wickedness on earth. During the millennial kingdom, however, people will still have the opportunity to choose between good and evil.

Revelation 22 The River of Life

Verse 1... And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. The quality and supply is unending because it proceeds from the throne of God.

Verse 2.. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Verse 3.. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Verse 4.. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. So there will be nations on the earth. The earth will receive healing from the leaves and experience a lifting of the curse. If the New Jerusalem is in orbit around the earth one could imagine the river of life flowing out of it and spilling down upon the earth.

Verse 5.. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Notice it doesn't say that there is no sun but it is not required because the Lord God Himself lights the city. Reigning for ever and ever is the God given privilege of those who trust in His salvation.

Verse 6.. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. It seems beyond our ability to comprehend; so the Lord reiterates that these sayings are faithful and true.

Verse 7.. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. When Jesus comes, it will be suddenly and without warning. With this in mind, how much more important to keep the sayings of the book.

Verse 8.. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Verse 9.. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. With the revelation of such awe inspiring events, we would be inclined to worship the messenger. But again, our worship is to be directed towards the creator.

Verse 10: And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. If the time was at hand 2,000 years ago, how much more so today?

Verse 11.. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. If one has determined to remain unjust and filthy; If one has determined to reject God's offer of salvation; then, as stated, one will remain in that condition for ever.

Verse 12.. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Wait a minute. We're not saved by works. Galations 2:16.. Man is not justified by works but by faith of Jesus Christ. Wait another minute. James 2:17 says "Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Is this a contradiction? Of course not. What this means is that we are not saved by works but our salvation will be evidenced by our works. In Acts 26:20 Paul says that people should repent and do works befitting repentance. What kind of works are befitting of repentance? In John 6:28 they asked Jesus "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." So works that are befitting repentance; works that will be rewarded; works that are of God involve believing on Him whom He hath sent. Believing on Him means that you cleave to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger.

In Revelation 14:13 Jesus says "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. So our works done here are going to account for something in the hereafter.

Jesus says that He will give reward to every man and woman according as his or her work shall be. Some will have a greater reward. The woman of Luke 7:36 has a great reward in that she loved the Lord immensely and was overcome because of what He had done for her. Jesus said that she was forgiven much and that translated into a great love for God. Many have followed since a very young age. They have labored day in and day out. They have done the work. They have continued to trust in the Lord. They will have their reward. But some come later in life after experiencing darkness and dryness of soul and spirit for a long time. Then they experience the forgiveness of the Lord. They discover the joy and quality of life available to them through Him. Their love of the Lord is great. Their thankfulness can't be measured. Their reward is great. I think this is why Jesus said that those who are first will be last and the last first. Matt. 20:16.

Remember the prodigal son. Luke 15:11. The Father was overwhelmed with joy over the return of His lost son. So much so that he killed a fatted calf and hosted a great celebration. The other son whom had served his Father faithfully over the years received no such attention and was jealous. So just as there are different degrees of relationship here; so shall there be different degrees of relationship in the hereafter.

How do we become great in the Kingdom of Heaven? Luke 9:48 "For he who is least among you all will be great." We are rewarded not with silver and gold, but with a degree of relationship. Relationship is the currency of the Kingdom. We should be working on our retirement account, drawing closer to the Lord, increasing our holy bankroll so to speak.

Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Some will have less of a reward. 1 Cor. 3:11.. says For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Verse 12.. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Verse 13.. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Verse 14.. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. Verse 15.. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

What type of works might be burned up? Well Jesus tells us how to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. "He who is least among you all will be great." So if we are all powerful and lord it over one another; these works will be burned up. If one is skilled in controlling and manipulating people and practices such instead of serving them; these works will be burned up. If you do works to be seen by others; to receive recognition for your works; these works will be burned up. Matt 6:5.

Let's say that you are partial to what you eat. By eating a certain way you feel that your relationship with the almighty is enhanced. That is good. For you. But when you try and manipulate and control others based on your convictions instead of God's word, then you impose a burden and a yoke upon others that Jesus died to release us from. Matthew 15:16 .. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17.. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18.. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Acts 10:11.. And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12.. Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13.. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14.. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15.. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16.. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Let's say that you are a respecter of the days of the week. Saturday for instance. You feel that you are closer to God because of certain rituals you practice on a Saturday. That is good for you. But when you try and manipulate and control others based on your convictions instead of God's word, then you impose a burden and a yoke upon them.

Matthew 12:3.. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4.. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5.. Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6.. But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7.. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8.. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

We will also be rewarded with different degrees of responsibility. In Luke 19:11 Jesus tells us that we will receive authority to rule and reign in the hereafter based upon how we have managed that which we have received in this life. I hope I here the words of 19:17 "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities."

Verse 13.. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Verse 14.. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Verse 15, For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Without has to refer to outer darkness which Jesus often spoke of. Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30

Verse 16.. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. We're to be talking about these things in the churches according to Jesus.

Verse 17.. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. This is an open invitation to all. Come and enter into a blessed relationship with the creator of heaven and earth. Blessed peace and recreation to the soul is accessible through Jesus Christ.

Verse 18.. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Verse 19.. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. In other words, we can count on the things in this book happening as recorded. To deny the recorded account of this book is to stand with those who loveth and maketh a lie. Rev. 22:15.

Verse 20.. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Verse 21.. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

When Will Rapture of the Church Happen?

Does the bible tell us when the rapture of the church will happen? Both the old and the new testament speak of this event. Rapture refers to the church being forcefully removed from the earth to be with the Lord Jesus. In 1 Thess 4:13-17 the Apostle Paul says "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Can we trust this statement as being true and accurate?

Once we determine that this event is actually going to happen the next question is when will it happen? Paul had to write back to the Thessalonians because this statement stirred them up to the point that they were expecting it to happen at any moment. 2 Thess 2:1-11  " Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

So we've got an answer to our "when" question. There is a falling away and then the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way. "He who letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way" This verse refers to the rapture of the church. The Holy Spirit is lifted off the earth. The church goes with it. Then the wicked one is revealed. This wicked one is an individual. Daniel 9:27 speaks of him. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out desolate." Revelation 13:5 speaks of him. "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 11:7 also refers to him "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." The "beast" and the "Antichrist" are synonymous. The Antichrist is an individual while the beast is the world system that he represents.

 In Matthew 24:15, Jesus tells Israel how to deal with this wicked one. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

What do we know so far? The wicked one is revealed after the church is taken out of the way. The wicked one makes a covenant with many for "one week." This "one week" is the missing week from Daniel's seventy week prophecy. It is also referred to as "the day of the Lord". Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

Now we have additional information. People won't be expecting the rapture of the church. They will be eating and drinking. There will be weddings, dinners, and events. People will be going to work at the mill or out in the field. Pretty much business as usual. Then it happens. One will be taken, and the other left. This information automatically disqualifies the idea of a post tribulation rapture. At the end of the tribulation period the world as we know it will be pretty much destroyed. It will not be a time of "business as usual". If the rapture is to happen during the tribulation period but sometime before mid-tribulation then how do you explain 2 Thess 2:7? The church is taken out before Antichrist is revealed. Antichrist cannot make a "one week" or "seven year" covenant with many while the church is still here. Daniel is clear. It is an individual that makes the covenant. Not the world system which is pictured as the "beast".

We have a picture of the raptured church in Revelation 5:8.. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Some commentators believe that these elders refer to angels or heavenly beings. I believe they are representative of the church. There is no instance in the bible where the word elder refers to an angel. It is always a person and a representative of the people.

Who are they that are singing this song? They are the ones who are the subject of the verse. Those redeemed to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; These are not angels singing. This is not their song. This is the church singing. We are there with the Lord in heaven before the first seal of the scroll is even opened. The Lord has snatched us away to be with himself before the tribulation period begins. The tribulation period begins with the opening of the first seal of the scroll in chapter six.

In summary, the rapture of the church will happen when there is a falling away. Falling away from what? A falling away from the truth of the gospel. It will be a time when people call good evil and evil good. It will be a time when people attempt to change God's word into something perverted that it does not say. The rapture will happen before the son of perdition or Antichrist is revealed. This individual will then make a seven year covenant with Israel. Have we seen any of these things? We have definitely seen a falling away.

Get ready for rapture!