Revelation 19 – The Return of the King
This chapter opens with a praise and worship celebration going on in heaven as a result of the destruction of Babylon. The 24 elders and 4 living creatures are again seen prostrate in worship before God. In verse 6 we are told that John hears the voice of a great multitude praising and worshipping God in anticipation of the marriage of the Lamb. Point is made that the wife is ready and clothed in righteousness.
The next thing John sees—Heaven opens up and Jesus, the Faithful and True, the righteous Judge, is astride a white horse going out to war. His eyes show anger and determination, and He is wearing many crowns. He is also marked with a new name with which no man is yet familiar. He is clothed in a garment soaked in blood, and His name is “The Word of God.”
John 11:1, 14 & 36 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth….And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Jesus is accompanied by the armies of heaven (believers and angels) on white horses and clothed in clean, white linen. Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, His word, which He will use to conquer the nations. He is come to finish God’s work of wrath and establish His kingdom. When He establishes His kingdom, He will rule as King of the world with a “rod of iron,” intolerant of sin and evil. His garments are embroidered with the following title: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
John then sees an angel standing in the sun and calling out an invitation to the vultures to come and enjoy the supper of the great God, and feast on the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses, and other men.
Then John sees the armies of the Antichrist gathered together to make war against Jesus and His army.
In Isaiah we are told that the LORD will go first to Bozrah, presumably to deliver the saints that are being protected there in the wilderness, and then proceed to Israel.
Is. 63:1-4 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
John observes that all it takes is the word of the LORD to destroy the armies of the Antichrist. The beast and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20 - The White Throne Judgment
At this point John sees an angel come down from heaven that has the key to the bottomless pit and a big chain in his hand. He takes hold of the Devil, binds him up and casts him into the bottomless pit for the next 1000 years. He closes the entrance and puts some type of seal on Satan that prevents him from deceiving the nations until the end of 1000 years. At that time he will be loosed again for a “little season.”
The next thing John sees are thrones set in position comparable to a jury. He saw the souls of those that had been beheaded for their “witness for Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark.” These souls are allowed to live and reign with Christ for 1000 years. This completes the first resurrection. This would indicate that those who come to faith during the Kingdom Age will not die and will translate directly into eternity at the end of the Kingdom Age, similar to the experience of the saints who are still alive at the time of the rapture. Point is made that those who have part in the first resurrection will live eternally as “priests of God and of Christ” and will reign with Christ for 1000 years along with the tribulation martyrs.
The rest of the dead, the unbelieving Christ-rejecting dead, will not live again until the 1000 years are over.
At the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed from his prison and allowed to go out and deceive the people on planet earth once again. Reference is again made to Gog and Magog as among those who once again align themselves with Satan. Without going into great detail at this point, Gog and Magog are the leaders of a future alliance of mostly Moslem nations that will attack Israel and be supernaturally destroyed by God. This event is described in Ezekiel 38-39. (For a verse by verse commentary of these chapters go to my website at www.momsbiblejournal.com.) In fact, this alliance has never before existed in history and is being formed at this very time through the alliance of Russia, Iran, Syria, etc. I believe it is one of the next events on the prophetic timetable—either it or the destruction of Damascus prophesied in Isaiah 17.
Beyond my understanding, after experiencing the righteous rule of the Savior, Satan will be able to gather an army that numbers “as the sand of the sea.” They will actually position themselves to war against the saints and the “beloved city” [Jerusalem], but God will destroy them with fire from heaven. Then Satan is thrown into the lake of fire to join the Antichrist and false prophet to be tormented day and night forever.
John next sees Jesus on a great white throne in position in a place somewhere out of the confines of heaven and earth. Maybe this is John’s way of describing a different dimension of existence. He then sees all the dead, those who were not qualified to participate in the first resurrection, standing before God. A set of books were opened which are evidently a record of the works of these individuals. Each individual will be judged based on his works as recorded in these books. The Book of Life is also opened. Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, which is identified as the second death. Whoever was not found written in the book of life was also cast into the lake of fire.
It is my opinion that no one from this group will be found in the Book of Life. Everyone, however, will get his day in court.
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