The End Times

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The 1000 Year Reign of Christ

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This describes the "Millennium" the 1000-year reign of Christ. Since the previous vision was symbolic of Christ's victory on Calvary, many believe that the Millennium started then as Satan's powers were greatly diminished with the coming of Christ. But we know that this "Serpent" has many heads. When one is wounded, another remains and what should have been a "mortal wound" with the coming of Christ was not so. Satan still reigns here on earth and will until this event occurs.

So now for 1000 years, or for a predetermined period of time, Satan's powers will be without effect upon the earth.

Notice it is most certainly Christ who binds Satan and casts him into the "Bottomless Pit". The description, the one with the key to hell, could hardly describe any other. Also His physical strength and His spiritual strength could only be that of the Son of God. Neither the strength of the Dragon nor the subtleness of the Serpent was any match for Him. He casts them into the Pit where none can open and puts His seal upon the door.

So for a time, the Church will be free of the false influences of Satan but when it is over, Satan will again be released for a while.

There appears from these verses that there will be two resurrections. This one for those who had been beheaded for their testimony and who had not taken the mark of the beast. They will come to life and reign with Christ for a "1000 years". "Blessed and holy is he who shares in this first resurrection". Why? Because the "second death" will have no power over them. And what is the second death? The judgment of Christ, the Great White Throne. Christ will not judge the "souls" of the saved because He purchased their pardon. Those who are not saved will be condemned to eternal separation from God by the second death. The lost will not be resurrected until the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ.

Satan's Evil Age

At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be unbound from the Pit and will come out to deceive the nations, to gather them for battle. His commanders are Gog and Magog. Magog is spoken of in Gen. 10:2. He was one of the sons of Japheth, the third son of Noah. He settled the country called Syria. Gog is believed to have been the founder of the Reubenite family, a name used by Ezekiel to denote a leader of people who were enemies of Israel. They are called upon to be the principle commanders of the army of Satan.

Their first job is to gather the Anti-christ which, by now, we see are as the sands of the sea. Their job will be to surround the camp of the Saints, the "Holy and Beloved City". This is the Spiritual Jerusalem, here called Armageddon. Notice their weapon was "deception". It has always been Satan's weapon against the Church.

But notice they were no match for God. Fire came down from heaven and destroyed them. Ezekiel 38:22 prophesied, "God will rain upon him and upon all his army an overflowing rain with great hailstones, fire and brimstone".

Then Satan will be thrown into the "lake of fire and brimstone" where the Beast and the False Prophet are and they will be tormented, day and night, forever.

The Judgment Seat

John, in this vision, is privileged to see the "Great White Throne", the "Judgment Seat" of Christ. Those that have been defeated at the great battle of Armageddon must face the judgment of God. There is now no other recourse, no place was found for them to go.

Notice all were judged by what was written in "the books". Their worldly position no longer mattered. Great and small, the sea, the land, even Hades gave them up to be judged. The books contain the names of those who had accepted Christ, God's plan of salvation, those whose names were not found in the books were thrown into the "lake of fire".

This judgment is not to be confused with the judgment found in I Cor. 3:13-15. It will be the judgment of the Christians works, after they had accepted Christ. Many will be found wanting, many will find their works unable to stand the test by "fire" but they themselves will be saved.

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