Revelation (Part 10) Series

(Part 10)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 12/3/2017

If you’re just joining us, we’ve reached the end our unforgettable journey through the puzzles and prophecies of Revelation. I want to thank each of you for sticking with me throughout this series—some of you may be glad it’s over while others may be a little disappointed. We’ve trudged through nineteen chapters full of monsters and mayhem and, while all the event recorded thus far in Revelation took place in John’s future, it’s all ancient history for us.

Some of you may be wondering, “Does Revelation have anything to say about my future?” You won’t be disappointed because the answer is a resounding—yes! As we approach the closing chapters of Revelation, John’s vision leaps forward into the distant future to give us a peek at the final fate of humanity and even the earth itself.

This leap takes place in Revelation 20. If you have a Bible or an app on your phone, please open it there. John writes, “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 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” (Revelation 20:1-3 NIV).

So far, throughout Revelation, everything is said to happen soon over short time periods, like 42 months. But here, Satan is locked away for a very long period of time—a thousand years. Satan’s imprisonment isn’t the only thing that lasts a thousand years either. In the next verse, “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God…They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4 NIV). So, the souls of slain Christians return to Christ in heaven where they reign with him for a thousand years.

Now, a thousand years is a long time, but it’s been over two thousand years since John wrote this book. So, does that mean Satan was release from his prison sometime in the tenth century and the souls of Christians are no longer reigning with Jesus? No. Rather, the number 1,000 is symbolic. Remember, the number 1,000 represents completeness—all of something. When the Old Testament says God owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10), it means God owns all the cattle on every hill. Similarly, when God says, “I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations” (Exodus 20:6 NLT), it means God lavishes love on all generations. Thus, the 1,000 years represents all the remaining years in human history. We are living in the thousand years right now.

So, what happens after the thousand years? What will we see when the thousand years are over? The closing chapters of Revelation reveal three things we can anticipate at the end of time. First, there will be a judgement.

• JUDGMENT

As John sees these events unfold, the final judgment begins with the devil himself. John writes, “When the thousand years are over… the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:7-10 NIV).

Satan, the beast and the false prophet won’t be the only ones judged, however. As John’s vision continues, he writes:

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 NIV).

At the end of the thousand years, everyone will rise from the dead to stand before the throne of God and those whose name are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will join Satan in the lake of fire. Whose names aren’t written in the book? John answers that in the next chapter: “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8 NLT).