SESSION #12: REVELATION #19 – THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS:
“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Rev. 19:1-5).
• God is calling for all of us to praise Him with our songs and with our lives!
• One of the themes of Revelation: “The Lord God Omnipotent reigns.” God is in control!
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: ’Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:7-10).
• We are called to rejoice, for we are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus!
• Jesus is returning for a pure bride, dressed in white, without spot or wrinkle.
• What is the spirit of true prophecy? The testimony of JESUS.
THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE:
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:11-16).
• Jesus is revealed as the faithful and true, the righteous judge, the Word of God
• Jesus is shown here riding forth on a white horse, conquering His enemies
What is this describing? Two main interpretations:
• The Second Coming of Jesus, coming to judge His enemies.
• The victory of the Gospel as God’s Word goes forth in this present age.
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND COMING:
• At His Second Coming, Jesus will return with His angelic armies to destroy His enemies
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VICTORY OF THE GOSPEL:
“The message of the Gospel, the Word-sword of the Spirit, goes out from Christ’s mouth and destroys His enemies by converting them...As the Gospel progresses throughout the world it will win increasing victories, until all the kingdoms become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever… Riding out on His war-horse, followed by His army of saints, He conquers the nations with the Word of God, the Gospel. This is a symbolic declaration of hope, the assurance that the Word of God will be victorious throughout the world, so that Christ’s rule will be established universally. Jesus Christ will be acknowledged everywhere as King of all kings…From the beginning of Revelation, Christ’s message to His church has been a command to overcome...now He assures the suffering Church that, regardless of the fierce persecution…He and His people will in fact be victorious over all enemies.” (David Chilton, The Days of Vengeance).
ARMAGEDDON – THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD:
“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Rev. 19:17-21).
What will happen at Armageddon?
• The beast and the kings and their armies gather together to make war against Jesus.
• The beast and the false prophet were captured and cast alive in the lake of fire.
• And the rest of those who had received the mark of the beast were killed with the sword.
REVELATION #20 – THE MILLENNIUM:
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 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. 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. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.” (Rev. 20:1-6).
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE MILLENNIUM?
The millennium refers to the period of 1,000 years described in Revelation chapter 20.
Premillennialism
“Premillennialists generally believe that the return of Christ will be preceded by certain signs such as the preaching of the gospel to all nations, a great apostasy, wars, famines, earthquakes, the appearance of the Antichrist and a great tribulation. His return will be followed by a period of peace and righteousness. Christ will reign as King in person or through a select group of followers… The Jews will be converted and will become very important during this time… At the end of the millennium there is a rebellion of wicked men which almost overwhelms the saints… After the millennium the non-Christian dead are raised and the eternal states of heaven and hell are established.” (Robert Clouse, The Meaning of the Millennium).
• Jesus is going to return before “the millennium” (pre = before)
• a literal, physical 1,000 year period on Earth when Jesus & the saints will reign
Postmillennialism
“The postmillennialist explains that the kingdom of God is now being extended through Christian preaching and teaching. This activity will cause the world to be Christianized and result in a long period of peace and prosperity called the millennium… This period closes with the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment.” (Clouse).
• Jesus will return after “the millennium” (post = after)
• the victory of the kingdom of God on the Earth, symbolized by the 1000 years
Amillennialism
“Amillennialists hold that the kingdom of God is now present in the world as the victorious Christ is ruling his people by His Word and Spirit, though they also look forward to a future, glorious and perfect kingdom of the new earth in the life to come.” (Clouse).
• there is no actual “millennium” (a = no)
• a spiritual kingdom – Christ reigns in believers hearts between First & Second Coming
• the concept of the 1,000 years (millennium) does not appear anywhere else in the Bible.
A LOOK AT REVELATION 20:1-6:
“the Devil (was) bound for a thousand years… so that he should deceive the nations no more.”
Is this a future event, or has this taken place already?
Jesus said, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” (Matt. 12:28-29).
• Jesus came proclaiming, “The Kingdom of God is here” 2,000 years ago.
• Satan – the strongman – was bound by Jesus through His death on the Cross.
• In what sense has Satan been bound? So that he can no longer deceive the nations.
• Jesus said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” (Mark 16:15).
ARMAGEDDON DESCRIBED AGAIN - AND SATAN’S FINAL DEFEAT:
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 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. 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. 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.” (Rev. 20:7-10).
• Whether you believe there will be a literal, physical 1,000 year reign of Christ in Jerusalem (premillennial view), or you believe that we are now in the symbolical millennium (amillennial view), what follows this millennium is: Armageddon.
• Satan will rally God’s enemies to come to destroy the camp of the saints = the church.
• But before they can mount their attack, the battle is over, as God sends lightning to destroy them all, and then casts the devil into the lake of fire!
THE FINAL JUDGMENT: What will happen after the Second Coming of Jesus?
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:1).
“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. 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. 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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:11-15).
1. The Great White Throne Judgment – all people stand before God - 20:11
2. The Book of Life is Opened - 20:12a
3. Unbelievers are Judged According to Their Works - 20:12b-13
4. Death and the Grave are Thrown into the Lake of Fire - 20:14
5. All Unbelievers are Thrown into the Lake of Fire - 20:15
6. All Christians are Ushered into the Presence of God in Heaven - 21:1-22:5
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
