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Message
Revelation 19:1-20:10
“The Overthrow of Satan in This Broken World”.
Today we are going to focus on Revelation 19:1-20:10. We are going to break it up into three sections – some of these sections are easy to understand – and one … well; not so easy.
Revelation 19:1-10
It is pretty easy to see that this section is a hymn of praise in heaven.
A great multitude is singing the praises of God because he has brought destruction to Babylon the prostitute.
No longer will Babylon be able to cause pain and suffering for God’s people.
No longer will we be tempted and tested and distracted and torn away.
No longer will all that is evil in this world have the ability to stand against all that is good.
God’s justice has been delivered. And we say Hallelujah!!
Which sounds a little bit callous doesn’t it?
In the recent Syrian uprising there have been images of rebel fighters dancing around the bodies of dead Syrian Army officers. Some of these soldiers have been shot after being captured. It is meant to be a result of justice. These rebel fighters celebrate with great intensity that a small step of freedom has been achieved.
On the one hand we understand. On the other hand it seems cruel and callous.
These dead soldiers had families – wives, children, people who loved them. People who are now grieving.
That is what happens isn’t it – but that is not the right time to say “Hallelujah”.
Hallelujah is not a cry of revenge. Hallelujah is a cry of relief.
Since the time of Adam our world has been under a curse – the curse of sin.
Why do wars happen?
Why do natural disasters happen?
Why do people die?
Sin’s Curse.
Why did my marriage fail?
Why was I abused?
Why is my health failing?
Sin’s Curse.
Why am I afraid?
Why do I doubt?
Why am I full of guilt?
Sin’s Curse.
Everyone has a WHY. Think about your own why for a moment.
… …
It’s hard isn’t it? Living in a world cursed by sin.
Now imagine if the curse was gone. That all your WHY’s no longer exist. Can you picture it? It seems impossible. It seems out of reach. But if … when … sin’s curse is gone. What would you say?
HALLELUJAH
One day Babylon will be gone – the prostitute who is the temptress. We won’t be celebrating the death and destruction. We won’t be dancing on graves. We will take a deep breath and thank the Lord that the WHY is no over because sin’s curse is gone.
Hallelujah.
That is what these verses are about. Let’s keep reading.
Revelation 19:11-21
Who is the rider on the white horse?
Called Faithful and True.
A judge.
Eyes of fire.
A robe dipped in blood.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Who is the rider … that’s easy isn’t it. Jesus.
Now what is he doing?
He is leading an army of people dressed in fine white linen.
He is going against an army lead by the beast.
He defeats the beast and the false prophet, both who end up in the fiery lake of burn sulphur.
Those who follow the beast are also defeated and brought to ruin.
When you put it all together it is reasonably simple isn’t it.
This is all about the day when Jesus returns. Sometimes it is called the Parousia.
Parousia means “personal presence”. So The Parousia is when the personal presence of Jesus happens. It is a day of destruction and judgement and punishment. Those who stand against Jesus, the rider of the white horse, will lose. That is what this section is about.
It is a theme that we have already seen a number of times in Revelation. So let’s move on to the next section.
Revelation 20:1-10
Ok. So this is the section which is not so easy. Because there are two very different views among believers as to how this passage should be interpreted. I should make the point that all of these people are bible-believing Christians who will all end up in heaven together.
You cannot say, “I don’t believe Jesus died and rose from the dead” and also rightly say, “I am a Christian”.
But, if you have one view about the end times, and I have another view, well we are still brothers and sisters in Christ.
As we talk about the differences of view we need to keep that perspective in mind.
So what is the big question? What is the point where there is such a difference?
When, in history, does what is written in chapter 20 occur?
There are many Christians, among whom there are people who have doctorates in theology and biblical studies, who believe that chapter 20 chronologically follows chapter 19. In other words when Jesus comes back is he will say on earth for 1000 years and rule, with the help of those who had not worshipped the beast, on earth.
If we want to give a name to this belief, the name is Pre-millennial.
Millennial means “1000”.
Pre means “before”.
Pre-millennial literally means … before the thousand.
In that time, in that 1000 year period, Satan is bound. The beast and the false-prophet are in the fiery lake of sulphur. Babylon the great prostitute has been destroyed. And all those who received the mark of the beast have died in the great end time battle. It is like everything gets a fresh start - expect this time Satan is not around to tempt people.
And Jesus will have his throne in Jerusalem. Theoretically it would be possible for you to hop on a plane and go and visit Him. Jerusalem will be the centre of a one world government and all the other nations will respect the authority of Jesus. There will be peace and harmony and just such a wonderful time on earth for 1000 years. It is a wonderful picture, certainly one we would want to be a part of. If that is how it all turns out I won’t complain.
But I’m not convinced that this is how it will go.
And I have a few questions.
For 1000 years Jesus is physically on earth - and all that time Satan is locked up, unable to deceive. The beast and false prophet are banished to the fiery lake. Babylon is no more.
So that means there is no group on earth who is able to tempt or cause evil.
And anytime someone doubted the Jesus was real, well you just go to Jerusalem.
And all around you is peace and tranquillity – because it all going God’s way.
But after 1000 years this happens.
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth —Gog and Magog —to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
Revelation 20:7-8
Where does Satan get all these followers? It is so hard to imagine that, with no possible means of temptation that he could rustle up so many. Verse 3 says he is only released for a short time. How does he deceive so many so quickly? Is the victory of Christ really so powerless that Satan can rise for a little time after 1000 years of us only being in a Jesus-ruled age and turn so many. I just struggle with that as a possibility.
Not only that – it means that again in history there is another massive battle between Jesus and His followers, and Satan and his followers. One just before the beginning of the millennium, and one at the end. And then we are going to have another round of resurrections. And another judgement day. Surely the battle is over when Jesus returns. That is certainly seems to be the picture we get from Scripture.
In Matthew we read.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
But the righteous (will go) to eternal life. ”
(Matthew 25:31-33, 41,46)
When Jesus comes back it is to finish what he started. To help us understand that, if we live our life without His control, we will suffer the consequences. The battle will be over and victory will be sealed.
In Thessalonians we read
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Jesus comes back and gathers us on the judgement day – then we go to be with the Lord forever. It’s over and finished.
No where else in Scripture do we read about the return of Jesus bringing us almost to the end. It is a complete and comprehensive victory. Having the interpretation that chapter 20 follows chronologically from chapter 19 raises so many questions.
Which is why there are also many Christians who hold to what is called an Amillennial View.
How do these believers interpret Chapter 20:1-10?
We start with the recognition that Revelation is obviously a highly symbolic book … and that Revelation keeps on looking at the same issues from different perspectives. So Chapter 20 is not following chronologically from Chapter 19. Rather we are being given a different perspective. Now perhaps you might remember, if you were here, the very first sermon we did in this series on Revelation. All the way back then we talked about what was the purpose of the book of Revelation.
The primary purpose of the book of Revelation is for us to know how Jesus Christ is helping his servants in this broken world.
Revelation is full of images that could make you afraid and worried.
We are faced with the onslaughts of the unholy trinity.
There are times when this world gets a hold of us.
Constantly God is saying, “Have I got your attention?”
The beast is always trying to get us to take his mark.
However you look at it we are in the firing line.
Evil seems to have great power.
So as we get to the end we might be feeling a little worried. It looks like Satan has a lot of power. In that situation Amillennial Christians believe that Revelation Chapter 20:1-10 is reminding us of an important truth – Satan is actually on a leash.
The first moment of his binding happened when Jesus rose from the dead. Defeat sin and therefore removing Satan’s greatest weapon. Up until this time Satan had the full ability to deceive every single nation on earth, except for the nation of Israel. Even then Satan did a good job of deceiving Israel as well. But after Jesus rose from the dead Satan suddenly found that he was less effective at deceiving. The Gospel went out. Nations came to Christ. It still happens even today. Satan is on a leash.
And his place of operation is now in the Abyss – it is from here that he directs his activities. Now remember Satan has a lot of support. The beast. The false prophet. Babylon the prostitute. The fallen angels. It’s a lot of fire-power. But it has all got to be directed from the Abyss. Like a Mafia boss directing his crew from prison. Still able to do damage, but nowhere near as effective. Satan is on a leash.
During this time the saints are coming the faith. People are trusting in Jesus. They participate in the first resurrection, which is the resurrection of your soul – we call it conversion. Satan tries to hold you, but he can’t. Satan is on a leash.
So the 1000 years spoken about here is a symbolic description of what is happening on this earth, from the time Jesus rose from the dead, till the time Jesus returns. We are currently in the millennium now. In Chapter 20:1-10 Jesus helps us in this broken world be reminding us that the power of Satan has been restricted by a leash.
Sometime in the future, maybe sometime soon, Satan will be set free for a short time.
If that were to happen tomorrow you can easily imaging him being able to gather for battle many who would be prepared to stand against God – because so many already do.
But even when that happens Jesus will fight for us as well. So we don’t have to fear.
And that, from an Amillennial perspective, is how I interpret this difficult passage. From the moment Jesus had His victory over death, Satan has been on a leash. Even though it means interpreting the passage in a symbolic way, I still feel that it makes the most sense.
Now maybe you don’t think that makes sense … well that is ok. Let’s make sure we understand that our points of difference revolve around one question.
When, in history, does what is written in chapter 20 occur?
Is it directly after the fall of Babylon?
Is it more to do with us now?
Either way we all agree.
Satan losses. Jesus wins.
Satan’s followers follow a loser. Jesus’ followers are in line for an eternal victory.
Make sure you are on the winning side. Then go out and tell not-yet-believers how they can be winners as well.
Prayer
