(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).
These passages vividly describe the final fate of both Satan and sinners. Historically, most Christians who read these passages take them very literally, believing that God will consign sinners and Satan to a lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented day and night forever and ever. Is this what these passages teach, though? This may be controversial, but my study tells me, no. As with the rest of Revelation, these apocalyptic images are symbolic. The question is—what do they symbolize?
Well, we’re given several clues.
First, we’ve already seen the imagery of fire, unending torment and smoke rising forever and ever used to figuratively to describe the defeat and destruction of Jerusalem. So, it’s consistent to believe that these images still mean the same thing.
Further, John sees the beast thrown alive into the lake of fire and tormented forever and ever. However, an angel earlier told him, “The beast that you saw… is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction” (Revelation 17:8 NASB). And again, the angel says, “The scarlet beast…is headed for destruction” (Revelation 17:11 NLT). Also, John isn’t the only prophet who foresaw the fate of the beast. The beast of Revelation is one and the same as the fourth beast of Daniel. Daniel sees the fate of the beast in a similar, but slight different vision: “I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire” (Daniel 7:11 NLT). An angel then explains to Daniel, “The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth… and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.” (Daniel 7:23-26 NASB). So, even though John sees the beast being tormented in his vision, we know from Daniel’s vision and the angels’ repeated explanations that this must symbolize the beast’s death and destruction.
Furthermore, you’ll notice that “death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14 NIV). Although Death and Hades are personified in the vision, in reality death is an experience and hades is a place—the realm of the dead. Neither of them can experience torment because they are not conscience living beings, but both of them can be destroyed. In fact, that’s just what happens. In the next chapter, we read, “there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). This is what Paul predicted when he wrote, “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). So, death being thrown into the lake of fire symbolizes that death will be destroyed, it “will be no more… gone forever.” It’s reasonable to assume that anything else thrown into the lake of fire will also destroyed and gone forever.
Finally, John actually tells us two times that the lake of fire symbolizes death. John says, “The lake of fire is the second death” (Revelation 20:14) and again, “This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). Here, John provides his own commentary explaining his vision. The lake of fire is apocalyptic imagery, but the explanation of the imagery is “the second death.” I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NIV). The second death is not just the death of the body (like the first death), but the death of both the body and soul.
Therefore, as I understand it, the final judgment will bring about the total death and destruction of Satan and sinners who refuse to turn to Jesus for salvation. If I understand this correctly, we can look forward to a world free from evil, not a world where evil has been quarantined to a lake of fire and brimstone, but where hedonism, hatred and hardheartedness have been completely abolished—gone forever. The final judgment will usher in the total annihilation of evil. And thus, it will make room for a new heaven and earth, including a new Jerusalem.
• JERUSALEM
Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, is the second thing we can look forward to at the end of history. As John’s vision of the future continues, he writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2 NLT).
Following the judgment, John witnesses a whole new creation. In fact, the one sitting on the throne calls out, “Behold, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5). Peter, likewise, looked forward to this day, writing, “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:12-13 NIV).
The crowning jewel of this new creation is the new Jerusalem. The imagery of the holy city descending out of heaven, symbolizes the merging of heaven and earth. They will no longer be two separate realms, but one—heaven and earth will be eternally joined. And the city itself is not a place, but people.
This scene replays a few verses later, when an angel calls out to John, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10 NIV). The picture here is of God the Father walking the bride down the aisle to present her to his Son, Jesus. As we discussed last week, we know that the bride of Christ is the church. And again, the church is not a place; it is people. Thus, the New Jerusalem symbolizes the people of God. This symbolism is evident in the architecture of the city.
John writes, “The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates… The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:12-14 NLT).
The number twelve symbolizes God’s people, represented by the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles. This number is present in every aspect of the city. John goes on to say, “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick” (Revelation 21:15-17 NIV). If this was a literal city, it would be nearly 2 million square miles (over half the size of the United States) and 700,000 stories tall. It would look something like this:
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But, remember that 1,000 represents all of something, so 12,000 (12 x 1,000) represents all of God’s people. And 144 is 12 x 12, symbolizing both the old and new covenant. These aren’t intended to be the literal dimensions of an actual city; rather all of this symbolism undergirds the reality that the new heaven and earth will be the home of all God’s people from every epoch of time! And it will be our home forever!
As John continues to explore the city, he says, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month” (Revelation 22:1-2). In the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life was Adam and Eve’s source of eternal youth. The abundant, year-round fruit produced by the Tree of Life in John’s vision, ensures that we will live eternally. As John put it earlier, “there will be no more death” (Revelation 21:4).
So, what about all the sparkling jewels and the streets of gold? These images are intended to convey the unparalleled uniqueness and matchless magnificence of the new heaven and earth. It will be a world unlike any we’ve ever seen. But the most wonderous thing about the new heaven and earth is who we’ll share it with—Jesus.
• JESUS
The third thing we can look forward to in eternity is spending it with Jesus. Suddenly John, hears a loud voice shouting: “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3 NLT). This is our ultimate hope: not that we might go to live with God, but that he will come to live with us!
As John explores the city, he writes, “I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:22-23 NLT). Imagine a world flooded with the sparkling splendor of God the Father and Jesus, his Son!
John later adds, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face” (Revelation 22:3-4 NLT).
In the fourth century, Augustine posed the following experiment. Imagine God saying to you, “I’ll make a deal with you if you wish. I’ll give you anything and everything you ask: pleasure, power, honor, wealth, freedom, even peace of mind and a good conscience. Nothing will be a sin; nothing will be forbidden; and nothing will be impossible to you. You will never be bored and you will never die. Only . . . you will never see my face.” The first part of the proposition is appealing. Isn’t there a part of us, a pleasure-loving part of us that perks up at the thought of guiltless, endless delight? But then, just as we are about to raise our hands and volunteer, we hear the final phrase, “you will never see my face.” And we pause. Never? Never know the image of God? Never, ever behold the presence of Christ? At this point, tell me, doesn’t the bargain begin to lose some of its appeal? Don’t second thoughts begin to surface? And doesn’t the test teach us something about our hearts? Doesn’t it reveal a deeper, better part of us that longs to see God?
If so, you’re not alone. Job longed to see God. He proudly professed, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!” (Job 19:25-27 NLT). If you’re not overwhelmed by the thought, you will be overwhelmed by the reality.
What we’ve seen only in our thoughts, we’ll see with our eyes. What we’ve struggled to imagine, we’ll be free to behold. What we’ve seen only in a glimpse, we will then see in full view. And what we see will change us forever. In his epistle, John says, “We know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NCV). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be transformed inside and out. We will see the face of God and we will be like Jesus.
Conclusion:
So, while the majority of Revelation’s prophecies are relegated to the ancient past, we still have at least three things awaiting us at the culmination of history: Judgement—the annihilation of Satan and sinners who refuse salvation through Jesus. Jerusalem—the crowning jewel of the new creation and the home of all God’s people for all eternity. Jesus—we will live in the light of the Lamb finally see God face to face.
While I know that the book of Revelation can be confusing and intimidating, I hope this series has convinced you of one thing: you need this book! On your darkest days, Revelation can keep you going. It can strengthen your obedience, lengthen your endurance, and deepen your faith. It’s not a haunted house, but a welcoming refuge to refresh and revive weary souls. So, don’t avoid it. Don’t neglect it. Read Revelation. Then let God’s word do the work that only it can do. Immerse yourself in this blessed book and God promises you—you will be blessed!
Invitation:
As John brings Revelation to a close, he records a special invitation: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17 NLT). That invitation is still open. If you are thirsty for the water of life, if you long to live in world free from death, sorrow, and suffering, if you hope to someday see the Creator of the universe face to face, then come to Jesus.
As we all await that fateful, final day, may we join John in shouting, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Let’s sing together church!
