Podcast Episode 32 (Condensed)
Welcome back to Wytinsea Writes! We’re only two chapters away from completing our series on the book of Revelation. I truly believe that once this series is complete, so many people will still reread these blogs, the podcast episodes, and YouTube videos. This is not a series that will end once we end. I believe that God will use this series (as He is already doing) to impact and change lives. If you’ve been with me since the beginning of this journey, thank you so much.
Today’s bible study is on Revelation 20. If you missed Revelation 19 blog, click here. For the YouTube video, click here. For the podcast episode, click here. We know by this point that John of Patmos has been caught up in the spirit. The Lord has been showing him prophetic visions of what is to come. Up until this point, these visions throughout the chapters have been frightening, exciting, tragic, and reassuring of God’s Word. Some chapters gave warnings, while others were encouraging, and gave hope. Regardless, they are all necessary to learn and know about. The days ahead will seriously call for a time of true studying the book of Revelation.
So, let’s get into this bible study. Revelation 20:1-3 NLT says, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while”.
Some may wonder why God didn’t cast Satan into the lake of fire immediately instead of holding him a thousand years, then releasing him again. We don’t know. It is important for us to remember that God’s ways are not like ours and His thoughts are not like ours either. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us this. I encourage you to read this whenever you’re unsure of why God does what He does. I refer to this scripture whenever I am curious about the choices of God too.
I would like to offer two possibilities, but in no way am I saying that this is the reason or am I taking scripture out of context. These are possible lens to consider. It could be because God knows the heart of man. It could be that even after a thousand years of glory, victory, and closeness to God, some souls will have a spirit of Lucifer on them. Meaning, some people will still desire to rebel and reject God. This is just a thought.
Another perspective could be that maybe God choosing to keep Satan bound instead of instantly destroying Him is a message in itself. Could it be that the purpose of Satan being released again after the thousand years is so God can prove a point? The point being proven may be that no matter how good God is to humans, it may never be enough for those bent on evilness, those with wicked hearts, or those determined to follow Satan? Again, the Word doesn’t tell us exactly these as the reasons. These are only possible things to consider.
Nevertheless, let’s continue. Revelation 20:4-7 states, “Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years”.
So, John the Revelator sees the believers that were killed from the great tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is arguable in the body of Christ, among scholars, theologians, and even those outside of the Christian faith. For me, I believe that this scripture references the rapture. The word rapture comes from the Latin word “rapturo”, meaning “caught up”. I believe that it describes the first resurrection which will be those caught up to heaven within a blink of an eye. The first resurrection symbolizes a blessed eternity for believers. As for the second resurrection, it symbolizes death and judgement for unrepented people. Later verses tell us about this in Revelation 20:5 & Revelation 20:11-15. 2 Timothy 2:12 is a great reminder from Apostle Paul that true believers will reign with Jesus. Just like there will be a resurrection of life (first one), there will be a resurrection of death and judgement (second one). The resurrected believers of the first one will reign with Jesus throughout the millennium and have a new body as 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 promises. Also, Philippians 3:21 does as well. I encourage you to read both.
First Resurrection = This is the second coming of Jesus Christ. The thousand year millennium reign begins for believers of faith.
Second Resurrection = The remaining souls will face the Great White Throne Judgement and if their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast to the lake of fire with Satan and all other unbelievers.
Regardless of how they died, blessed are those who are not subject to the second death or second resurrection. Prior to the thousand-year reign, Jesus returns to earth and destroys all His opps, enemies, or evil armies against Him. The Beast and False Prophets are banished to the Lake of Fire and an angel locks Satan away in the bottomless pit.
The next few verses, 7-10 of Revelation 20 focuses on the defeat of Satan. It says, “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. 10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.
Keep in mind, the release of Satan is not to test his heart of any sort to see if he will “finally” obey God. Instead, this could be to test the heart of those apart of the millennium reign. The question God may be asking is, “Did you submit to me from a place of true desire in your heart or because you felt you had no other choice?” This is worth thinking about because Jeremiah 17:10 talks about how God searches the heart of man (that means woman and man). God rewards people based on what their actions deserve. Even though the millennium reign is a period of perfect fellowship and peace with God, it doesn’t change the fact that God still knows the heart of man. The truth be told, much of the end times scriptures are meant to prove that God’s judgement is just and well deserved based on what each person is due (just like scripture tells us). It doesn’t matter how many signs, wonders, blessings, and miracles God will perform in a person’s life, some will simply remain in rebellion and rejection to God no matter what. Romans 1:18-20 tells us that people have no valid excuse for not believing in God.
Sadly, a thousand years in the bottomless doesn’t faze Lucifer. He is forever bent on evilness. He is forever focused on wicked deeds against God. Therefore, Satan is a master manipulator, and some people prefer to be deceived and remain in darkness due to their rebellious spirits than be brought into the light of God.
God’s “beloved city” may be Jerusalem. Throughout the bible, Jerusalem holds a special place in God’s heart. Even though it doesn’t say, this is just a thought. Satan’s attack on the “beloved city” doesn’t work because fire from heaven destroys the enemies. In verse 10 of Revelation 20, everlasting fire is described there, but also in Matthew 25:41 too. The Antichrist, False Prophet, and Devil will suffer in agony forever.
There are people of other religions and some that are living in deception (but claim to believe in God) thinks that “hell is now on earth”. Those people are deeply deceived by the devil. The bible never describes hell as being on earth. For anyone thinking that the worst their life can ever get is on earth right now, while living recklessly in sin, yet thinks they’re guaranteed a spot in heaven is deeply deceived. It is ludicrous. Wake up from your slumber, now!
Never forget Jesus told a parable about a man who died and went to Hades. Hades is described as a holding spot for the dead. Abraham’s bosom is one type of Hades which is a place of peace and comfort. The other Hades is where those who are in a holding spot are suffering and doomed to hell. Weeping, gnashing of teeth, and agony occurs in that hold spot; When Jesus returns, their final destination will be the lake of fire. Right now, they’re getting a glimpse of it. In the parable, a man died and went to Hades (the tormenting place) and he said, “I am in anguish in this flame” (Luke 16:24). Therefore, if you’ve been deceived to think otherwise about this, come out of your delusion. Those who have ears to hear must listen to what the spirit is saying.
Because we serve such a good God, He isn’t eager to send people to hell. But hell awaits for all those who refuse to repent. That’s just facts. I cannot sugarcoat it. We are too close to the end to pacify the truth of the bible at a time like this.
The final verses are so vital to understand. Revelation 20:11-15 states, “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire”.
Remember, white throne = purity.
Those assembled at the Great White Throne rejected God. Now, they’re being punished for their sins and refusal to turn from wickedness. The bodies of all the unrepented sinners are raised up to appear before the Great White Throne. No one will escape the rightful judgment. There is no place to run or hide. They will get in line to receive their just reward. So, all those bodies that were cremated, buried, burned away, drowned, or even turned into a mummy will be reassembled to stand before the Great White Throne.
At the end of Revelation 20:15, it is clear that all have been judged accordingly. They will either go to hell if their name is not written in the Book of Life or live in eternity with God because their name was written in the Book of Life. Those who rebel will be destroyed and burn forever. Those who repent and surrender their life to God will live forever with Him.
Ask yourself, am I ready for the return of the Lord? Am I living a life that honors God through the teachings of the Holy Bible? If your answers are no, repent now. The victory over sin and evil is complete when God judges those at the Great White Throne. 1 John 5:12 NIV says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life”. If you’re living according to the scriptures in the Holy Bible, you have the Son of God. If you’re not, you don’t have the Son of God. This means that you will go to Hell if you don’t repent. John 3:16-17 NIV states, “…Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. Romans 6:23 warns us that the wages of sin is death. What does that mean? That means refusing to repent and turn to God means you will die in your sin and go to hell. Eternal life is available for all those who believe in Christ, repent, and live for Him.
I urge you to repent today. Don’t let another day go by that you haven’t made it right with Jesus. Do you want your name written in the Book of Life? The Book of Life is a book with all the names written of those who repented, turned from sin, surrendered their life to God, and has been deemed worthy of having a rightful place in Heaven. Who made this decision? God did. So, if you want to be a part of an everlasting life with God, say this prayer after me:
Dear Lord,
I know that I haven’t always made the right decisions. Today, I lay it all at your feet. I repent for all of my sins. I turn away from my wickedness today. I choose to follow you. I choose to pick up my cross and follow you. I want to live for you according to your Word in the bible. Help me to submit unto you. Help me to live according to your Word. Cleanse me from all of my iniquities. Deliver me from evil. Teach me your ways, God. Create in me a clean heart. Purge every unclean spirit out of my soul. I choose today to serve you moving forward. I ask you God to wipe away all my sins as your Word promises to do for those who repent sincerely in Hebrews 8:12. Thank you God for sending your son, Jesus to die and rise again. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I believe that He rose on the third day. Now Lord, help me on my new journey. Help me to walk on the narrow path. Help me to delight in you. Fill me with the fruits of the spirits (Galatians 5:22-23). Thank you Jesus for your everlasting mercy and grace. Help me to never abuse your mercy or grace. Today, I walk in the freedom of my deliverance. I have been made whole. My soul has been renewed. I love your Lord with all my heart. And I pray all these things in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
If you said that prayer, I believe that you just became a recipient of the Book of Life. The angels in heaven are rejoicing and so am I. Thank you so much for reading my bible study on Revelation 20. Come back for the next bible study on Revelation 21 very soon. Share this blog with someone you love. Leave a comment below, if it blessed you in any way. Until next time, with Wytinsea Writes!
