"And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" -- (Isa. 11:2)

Background Reading:
Back to the Future -- Part 2

"And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him" -- In this verse we have an affirmation of the Trinity. The Spirit (Holy Spirit) of the LORD (God the Father) shall rest upon Him (Jesus). When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, he made the following statements:

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:31-33)

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

Jesus is the Son of the Highest. Just as promised in the Old Testament, Gabriel told Mary that the Messiah would be given the throne of his father David, reign over the house of Jacob forever, and that of His kingdom there shall be no end. In the future Millennial Kingdom, Christ will reign on earth from Israel, and then after the 1000 years will reign forever in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Isaiah 11:2 goes on to list the attributes of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is: (1) the spirit of the LORD; (2) the spirit of wisdom; (3) the spirit of understanding; (4) the spirit of counsel; (5) the spirit of might; (6) the spirit of knowledge; and (7) the spirit of the fear of the LORD. In Revelation, chapter 1, John makes the following statement:

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne (Rev. 1:4)

Some commentators view the seven Spirits as being a reference to Isaiah's prophecy concerning the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit as given in Isaiah 11:2. (cf. MacArthur Study Bible fn. Rev. 1:4).

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" -- (Isa. 11:1)

Background Reading:
The Child Who Was God

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse" -- The Messiah was to come from the line of Abraham, through the line of Judah, through the line of Jesse, and through the line of David. Jesus fulfilled all these requirements as demonstrated by the records in Matthew, chapter 1 and Luke, chapter 3. Jesse was the father of David. (Ruth 4:22). God made the following promise to David:

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. (2 Sam. 7:8-14)

The promise to David has been fulfilled in Christ. Jesus will reign on earth from Israel during the future Millennial Kingdom.

"and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" -- The name 'Branch' is another name for the Messiah, which is Jesus. Other Old Testament references to the 'Branch' are as follows:

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. (Isa. 4:2)

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jer. 23:5)

In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. (Jer. 33:15)

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. (Zech. 3:8)

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD (Zech. 6:12)

From these passages, we learn that the Branch will be a King that shall reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness in the land. These Old Testament verses refer to Christ and His reign on earth during the Millennial Kingdom.

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." -- (Rev. 20:10)

Background Reading:
The Destroyer Destroyed

"tormented day and night for ever and ever" -- Here is the final state of the devil. Take heed all you who would follow his lead into sin, who know well the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. For such is not from the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away. The final state of the devil and all humans who do not put their faith in Jesus for their salvation is eternal torment in the lake of fire.

Some people would like to comfort themselves by thinking that punishment for unbelief is not eternal. The unbeliever will find no such comfort in the Bible. No, if you turn your back on Jesus in this life, then you shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Some people think that eternity in the lake of fire will be fun because all of their friends will be there. Possibly they skip over the word "tormented", because there is no fun in torment. And it will not just be for a time. You will not be able to comfort yourself thinking, "I will endure it this little while and then it will be over." No, but what does the scripture say, "day and night for ever and ever", that is all day and for eternity. There is no rest from the torment.

"where the beast and the false prophet are" -- Here are two individuals that know well the torment found in the lake of fire. At the time the devil joins them in that place, they have already been there for 1000 years. We remember well that they were cast alive into the lake of fire at the end of the Great Tribulation when they came to battle against the Lord in the Battle of Armageddon. Here they are found 1000 years later still enduring torment in the lake of fire. Though they have been tormented for 1000 years, they are no closer to the end of their eternal torment than when it first began. Indeed, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." -- (Rev. 20:9)

Background Reading:
The Carnal Mind Enmity Against God

"the beloved city" -- The beloved city mentioned here is a reference to the city of Jerusalem where Christ will dwell during the Millennial Kingdom. It is clear from scripture that Christ will return to Jerusalem where a new temple shall be built. Consider the following verse from Zechariah:

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. (Zech. 8:3)

Thus, the beloved city, Jerusalem, will be called a city of truth at that time and Christ will dwell in the midst of the city. The topography of the land in Israel will change at that time, and Jerusalem will be raised up from the surrounding land:

All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. (Zech. 14:10-11)

Another glorious picture of the city of Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom is found in the book of Jeremiah. There, the city of Jerusalem is called the Throne of the Lord:

At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jer. 3:17)

One interesting Bible study is to note the references to Jerusalem in the Old Testament. There is a mention of Jerusalem as early as Genesis, chapter 14, when Abraham meets Melchizedek as he returns from the slaughter of the kings. Melchizedek is described as the King of Salem:

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Gen. 14:18-20)

Now, Melchizedek was both a king and a priest and was king over Jerusalem. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 7, Christ is seen as arising in the likeness of Melchizedek, and there is the Old Testament statement about Christ:

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)

When David became King in Israel, he purposed to reign from Jerusalem. Thus, we read in 2 Samuel:

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Sam. 5:6-7)

According to the MacArthur Study Bible, the city of Jerusalem is mentioned in the Bible more than any other city. (footnote on 2 Sam. 5:6). During the Millennial Kingdom, it will be the city from which God reigns on earth.

"And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." -- (Rev. 20:8)

Background Reading:
The Fall of Man -- Part 1

"And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth" -- Satan is released from the bottomless pit and goes right back to deceiving the nations. Satan is the father of lies. He deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden and is here deceiving men at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. Satan has a tremendous hatred against Jesus and he wants to make one final attempt to destroy Jesus and his people.

"Gog, and Magog" -- The mention of Gog and Magog here does not automatically mean that this is the same event as described in Ezekiel 38 where Gog from the land of Magog is mentioned. The events in Ezekiel 38 happen at the end of the 7 year tribulation before the Millennial Kingdom. The events here in Revelation 20 happen at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

"to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea" -- Even with Jesus reigning on earth and the people able to experience His blessings during the Millennial Kingdom, they still gather together to battle against Him. At that time they will have as part of their history all of the events that happened during the Great Tribulation as a warning to those who think they can rebel against God and survive. But, the devil will be successful in deceiving many people at that time. So successful that the number gathered for battle is as the sand of the sea.

"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison" -- (Rev. 20:7)

Background Reading:
Will there be mortal believers at the end of the Millennium?

During the time of the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be bound and will not be out using his devices to deceive the people living on the earth. Even so, the men living at that time will still sin. This will show that man has a sinful nature and that men cannot blame their sins on the actions of the devil. Consider the following passage from James that gets to the heart of the matter:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:13-15)

Thus, we see that man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust. And that lust brings forth sin. Now, during the Millennial Kingdom sin will be dealt with swiftly and with adequate punishment. At that time, Christ rules with a "rod of iron." For instance, consider what happens to those people who fail to come to worship Christ at that time:

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zech. 14:16-19)

If they fail to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, they will not receive rain. This is likely a devastating punishment because without rain the people will not be able to grow their crops. As an aside, notice that Egypt is one of the nations that is worshipping the Lord. It is clear from Isaiah that Egypt will turn to the Lord during the Millennial Kingdom:

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:18-25)

Of course, at the end of the 1000 years, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and go out to gather the nations for one final battle against God. Such an event demonstrates that man will still have a sinful nature even during the Millennial Kingdom.

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." -- (Rev. 20:6)

Background Reading:
The Coming Earthly Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - Part 3

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection" -- An Old Testament passage on the topic of the resurrection of the saints can be found in Daniel, chapter 12:

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:1-2)

It should have been clear to the Jews living at the time of the first coming of Jesus that there will be a resurrection of the dead. Daniel goes further in chapter 12 to describe the resurrection of the believing saints. The description fits nicely with the verse for today from Revelation that says blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. Consider how Daniel describes those who take part in the first resurrection:

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan 12:3)

Isn't that a great picture of the resurrection of the saints? They shall be wise and shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. We remember what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, and how he described the difference between the natural body that we have now and the spiritual body we will have after the resurrection:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:42-44)

Paul uses the picture of a seed being sown in the ground and then growing into a plant. From looking at the seed, it is not apparent what type of plant it will become. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. It is not apparent from our natural bodies what we will look like in our resurrected bodies.

"on such the second death hath no power" -- What is the second death? The second death is defined in verses 13-14 of Revelation, chapter 20, where it is written:

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Rev. 20:13-14)

The second death occurs when the unbelievers are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment and are cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented forever. The second death has no power over those who placed their faith in Jesus for their salvation during their lives on earth.

"but they shall be priests of God and of Christ" -- The resurrected saints will be priests during the Millennial Kingdom and will proclaim the glory of God and Christ to the humans living on the earth during that time. This verse clearly affirms the Deity of Jesus Christ.

"and shall reign with him a thousand years" -- This is the fifth time in Revelation, chapter 20, that the length of the Millennial Kingdom is set at 1000 years. The repetition of the length of time could be seen as placing emphasis on the fact that the 1000 years will be a literal 1000 years.

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." -- (Rev. 20:5)

Background Reading:
The Resurrection of the Dead

It is a sure thing that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. (Acts 24:15). The just shall rise first and reign with Christ for 1000 years during the Millennial Kingdom. The unbelievers will not be resurrected until after the 1000 years have ended, at which time they will receive their body suited for eternal tormet in the lake of fire. The background reading link above links to a sermon by Charles Spurgeon on the subject of the resurrection. I will provide a few good quotes from that sermon for the rest of today's blog entry.

"I. There shall be A RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.

The first proof I will offer of this, is, that it has been the constant and unvarying faith of the saints from the earliest periods of time. Abraham believed the resurrection of the dead, for it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 11 verse 19, that he 'accounted that God was able to raise up Isaac even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.' I have no doubt that Joseph believed in the resurrection, for he gave commandment concerning his bones; and surely he would not have been so careful of his body if he had not believed that it should be raised from the dead. The Patriarch Job was a firm believer in it, for he said in that oft repeated text, Job. xix. 25, 26: 'For I know that my Redeemer liveth; and that he shall stand at the latter-day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.' David believed it beyond the shadow of a doubt, for he sang of Christ, 'Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.' Daniel believed it, for he said, that 'Many who sleep in the dust shall rise, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt.' Souls do not sleep in the dust; bodies do."

"Yet, further, the resurrections that have already taken place give us hope and confidence that there shall be a resurrection of all saints. Do you not remember that it is written, when Jesus rose from the dead many of the saints that were in their graves arose, and came into the city, and appeared unto many? Have ye not heard that Lazarus, though he had been dead three days, came from the grave at the word of Jesus? Have you never read how the daughter of Jarius awoke from the sleep of death when he said, 'Talitha cumi?' Have you never seen him at the gates of Nain, bidding that widow's son rise from the bier? Have you forgotten that Dorcas who made garments for the poor, sat up and saw Peter after she had been dead? And do you not remember Eutychus who fell from the third loft and was taken up dead, but who, at the prayer of Paul, was raised again? Or, does not your memory roll back to the time when hoary Elijah stretched himself upon the dead child, and the child breathed, and sneezed seven times, and his soul came to him? Or have you not read that when they buried a man, as soon as he touched the prophet's bones he rose again to life? These are pledges of the resurrection; a few specimens, a few chance gems flung into the world to tell us how full God's hand is of resurrection jewels. He hath given us proof that he is able to raise the dead by the resurrection of a few, who afterwards were seen on earth by infallible witnesses."

"As Christ actually rose from the dead—flesh and blood, so shall we. Christ was not a spirit when he rose from the dead; his body could be touched. Did not Thomas put his hand into his side? and did not Christ say, 'Handle me, and see. A spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.' And if we are to rise as Christ did—and we are taught so—then we shall rise in our bodies—not spirits, not fine aerial things, made of I know not what—some very refined and elastic substance; but 'as the Lord our Saviour rose, so all his followers must.' We shall rise in our flesh, 'though all flesh is not the same flesh;' we shall rise in our bodies, though all bodies are not the same bodies; and we shall rise in glory, though all glories are not the same glories. 'There is one flesh of man and another of beasts;' and there is one flesh of this body, and another flesh of the heavenly body. There is one body for the soul here, and another body for the spirit up there; and yet it shall be the same body that will rise again from the grave—the same I say in identity, though not in glory or in adaptation."

"But now we come to the RESURRECTION OF THE WICKED. Will the wicked rise too? Here is a point of controversy. I shall have some hard things to say now: I may detain you long, but I beg you, nevertheless, hearken to me. Yea, the wicked shall rise."

"But wherever I go now, I hear it said, 'The ministers in old times were wont to say there was fire in hell for our bodies, but it is not so; it is metaphorical fire, fancied fire.' Ah! it is not so. Ye shall receive the things done in your body. Though your souls shall be punished, your bodies will be punished as well. Ye who are sensual and devilish, do not care about your souls being punished, because you never think about your souls; but if I tell you of bodily punishment you will think of it far more. Christ may have said that the soul should be punished; but he far more frequently described the body in misery in order to impress his hearers, for he knew that they were sensual and devilish, and that nothing that did not affect the body would touch them in the least."

"But hear me while I again affirm God's truth. I tell thee sinner, that those eyes that now look on lust shall look on miseries that shall vex and torment thee. Those ears which now thou lendest to hear the song of blasphemy, shall hear moans, and groans, and horrid sounds, such as only the damned know. That very throat down which thou pourest drink shall be filled with fire. Those very lips and arms of thine will be tortured all at once. Why, if thou hast a headache thou wilt run to thy physician; but what wilt thou do when thy head, and heart, and hands, and feet ache all at once? If thou hast but a pain in thy reins, thou wilt search out medicines to heal thee; but what wilt thou do when gout, and rheum, and vertigo, and all else that is vile attack thy body at once? How wilt thou bear thyself when thou shalt be loathsome with every kind of disease, leprous, palsied, black, rotten, thy bones aching, thy marrow quivering, every limb thou hast filled with pain; thy body a temple of demons, and a channel of miseries."

"And will ye march blindly on? As the ox goeth to the slaughter, and the sheep licketh the butcher's knife, so is it with many of you. Sirs, you are living without Christ, many of you; you are self-righteous and ungodly. One of you is going out this afternoon to take his day's pleasure; another is a fornicator in secret; another can cheat his neighbour; another can now and then curse God; another comes to this chapel, but in secret he is a drunkard; another prates about godliness, and God wots he is a wretched hypocrite. What will ye do in that day when ye stand before your Maker?"

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." -- (Rev. 20:4)

Background Reading:
The Coming Earthly Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - Part 2

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them" -- Who are 'they' that are sitting upon the thrones that are given the responsibility to judge during the Millennial Kingdom? Paul gave some insight into this in the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians in verses 2-3. There, Paul questions the reader, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?". So, there we have the answer. The saints shall judge the world. They are the ones sitting on the thrones.

The same idea is provided in Daniel, chapter 7, verse 18. There, Daniel describes what happens after the world power headed by the antichrist is defeated. He writes, "the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." Again, we have the truth that the saints shall possess the kingdom. There are also some verses in Revelation that further support the conclusion that saints will sit on the thrones. In Revelation, chapter 3, verse 21, Christ states that to "him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne". That is just an amazing truth and an extraordinary privilege.

Another picture is given in Revelation, chapter 4, where it says that "round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold." In Revelation, chapter 5, those elders sing a song to Christ saying, thou "hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9-10).

Pastor John MacArthur had this to say about the subject: "We're not questioning [Christ's] sovereignty here when we say that the saints will reign. The Scripture says we will reign with Christ. Somehow we will be involved in the expression of His will. We will be His agents, carrying out His wishes, carrying out His will in the world. He will, of course, destroy His enemies, as we note at the end of chapter 19, set up His Kingdom. He will become KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, but we will reign along with Him, carrying out His will. He will be in that day the King, no one can gainsay what He says."

"and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands" -- Here we have a clear description of the Tribulation saints that died during the time of the Great Tribulation. They refused to worship the antichrist and they did not receive the mark of the antichrist. Remember, no one could buy or sell without the mark which is somehow related to the number 666. Thus, the saints were identifying themselves as believers in Christ by not having the mark placed on their body. For their identification with Christ, they were beheaded.

"and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" -- Here is the great promise that is made to the saints -- including the old testament, new testament, and tribulation saints -- that they will reign on earth with Christ for 1000 years. After that time they will be with Christ forever in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."-- (Rev. 20:3)

One question that may be asked at this point is whether the Old Testament ever mentioned the devil and demons being shut up in the bottomless pit for 1000 years. In response, consider these verses from Isaiah, chapter 24:

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." (Isa. 24:21-22).

Here we have the Old Testament prophesy that the Lord shall shut up in the prison the host of the high ones that are on high. The passage does not mention the length of time as being 1000 years, but uses the term "many days". We now know that "many days" is 1000 years.

Also, in Revelation 20:3, Scripture says that the devil must be loosed for a while after the 1000 years of being in the bottomless pit. The verses from Isaiah give the same idea as they relate the fact that the prisoners in the pit will be "visited" after many days.

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years" -- (Rev. 20:2)

Background Reading:
The Coming Earthly Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - Part 2

"and bound him a thousand years" -- Here is the first reference to the length of the Millennial Kingdom: a thousand years. During the 1000 years, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit. There are some people who try to argue that Satan is bound today. Such a belief is clearly wrong, counter to the weight of scripture, and can be dangerous if someone lives their life with such a belief. The rest of today's blog entry will list scripture to show that the devil is not currently bound and that we must take precaution against his wiles.

1 John 5:19
"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

Ephesians 6:11
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

2 Corinthians 2:10-11
"To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Matthew 6:13
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

1 Thessalonians 2:18
"Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us."

1 Timothy 3:7
"Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Ephesians 2:1-2
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience"

John 8:44
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

1 John 3:8
"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

John 17:15
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

Galatians 1:4
"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father"

Acts 5:3
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

Revelation 12:10
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

Revelation 2:10
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Revelation 2:13
"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."

Revelation 2:24
"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden."

Revelation 3:9
"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."

Job 1:7
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand."-- (Rev. 20:1)

Background Reading:
The Coming Earthly Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - Part 1

"bottomless pit" -- The bottomless pit named here in verse 1 is different from the lake of fire named in verse 10. The devil is bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit, then is released, and then is cast into the lake of fire where he will remain forever being tormented day and night. Pastor John MacArthur has said this about the bottomless pit: "And again I say, the abyss is not the final eternal lake of fire, it is a place of torment, certainly a place of punishment, a place out of the presence of God, a place of incarceration, a temporary place where God sends demons and where, in this case, He binds Satan."

Currently, some of the demons are already bound in this bottomless pit awaiting their final punishment. It is like a prison -- for demons. In Jude, verse 6, we have this statement: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." So, some demons are currently being held in chains. 2 Peter 2:4 uses the following argument to make a point: "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Thus, the verse reaffirms the idea that the angels that sinned are being held in chains until the day of judgment.

1 Peter, chaper 3, tells us something more about these demons in the bottomless pit in verses 18-20: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." Thus, these were the demons that were disobedient in the time of Noah. The disobedience is recorded in Genesis, chapter 6, verses 1-8: "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

Finally, we know that demons are afraid of being locked up in the bottomless pit because of the conversation in Luke, chapter 8. In verses 31-33, the demons that Jesus was casting out of a man begged Jesus that they not be cast into the bottomless pit: "And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked."

Thus, some demons that disobeyed are currently being held in the bottomless pit. Other demons are still free at this time, but are afraid of being cast into the bottomless pit. The devil is currently roaming freely, but after the Battle of Armageddon the devil will be bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit. After the 1000 years have ended, the devil will be cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever.

"And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." -- (Rev. 19:21)

Background Reading:
A Preacher from the Dead

"And the remnant" -- I will venture today to give a background on what the "remnant" that rebelled against God knew and how despite all the signs and wonders they had been exposed to, still decided to rebel against God. From Revelation, chapter 6, we see a great earthquake, the sun becomes black, the moon becomes like blood, the stars of heaven fall to the earth, the sky recedes as a scroll, and every island and mountain is moved out of its place. In chapter 8, there are thunderings, lightnings, an earthquake, hail and fire mingled with blood, a third of the trees and all green grass burned up, a third of the sea becomes blood, a great star falls from heaven, a third of the waters become bitter, a third of the stars are darkened, an angel shouts from the sky to the inhabitants on earth, locusts torment men for five months, and a third of mankind is killed.

Then, we have this statement:
"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." -- (Rev. 9:20-21)

Did you get that? After all those things happen, the men on earth still do not repent, but go right on worshipping their same idols and committing the same sins. In 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, God tells us that these men "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved", and thus, "for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thes. 2:10-12).

The people of today who are looking for signs and wonders to validate their message, whether through speaking in tongues or healings or other such means should take note. Remember the story in Luke, chapter 16, about the rich man and lazarus:

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." -- (Luke 16:19-31)

The Scripture is all we need to bring people to a knowledge of the truth. If they will not believe the Scripture, then they would not believe even the most dramatic signs and wonders. Thus, we must be diligent to spread the word of God and to teach others about the grace of God that is clearly presented in the Bible.

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." -- (Rev. 19:20)

Background Reading:
Hell - the Furnace of Fire

Notice, first, how this verse does not begin. Remember that in verse 19, the beast and his army were gathering together to fight against Jesus. Where is the battle? How was the beast planning on attacking Jesus? All we are told is that the beast is cast into the lake of fire. The battle was so one sided that the result was inevitable. For a description of the actual events between verses 19 and 20, we can turn to Ezekiel chapter 38. There we have a description of what happens to the beast and his army during the battle:

"And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD." -- (Eze. 38:18-23)

In Zephaniah, chapter 1, the great day of the Lord is described in this way:
"The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." -- (Zeph. 1:14-18)

The Book of Joel has much to say about the day of the Lord and the Battle of Armageddon. Near the end of the book, there is this statement:
"Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more." -- (Joel 3:12-17)

"and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him" -- The false prophet mentioned here is the same false prophet mentioned in Revelation, chapter 13, where we learn of the false miracles he performed to deceive the peoples of the nations:

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" -- (Rev. 13:13-16)

"with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image" -- The mark of the beast is an often talked about subject. In Revelation, chapter 13, we read that the false prophet, "causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." (Rev. 13:16-18).

"These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." -- These are the first two people cast into the lake of fire. Later, in Revelation, chapter 20, we learn that 1000 years later, after the time of the Millennial Kingdom, the devil joins them in the lake of fire: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Rev. 20:10). Notice that at that time the beast and the false prophet had been tormented in the lake of fire for 1000 years and yet they were no closer to the end of punishment than when they were first cast in because they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Also joining them after the Millennial Kingdom will be those who have died and did not place their faith in Jesus during their time on earth. This is described in Revelation, chapter 20:

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that 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, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." -- (Rev. 20:11-15)

Therefore, take care brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God. And, while there remains a promise of entering God's rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. Remember, those cast into the lake of fire will be tormented forever and ever.

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army."-- (Rev. 19:19)

Background Reading:
The Certainty of the Second Coming

What pride must fill the heart of the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies that they would gather together to make war against God and against His army. What audacity. What foolishness. No one can defy the Word of the Living God and prevail. Consider the example from history of David versus Goliath (the Philistine):

"And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." -- (1 Sam. 17:10).

"And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God." -- (1 Sam. 17:33-36).

"And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands." -- (1 Sam. 17:43-47).

"And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled." -- (1 Sam. 17:48-51).

Thus, we can see the end of those who attempt to defy the Lord and His armies, that they will never prevail. How foolish to gather together to make war against the Living God.

"That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great" -- (Rev. 19:18)

Background Reading:
The Los Angeles Riots -- A Biblical Perspective

When we come to the verse for today, it is interesting to note what type of people are involved in the Battle of Armageddon. Did you notice? In the picture given by this verse we have kings, captains, mighty men, men of war, all men, free and slave, small and great. Get the picture? That is every type of person, from the kings to the slaves, from the small to the great. What gets all of these people to come down to try to fight against Israel together? One word -- SIN.

In the Book of James, chapter 4, we have the following explanation:
"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

And so, in Revelation chapter 19 we see the result of uncontrolled lust. In a normal society, lust can be controlled to some extent by the rules and laws of government with the threat of punishment. At the time of the end, even the kings and captains are overcome with lust and their desire for even more power and possessions. This is seen clearly in Ezekiel, chapter 38, where there is some explanation for the actions of the anti-christ in invading the land of Israel.

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?" -- (Ezekiel 38:10-13)

There we have the explanation. The anti-christ comes with his army to take plunder, to take booty, to take livestock and goods, to plunder, and to carry away silver and gold. The sinful desire is so great for greater possessions that the lust leads the armies of the anti-christ to invade even a peaceful people that were living peacefully in their own land. Oh, how we must be careful to recognize the sin within ourselves and to repent and ask God for forgiveness. We cannot change our own hearts, but by placing our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and gives us a new heart so that we are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves of righteousness.

A clear description of the unbelieving human heart is found in Romans, chapter 3:
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes." -- (Rom. 3:10-18)

Indeed, we have seen that at the Battle of Armageddon, there is no fear of God before the eyes of the armies that come against God and against His chosen people. They do not know the way of peace and their feet are swift to shed blood. Consider, though, the hope that Jesus provides for sinners that place their faith in Him:

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." -- (Rom. 3:21-26)

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God" -- (Rev. 19:17)

Background Reading:
The Glorious Return of Jesus Christ - Part 3

I will use the verse for today to demonstrate that the future Kingdom of Christ on earth will last for a literal 1000 years. Consider first the following verse:

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” – (Rev. 20:6)

To the person who interprets scripture literally, the above verse should be enough to prove that the Kingdom of Christ on earth will last for one thousand years starting after the Great Tribulation. Now, for those who claim that there will not be a literal 1000 year reign, consider our verse for today and some following verses:

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” – (Rev. 19:17-19)

You might ask, “What does that prove?” Well, nothing by itself, until you compare those verses with the following passage from Ezekiel and realize that they describe the same event:

“And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.” – (Ezekiel 39:17-20)

The connections between the two passages should be obvious from even a quick reading, but for completeness I will spell them out in detail:

“saying to all the fowls” = “Speak unto every feathered fowl”

“Come and gather yourselves together” = “come; gather yourselves on every side”

“unto the supper of the great God” = “to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you”

“That ye may eat the flesh of kings” = “drink the blood of the princes of the earth”

“the flesh of mighty men” = “eat the flesh of the mighty”

“the flesh of horses” = “filled at my table with horses”

“of them that sit on them” = “with all men of war”

Now, it should be clear that Ezekiel 39 describes the same battle as in Revelation 19, which is the Battle of Armageddon. How does that help us? Notice the following verses:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.” – (Ezekiel 39:11-12).

The house of Israel buries the bodies of those that died in the Battle of Armageddon for seven months. Thus, the Millennial Kingdom must last for at least seven months during this time of burial. It would be hard to argue that the seven months is also to be taken symbolically, but I suppose some may try. So, consider also these verses:

“And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.” – (Ezekiel 39:9-10).

Here the cities of Israel use the weapons from the Battle of Armageddon for seven years for fuel. So, they will bury bodies for seven months and use the weapons for fuel for seven years. Thus, we have proved that the Kingdom of Christ must last on earth for at least seven years. Can we do any better? Consider now the following verse from Isaiah:

“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” – (Isaiah 65:20).

This verse tells us that during the Millennial Kingdom, if anyone dies at a hundred years old they will have died as a child. Thus, the people living at that time must live longer than 100 years. Therefore, the Kingdom must last for longer than 100 years. How long? Revelation tells us 1000 years and now we have no reason to doubt that the number is literal. It must be more than seven months in order to bury the bodies after the Battle of Armageddon, it must be more than seven years to burn all the weapons for fuel, and it must be more than 100 years because people will live longer than 100 years. I think this is a case where we must read the 1000 years as being literal.

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." -- (Rev. 19:16)

Background Reading:
In Him: Like Him

In this verse we have the great truth that Jesus Christ is "KING OF KINGS" and "LORD OF LORDS" as described by the name that is written on His robe and on His thigh. Most individuals who claim to be Christians would agree with this statement: "Jesus is my Lord and Savior." Many would also be able to recite the truth that, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom. 10:9). However, what sets the true Christians apart from those that merely profess to be Christians is that they not only acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, but they also act as if He is Lord.

What does it mean to say that Jesus is Lord? Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23). When we say that Jesus is our Lord, that means that we must be willing to do whatever He commands. It is written, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (1 John 2:3). What then of the person that "says" Jesus is his Lord, but continues on in his sin, living a life of immorality, constantly filled with envy, greed, and lust without repentance? The answer is clear, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4).

Beloved, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As Lord, He demands loyalty from those who would be called His servants. We remember the story of the man who would follow Jesus: "Lord, I will follow thee" he said, but then added, "but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house." The King of Kings and Lord of Lords responded, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:61-62).

Consider the following story from the Bible:
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:7-10).

"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." -- (Rev. 19:15)

Background Reading:
An Earnest Invitation

It will not be needful for me in this blog entry to go too deeply into the first part of our daily verse for it has been clear from previous posts that Jesus returns at His second coming to smite the nations in righteous judgment. I pause only to note the instrument used to smite the nations, namely a sharp sword out of His mouth, which is symbolic of Christ's word. (Heb. 4:12). Leaving that subject, I press on to the other statements in the verse that "he shall rule them with a rod of iron" and "he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

First, then, the statement -- "he shall rule them with a rod of iron". This is surely a reference to Psalm chapter 2, so we will now examine that passage. In Psalm chapter 2, the nations of the world are seen as plotting against God and against His anointed (the Messiah). The psalmist asks, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" (Psalm 2:1). Indeed, the nations have set themselves, the rulers have taken counsel together, they plan to break away from the Lord and His anointed, and to cast away their cords. What is the divine response? "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision." (Psalm 2:4).

Brethren, consider the end of these worldly rulers and take heed -- no plan against God can stand. Jesus will reign from Jerusalem, just as it is written, "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Psalm 2:6). Jesus shall possess the uttermost parts of the earth and the heathen will be His inheritance. He shall "break them with a rod of iron" and "dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalm 2:9). When God reigns on earth, His judgments are true and righteous, and His punishments swift. That is why it is written, "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling" and again, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little." (Psalm 2:11-12). But to those who honor and serve Jesus as Lord, to those who place their faith in Him, they have this promise: "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2:12).

This brings us to the final part of our text, "he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Here is a striking picture of the judgment of God and the ultimate end of unrepentant sinners. While God is a God of grace and gives eternal life to those who place their faith in Jesus, He is also a just God and will punish sinners for their sins. It is written, "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge his people." And then this warning, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:30-31).

As C.H. Spurgeon said, "When he is angry, where, where, oh where can sinners hide? When he is angry, when he takes a bow and fits an arrow to the string, where is your shelter then?—where your defense and refuge? Sinners, 'Kiss the Son,' bow before him now, and receive his grace; acknowledge his sway, lest he be angry with you, and for ever shut you up in black despair, for none can give you hope or joy when once he is angry."

And I conclude now by noticing that God warned of the same treading of the winepress in Joel chapter 3, where it is written, "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:12-14). Now Joel chapter 3 is a foundational passage when examining Bible verses related to the Millennial Kingdom, so I will reserve a full discussion of that passage for a later blog entry.

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?

I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth." (Isa. 63:1-6).

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." -- (Rev. 19:14)

Background Reading:
The Signs of Christ's Coming - Part 9

Who is in the armies that follow Christ from heaven at His second coming?

Angels -- It is clear from scripture that angels will accompany Christ when He returns to earth to judge the world. In Second Thessalonians, we read, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thes. 1:7-10). Again, in the Gospel of Mark it is written, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." (Mark 13:26-27).

Angels are also described throughout scripture as being clothed in white linen. For example, the angel at the tomb after the resurrection of Christ is described as having "raiment white as snow". (Matt 28:3). The angels with the apostles when Christ went up to heaven were wearing "white apparel". (Acts 1:10). Thus, it is apparent that angels will be part of the armies that accompany Christ when he returns to earth.

Believers -- In addition to angels, it is possible that the armies coming with Christ from heaven are also composed of believers. The believers would include old testament believers, believers from the church age, and believers that died during the tribulation (see MacArthur Study Bible fn. Rev. 19:14). In Zechariah, it is written concerning the coming of Christ that, "the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." (Zech 14:5). The Bible also states that the saints will reign with Christ. In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1 Cor. 6:2).

All of the believers are described in scripture as being clothed with white linen or brightly shining:

Old Testament Saints: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Dan 12:3).

Saints in the Church: "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Rev. 19:8).

Tribulation Saints: "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Rev. 7:13-17).