Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 25 July 2021

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6

The words now reveal the fifth of seven blessings promised in Revelation. So far, they have been –

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Rev 1:3)

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,” says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” (Rev 14:13)

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Rev 16:15)

“Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” (Rev 19:9)

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

With this in mind, John begins the verse with, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” The idea of this blessed state is that of being enviable or fortunate because of receiving the provision of God. A benefit has been extended to the person and a state of true happiness is the result. Those who have received the first resurrection stand in this blessed state.

Being “holy” means being set apart. There is an intimate union that has been established between them and God. They are set apart to Him because their faith in Christ has set them apart. From there, John explains why this is with the words, “Over such the second death has no power.”

The “second death” was introduced into Scripture in Revelation 2:11 –

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

It is now mentioned for the second time. It will be mentioned two more times before Revelation closes out –

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14, 15

“And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’”  Revelation 21:6-8

The “second death” is the Lake of Fire. It is the final state for all humanity apart from God. Jesus is the only way to avoid this fate. To believe in Him is to overcome. To overcome means that they have been spared from this second death. They have moved from spiritual death to spiritual life. It is the reconnection to God that was lost at the very beginning when Adam sinned.

Through faith in Christ, one is born again. The reconnection is made, and its effects are eternal. As it says, of those who are raised in the first resurrection, the “second death has no power.” Their eternal state is secure in Christ. Of them, it next says, “but they shall be priests of God and of Christ.”

After being literally raised from the dead, they will serve at a literal, physical temple on earth. The temple will be in Jerusalem, and it is likely that it is what is described in the final chapters of Ezekiel. In this capacity, they will serve in a priestly capacity. Along with that, John next says, “and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

This is now the fifth of six times (in just five verses) that the term “thousand years” is used. It is as if the Lord is trying to clue us into the fact that He really means “a thousand years” and that this isn’t just some symbolic timeframe that is being referred to.

Those who are raised in the first resurrection are literally raised. Those so raised will never be separated from God again. Those who are raised will serve God and His Christ at a literal temple in Jerusalem. Those who are raised will serve there for a thousand years. These points are to be taken literally. The Old Testament clearly indicates that these things will occur, and now the book of Revelation confirms that it is so.

As a point of theology, there is a debate concerning the temple sacrifices that are detailed in Ezekiel 45, 46. Are these actually effectual or not.

First, this makes the assumption that Ezekiel is referring to the millennial temple. This can be and is debated. It doesn’t affect one’s salvation to come down on either side of the debate, so there is no need to address that now. But assuming it describes the millennial temple. Why then would they have sacrifices if Christ is the end of the law, including the sacrifices of the law, which He is (Hebrews 7:18, 8:13, 10:9, etc.)?

The answer is that those sacrifices are not effectual, but commemorative. None of the Old Testament sacrifices under the Law of Moses were effectual? This is clearly stated in Hebrews 10:4. And so, what purpose did they serve under the Mosaic covenant? They were anticipatory of the coming Christ. To understand this, you can watch the Superior Word Leviticus sermons. In them, it is seen that every detail points to Christ.

As those sacrifices under the law were not effectual, then why would it be wrong to have them after the time of Christ even if they are still not effectual? Anticipatory and commemorative both accomplish the same thing – they point to Christ. There is no problem at all with there being a real temple (which points to Christ), a real sacrificial system (which points to Christ), and etc.

The only truly effectual sacrifice for sin is Jesus Christ. Looking forward in anticipation of Him, or receiving what He has done now, it is Christ Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No person will come to the Father apart from Him.

Life application: The term “blessed” is given as a complete contrast to what it would be like without the resurrection. We can find a hint of this in 1 Corinthians 15:18, 19 – “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks about the uselessness of living as a Christian if Christ didn’t really rise. Here we are living lives as believers and striving for holiness in order to please God whom we believe has saved us and whom we also believe will grant us eternal life. But without Christ’s resurrection, this is nothing more than a pipe dream. It would also lead to a complete waste of life. Instead of being pious, nice, giving and forgiving, and honoring of God, it would be a lot more fun to live in passion, excess, and walking over others… if this is all there is, then what difference does it make?

But the fact is that Christ did come, Christ did die on the cross to pay our sin-debt, and Christ did rise again. Because of this, we have every hope that this life is not the true life, and this world is not our true home. Those who entered the tribulation period and came to realize this were then willing to give up this life in hopes of a better eternal state. Their perseverance, even to the point of death, is rewarded with the resurrection of the righteous that Jesus speaks about in Luke 14:14.

In addition to being “blessed” they are also noted as holy. They are sanctified, purified, and set apart to God for His glory – forever. Daniel speaks about the contrast between those who receive the resurrection of the righteous and those who will be resurrected to condemnation –

“At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
³ Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3

Daniel is not saying that these resurrections will occur at the same time, he is merely noting that they will both occur. God doesn’t reveal everything all at once, but He has slowly revealed His plan over many centuries, through many prophets, and in a progressive manner. The first resurrection is separate from the rapture and is also separate from another resurrection which will be noted later.

Those who participate in the first resurrection receive a wonderful promise and a great reward. As the second death is the Lake of Fire, and because it is eternal in nature, then if the second death has no power over them, this must be a resurrection to eternal life. Those so raised can never die again.

Concerning the literal nature of the events as noted above, don’t be a doubter. Rather, stand firm on what God is telling us. All of the promises of the Old Testament that God made to His people Israel will be fulfilled, literally, completely, and faithfully. God is ever faithful to keep His promises, even to His rebellious people. The refining fire of the tribulation will bring them back to their senses and God will be pleased to dwell among them again. The word is sure and reliable. It is the word of God in Christ, our Lord JESUS!

Lord God, it is simply wonderful to know that You are ever faithful. Your faithfulness doesn’t depend on our faithfulness at all. And thank goodness for that. If it did, we would all perish. But You are longsuffering and full of mercy, and You will never fail to keep every promise. What a glorious and perfect God You are! Amen.

Saturday, 24 July 2021

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:5

The previous verse referred to those who “lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” because they were willing to die rather than take the mark or to worship the beast or his image. After having noted them, this verse now says, “But the rest of the dead.”

This is speaking of all who have died apart from Christ, including those who died during the tribulation period. There is a time when all humanity will be brought before God for judgment as is recorded in Revelation 20:11-15. But this will not be until after the millennium. As it says, they “did not live again until the thousand years were finished.”

This is now the fourth of six times, within just a few verses, that the “thousand years” is mentioned. By this time, even the dullest of scholars who deny a literal millennial reign should stop and say, “I think I should reevaluate my presuppositions.”

Those who were martyred during the tribulation, trusting in Christ for their salvation, will be raised and they will reign with Christ for a thousand years. The others will not be raised until the thousand-year period is over. It is almost inconceivable that anyone who claims he believes the Bible would deny a literal reading of what is being stated. As for those who are raised, John finishes the verse with, “This is the first resurrection.”

Like a literal millennium, scholars of the past (and even today) have gone out of their way to deny that this is a literal, bodily resurrection. However, other than Luke 2:34 that speaks of the “rising up” of many, the word translated as “resurrection” always means exactly that. Despite that, some say this “resurrection” is simply referring to the conversion of the Jews in the end times. But what would be the point of verse 4 and of verse 6, both of which are referring to issues that are specifically dealing with the dead being raised to life and physically reigning with Christ?

Rather, this is referring to exactly what is presented in the text, meaning a literal resurrection of the dead, and then their ruling with Christ for a thousand years. To say that this isn’t a literal resurrection then calls into question the resurrection of Christ, a subject Paul deals with in detail in 1 Corinthians 15.

As far as the words of this verse, the twentieth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet corresponds to this twentieth chapter of Revelation. The twentieth letter is Resh, meaning “head,” “first,” “top,” or “beginning.” It is pictured by the head of a man. Here we see the “first” resurrection corresponding to Resh.

Life application: By the constant repetition of the words “thousand years,” God is ensuring that we understand this to be a literal period. And because of what occurred in verse 4, and then what is mentioned today, no other option is within the realm of reason.

In John 5, Jesus gave these words to us –

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:28, 29

Jesus speaks of one resurrection here, but this in no way limits there being two resurrections. This is the same as the Old Testament prophets who openly spoke of the coming of the Messiah and yet there are two advents. What is concealed is later revealed at a time of God’s choosing. The rapture was concealed until Paul first spoke of it in 1 Corinthians 15. After that, it was mentioned again on several occasions. However, both the rapture and the two advents of the Messiah are both shadowed or prefigured in the Old Testament even if they weren’t explicitly stated.

These hints are given so that after they come about, it is realized that what was being noted wasn’t an aberration, but something God had already presented in veiled terms. In other words, when the shadows come to pass, we have no excuse for not realizing them. Paul explains this concept when speaking of the Old Testament feast days of Israel in Colossians 2:16, 17.

What is concealed in the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. But the same is also true within the New. There are hints of things said by Jesus and/or the apostles elsewhere which are clearly stated in Revelation. Such is the case with there being two resurrections. The first one was noted in the previous verse while this verse notes who will not be a part of it. It thus refers to anyone who had not received God’s forgiveness through Christ prior to the rapture, or anyone who had not been martyred for Christ during the tribulation.

That leaves two categories: 1) Those who survived the tribulation and will enter the millennial reign of Christ, either a believer or not and, 2) Anyone who died during the tribulation who had not received Christ. The former (assuming they did not take the mark of the beast) will, presumably, be given the opportunity to call on Christ during the millennium and the latter will be a part of the second resurrection. As we will see, the first resurrection is a resurrection of life; the second resurrection is a resurrection of judgment.

It is rather difficult to see how some scholars will purposely ignore what is explicit because it doesn’t fit their view of eschatology (last things). The Bible makes it clear that Israel was not replaced by the church and that dispensationalism is the correct view of how God is working in and through His creation for the redemption of man. Each step is revealing to us the wondrous workings of our Lord in redemptive history. Each step reveals JESUS.

Lord, I choose Jesus now! Amen.

Friday, 23 July 2021

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

The last verse saw Satan cast into the bottomless pit (prior to the millennium) for a thousand years. What is now stated occurs after that, as the thousand years are ready to begin. Before the millennium, there will be a judgment. As it says, “And I saw thrones.”

The setting of thrones signifies both rule and judgment. No number of thrones is given, and no names are stated, but it is apparent from other parts of Scripture that judgment will be given to the Lord’s disciples. For example, it says in Matthew (and as is repeated in Luke) –

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Matthew 19:28

Similarly, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:2, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world.” As this is so, it is possible that people from the various nations or ethnic groups will be set on thrones to judge those groups, just as the Jewish apostles of Jesus will judge the twelve tribes. That these are thrones of judgment is confirmed by the words, “and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.”

The Lord will determine who is given the right to rule and judge according to His wisdom, and those chosen will have the authority to decide the cases that are brought before them accordingly. Albert Barnes is correct when he says –

“This was not in relation to the whole race of mankind, but to the martyrs, and to those who, amidst many temptations and trials, had kept themselves pure. The sentence which is to be passed would seem to be that in consequence of which they are to be permitted to ‘live and reign with Christ a thousand years.’”

The judgment now being relayed is a pre-millennial judgment. The final judgment will be a post-millennial judgment conducted by the Lord as is recorded in Revelation 21:11-15. With this in mind, John next says, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded.”

Here is a word found only this once in Scripture, pelekizó. It signifies to cut off with an ax, especially in the sense of beheading. As Islam is famous for execution by beheading, it may be assumed that it will play a major role in the end times in this capacity.

Or it may be that beheading will be the preferred method of execution by a coming world court. France was once famous for their beheadings by the guillotine. It may be that this will be picked up again during the tribulation. As the mark of the beast is to be set on the right hand or the forehead, it may be that beheading will be a means of intimidating those who refuse it. “Because you will not take the mark on your forehead, you will now lose your head.”

Among some scholars, the statement, “Then I saw the souls,” is taken to a ridiculous extreme saying that because the “souls” and not the “bodies” are seen, it cannot be a literal resurrection. This is then an attempt to deny a literal millennial reign of Christ. The rest of the verse, along with the next verse, clearly indicates that these souls will be reunited with bodies in a literal resurrection. Paul speaks of the soul without a body being “naked.” Thus, to live and reign with Christ means to have a new body –

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

The word next continues by noting those who were beheaded “for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God.” This is the basis for their judgment. For those who were willing to witness to the truth of God in Christ and to the truth of the word of God, even to the point of being beheaded, they will receive a favorable judgment, being raised again in this resurrection. Their souls, naked and bodiless, will be brought to a state of restoration.

In testifying to the truth of Jesus and the surety of the word of God, they were confident that their lives would not be lost permanently. Therefore, they are those “who had not worshiped the beast or his image.”

This is the dividing line. There will be countless souls killed during the tribulation period, but many of them will have worshiped the beast or his image. In this, they will reject the word of God which tells of Jesus. As such, they will receive condemnation. But for those who will not bow the knee in this unholy manner, their souls will be spared. They “had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.”

Receiving the mark is the identification that an allegiance to the beast and the image has been made. Thus, worship of them is implied in the taking of the mark. Both are voluntary acts, and there is no hint of coercion in one area or the other. The mark will not be forced upon someone who has not first voluntarily given his allegiance and worship to the beast or his image. These tribulation saints will be ratted out and pursued. Jesus, speaking to Israel showed that those during the tribulation will face just this –

“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.” Luke 21:16-18

If some will be put to death, and yet not a hair of their heads will be lost, then this is – without any doubt – referring to a literal resurrection. As such, John finishes with, “And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

These martyred saints will be brought back to physical life with physical bodies, and they will reign with Christ during the millennium. This is the reward for their allegiance to Christ, even when it is to the point of death. They shall be granted life eternal (as will be seen in verse 6). This is now the third of six times that the “thousand years” has been mentioned. Again, it is incredulous to think that supposed scholars of the Bible would ignore the literal nature of what is being conveyed. There will be a thousand-year reign of Christ, and His people will reign with Him.

Life application: There will be an established order at “the regeneration” and there will be those who are given authority to conduct the affairs of the people in positions subservient to Jesus. When Jesus speaks of this regeneration, it is clearly meant as a fulfillment of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies directed specifically toward the nation of Israel. The world as a whole will be renewed, but this in no way discounts the promises of God to Abraham and his subsequent generations.

Rule and authority will come from Israel at the command of Jesus and with Israel as the head of the nations. And this time of glorious government and peace will be for a thousand years.

There are only a few possible reasons for symbolizing or spiritualizing this amount of time. One is a misunderstanding of the contents of the Bible due to a lack of study. A second is a misunderstanding of these promises because of faulty training – such as “replacement theology” which teaches that the church has “replaced” Israel. The third is an inability to comprehend the contents of the Bible; a failure to take God at his word. And a fourth is anti-Semitism.

The fourth option is becoming more and more prevalent within the church, and it has led to real trouble for Israel now, which – of course – is setting up the very events that will take place in the book of Revelation. God promised this land to Abraham and his physical descendants, and it will remain theirs in this millennial reign.

Another point to consider is that the raising of those who are beheaded because they refuse to worship the beast and his image and who refuse to take the mark is that it belies the notion of a universal application to the concept of the “strong delusion” referred to by Paul in 2 Thessalonians. The vast majority of the people of the world will follow after the antichrist, but there will be a “great multitude” who will overcome this by placing their trust in Christ – even to the point of death.

The teaching that anyone who has heard the gospel before the tribulation begins cannot later be saved during the tribulation is false. There is nothing to hint at this in Scripture, and it diminishes the efficacy of the work of Christ for anyone who believes. As such, this teaching is to be ignored. The love of God in Christ for those who are willing to accept it is available to any and all who will receive it, by faith, before their final breath. None will be turned away who place their trust in JESUS.

Lord, it is so wonderful to read passages in Your word that tell us that every soul who calls on You will be given the life You have promised, even if they have to suffer before it comes. We know that we will indeed have eternal life in Your presence in a restored and perfect setting. As such, we know that the faith we possess is not in vain. For now, give us the courage to stand fast during our trials as we await that glorious day! Amen.

Thursday, 22 July 2021

and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:3

John just noted in the previous verse that the devil was to be bound for a thousand years. With that thought in mind, the narrative continues, saying, “and he cast him into the bottomless pit.”

The bottomless pit is not the final place of punishment, meaning the Lake of Fire. Rather, it is a holding place where the demons are sent as they await judgment. When Jesus encountered the demon-possessed man in the Gaderenes (also known as the Gerasenes), the demon begged to not be sent to this place –

“Jesus asked him, saying, ‘What is your name?’
And he said, ‘Legion,’ because many demons had entered him. ³¹ And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.” Luke 8:30, 31

Satan is currently the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). He has the ability to affect humanity as he prowls through this realm. However, this will not be the case during the thousand years (the millennium) referred to now in Revelation. Instead, he will be bound and cast into this place where he cannot deceive man as he now does. John continues by showing that this will be without possibility of escape, saying, “and shut him up.”

Not only will he be cast into the Abyss, but he will be shut up in there. Whatever manner of containment this is, it is something prepared by God, and it will be inescapable. And further, it then says, “and set a seal on him.” The Greek reads, “and sealed over him.”

The seal isn’t on the devil. This is evident because the previous clause says he is shut up. After he is shut up, a seal has been placed on whatever has shut him in. The authority of the seal is evident and is not to be disturbed. This is “so that he should deceive the nations no more.”

The holding of the devil has a specific purpose. He will not be allowed to exercise his authority as the prince of the power of the air. The reason, when thought through, seems obvious. Man has rebelled against God from the beginning. He was deceived in the Garden of Eden by the serpent.

Since then, he has been influenced by the devil throughout each dispensation and wickedness has abounded. In sealing him, there will be a thousand-year reign without his influence, granting man such ideal conditions that it would be incredible to think that he would be willing to turn away from the Lord. At least, this is what one might think. Will such be the case? The Bible indicates otherwise. Satan will be bound “till the thousand years were finished.”

This is now the second of six times that the thousand years are mentioned. By repeating the thought, it is telling us that this is not merely a symbolic timeframe, but a literal timeframe.

To deny the millennial reign of Christ is to deny a literal reading of the Bible. From that, anyone can make the Bible say anything. But we are being shown, in advance, that this reign is coming, and we are to accept it at face value.

After this period, and with the unbinding of the devil, he will be allowed to work his evil once again. This is evidenced by the final words of the verse, “But after these things he must be released for a little while.” This is a necessity for man to see and understand his complete need for God’s provision in Christ. Man did not have the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. As such, maybe he just couldn’t process what it meant to reject the word of the Lord.

However, man will be on earth in ideal conditions and while possessing the knowledge of good and evil. What will be the outcome of his temptations when the devil is set free to work his evil once again? Scripture will reveal the answer as we continue.

Life application: As already noted, the term “thousand years” is mentioned for the second of six times in this verse. Only the poorest interpretation possible can come to any other conclusion than that this is a literal thousand years.

The term “millennium” comes from two Latin words mille meaning “thousand” and ennium meaning “years.” This in turn comes from the Greek, which the New Testament is written in, and which says the same thing – chilias means “thousand” and ete means “years.” The reason for citing this is to make clear that what is stated is to be taken literally, especially when the term is used not just once or twice, but six times.

As has been noted, and as we will see again, this thousand-year period is given based on the pattern of creation – of which the menorah of the temple is a symbol. Each branch of the menorah represents a thousand-year period. Christ came at the year 4000. The middle candle of the menorah, which represents the time of His coming, is known as the Shamash, which means “servant.” Christ, coming at this central point of human history, lights up the ages, just as the Shamash is the first candle lit and then which is used to light the other six. At His first advent, He fulfilled the role as the servant. The pattern has been given and it points directly to His work.

The final 1000-year period, the millennium, is being described in these verses of chapter 20. The entire cycle of man on earth, centering on the Person of Jesus Christ, was prefigured based on this seven-day pattern. Jesus Christ will rule on earth in a period of peace and restoration which is spoken of in great detail in the books of the prophets in the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah. It is during this period that the devil will be shut up and the pit will be sealed.

The devil won’t be able to deceive, and the people will live in a state of wonder and beauty. Man failed in Eden at a time when he didn’t have the knowledge of good and evil. He failed when there was no law, and he could live for hundreds of years. In fact, he failed so badly that the world was filled with wickedness and needed to be completely swept clean by a flood.

Man continued to fail after the flood and prior to the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was introduced and man…. yes, he continued to fail. Then came Christ to fulfill the law on our behalf and His people nailed Him to a tree. He gave His Holy Spirit and filled His people with wisdom and knowledge and the complete revelation of Himself now recorded in Scripture. And yes… the world at large continues to fail and reject Him.

The world will be destroyed again by fire and tribulation and then Christ will rule, physically, from Jerusalem. But even when this occurs, when men live hundreds of years under ideal conditions and in the presence of God incarnate, man will be tested and will …. he will… he will fail again as we will see in the coming verses.

These different dispensations have been given to us to show us our fallen and depraved state, but also to show us the immense grace and mercy of God as is displayed in Jesus Christ. Under every possible condition and in every way possible, man desperately needs Him. To demonstrate this, the devil will be released for a little while. In understanding what is going on, each of us should gladly call out, “THANK GOD FOR JESUS!”

How desperately we need you Lord Jesus! Throughout the ages, You have been with Your people, calling us to Yourself and revealing Yourself to us. And yet, we turn our backs to You and say we want to do it our own way. Such is our fallen state, but such is Your wondrous grace and mercy. Great are you, O God. Thank you for our wonderful Savior! Hallelujah and Amen.

Wednesday, 21 July 2021

He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; Revelation 20:2

The angel who came out of heaven who has the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain upon his hand now takes specific action against the ancient foe of man. John says, “He laid hold of the dragon.” This is the dragon introduced with this name in Revelation 12:3. This is the last time this epitaph will be used in the Bible. Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “The word is commonly derived from ἔδρακον, the second aorist tense of δέρκομαι to see clearly, in allusion to the sharp sight of the fabled dragon.”

The dragon, this sharp-sighted creature, is now seized. Though he may have great vision, it appears he didn’t see this coming. As far as the act of seizing him, the idea here is of one stronger grabbing and overpowering the weaker. It is comparable in thought to the parable of Jesus from Matthew 12:29 –

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

It then follows in thought from Paul’s words of Colossians 2:15 concerning Christ Jesus –

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

It is with this thought in mind that it appears most likely that this angel is none other than the Lord. It is He who gained victory over the dragon who Johns next says is “that serpent of old.” It is an obvious reference to the serpent introduced in the Garden of Eden where it says in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” Again, this is the last time that the epitaph “serpent” is used in the Bible. Things are coming to a close for him, even if he is not completely eliminated at this point.

To ensure who is being referred to, without any doubt at all, John next says, “who is the Devil and Satan.” The epitaph of “devil” was introduced in Matthew 4:1 during the temptation of the Lord Jesus –

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

This title will be used just one more time, in verse 20:10. Along with being called the devil, John’s fourth designating name is provided, Satan. That was first used in Matthew 4:10 by Jesus, showing that the devil and Satan are the same entity –

“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

The name “Satan” is derived from the Old Testament. Care must be taken when considering the word used there. The Hebrew word satan, is used 27 times. However, it simply means “an adversary.” It can be speaking of anyone who opposes another. The word is first used to describe the Angel of the Lord in Numbers 22:22 –

“Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.”

Also, it is incorrectly translated by most translations as the proper name of Satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1 –

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.”

The reason this is incorrect is twofold. First, it is clearly explained in 2 Samuel 24:1 –

“Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’”

These words show that it is the Lord who moved David. The second reason is that the word satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1 does not include an article before it as “the accuser,” ha’satan. Only when the article is used does it refer to Satan as a proper noun. This name, ha’satan, is first found in Job 1:6 –

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”

This may seem like an unnecessary diversion from the contents of Revelation, but it is not. Understanding who Satan is, and understanding his role in warring against the people of the world at particular times, is an important precept that must be carefully evaluated in order to properly understand the Lord’s victory over him. This proper noun, the name “Satan,” will be used just one more time in the Bible, in verse 20:7.

Of these words so far, they are a close repeat of what has already been said in Revelation 12:9 –

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

For now, and of this angel (probably the Lord Jesus) who has seized Satan, it says, “and bound him for a thousand years.” The statement is simple and direct. But no reason is yet given why he is only bound for a thousand years. In verse 20:7, it will state that he is to be released, but even then, only an inference as to why this occurs can be made. For now, it is shown that this wicked entity will be bound for a thousand years.

Life application: One main principle of Bible interpretation is that if something can be taken as literal it should be taken as literal unless there are compelling reasons why it shouldn’t be. The Bible says all the way back at the beginning that Adam and Eve “…heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). There is no reason to disbelieve this, especially at this early point in Scripture. In fact, if this didn’t occur, then it sets the entire Bible up as a document that is convoluted, must be interpreted symbolically, and cannot be trusted in its literal sense.

This truth is the same with the 6 days of creation. The Bible proclaims that all things were created in 6 days. This has been, and it still is, based on the premise that a day is a day. Only with the time of the Enlightenment and the modern development of the theory of evolution has this been called into question. These are not trifling issues, but items of the greatest importance.

Understanding these things leads us to contemplate the subject verse. This dragon, who is the serpent and who is also known as the devil and Satan, is said to be bound by the angel from heaven “for a thousand years.” The dragon of the book of Revelation is understood to be the same foe that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. This identification with “that serpent of old” now calls out to us to revisit Genesis 3 and to believe that the account written there is, in fact, literal. There literally was a Garden of Eden, there literally was a command given by God, there literally was a temptation, there literally was a fall, and the Lord God literally did walk in the garden. These things are all to be taken as literal, factual accounts of what happened.

The veracity of the rest of the Bible stands or falls on the Genesis account. One cannot, without causing irreparable harm to proper doctrine and theology, dismiss or allegorize what is stated there. In the final three chapters of the Bible, we will see – time and again – references to the Genesis account and how what was lost will be restored. God is telling us to trust that His word is true and that there is a plan that we can hold fast to.

As noted above, the final name which is given in this verse, Satan, is the Hebrew ha’satan – the accuser. As noted, he is not the one who moved David to take the census in 1 Chronicles 21:1. Rather, there was a reason the Lord moved as an adversary in this manner. It was to complete the most important real estate contract in history. This purchase, recorded in both 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, still bears on the events of humanity today, and it allows us to know who the rightful owner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is.

We can know with all certainty that Jesus owns the land. Both the title deed and the genealogical proof of that deed passing to Him are recorded in the Bible. He will return and claim His right to it at the end of the tribulation period and from that spot, he will reign for “a thousand years” of uninterrupted peace. Satan is mentioned in the books of Job and Zechariah in the Old Testament in key passages that help us understand his role in what is going on.

We are asked to believe that there really is a tempter who presented himself as a serpent in Eden and who is the devil, known as Satan. He is a real foe, and he has really come against God’s people throughout the ages. And yet, his wicked actions have been used by God – time and time again, to work out His plan of redemption for the people of the world. The devil is a finite being with limited power. God is infinitely wiser than him, and He is also infinitely more powerful than him. The devil is a defeated foe when we call on Jesus Christ. As such, we are to have no fear of the devil.

One final point concerning this verse, which must be taken as literal, is that the devil is bound for “a thousand years.” In fact, the term “a thousand years” is going to be mentioned six times in the next few verses. It is the epitome of hypocrisy for scholars and theologians to “symbolize” or “spiritualize” this into anything other than a literal timeframe. And yet, in order to justify faulty theology, reformed theology – as well as other sects and cults – will claim that this thousand-year period is only “symbolic.”

They must do this in order to deny dispensationalism and the notion that God’s plan for the land and the people of Israel has not yet been fulfilled. But the premise of the tribulation period of Revelation is to show us that Israel is again in focus, and that Jesus is returning to rule from there and among them for “a thousand years.”

This thousand-year rule completes the picture started in the six days of creation. God isn’t doing something arbitrary. He is working out a plan based on this six-day creation pattern. Man’s time on earth is a six-thousand-year period until Christ comes to rule during the millennium. This thousand-year rule is symbolic of the final Day of Genesis – the seventh day of rest. In fact, in Isaiah, it says that when the Lord rules during this period, His “resting place will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10).

Everything must be tied together in order to understand the fullness of what God is doing for His creatures and how He is doing it through Jesus. Yes, the thousand-year reign of the Lord from Israel is to be taken literally. To claim that it is “spiritual” or “symbolic” is to diminish the truth of God’s word based on one’s personal presuppositions, likes, or dislikes.

Stand firm on what God is doing and understand that He is in absolute control of all things! Great is God and great is His plan. And it is all centered on what He has done, is doing, and will do through JESUS!

Lord, we can search Your word forever and still find new treasures in it. Help us to believe what may seem incredible when it is spoken by You. Let us not trust in our own thoughts, but rather to rely on what You have so carefully and graciously revealed to us. Help us to stand fast on Your sure word. To Your glory, we pray, Amen.