Revelation (Written)

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:8

With the release of Satan after the thousand years, we now read, “and will go out.” Here, some translations say, “and will come out.” The verb can mean either. It depends on the perspective of what is being conveyed. If the earth is given in relation to the bottomless pit, then “come out” is appropriate. If this is in relation to a point after his release, then “go out” makes more sense. Thus, there is nothing wrong with either translation. Either way, his intent in going forth will be “to deceive the nations.”

It is a test for humanity, just as has occurred in every dispensation. Satan deceived Adam and his wife in the Garden of Eden and they failed. Such was the case with Israel under the law. Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, we are given the offer of eternal life through simply believing that God has done all the work and believing that gospel message – Christ died for our sins, Christ was buried, and Christ rose again. And yet, the world has, for the most part, rejected this.

Now, at the end of the millennium, Satan is released in order to see how man will respond under the ideal conditions they live in, and with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. Each dispensation shows us the depravity of the human heart and man’s inability to respond to God in an appropriate manner.

Regardless of the situation, man’s tendency is to reject God’s rule and authority. Such is the case with Satan’s release as he goes to “deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.”

One can see a worldwide rebellion brewing by the term. Many will believe the lie and turn away from the truth they have been told. Just as any person on earth could have gone up to Adam during his 930-year life and asked if the story about him was true, so any person on earth could easily verify if the story of Christ is true.

But man’s proclivity is to believe nonsense. Ten thousand conspiracies a day are published on the internet, and there is always someone there to believe them and pass them on. Satan will again deceive the nations like this.  In this, John specifically mentions “Gog and Magog.”

In Ezekiel 38 and 39, there is a battle described which has come to be known as the coming “Battle of Gog and Magog.” It details a battle that is expected to occur either just before or just after the time of the rapture (after appears to be most likely).

This is not the Battle of Armageddon nor is it the same as the battle described in this verse. This is evident based on Ezekiel 38:8 –

“After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.”

As this speaks of a land “brought back from the sword” and “which had long been desolate,” it is not referring to the end of the millennium, but before the millennium begins. The land had been laid bare for two thousand years, but is made productive once again. This description, clearly showing that it is not the same battle now described in Revelation, continues on with such clues in Ezekiel 38:12 and 39:25-29.

With that understood, the use of the names Gog and Magog shows that the same spirit which stirred up these forces will again be stirred up a thousand years later. The same people from the same area of the world will try to come against Israel just as they did a thousand years earlier. In fact, that may be the way Satan deceives the nations, using this great defeat as an excuse to go and take what supposedly should “rightly” belong to these people groups.

Whatever way he deceives them, it will be in order “to gather them together to battle.” War implies conquest and taking plunder. The envy of the nations will spur them on, leading them forward in order to take what they believe is within their grasp. And it will be no small army. Rather, it will be a force “whose number is as the sand of the sea.”

This is a term used throughout Scripture to denote an immense number. It is used in Genesis several times, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and so on. The deception will be great, and the number of people induced to come against Israel and Jerusalem will be seemingly immeasurable.

Life application: Islam has supposed complaints against Christianity today. They look back on the crusades and claim that what happened was an offense against Islam that needs to be righted. Any land once held by Muslims is, supposedly, always land that is to belong to them. It is this attitude that has brought about constant wars and killing in order to regain what they have lost.

Likewise, it is common for people today to look at slavery of the past and demand reparations for what occurred. However, only the details that suit the narrative are focused on. The fact that people in Africa sold their own people to the slave traders is ignored. The fact that there were white slaves is ignored. The fact that blacks were also slave owners is ignored. And the fact that white people gave up their fortunes and even their lives to free the slaves is ignored. Only that which suits a set narrative is focused on.

It could be this same type of thinking that Satan may use to deceive the nations. Whatever it is, it reveals that the world will overlook the majority of the details of what occurred in the past and will simply focus on parts that suit their liking in order to justify their rising up against Israel.

Just as people today reject the fact that Jesus is the God/Man, people in the millennium will do the same. The same spirit of disbelief and wickedness that exists in the human heart today will exist in the people of the world at that time. The world will be repopulated and living under ideal conditions and yet there will be dissatisfaction at having to live in proper and holy conduct as God requires.

Once again, man will reject the good and the world will spin into temporary chaos and rebellion. What a mess we are when we live apart from God’s will. What a mess man is when he fails to acknowledge what God has done through our great Lord JESUS.

How can it be that we simply can’t get it right! O God, You have given us Your word and everything that is going to happen is noted there. And yet we refuse to open the book, learn from it, and live by it. What a mess we are. Despite this, You continue to stretch out Your arms and lovingly call us back to You. What a great and wonderful Lord You are! Amen.

Monday, 26 July 2021

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison Revelation 20:7

John has, since the beginning of the chapter, been dealing with events just as the tribulation period ends, and then the events that follow in a time known as the millennial reign of Christ. As it says, “Now when the thousand years have expired.”

This verse now marks the sixth time in just six verses that the “thousand years” have been mentioned. This is again notably stated because, as has been seen in the previous five occasions, God expects us to accept that this is referring to a literal timeframe. We are not to gloss over it with merely “symbolic” connotations. As such, this thousand-year timeframe is at its close.

Of note, is that in Revelation 20:3, 20:5, and 20:7 the same form of the verb teleó has been used. It is in the aorist subjunctive verb form, telesthē. Young’s Literal Translation correctly translates all three instances as “may be finished.” It is indicating that the event will come at a set time. When this set time arrives, only then will the thing which is to take place actually occur.

The verb form telesthē is only used elsewhere in Luke 12:50 and gives the sense of the anticipation of a coming event –

“but I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I pressed till it may be completed!” YLT

An actual event lies ahead, and it is anticipated by the close of a set time. This is the sense of the coming end of the thousand years in Revelation. It is thus a certainty that this timeframe is not a symbolic representation, but rather a definite timeframe with an anticipated concluding event, which is that “Satan will be released from his prison.”

The fact that Satan was bound means that he was completely subdued. The fact that Satan is released shows that this is a part of a set plan and is accomplished for a set purpose. The Lord is completely in control of the events, and what occurs is then to be instructional. The result of the release of Satan will be seen in the coming verses, but the reason for allowing it is not given. Thus, the reader is being asked to come to a conclusion as to why this will come to pass. That reason has been alluded to already and will continue to be considered as the coming verses are presented.

Life application: The thousand-year period, mentioned six times in six verses, is to be taken as a literal timeframe. The constant repetition of this leaves no other reasonable explanation. However, and despite this, it may lead the student of the Bible to ask, “If this is a literal thousand-year period, then why are no specific details given about it? Why such little detail about the millennium?” There are at least three good answers for this:

First and foremost – very, very specific details have been given. They just haven’t been given here. Rather, the millennial period is described in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah, but elsewhere as well. They are also in the four Gospels. Why in these areas? Because the promises were made to Israel and not to the church!

The inclusion of Gentiles in the church age was a previously unknown mystery (Ephesians 3:4-6). A certain number of Gentiles would be brought into what God is doing (Romans 11:25), and then Israel would be reinstated as God’s main focus and in fulfillment of those Old Testament promises (and which are inferred in Jesus’ words as well, such as in Matthew 19:28).

The Gentile-led church age is thus a timeframe prior to the Millennial Reign of Christ. The “throne of David” (see Isaiah 9:7) implies the physical people of Israel with their Messiah reigning and ruling in their midst. Unless one is willing to accept this premise, the rest of the Bible becomes a book of “spiritualized” truths being incorrectly interpreted by trial and error and a lack of proper analysis concerning future events. There is no true surety except in the words of the epistles. This should clue the reader into the fact that God has a plan working that such scholars have thus misinterpreted.

The second reason why no specific details are given in Revelation is because they are not necessary for faith in worship. From creation to the Flood of Noah is a 1656-year period and yet very little is included there, despite the fact that there could have been as many as billions of people on the earth by then. In all, only a few are mentioned by name. The reason for this is that only they were relevant to the narrative. The same is true with the coming millennial period. Any further details than those previously stated are not necessary for us to understand what God is doing and why.

The third reason for the minimal detail takes the opposite view. What does occur and what is relevant to the people who live during that time is specifically not noted because it may interfere with the people’s faith in worship if known in advance. As such, God has not revealed it.

This would be similar to the church knowing the day of the rapture. Having this information would actually work against our conduct on numerous levels and for several very distinct and obvious reasons. And, therefore, God has not given us that (and so very much more) information. The millennial reign is no different. God has determined to reserve any information outside of the Old Testament and the Gospels for Himself.

The exception, however, is those verses we have looked at so far in this chapter and which continue through verse 10. This is all that God has added for our understanding of this thousand-year period.

As noted in a previous commentary, the releasing of Satan is a necessary occurrence to show us the utter depravity of man and his tendency to accept deception over the truth. Even in ideal conditions, with the Lord ruling on earth, man can be led astray from what is true. This then highlights the great grace and mercy of the Lord, and it shows how desperately we need to cling to Him.

There is no time or situation where man can stand alone without the grace of Jesus Christ, even under the most ideal of conditions. Our very nature and tendency is towards wickedness and away from the things of God. When we see this, especially when noted during a time of such wonderful beauty and harmony on earth such as the Old Testament prophets reveal concerning this thousand-year period, we should marvel at the majesty and glory of the cross. Without it, we stand completely and utterly exposed before our infinitely holy Creator.

Take time to reflect on this today. Reflect on the beauty of the Lord, our Lord JESUS.

O Jesus, how could You do what You did for beings such as us? We have turned away from You, mocked You, ridiculed You, and blasphemed You. And yet, knowing this would occur, You came and fulfilled the law that condemns us and then took our punishment upon Yourself. And now, You offer us Your righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness. My God, how great Thou art. Amen.

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.