Come Let Us Reason Together

As a Christian that confesses Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, it is my need and pleasure to pray for and search out Gods word for truth, this I have done in prayer seeking God for His Spirit that enables spiritual discernment. This article as a result is to share my understanding of scripture unique as concerning Revelations Chapter-20 verses one through fifteen. This study article should not to be considered as purpose a teaching or without fault, instead my purpose is to provide scripture and comment that may show need for your own prayer and scripture study, remembering that the Bible admonished us to test every spirit against the word of God for validity. For background on the Millennium as first introduced within the early 1st century Christian church, actually a carry over believed by some Old Testament Jewish, I've included another's article critically important revealing how various Millennium teachings have been rejected through the ages. It would be well worth your time reading this short article, simply clicking here, and after reading the article return to this point by clicking on "Return to Top" located at the end of the article.
About the book of Revelations from which the Millennium theory is taken, Revelations is commonly believed to have been written between 60-100 AD. About the author of Revelations there is question among the more politic of church concerning the Apocalypse writing different in style than other writings of John, seeming to give impression that Apostolic origin gives it greater authority, although the Apostolic is not the only proper gift that God has established. Revelations in the Greek apokalupsis meaning revelation (literally, 'a lifting of the veil', or disclosure), is also called the Testimony of Christ. Millenarian theology appears to have an infinitive ideal closely associated with Dominionist's and Reconstructionist's, these looking forward to a government yet in this earth age where some would in a sense rule over others. Revelations is deeply symbolic in prophetic language, also where numbers are often used with symbolic purpose, the Millennium or more accurately 'Thousand' in this case is good example.
Our English version Bible consists of an Old and New Testament translated from the original Hebrew and Greek languages. However concerning the word Millennium, the New Testament was also at a later date translated (with additional books) into a Latin version called the Catholic Vulgate Bible, and in Latin the word for 'thousand' was translated as 'mille'. Concerning the Protestant English version of the New Testament regarding this 'Thousand' (often called the Millennium), when it is used singularly as 'chilia or chilioi' without an extension, it is more accurately translated with context to describe symbolically the scripture or events of scripture where the Thousand occurs. In this context it is used unusually by itself without an extension only eight times within the entire New Testament, most interesting it is found six of these eight times within Revelations-20. Also important, the only two remaining times (chilioi) is used in singular form it is found together in 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day".
When 'chilioi' is found other than in this singular and unusual fashion, all other times this word will be found in the New Testament as a composite to describe a larger number. One form of a larger number requires an extension such as the 'Greek... pentakischilioi', and this translates as a number of (about) five thousand. Another form of this 'chilioi' to form a larger number as composite parts is found in Revelations 11:3 and 12:6 describing a symbolic (chilias - diakosias - hexekomta), representing the number of a "thousand, two hundred, and threescore days", meaning about 1250 days or three and one half years. Those using 'Millennium' then are found only in the Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Catholic Vulgate) originating about the year 382 AD, when Pope Damasus commissioned St Jerome to translate the original Greek and Hebrew Bible text's into the Latin language.
This liberty of translation to indicate an exact Thousand or 'Millennium' other than in the Latin Vulgate Bible is not valid, also concerning the Greek 'chilioi' there is strong reason to wonder at it's uniqueness as used unusually in singular fashion, taking in consideration the events being describe within these two separate 'chilioi' are vastly more important within full chapter and context. Also remember in Revelations-20 after these two chilioi-events end, Revelation-20 does not end but continues with additional events related and significant concerning purpose. Certainly this 'chilioi' word is symbolic in meaning, unless it is also believed from verse that the Jewish traveled often within numbers of an exact multiple of thousands. The argument that the Greek possessed a very sophisticated numbering system is not the point concerning the contextual use of 'chilioi' in symbolism as obvious within Revelations-20. The Greek 'kilo' is from khilioi or chilioi where we get '1000'. Consider also the Greek 'mega' that comes from mega and besides a numeric value means “great.” The Greek 'Giga' also having numeric value comes from gigas and also means “giant.” And Greek 'tera' comes from teras having a numeric value and also means “monster”, these words then have both literal or figurative value, and also a symbolic value of meaning.
One of the most trusted sources for translation of original Hebrew and Greek concerning this 'chilioi' is the New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. The following is the translation given for this chilioi used in the New Testament and specifically as used singularly in Revelations-20 [KJV]:
NT:5507 chilioi (khil'-ee-oy); plural of uncertain affinity; a thousand.

Revelations Chapter-20 concerning the word 'chilioi' or Thousand must be read realizing there are a total of two separate Thousand (events) described. The first Thousand (event) begins when Satan is cast out of heaven being bound and sealed in the abyss, this Thousand is to last until Satan is released from the abyss. However before Satan is released there begins a second Thousand (event), this second Thousand is chronologically later in time and related to the ministry of Christ on earth. It is at the end of Christ's ministry with His death upon the cross, that after three days Christ rises in victory over death, scripture then tells us in His victory Christ leads captives from Sheol beginning the first resurrection of saints having a part to reign with Christ for a chilioi-Thousand. Also important is that Revelation-20 next tells us both of these Thousand (events) end at the very same time, both Thousand ending when Satan is release from the abyss to be ruler of earth for a short time.
Although the two Thousand (events) end, note that Revelations-20 continues describing additional events happening after Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time. When Satan is released after an interval he gathers Gog and Magog for battle against Jerusalem the city of God, fire then comes down from heaven that destroys them (note however before this destruction all wicked are then cast back into the Lake of Sulfur including Satan, where the Beast and False Prophet await him). This Lake of Sulfur or Burning Lake of Sulfur is a holding place where the wicked must wait for final judgment. The very last event of Revelations-20 verse-15 describes the destruction within the Lake of Fire of all whose names were not found in the book of life, the Lake of Fire then is the last place where final judgment of destruction is carried out called an eternal punishment.
Take note then, these two 'Thousands' both occur before Christ returns for final judgment, and Christ returns not to bear sin again but to destroy all of the wicked in final judgment as an eternal punishment. It is important that all scripture concerning the events of Revelations chapter-20 be considered to understand the literal and symbolic meaning of Revelations, certainly including Revelations-20 verses 1-15.
Two different Thousand (Millennium) having begun within two separate time frames, yet both ending at the very same time, is strong indication these Thousand are meant symbolically to describe one composite period during and after which are decreed very important events. This sequence of events beginning when Satan is bound and sealed in the abyss, following with the next event being the first resurrection, continuing until the Thousand ends with the release of Satan from the abyss. Certainly this ends the Thousand, however it cannot be denied that additional events are still decreed, and Revelations-20:15 describing the final event of everlasting judgment with destruction of all that is evil. These events are evident as described in Revelations-20 verses 1-15, with events purpose obvious as described in related Bible verses such as in Revelations 12:8-10 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."
This word 'Chilioi' translated as a Thousand then represents symbolically a figurative period regarding event's, similar as example to another figurative Thousand and events of 1 Chronicles 16:15-17 "He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant..." Here the covenant promise is said to be both a thousand-generations and also as everlasting, generations being an arbitrary measure of mans life span at most 120-years, and here again it is the event or promise and not the time that is of significance within these verses. There is no limited time period that can be acclaimed the same as eternal or infinite. Quite evidently there is symbolic meaning concerning the thousand generations, yet even this in total if equated to a day like a thousand years, would still fall far short of eternity. There is difference to be discerned between these two different time periods, perhaps it is related symbolically to two different earth ages, this present earth age and also the new eternal earth to come.
During this earth age within the two Thousand's and before Satan is released from the abyss, the ministry of Christ began salvation for the redeemed of this earth age. During Christ's ministry He describes to those around Him of having already seen this falling of Satan from heaven, we are also told that Christ now is holding back Satan, certainly Revelations-20 tells us that Satan was bound in the abyss to keep him from deceiving all the nations again until the Thousand is ended. Christ at the end of His earthly ministry was crucified, when Christ rose in victory over death (Satan or Death no longer has hold over saints), He led captives of Sheol free. Here is where we learn that Christ has already risen beginning the first resurrection of saints, remembering the sequence of events from Revelations-20 tells us the 'first resurrection of saints' does not occur until after Satan has been cast out of heaven being bound and sealed in the abyss. The first resurrection then are those of Old Testament promise awaiting resurrection from Sheol (first the Jew), continuing as described in the New Testament with saints (now both Jew and Gentile that have a part) during this earth age, these saints reign with Christ. Comment and scripture that follow will show the redeemed in salvation being dead to sin will serve (meaning reign) on earth as predestined with Christ, understood within the spiritual realm on earth, remembering as Christ told the Pharisee in Luke 17:21 "...because the kingdom of God is within you."
Following the Thousand events listed in Revelations-20, it becomes obvious today these events have already past a time scale of a thousand years, this despite Satan must still to be released from the abyss. In attempt to give the Latin-Millennium theology legitimacy as taught today, unrelated or non-related scripture is often used, these often ignoring or drastically rearranging events described throughout the Bible and within Revelations-20. The same may be said for translation of the Greek word-Harpazo into English as 'caught up', and into Latin as 'rapturo'. Final judgment with destruction of all the wicked is found in the final verse ending Revelations-20, Revelations-21 then picks up describing the new heaven and new earth. Some may believe Christ returns more than once for final judgment, the Bible tells us there is only one Day of the Lord when Christ returns not to bear sin again, but for Final Judgment. Before the 'Return of the Lord' for judgment, there are uncountable 'Coming of the Lord' to gather those saints that in death pass out of this life. Certainly the 'Coming' or 'Presence' of the Lord is not all that unusual, consider scripture describing very simply such an event in Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
From the various interpretations or theologies suggesting a short period (Millennium) during which saints reign with Christ; it is evident this must occur before the eternal Kingdom to come. Scripture to follow will describe with certainty that saints have already begun to reign (serve with Christ) during this present earth age or Thousand. The central theme of some Protestant leaders concerning the Latin-Millennium however is that saints rule over earthly kingdoms, and this does not begin until Christ returns for final judgment. This teaching error is remarkably similar to the same misunderstanding that existed when Christ began His ministry, and apparently why the chosen rejected Him, believing instead that the Messiah would make the chosen as rulers over nations of the unredeemed after destroying all their enemy. This is a serious misunderstanding of what Christ taught during His ministry, Christ set example saying he did not come to be served (rule), but to serve. Christ taught that we were to do as He, and this is how we would reign, by serving. Reminding also of what Christ said about His eternal Kingdom to come in John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Nor is the Kingdom a political system of rulers during this earth age, instead Christ rebuked the Pharisee for having this same misunderstanding, saying in Luke 17:20-21 "Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Millenarian theologies have arisen and ended many times since the first century when a man named Cerinthus taught it in the early Christian church, describing it as a time of sensual indulgences. Since this time sensual indulgences has been dropped with later teachings sometimes based upon scripture concerning Creation theology of six days (six thousand years) leading to the seventh day (Millennium). Regardless of the different versions the primary source for these Thousand theories comes from Revelations-20, often using other scripture whose context does not support this thesis, and is apparently why in relating to scripture of creation that many believe earth is approximately 6000 years of age from the time of creation. This figure of earth age then is based upon genealogies of man born from Adam and Eve, however this omits or does not account for the period of Adam and Eve within the Garden of Eden nor the six days of creation, and for this reason departs from the entire Biblical scale of estates and times relating only to some small part of this present earth age. Within Genesis chapter-1 between verses 1 and 2 for instance, some interpret this as saying earth had been previously created in complete form, yet verse-2 describing again in void form, and this explaining need of God to instruct 're-populating' the world. This if having any validity would also indicate an additional period that may have transpired. In creation of day and night as described by God, it does not say one followed immediately another, also the early-earth theory seems to have merit only in discrediting evolution theory.
Throughout the New Testament I have found no teaching for saints to have earthly rule during this lifetime, either within or without the church, except in holding Office with Authority. Here also going out into the world we were not instructed to be rulers, and instead we were to disciple as witness in the world for our Lord. Christ gave warning about the mis-application such as by Gentile rulers, admonishing the saints not to become as such, instead to reign we must serve, and to be greatest would become as a slave. Nor does scripture teach of ruling over the spiritual world, instead being power and authority over the spiritual realm in context that to reign with Christ is to serve. Scripture teaches that with exception of certain permission's by God, only God is able and capable to rule over His creation and earth ages. And about these new creations we are told in Isaiah 65:17-18 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy." Our chronological day and night for division of time is not only different than Gods day and night, but it was not until the forth day and night of Gods creation's that God created our sun and moon for divisions of calendar, seasons and times for man.
Some will say that to properly understand the word (Bible), it must be divided properly, more accurately it must be discerned properly. The Bible will not contradict itself in any division, instead it may be misunderstood from not having full background study providing important verse at hand that gives full context and condition for understanding. For instance it is immediately announced from heaven after Satan is bound and sealed in the abyss, that "now has come the salvation..." From this do we understand salvation coming before or after Satan is bound in the abyss, and of course it is after Satan is bound in the abyss. Paul announces that the promised 'day of salvation is now', Christ the Messiah has then already begun His ministry and established His church. Satan according to Revelations-20 is released from the abyss to become ruler over earth for a short time, however Christ then returns 'not to bear sin again' but to bring final judgment, and Satan with all the wicked are cast back into the Lake of Sulfur where final judgment begins. Christ had told the chosen they would not see Him again until they confess Him as Lord. It is important to understand Revelations-20 concerning the Thousand commonly called Millennium, it tells us that both the 'reign of the saints', and 'Satan bound in the Abyss' ends when Satan is finally released, scripture saying this will be for only a very short time. Following Revelations-20 as outlined the old order or earth age ends as stated in verse-15, when all of the wicked are at last cast into the Lake of Fire where destruction is completed. Perhaps the most serious flaw of the Millennium theory is ignoring Christ and Salvation, apparently having false hope to rule over nations and people, and this you will remember Christ warned against such as done by Gentile authority/kings.
There are three other serious flaws of the Millennium theology. One is that Satan had not been cast from heaven immediately into the abyss, incidentally at the same time with the angels, the angels in everlasting chains into darkness (grave/pit/abyss) until judgment. We are told in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 that Christ now holds back Satan, although indicating spiritually Satan is at work in the world (this will be covered in detail later). The second is not recognizing that Christ after crucified and going into the depths where He preached or proclaimed, has then already risen with the first resurrection of saints (now reigning with Christ), nor as will be explained later that these will include eventually all saints (in salvation after death and of those still living gathered at the Lords Coming), certainly including saints called the new spiritual man during this present earth age. The third flaw or error is adamantly believing the Millennium must designate an exact thousand years. However if you read Revelations-20 verifying from original Greek very carefully, you will find the serious flaw's of this presently held Millennium theory. Many scholars concerning Bible scripture appear to place to great importance within their intellect concerning interpretation of languages, few appear willing to give true credence that by the Holy Spirit the word is spiritually discerned.
Some believe that before a single event of Revelations-20 may happen, all prophecy (beginning in Revelations chapters 1-19) must all happen before one event of Revelations-20 will be allowed to occur. Once you discover Christ has already resurrected Old Testament 'righteous and upright' from the grave called the first resurrection, you should also recall the first verses stating Satan had already been bound and sealed in the abyss. At this point it will become obvious Revelations-20 is a time-period of encapsulation concerning important events in which many overly impressed with the 'Millennium' recognize only the period of a thousand years. Numbers used in Revelations for the most part relating symbolically to events. For some unknown reason the event of vastly more importance during this Thousand is not mentioned in Revelations-20, this at best implied being Salvation, and perhaps why so many believe the flaws taught about this Thousand or special period of events. What is obvious and will be demonstrated in scripture from the entire Bible, is that this Thousand is our present earth-age, to end shortly after the release of Satan from the abyss. The end of the this earth age is in final judgment, this conclusion is the prophetic seventieth (70) week ending Revelations-20.
Before Christ rescued these Old Testament saints from Sheol, at death of their flesh body it was not the body as Lazarus that went into Sheol, nor the spirit of Stephen surrendered back to God, during the Old Testament it was the soul that entered the bosom of Abraham in Sheol or grave. It is the soul that has always received salvation told in 1 Peter 1:8-9 "...for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." It was neither flesh body or spirit John saw in heaven beneath the altar, but again souls, described in Revelations 6:9-11 "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain..." These souls as example the thief on the cross next to Christ told today you will be with me in Paradise, were that day like a thousand years now passed, means Christ now sits at the right hand of God in heaven evidencing the thief as one of the souls John saw below the altar. Before the Day of the Lord for final judgment that begins at the Return of the Lord, the angels are sent to gather these souls of the saints no longer on earth but gathered from one end of heavens to the other as told in Matthew 24:31 "...They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." These 'four winds' are described only within heaven or as heavenly, with exception of the last days when symbolically upon the earth in judgment.
Scripture is now fulfilled bringing salvation to the living, appointing one time to be born, and after death to face judgment described in Hebrew 9:26-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Those (living) on earth still waiting salvation were not at loss, instead having the Holy Spirit as deposit, waited only what was already guaranteed along with resurrection to be with those 'in the air' or heavenly realm. The resurrection promise was begun as told in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "...and the dead in Christ will rise first", understanding that saints for many generations have by now passed away into death, and each in their turn having a part in the resurrection as described in 1 Corinthians 15:23 "But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Christ was resurrected from death for a short time into His earthly body, after a short period before His disciples Christ was transfigured while rising into heaven. Christ now the firstfruits as scripture attests in coming again freed from Sheol the first resurrection of saints that reign with Him.
Christ comes then for each in their own turn at death, these being the saints in faith that belong to Christ. And this all began with salvation and the resurrection from Sheol by Christ of Old Testament saints that scripture calls the first resurrection. Thereafter each at death have a part in the first resurrection, each going to be with the Lord, finally Christ will come for those yet living as told of in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." By now also the remnant elect of the chosen people yet living still scattered among the nations find refuge with God as told in Daniel 12:11-12 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." These are the chosen still living after the first 3½ years and before Gods wrath and Desolations begin, upon reaching the prophetic 1335 days are then gathered into the wilderness of the nations where they were scattered, it is here the rebel that revolt against God are purged from them leaving a remnant elect that are gathered into a new covenant and the eternal Israel of promise.
All saints before the Return of the Lord (or Day of the Lord) for final judgment; including those still living, all saints will previously have been gathered into heaven. There are exception of the chosen still scattered that must wait for the Return of the Lord, and in the wilderness or deserts where scattered, the rebel that revolt against God are purged from the chosen, leaving a remnant elect that are gathered into new covenant and into Israel also called the Promised Land. The second resurrection then will be of the wicked for the final war and final judgment ending in destruction called the second death. The Kingdom for eternity is the new creations (see Isaiah 65:17-19) called the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. Within the New Jerusalem is found the Sanctuary or Temple made by the hand of God, and here all saints will reign and serve God forever. Revelations-20 at no point describes or even implies that after final judgment the saints continue (or begin) to spend another Thousand yet in the old order of heaven and earth, these having been destroyed. The Bible does tell us that after Satan is released, on earth will be Tribulations and wars until the very end. The Bible clearly teaches that after final judgment the old order passes away understood as destroyed. No where in the Bible does it teach that after final judgment the saints are still found among the wicked that were destroyed in final judgment, or with Satan also destroyed in final judgment. Within the very last verse's of Revelations-20 Satan is cast back into the fiery Lake of Sulfur (in Hell), following verses then concludes this composite of Sheol/Hell (fiery Lake of Burning Sulfur, abyss, deepest/bottomless pit, Gehenna and Hades) saying in the very last verse that Death and Hades are finally cast into the Lake of Fire where they are destroyed.
After final judgment the saints having been gathered into the air (heaven) with the Lord, now come down out of (some read... revealed in) heaven within the New Jerusalem as the bride, then and forever to reside in the Kingdom of God. Scripture calls this New Earth as the home of righteousness. Revelations-20 tells us that all saints in the Thousand or present earth age who have a part in the first resurrection will not see the second death, described in Revelations 20:5-6 "This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priest's of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." This resurrection was made possible in Salvation through Christ described in Revelations 5:9-10 "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priest's to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Christ will reign both in this present earth age or Thousand with His saints, and after this earth passes away Christ and His saints shall reign on the New Earth where is found the New Jerusalem and Temple of God for all eternity.
There are also two other very important words that we need understand having significant difference, these two words are Tribulation and Desolation. Tribulation will be mentioned as referring to conditions within the very End Days or Last Days, however there are normal tribulations less catastrophic that will be found within each individual's lifetime, Christ describes these lesser tribulation's in part as a test of our faith. There is also the catastrophic Tribulations being a period called the very Last Days, this is also called Desolation, and certainly only the lost soul's will experience all of the last prophetic 3½ years of Desolation. This Desolation is described in Daniel as the 70th week prophecy of 7-years, the first half of Desolation also called the 'Great Tribulation'. Here are the two words and Bible dictionary description:
(desolation) NT:2050 KJV - desolation.
(tribulation) NT:2346 KJV - afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble.

When you hear spoken about the "Great Tribulations" it is necessary to understand what is being referred to. It is not the normal Troubles or Tribulations Christ describes to be found within everyone's lifetime, instead it is to describe a time of disasters far exceeding normal tribulation's, it concerns instead the last days prophesied as the 70th week. Concerning this time and the end of this earth age, Christ in Matthew-24 describes the sign of the end, referring to the abomination that causes desolation as spoken of by Daniel. In the Bible our 'normal trials and tribulations' described by Christ are wars, earthquakes, disasters and pestilence, nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom, these Christ call birth pains that although horrendous become ever more severe toward the end time before desolations. In Revelations 2:22 Christ speaking of the church Thyatira tells of Jezebel that seduces some within the church, and that unless they repent will be cast with her into the Great Tribulations. These words used are (Great) NT3173 megaleen, and (Tribulation) NT:2347 thlipsis. These two complex word grouping's are the same used in each mention of the Great Tribulation [KJV] (Matthew 24:21, Revelations 2:22, Revelations 7:14).
Before the time of Desolation scripture says there will be such hatred of Christians that the authorities at that time will put some to death. Normal tribulations however should not be confused with the time of Desolation, nor the first 3½ years of Desolation called the fist half of the 70th week prophecy. During the entire 70th Week (7-years) of Desolation; although at first similar to normal tribulations, is instead the time of Satan as ruler over all of the earth. Of two Witnesses in the streets of Jerusalem that cannot be killed having unusual powers. Also having a special 144,000 that are 12,000 from each of twelve tribes, these appearing after the Time of fulfillment for the Gentile apparently mean they are Messianic Jews that witness to the chosen people scattered among the nations. Desolations will include the mark of the beast needed in commerce and living. Disasters of unusual proportion will become common along with suffering and death. During the last 3½ years these events become unimaginable, no longer can they be called Tribulations or even Great Tribulations, they will be events not seen literally since the turmoil during creation itself, and never to be seen again. The Bible describes this later 3½ years as being events of Desolations. All will experience tribulations in life, only the wicked will experience all of Desolations or Wrath of God, and during this Desolation wars are decreed until the end.
Concerning the ministry of Christ during this Thousand, after appointing the Apostolic and beginning the first church, it is Paul whom He appoints for the Gentiles and who must because of false teachers and teaching re-assure concerning the Coming of Christ, when Christ although not observed comes to gather the saints or elect still living in the end or last days, saying 2 Thessalonians 2:1 "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him..." Paul then continues with assurance that neither is it the Day of the Lord when Christ is observed returning for final judgment, continuing in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 "...we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come." Is there a difference between the 'Coming of the Lord' and the 'Return of the Lord also called the Day of the Lord'. Most certainly, when Christ is finally observed Returning (for the purpose of final judgment), he sends the angels to gather (all) of the saints both Jew and Gentile found only in the heavens, as told in Matthew 24:30-31 "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." In these verses we learn that the Coming of Christ had happened earlier to gather the saints yet living into heaven, and the later Return or Day of the Lord (finally observed and said not to bear sin again) is for final judgment.
Importance of Salvation and Resurrection regarding the Thousand
The theme of the events described in Revelations-20 is the plan of God for redemption and judgment. In Revelations-20 the plan of God begins with Satan and his angels cast into the pit of Hell sometimes called the abyss, also beginning Salvation and redemption of the saints told in Revelations 12:9-10 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." At the end of this time for salvation during this thousand (earth age) years, Satan and his following are released from the Abyss or Hell and eventually surround 'the camp of Gods people' or Jerusalem, scripture says this concludes events of this earth age described in Luke 21:20-22 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written."
Certainly we know when the armies begin to surround Jerusalem it's desolation is near, yet here also Luke would strongly indicate the 'time of fulfillment for the Gentiles' ends before the time of Desolation, describing first the chosen scattered, leaving the city of Jerusalem 'trampled by Gentiles' until the 'Times of the Gentile is Fulfilled' as told in Luke 21:23-24 "...There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." After this is described Desolation and Gods wrath on earth saying in Luke 21:25-28 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." This later description of disasters never before seen causing great apprehension, would certainly be the beginning of the last part of the prophetic 70th week, when Gods wrath and final judgment will be it's conclusion.
Salvation is decreed from heaven as the purpose of God beginning the reign or service of the saints with Christ, being the gift of grace during this earth age until the end popularly called a Thousand. Salvation as decreed can be shown in scripture to commence with the ministry of Christ on earth, Paul after quoting related Old Testament scripture says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 "...I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." This salvation day began the first resurrection as told in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." This first resurrection continues during this earth age as each after life go to be with the Lord, told of in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Last of the saints to be gathered into heaven will be those yet living, told in 1 Thessalonians 4:14,17 "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him... After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
This salvation was also understood in Old Testament times by the upright and righteous as a promise to come, a time that would bring their resurrection from the grave. Many places in the New Testament tell of this salvation or saving grace administered to those yet living, and these in Christ having died to sin, also sharing in His resurrection told in Romans 6:5 "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." Some confuse this resurrection to be of our spirit, scripture tells us in Romans 8:10 "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness..." meaning Christ, and our righteousness of soul is from the Holy Spirit in Romans 5:16-17 "...how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." During life and afterward as the new man that has died to flesh, those in Christ are those who reign with Christ as told in 2 Timothy 2:11-12 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him." We reign with Christ as long as we remain in Christ, we do not rule either in this earth age or in eternity to come, only our God rules.
Some bible scholars have in their theology a delayed salvation, apparently believing salvation does not come until after the 'Day of the Lord' for Judgment, thereby in their 'Charting The End Times' showing the Thousand of the saints who reign with Christ not beginning until after Christ returns for final judgment. These scholars officiating at funerals today will properly say the dead saint is now with the Lord, however because of their theology have to deny the saint is reigning with Christ. Salvation and the Thousand/Millennium reign of the saints are events during this earth age, scripture that follows will show the first resurrection beginning when Christ rescues saints of Old Testament from the grave, this resurrection continuing as described in the New Testament as each of the redeemed 'in their time go to the Lord', finishing when Christ rescues the last of the living on earth before the time of ending in Desolations. Revelations Chapter-20 tells us the reign of the saints with Christ begins in this earth age, Satan when released from the abyss ends with Desolation, the end of the Thousand encapsulated in Revelations 20:5-8 "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog-to gather them for battle." This Thousand ending in final judgment encapsulated as told in Revelations 20:9 "...But fire came down from heaven and devoured them."
Some believe or confuse the 'Coming of the Lord' when those still living are gathered, with the 'Day of the Lord' when Christ Returns for Final Judgment. They believe those still living and gathered into the air (heaven) also include saints that in death do not go to be with the Lord and instead remain in the Sheol with the wicked, saying both those in the grave and those still living are gathered from earth at the same time. Paul states clearly as do other verses of scripture that the righteous at death go to be with the Lord in heaven, this is understood in 1 Thessalonians 4:14,17 "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him... After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." This tells us the saints still living at the Coming of Christ are gathered to be together with those in the air who had passed on before, and here in the clouds meet the Lord in the air. Scripture describes only one gathering of those remaining or still living upon earth, otherwise adequate scripture exists telling of the redeemed at death going directly to the Lord. This does not mean together with the Lord in the grave or Sheol, but together as described by John in heaven beneath the altar.
For another study-article describing how the Old Testament 'Upright and Righteous' receive salvation through Christ, click on Upright and Righteous.
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Some will tell you that you have neither salvation nor redemption, because these like resurrection are only a promise to come and are yet unfulfilled. It is true we wait many things in life, however our Lord and God is greater and able to accomplish beyond that within mans understanding. The blood of the Lamb was not shed without power or effect, being at most an effect not to be realized until some very distant future. Our salvation, our redemption, and our resurrection according to the Lord is for now as told in 1 Peter 1:18-19 "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ..." These saints redeemed by the Lord have all their promises fulfilled through the Holy Spirit as told in Galations 3:14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit is not a Hope to come, we can be certain today and tomorrow because the Word guarantees our redemption being more than hope in Ephesians 1:13-14 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory." Are we cavorting around heaven today, no, but ask me again tomorrow.
About Satan, after being cast out of heaven and bound in the abyss, Satan is now prince of the nether or spiritual world on earth as told in Revelations 12:12 "... But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." Starting at this point with Satan in the abyss, here then is an encapsulation of the sequence of events concerning the Thousand and Satan as described in Revelations-20: Satan is bound in the abyss for a Thousand, the first resurrection begins of the saints who reign with Christ for a Thousand, the Thousand reign of the saints with Christ ends when Satan is released (ending his Thousand and leading to the abomination), Satan gathers an army of Gog and Magog for war, fire comes down from heaven destroying them (meaning they are defeated, Gods disasters and wrath are administered upon them, after which they are temporarily thrown back into the Fiery Lake of Sulfur).
According to scripture after the release of Satan from the abyss, it soon progresses into a war (both natural and spiritual), Satan and his army are defeated also the wrath of God is poured out upon them, after this comes final Judgment as described in the last verse of Revelations-20. The Chart of End Times in contention shows Satan after all of the above remaining to be bound in the abyss for a Millennium called a 'Golden Age'. In this Golden Age their chart show the saints begin a Millennium reign with Christ, this again in contention with Revelations-20 that describes the reign of the saints with Christ ends when Satan is released from the abyss. Regardless they believe the saints reign during an extra Chart of End Times Millennium, describing Satan later released from the abyss for the Great White Throne judgment, and from here saying Satan is cast directly into the Lake of Fire. This again contrary to Revelations-20 describing satan cast first into the Fiery Lake of Sulfur, and from here (Lake of Sulfur) ending when all of the wicked (Death and Hades/Lake of Sulfur) are cast into the Lake of Fire to end in destruction. This begins the new promise with the end of day and night forever, there being no longer night, nor need of the sun or lamp for light, these all we receive as promised from God.
Scripture describes a very important difference between the 'Fiery Lake of Burning Sulfur', a holding place for the wicked in Hell, and the 'Lake of Fire' where Final Judgment ends in destruction called the second death. In Revelations-20 verse-10 is described Satan along with his army devoured by fire from heaven above or conquered, saying that Satan is then cast into the Fiery Lake of Burning Sulfur where the Beast and False Prophet await. Scripture of the Bible also describes all liars and wicked eventually thrown into this Fiery Lake of Sulfur or Burning Sulfur. It is in this Lake of Sulfur or Hell that all of the wicked are finally thrown into the Lake of Fire, in the Lake of Fire is where all of the wicked end in destruction. Revelations-20 tells of Satan, the Beast and False Prophet suffering day and night forever in the Fiery Lake of Sulfur, however the new promise ends day and night, this will be covered in detail later. With this understood, the 'Golden Age' theology again is in contention with Revelations-20, the Golden Age skips the Lake of Sulfur saying Satan is thrown directly into the Lake of Fire. In the very last verse's of Revelations-20 is described this final judgment ending in destruction, saying in verses 14-15 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
In review of above it is after the wrath of God there immediately follows final judgment as told in Romans 2:5-6 "...you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." Christ is observed returning for the Great White Throne (final) judgment, those not found in the book of Life along with Death and Hades, all the wicked are in final judgment thrown into the Lake of Fire to destruction as described in Revelations 20:15 "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Judgment ends our present earth age because this earth as we know it is also destroyed. After all of these important events of this Thousand or this earth age told of in Revelations-20, immediately following in Revelations-21 is described the new heavens and earth creations (see Isaiah 65:17), and here on this New Earth is found the New Jerusalem, within the New Jerusalem is found the Temple or Sanctuary that God has made and establishes among His people for eternity.
Concerning the Prophetic 70th week of 7-years when Satan is release from the abyss, the saints will not go through the very last or last half of this 7-years, Revelations 7:41 and Matthew 24:21 do however call the first half of the 7-years as the 'Great Tribulations'. In contention, 'Charting The End Times' theology shows Satan remaining after the Desolations (70th week), calling it the Tribulations or Great Tribulations and saying Satan has yet to be cast into the abyss. This is contrary to Revelations-20 that tells of Satan released from the abyss (ending the Thousand) and gathering his Gog and Magog army (this army is defeated in war during desolation), the army surrounding the camp of Gods people (scripture says this begins desolations for Jerusalem), and fire coming down out of heaven to destroy them. Fire coming down out of heaven and destroying this enemy symbolically describes final judgment of all of the wicked or enemy. During this battle is told of blood at symbolic levels, Satan tries to duplicate when he may, during the Crusades is told of battle and blood reaching the height of their horses bridle. These Crusader's even before leaving Europe were killing the Jewish, some later killing Christians in the holy land, the years of Crusade's were said begun to kill the infidel and free the holy land.
Revelations-20 and Daniel-9 show that Desolations begin with the release of Satan beginning the 70th-week of prophecy, these (desolations) are a direct result of Satan released from the abyss. Desolation is at first misunderstood as a time of peace, quickly however leading to the abomination beginning war (both natural and spiritual) that leads to the wrath of God, terminating the very last days in final judgment. This according to scripture ends the old order with (all) of the wicked from this earth age perishing in destruction. The time line of 'Charting The End Times' is complex only because the saint's living in salvation and saint's resurrected from Sheol now including all saints at death that go to be with the Lord, are not accepted as together through salvation the saints that reign with Christ. Regardless, the Latin Millennium does not fit a thousand year time scale as shown in the 'Charting The End Times', but does fit symbolically this earth age called a Thousand when through salvation the saints are redeemed while Christ holds back Satan who yet remains bound in the abyss.
A serious Bible student should ask themselves where this 'Great Tribulations' came from, it is found once in Revelations 7:14 relating to saints in heaven gathered apparently at the very beginning of the second 3½ years of Desolation, saying about these saints "these are they who came out of the great tribulations." Those coming out of the Great Tribulations would certainly be the remnant Jewish who must wait until the beginning of the 70th week of desolations (against Jerusalem) when the scattered are finally gathered from the nations and saved by Gods grace. It is described in Dan 12:11-12 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." These saints are gathered at the very beginning of the second 3½ years before Gods Wrath and curses will be poured out by the heavenly army of God, this is promised in Romans 5:9 "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" The Great Tribulations is also found in other verses like Matthew 24:20-22 "But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath; for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." Note that this verse describes the 'great tribulations' occurring before the last 3½ years of indescribable Desolations, the later 3½ years of Desolation described in Matthew 24 as events much like those of creation, that have not been seen since creation, nor ever to be seen again.
Rather than confuse those who test every spirit against Gods word, we need use correct scripture reference that enables validation with that in the Bible. Another word used in this chart is the 'Golden Age', this not found in the Bible, evidently referring to the New Heavens and New Earth where is found the New Jerusalem and Sanctuary that God will establish for eternity. This Golden Age then is for eternity, not a thousand years called a Millennium. I do not believe we have all memorized the Bible literally from original Hebrew and Greek that enables reciting without error, however there is certainly enough confusion in the world unintended, and revelation of truth previously misunderstood can be shocking even in error of little consequence. I encountered a case of having known during much of my life that the 'lion would lay down with the lamb', I've heard this expression countless times over the years. It was a surprise discovering the closest scripture to this expression is Isaiah 11:6-9 "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat..." The lion is an impressive animal in this earth age, however contrary to popular belief, it is not an armed legion that this animal selects as victim, instead it is the week or young and defenseless. Is this important, perhaps the more important the question should be, when should we stop rewriting the Bible.
To the Jewish people salvation was deliverance from adversity or enemy, it was never considered as done by mans hand, instead by the hand of God. Salvation or deliverance was evidenced as protection and security, as the cup, the rock, helmet and shield, all being the power and mercy of the Holy and powerful God. Salvation was also understood as a spiritual promise everlasting, yet understood that in death all went into the grave, knowing one day their salvation promise would bring about their resurrection. Revelations 12:9-12 tells us when salvation that makes possible resurrection of all the saints, this is made possible after Satan is cast down out of heaven to earth, and a loud voice from heaven proclaims "now has come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ." Verses that follow in Revelations-12 tell of Satan in symbolic and spiritual realm at war upon this earth, symbolism describing Satan in attempt to destroy Gods Kingdom and Salvation through the Authority of Christ. Revelations then continues to describe Gods wrath against Satan and all who follow Satan, a time when Satan is released for a short time that ends in judgment with destruction of heaven and earth along with all that is wicked. The Bible tells us that after this judgment and the end of this earth age, a new promise begins for those of Salvation in a New Heavens and New Earth with a New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven with the bride, beginning Gods everlasting Kingdom.
The New Testament is written in the Greek language, their alphabetic numbering system was much like Abraham Lincoln's address of "Four score and so many years ago." These being a composite word as example 'pentakischilioi' beginning with the most common number five (5), the composite being a greater number often in the Bible for simplicity stated in thousands, unless the chosen people embarked by choice often in numbers of exact thousands. Revelations-20 is a case in point, and I suggest the time period itself is not as important as the period of events depicted, also substantiated throughout the Bible. It is my intention because of apparent lack in understanding this very important period, and which I believe Revelations-20 speaks, to name this period as 'This Earth Age from Time of Salvation and Christ's Kingdom Until the End of this Earth Age." Understand Christ's Kingdom never ends, however this earth and age will end, the Thousand and this earth age ending shortly after Satan is released from the abyss. The Kingdom of Christ is mentioned in John 18:36 "My kingdom is not of this world...", and John of Patmos will discover it as the Sanctuary or Temple made by Gods hand found within the New Jerusalem in heaven, all part of the New Heaven and New Earth promise. The following then is my understanding of the 'Thousand or Millennium' that John writes of in Revelations-20, that ends in prophetic judgment being also the end of this earth age.

What does Revelations-20 say happens during the 'Thousand'
Revelations 20:1-15

Verses 1-3 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

Verses 1-3 tells of an angel coming down out of heaven who seals Satan in the abyss for a thousand years. This verse is vague regarding whether Satan was seized by the angel when in heaven or on earth, in context with related scripture, it strongly indicates being seized in heaven. We are told of the creation of Satan in Genesis 28:11-19, however Satan sins and is cast out of heaven being brought down into the grave or pit, as told in Isaiah 14:12-15 "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit." Here the 'grave' means Sheol, and the depth of the pit refers to the abyss. Both Satan and the 1/3 of the angels in rebellion were defeated in heaven, then cast down to earth as told in Revelations 12:9 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.". Then is immediately heard from heaven told in Revelations 12:10 "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ."

Revelations 12:7-10 tells us that before Satan was cast out of heaven being sealed in the abyss for the 'thousand', he had been able to lead all of the nations of people except Moses and his family astray. In regard to this ability of Satan during the 'thousand' we are told in Revelations 20:3 "...to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended." Scripture leaves no doubt however that Satan and his dark angels remain spiritually active, Christ cast out many demons or dark spirits giving warning and assurances such as Luke 10:19-20 "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Concerning Satan we are told in James 4:7 "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This spiritual war or struggle scripture tells us will exist until the end of this earth age told in 1 Timothy 4:1 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Some believe from the book of Enoch that demons are the evil spirits so-called that were the children of the sons of God that mated and had children by daughters of men on earth. Christ did warn about people who had become servants of Satan, these described in 1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

We know that Satan and some of the angels who go astray were found in heaven and on earth only up to the time of Satan regarding Job, and the sons of God who mate with daughters of men on earth. After this time and most likely around the time of the great flood, afterward in the New Testament Satan and the fallen angels are referred to only in spiritual form. Before this time Satan was capable and did lead the entire world or nations astray, after this time Satan and his angels were restricted and are mentioned only in spiritual context as liars and deceivers. This does not mean that Satan and these angels were without effect on earth with men. Scripture of the New Testament describes many spiritual deceptions leading many astray, some even put into various physical bondage at times called spiritual possession. Those with the Holy Spirit need not worry about these dark spirits, the only power they have; and this likely enabled through servants of Satan (possessed), is death of the saints body. Perhaps this is why in the very end days when the love of most has grown cold, that prophecy warns that they will put some of the saints to death.

During the ministry of Christ on earth, Christ is quoted as saying in Luke 10:18 "He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." We are told Christ was led by (His) Spirit into the desert, noting desert as a place of distress or purification, and here Satan described symbolically within spiritual condition tempting Christ. Only during the Old Testament period does the Bible tell of Satan still roaming freely and bodily to and fro on earth, later in the New Testament Satan and the angels are described only in spiritual context. Ephesians 6:12 describes the natural authority (on) this dark earth, and the spiritual meaning Satan and his angels in the heavenly (spiritual) realm, as those whom we struggle or war against. This should tells us that since Old Testament times our relation with Satan and his dark angels is limited within the realm of the spiritual, for the fallen angelic are no longer noted on earth in heavenly body. Jude 6 tells of the fallen angels kept in darkness in everlasting chains until judgment. No other angelic is mentioned upon earth observed in spiritual body (that appears as our earthly body) except the angelic who remained faithful to God. Here in Rev-20 we are told of Satan also bound and sealed in the abyss until desolation leading to judgment.

In this context of 'spiritual existence' and concerning Satan and his fallen angels within their "kingdom of the air", this is explained well in Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world (and) of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." This heavenly realm being spiritual is still above or higher than the natural as described in the New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary as NT:2032 epouranios (ep-oo-ran'-ee-os); from NT:1909 and NT:3772; above the sky: KJV - celestial, (in) heaven (-ly), high. Being above the natural however does not mean Satan and these dark angels are in Gods Heaven, in this context spiritual or heavenly realm is within 'the levels of sky or heavens' on this earth.

These dark angels despite being in chains are not limited to the bowels of the earth, being described within the New Testament as no longer found in angelic or 'spiritual-body', instead are described in 'spirit-form' upon this earth among men practicing their deception and leading men astray. In this context 'kingdom of the air' does not mean in heaven with God, but upon earth and in spiritual existence. This same context and warning of spiritual forces is found in Ephesians 6:11-12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers (of this dark world) and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Today and until release from the abyss, Satan and his dark angels will only be found in spiritual form upon this earth. There is the Kingdom of God, and a kingdom of Satan, the Heaven of God, and a heavenly realm of Satan, the realm of God should not be confused with the realm of Satan.

Verses 1-3 say Satan when free had been able to lead the entire world or nations astray, but now for a time bound in the abyss would be unable to deceive (all) of the nations anymore. This has not stopped Satan or the fallen angels spiritually as we read further into scripture, here we find the dark angel's in spirit form and those led astray upon earth carry on the work of Satan to some effect. When a person is deceived by Satan or his servants he allows opening for spiritual possession as told in Luke 22:3 "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve." Less clear of cause but also describing the work of Satan in Luke 13:16 "Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" The last part of verses 1-3 saying a time is coming that the abyss will be opened and Satan is freed for a short time. About that time when Satan is released, it is prophesied during this short time Satan will again deceive (all of the wicked) being those who remain on earth and are destined for destruction. These will include those for whom Christ died, also told in parable that received the seed of faith however on hard or rocky ground.

The short time that Satan is released and free to rule on this earth will be the (only) time Satan rules on earth. Satan may be Prince of this world sometimes referred to as a false god, but the Lord God is and has the only supreme power and authority to rule upon this earth and over all of His creation. Yes Satan will be released for a short time, but scripture is clear his rule will end as will this earth. It might accurately be said Satan acquires the only authority he has on this earth by deceit, and this by deceiving men into surrendering their authority to him. Satan gives ability to perform some miracles called counterfeit and as signs. Of importance is that (here and now) has come Salvation and the Power and Kingdom of our God, and the Authority of Christ, meaning the saints are now with the Lord and the Lord with the saints, whether found in heaven or on earth.

Most important to understand this 'thousand' is what we are told in Revelations-12:9-10 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. " This as proclaimed is the beginning of a reign of Salvation, in this reign are the souls upright and righteous (Old and New Testament). This salvation through faith was foretold in the Old Testament, describing the 'upright' and righteous as those who lived by faith, this described in Malachi 2:16 "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, ...So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith," and in Habakkuk 2:4 "...but the righteous will live by his faith..." The Kingdom through salvation now also begins as told in Matthew 11:12 "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." And so salvation is of our soul told of in 1 Peter 1:8-9 "...for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Verse 4-5    I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.

Within what some call the first advent, in the later part when Christ crucified rises in victory over death with captives, this is described in Ephesians 4:8 "This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." This began the first resurrection being those observed by John in heaven when the seals were being opened, described as the souls beneath the altar in Revelations 6:9-11 "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed." This robe may well be the 'Robe of Righteousness' scripture says will be awarded at resurrection, for these souls are no longer in Sheol, but as John describes are now beneath the altar in heaven.

In verses 4-5 are (those referred to as on thrones given authority to judge), and (those beheaded), about them saying they had not worshiped the beast or received his mark. Here we should remember 1 Corinthians 6:1-2 "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" Note verse 4-5 does not talk about spirits; it describes the souls. These given authority to judge appear not to be limited as only the twenty four elders described in Revelations 11:16 "And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God..."

Verse 5-6    (5)...They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.    (6)Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priest's of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Indeed those that have a part in the first resurrection; and by part of first resurrection indicating there is more than one part making up an entire resurrection, are those beginning with Old Testament saints raised from Sheol with Christ continuing until the number of their fellow servants and brothers or the last saint dies, it is then Christ returns to gather those still living fulfilling the entire first resurrection. These saints of the first resurrection when finally gathered will not see the second death, however those of the next or second resurrection from the grave (all of the wicked and unredeemed) will see in final judgment the second death. Within this earth age until the destruction of the heavens and earth, the New Testament says those of salvation serve in the reign of Christ, each having a work predestined before time. The body of the church on earth is Christ, this body of Christ has been commissioned within their lifetimes to fulfill a work as they reign with Christ as described in 1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

Within this earth age as Christian's we confess that through Christ we have a work prepared before time, told in Ephesians 2:9-10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." In this life and within this earth age we confess we are dead in sin, but alive in Christ, as we are told in Romans 8:10-11 "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Christian's today serve Christ believing in this life we will reign or serve with Christ as testified by God in Hebrew 2:3-4 "This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." This resurrection is the grace of God through this earth age as told in Ephesians 2:6-7 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace..." We are now in the end or last days of this earth age as told in 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 "...on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."

Then our reign with Christ is not limited to some future time such as after the man of Rebellion is destroyed, or after final judgment, our reign with Christ begins at salvation as told in 2 Timothy 2:11-12 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him." Some believe John 6:39 means that when Christ 'rises up' the saints in the 'last days' means the resurrection, however the Greek word 'anistemo' indicates instead having enabled to 'stand' as in recognition or steadfast in faith, certainly at death the saints are resurrected to be with the Lord, this is made clear in Matthew 24:31 that tells us when Christ finally returns He sends the angels to gather all saints no longer on earth but the four corners of (Greek 'ouranoes'... air, heaven[ly], sky). Christ says in John 11:25 that even though we die we will live, and through salvation we not only reign with the Lord today, we will reign with our Lord forever, told in Revelations 5:9-10 "...and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." This present or temporal Earth upon which saints reign leads into the New Earth Age being the Kingdom of God forever as told in Revelations 11:15 "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Let those today who deny they reign with Christ have their way, but do not let them take the gift of God or works predestined from you. I believe through teaching the corrupted church steals the works of the saints, the works of righteousness, Satan wants to neuter the true church from serving. Christ taught that to reign with Him was to serve with Him, instead in error some teach that to reign is to rule.

In the first death of the body there is both the redeemed and the unredeemed, both also Jew and Gentile, of these only the redeemed at death would be those who 'come to life' again through Christ. Christianity is a Jewish faith/covenant, from the beginning God wanted a people, for that purpose chose a people as told in Genesis 22:18 "...and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." The New Testament is a new Covenant for Gods people, first the Jew, then the Gentile. In death then if we surrender our spirit (of life) to God, then our souls are raised or 'comes to life' in Christ, and those who have come to life are the souls seen by John in heaven beneath the altar. These also are the first resurrection, and in the end to include all the redeemed thereafter who in death were described in Revelations 6:9-11 "...I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed."

After the first death some then remain in the grave or Hell, and these would only be the wicked and unredeemed. Only the redeemed souls will not see the second death, verse-6 saying these redeemed are priest's of God and Christ, and will reign with Him a 'thousand' or during this earth age. However consider that today deaths of the redeemed saints still occur, also saints still living will remain to be gathered at the time of the Lords coming (not return for judgment). Are only the Old Testament upright and righteous resurrected when Christ rose from the grave the only saints to reign with the Lord? Of course not, these souls have been gathered ever since the declaration of salvation told of in Revelations 12:10 "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ." This salvation is the 'thousand' during souls redeemed being gathered to the Lord during all of this earth age. Also, scripture does not say only the beheaded are the martyr, scripture clearly tells us in our lives each will battle and fight in a spiritual war, the martyr then is the witness who holds strongly to their faith until the very end described in 1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?", also in Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Each will in spiritual war fight the good cause, in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Does this mean only those dying by violent means belong to the Lord, no, it means those that unto death remain the witness and true to the Lord. This is true until the end of this earth age as told in Matthew 13:49 "This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous..." The 'thousand' ends as does time as we know it in the end of this earth age.

There is no doubt in this earth age our Lord reigns, His reign continuing after judgment into the New Earth age, of this present age described in 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." The reign of Christ continues into the New Earth age as described in Luke 1:31-33 "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Of the Kingdom to come Christ told us in John 18:36 "Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." You will notice at the end of this earth age the only change in relationship of the saved who reign with Christ is location, changing from a place 'in heaven' to a place 'on earth', and this is the New Heaven and New Earth promise.

Verse 7-9    When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog-to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Satan is released before the Day of the Lord when Christ returns to begin final judgment. Scripture assures us that before the 'Day of the Lord' there is the 'Coming of the Lord', the Coming refers to Christ gathering of the saints, this assurance describes the difference between the Coming of the Lord for those yet living, and the Day of the Lord for final judgment as told in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction."

Satan when released from the abyss is given authority to conquer some who are called saints in Revelations 13:7 "He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation." The next verse expands upon this saying these (saints) are not listed in the book of life. In this context it should be remembered Christ died for the sins of (all) men, the sanctifying blood of Christ covered our sin, yet some do not accept Christ and in so doing have rejected Christ, these unredeemed (saints) yet living remain upon earth. Concerning Satan, he will not be bound again in this earth age because he is already in the last days as described in Hebrew 1:1-2 "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..."

Gog and Magog in verse 7-9 are symbolic in the very last days when all the wicked of the ages will be as numerous as the sand of the seashore. In the relative time when Satan is released from the abyss described as smoke rising from a gigantic furnace, peace leaves this earth (Christ gathers the righteous Gentile yet living, the remnant still living of the Jewish elect to be gathered when Gog and Magog attack the Holy Land during desolation). Verse-9 tells us Satan gathers Gog and Magog to surround Gods city and people, this can only describe the beginning of desolation against Jerusalem, when a remnant of the Jewish people repent and accept Christ as their Messiah. Satan released becomes the ruler of this earth for a short time called the 70th week.

The final war is not fought within heaven, but upon the old order of earth. This is when Desolation begins with attack upon Gods people and Gods city Jerusalem, and now the remnant of Israel being the chosen finally repent and accept their Messiah Christ. Desolation or war during the last days of this earth age will follow to completion, desolation begins when the hordes attack the Holy Land and the city of the Lord. The remnant of the chosen scattered among the nations are then gathered, the desolations begin with natural wars and calamities, progressing into desolations of spiritual war and calamities encompassing the entire world. Last are the curses or wrath of Revelations poured out upon all the wicked who remain on earth. Verse-9 ends describing fire coming down out of heaven and devoured them, this symbolically describing final judgment.

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Before mentioning Daniel-9, it should be advised these verses may have nothing to do with Revelations-20, however being prophectic then may be understood as having both a natural and spiritual interpretation as follows. Daniel is given a decree (prophetic warning of a thing to happen) that before the anointed one comes a period would transpire when Jerusalem would to some extent be restored. The Temple was supposed to be rebuilt previous to this prophecy of Daniel-9, Archangel Michael now prophesies about the rebuilding of the wall and city of Jerusalem. Note concerning altar and sacrifice, these were always located in the center area of a Temple, before the steps leading up into the Holy of Holies. In this regard the remnant of Herods Temple gives thought regarding the abomination described as occurring in a wing (edge) or border area ('of the Temple' not found in orig. scripture) where a sanctuary is destroyed leading directly to desolation told in Mark 13:14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong..." Also of interest in this context is Ezera chapter-3 telling of a time after a Temple had been destroyed, the people then set up an altar in a sacred or sanctified place, however before the next Temple was built. This would explain the ruler (Satan) after stopping sacrifices, commits then an abomination as was done upon earlier Temple altars during this earth age.

The sanctuary destroyed does not require it be a Temple, and could in context of Daniel-9 indicate a sacred place within Herods Temple. The context we are told in Daniel 9:25-27 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

In the decree by Archangel Michael given for the (chosen) in Daniel is described a period (7x7 and 62x7 or 69x7) for the rebuilding of Jerusalem until the anointed one is cut off. Many say this corresponds to the Nehemiah period lasting until Christ crucified, ending the sacrifices. In this prophecy about the people of the ruler who come, it may now have a natural and a spiritual accounting, these separated by many decades. The natural being the 69 weeks leading to Christ as prophesied being sacrificed upon the cross, His resurrection and ascention into heaven, after which the Roman army led by Titust destroys Israel and scatters the chosen people into all the nations. This effectively creates a temporary break in the 70-week prophecy with a period of 30AD to 70AD or 40 years after rejecting Christ. At this point due to the chosen rejecting the Messiah, a time is inserted for the Gentile to fulfill. If related to Rev-20 the final 70th week (7-year) time frame cannot begin again until after the Gentile time is fulfilled, once this Gentile period is fulfilled the prophetic last 7-years will begin to the conclusion of the Daniel prophecy. In this last week is also found both a natural leading into a spiritual completion.

Without this gap or insertion of a time for the Gentile to be fulfilled, an important last-portion of 70th week in the decree to Daniel otherwise remains lacking or unfulfilled concerning the events prophesied, and these last events fit only the very last days. This last week would explain the entrance of the ruler and his people who bring about destruction of Gods favored city Jerusalem, it should be remembered the Romans did great damage to Jerusalem, however the city remained even after the land was renamed Palestine. In Revelations-20 the destruction of the city and sanctuary of this earth age is when fire comes down out of heaven to destroy all the enemies. This also fulfills the first part of the decree of Daniel to 'finish transgressions, end sin, atone for wickedness, and bring in everlasting righteousness' as described in Daniel 9:24 "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." In this context bringing in everlasting righteousness and anointing the most Holy is acceptance by the scattered remnant of Christ as their Messiah.

If as scripture supports that the 'Time of the Gentile' ends at the return of Christ, then the 144,000 who are to witness or evangelize during the time of Desolation, these are for the Jew and not the Gentile. Also as scripture clearly describes, at the return of Christ the rebellious as God calls Israel are still scattered, the strong implication being that conditions in Israel in this age will be the result of man, and not Ordained by God (being instead a decree) giving answer to the devastating conditions beginning in Israel of the end and very last days. For those who have done research into Israel of today, and the organization called Zionists involved in the gathering of primarily a secular people into this State of Israel since 1948, there is strong reason to believe man rather than God whose purpose is gathering the 'Right of Return' into the new State of Israel today. Last, if as scripture supports that the war of the very last days will be fought in the heavenly realms, again this represents a spiritual realm and still upon this earth, and not in Gods' heaven as some believe.

About the signs of the end times described as desolation being near, this is when the armies surround Israel told of in Luke 21:20 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near." It is when these armies attack Jerusalem that desolation has begun as told in Luke 21:22 "For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written." Note that during the desolation great suffering takes place, yet none are able or will die in what is called the second death. Judgment then begins after the curses have been poured out, when at last all the wicked are cast into the Burning Lake of Sulfur for destruction. God after this gathers both the redeemed and unredeemed before the throne of judgment, last is judgment when Death and Hades are cast into the Lake of Fire for destruction.

As described in Revelations 20:7 when Satan gathers Gog and Magog for the final battle, this is described within other chapters of Revelation as desolation upon earth both natural and spiritual. These are like the first four books of the New Testament describing the ministry of Christ, describing the same events, yet at times described in way of slight difference based upon different perspective and purpose. So it is with Revelations in describing this final battle, these in same perspective and purpose as described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the saints being the elect of both the Chosen and the Gentile, now one people under Christ. This battle is not of the old order, it is symbolic and spiritual to include those of all ages, the battle whose end is both victory of Gods elect and destruction of that which God said He would destroy.

The last or end of this earth age is the only time when peace that is the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth. Also the end of the 'thousand' is when Satan is released from the abyss becoming ruler of earth happens but once and for only a short time, and as Revelations-20 verse-9 tells us the army (Gog and Magog) attacking Jerusalem are devoured by fire from heaven. Gog and Magog could only be the wicked of the ages both the living and dead who remain on earth and are released for the last war that ends in judgment. About the end of this earth age we are told in Matthew 24:20-21 "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again." This distress and destruction will never again happen or ever again be equaled, judgment and destruction as punishment will never be repeated and is forever final.

Notice also in Daniel-9 it does not require a Temple be built, during almost 2000 years of the chosen scattered (70AD until year 1900) the chosen never once believe they instead of God were to re-establish Israel or rebuild the Temple. The decree was made long ago in Daniel 9:24 "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." The atonement Gabriel told Daniel about requires the people of the city to end transgression and sin, this to atone for wickedness. However at the end of this earth age it is not sacrifice or atonement that occurs, instead a remnant or elect will be cleansed by the grace of God bringing a remnant salvation. Satan making a 'covenant with many' does not include those in Jerusalem that remain obedient to God. In the very last of days there will be but a remnant of the elect after God purges out all those who rebel against Him, in this same prophecy saying they (purged) will not enter Israel. About the city of Jerusalem, Paul speaks prophetically about the New Jerusalem in Hebrew 13:13-14 "Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."

This cleansing (of those fleeing to the mountain meaning God) begins with the House of David (meaning yet the kingdom God established on this earth) and is accomplished by God described in Zechariah 13:1 "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity." From Jerusalem grace will spread to the remnant elect of every scattered tribe and clan as described in Zechariah 12:10-14 "...On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives." Anointing the most Holy will be done when this remnant elect accepts and praises Christ as their Messiah.

Verse 10    And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

It must be remembered that earlier the Beast and False Prophet had been thrown alive into the Burning Lake of Sulfur, neither had died, both awaited Satan who would also be thrown, along with all wicked. Regarding tormented day and night forever, later in the conclusion will be described the end of this heaven and earth and the ceasing of day and night. The levels of Hell where the wicked reside are called many names such as the Grave, Sheol, Gehanna, Hades, the pit (bottomless, darkest, blackest), abyss or Lake of Burning Sulfur, the later holding the angelic including Satan, and in the end all who are wicked. These locations may then be understood as the place in Hell where the wicked wait for judgment. Verse-10 finalizes this period of desolation when Satan is thrown into the Burning Lake of Sulfur, scripture says all the wicked will be thrown into the Lake of Sulfur. Judgment or the second death is finalized when all these locations of the wicked and unredeemed will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Complete and final destruction takes place only within the Burning Lake of Fire, not the Lake of Sulfur.

Verse 11-15    Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

God has made many judgment's taking action upon the ways of man uncountable times since Eden, however 'Final' Judgment needs be kept in proper context, not one individual from these past judgments has perished in second death of final judgment. The 'Day of the Lord' concerning this final judgment refers to a future time, however as in past events described as Day of the Lord, the event did not require a thousand years (a day like a thousand years), and there is no reason to believe final judgment could not be fulfilled within a period of a day. Judgment begins with the new man of salvation during our lifetimes, scripture describes working out our salvation as in James when our faith and actions work together. It is popularly believed there will be two judgments (judgment throne and judgment seat), however this would be true only in context of the two books that will be present and opened. The second book being the book of life that determines destination, those whose names are not found within the book being cast into the Lake of Fire to destruction (as punishment), and those whose names are found within the book receive eternal life as promised. The context of this second book described as concerning the good or bad done during the individuals life. In this context sins forgiven God says He will remember no more, so although they do not come under judgment, both the redeemed and unredeemed are called together before the Lord in judgment.

There is a first book during judgment, if also considered as judgment, it concerns reward given the redeemed for the works of righteousness. Little more is said of this book in Revelations, however the Bible gives assurance hereafter the redeemed are prepared for eternity in Gods Kingdom that comes down out of heaven. There remains other mention such as the 'Day of Wrath' told of in scripture fitting events of Revelations before final judgment, this also fitting the Judgment of the Nations, both whose context would be after the elect yet living are gathered and the wicked alone remain on earth. Concerning the 'Day of Wrath and Judgment of the Nations', in context of scripture the elect must before the second part of desolation have been removed from the earth, scripture is clear God does not punish the innocent as told in Job 4:7 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?" Final Judgment then according to scripture is pre-determined during life, and with exception of those having died during Old Testament times called the upright or righteous, these same Christ after crucifixion rescued out of Sheol or the grave, scripture otherwise warns no redemptive change will occur or is possible after the first death. If considered as another judgment, scripture requires that a time is coming when every careless word must be accounted for. This in context of scripture fits warning that words and deeds during life will be judge, this explains the secrets of the heart being laid bare. Final Judgment is once for all, just as is the wrath of God in the very last day is described as never before seen, and never to be seen again. Scripture makes one other important announcement, the elect as righteous and redeemed will be involved and participate in this Final Judgment.
For my study- article on Sheol and the Grave, click on Sheol.
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Scripture tells us there is one time to die, and one time for judgment, if this were not true scripture would have said judgment's meaning plural. There is not a second chance after death given again to receive salvation, this is made clear in Hebrew 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Some believe this verse tells us salvation has not begun until Christ returns, however other verses have already clarified salvation, what is evident in this verse is that Christ when He comes to gather those yet living brings the salvation guaranteed to those still alive and waiting. Paul makes clear that salvation is here today in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." Some teach that a second chance at salvation is given to the people of the world (including those who had died before), occurring after Desolations in which Satan causes the abomination that leads to desolation, the second chance occurring in a future earth age when Satan is thrown into the abyss for a 'thousand'. This is contrary to scripture that speaks of this earth age, and during this earth age the gospel (of the Kingdom to come) is preached to the whole world, then the end comes as described in Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Notice in the verse-11 the arrival of Christ is now observed (White Throne), reminding that this is after Satan has been released from the abyss, also after Abomination and Desolation. When Christ is finally observed the earth and sky (heaven) fled and there was no place for them, this adequately describing the end of the old order. Reminding again it was yet God in heaven and the angels of heaven who administered Gods wrath or the curses of the last days, judgment in which the saints are involved has yet to occur. After this the White Throne judgment of Christ begins as told in these last verses of Revelations-20. Satan meets destruction told of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 "for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." The Beast meets destruction told of in Revelations 17:7-8 "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction." The wicked meet destruction told of in Revelations 21:7-8 "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Remember however the second death is not final until Death (Satan also the Beast and False Prophet now in the Burning Lake of Sulfur) and Hell (all others now in the Burning Lake of Sulfur), are finally thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Of the two books in judgment, one certainly is the book of life, the unredeemed not found in the book of life are cast into the Lake of Fire to their destruction. The second book may well concern the reward according to the works of righteousness told in Luke 14:14 "...Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Then the righteous will receive their eternal heavenly body told in 1 Corinthians 15:40 "There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another." This body also called a spiritual body in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, 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." Christ after crucified when resurrected from death appeared to the disciples in the natural body of flesh and bone, thirty days later as before on the mount of transfiguration, Christ was transfigured while rising before His disciples into heaven. Paul tells of this transfiguration of the dead meaning those yet living (we will not all sleep) at the return of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:52 "...in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." Although the first covenant was broken and is no longer binding, there appear to be some that although not having this law, regardless live according to the law, and these appear to find favor with God.

This second death or final destruction is in the Lake of Fire and is similar in meaning to the end of the earthly body in lifeless dust or destruction. This destruction in judgment is done as punishment, this punishment is said to be everlasting. Smoke (of their suffering) that rises forever is now an apt description of the end of an entity, just as the weeping and gnashing of teeth describes the last action or reaction before ending in destruction. The last verse of Revelations-20 describes destruction in the Lake of Fire saying in Revelations 20:14-15 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Satan is destroyed, the Beast is destroyed, along with all liars or False Prophets and all wicked. It does not describe another millennia beginning after the White Throne return of Christ to fulfill judgment, but does explain what Christ proclaims afterward saying, "I am making everything new."

Conclusion
Over the ages since Christ established His church, it appears that scholars sometimes read about an event described in more than one place within the Bible, described with slight variation to reveal perhaps a specific purpose, from which these scholarly intellectuals then take liberty and describe the variations as entirely different events. Then give these different events names found nowhere in the Bible, such as a Rapture, the Millennium-Temple, a Golden Age, and others that over time become accepted as scriptural fact. This should be challenged by every serious student of the Bible. More worrisome is how the many church leaders and members accept these additions as valid theology. This would not be so prevalent if people followed the mandate of the Bible, to test every spirit to see if it agrees with Gods' word. If 'Judging the Nations' is separate from the 'Day of Judgment', then perhaps we should be interested in the separate 'Judgment's of each Church' told of in the first part of Revelations. Perhaps 'every careless word and deed' that must be accounted for requires another judgment, is the 'Day of the Lord' a separate judgment, and is there more than one Day of Wrath. This earth age will in the very last days see the wrath of God, followed by judgment, the saints will have been removed from the world before Gods wrath because God does not punish the innocent. After judgment (all) the wicked will have been cast into the Lake of Fire in judgment. Will God keep Satan to tempt and deceive the righteous saints again, only in mans imagination.
Christ describes both the End Days and Last Days progressing into Desolation, saying first about the End Days in Matthew 24:4-8 "Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Christ also described the end of this earth age ending in Desolation, bringing an end or 'Fulfillment of all that has been Written' including this earth age, as described in Luke 21:21-22 "For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written."
The Rapture never having been mentioned by Christ or found in the Bible, it being an 18th century addition concerning Christ's coming for the saints in their time and to gather into the air/heaven those still living to join those who had passed on before, told of in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 "...we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." Many scholars and teachers are want in mentioning to the babe in Christ that there are apparently then two Raptures or Gatherings. Warning that one gathering is by the False Christ or the devil to claim those unprepared, or perhaps misled. It is during life that determines those that will be gathered by Christ, and those that will be gathered by the Devil. Christ will gather His people after the first death including those still living at His coming, Satan will gather his people after the first death including those still living at his release.
It is very important to know and understand that this present heavens and earth will one day perish and be no more, to be replaced with a New Heavens and a New Earth. This is repeated in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament says in Isaiah 66:22 "As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure," and beginning completely anew clearly understood in Isaiah 65:17-19 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more."
The original Hebrew words used in Isaiah-65 for 'create and new' leaves little doubt that he is not talking about a refurbished make-over of earth, the words are:
Create OT:1254 bara' (baw-raw'); a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): -choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
New OT:2319 chadash (khaw-dawsh'); from OT:2318; new: fresh, new thing.
For dictionary definition's of Bible verse
describing the 'New Heavens and New Earth' click here
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The 'White Throne' proclamation is found in Revelations 20:11-12 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them." Describing the new in Revelations 21:1-2 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." The warning and promise of the old replaced with new described in 2 Peter 3:10-13 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Some have been taught in error that the earth was destroyed in the flood during the time of Noah, here is the correct teaching of Genesis 7:4 "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." This is repeated in detail in Genesis 7:21-23 "And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark."
The Kingdom of God will not be upon this earth, told of in Isaiah 2:1-2 "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains…" Here in this earth age the mountain (Holy mountain) and the temple is today Herods remnant, however in the last days (earth destroyed) the LORD's temple is established in the New Jerusalem that comes down (revealed) from heaven. In this earth age and within a wing (edge) of the temple, here we are told in Daniel that a sanctuary and abomination end in desolation. Concerning the Sanctuary or Temple God says He will put among His people forever is described in Ezekiel 37:26-28 "...and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.'" When God establishes His Kingdom on earth (New Earth), the nations will cease as told in Psalms 10:16 "The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land." It is very important to understand this is neither a man made Temple nor does it have an altar for blood sacrifice of sin, in our present earth age the man made Temple's were but a shadow of that in heaven. The Temple John saw in heaven is made by the hand of God and is found in the New Jerusalem. The Kingdom of God is the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven with the bride, and from the Throne a river of living water flows, along it's banks grow tree's as were found in Eden.
Concerning Israel of prophecy and the gathering of the scattered from the nations, this occurs at the return of Christ and is not within mans domain, God says He will gather as told in Ezekiel 20:34-38 "I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered-with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD." Besides re-gathering the scattered, the Lord mentions a New Covenant with this remnant-elect, where is there a man who can do as God says He will do, only the man of rebellion believes he is God and can re-gather the elect back into a State of Israel today.
The only place in the Bible speaking of entities suffering forever and forever is Revelations 20, however the Bible literally says this man Satan of Rebellion will be destroyed in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." Consider also the possibility that man does not understand the ending of this heaven and earth (age), despite God clearly giving us prior knowledge concerning conditions that must be met in the Old Promise of Genesis 8:22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Is God saying here that this earth with it's day and night would never end, pass away, or be destroyed? No, God has told us throughout the Bible that this earth will perish, day and night that before was unceasing will also come to an end. This all changes in the New Promise of a New Heaven and a New Earth, also a New Jerusalem, concluded with the Lord saying "I am making all things new."
In the New Earth age all of the promises that prevail from the old earth age will be fulfilled, the old order will vanish to be remembered no more when the Lord says "I am making everything new." Of the old earth with day and night never ending, this all ends with a New promise of a New Heaven and New Earth forever described in Revelations 22:5 "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." Satan will suffer in the old order of day and night (only) as long as this earth age 'endures', when this earth age of day and night no longer endures, Satan will end in his destruction.
Is it justice that Satan does not suffer forever, it is not God but man of this earth age that believes something worthwhile or good comes of severe oppression as told in Job 37:23 "The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress." Nor does God find pleasure in final death or that anyone should perish, as said in Ezekiel 33:11 "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked..." Here is what the Lord God says should we have such an attitude in Proverb 24:17-18 "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him."
About salvation in this age we are told the duration and ending time in Hebrew 9:26-27 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." When Christ returns, the period called the 'Thousand' ends in judgment. None of the wicked after judgment will enter Gods Kingdom in which is found the New Jerusalem, both Old and New Testaments say this earth in the very last day of judgment will be destroyed to be replaced with a New Heaven and Earth. It is the New Heaven and New Earth God says he will establish His Sanctuary and reign forever. Where does it say another 'Thousand' begins after judgment, where does it say the saints reign with Christ only after judgment, or after judgment any of the wicked apparently still reside? Final judgment is but once when all the wicked end in the deepest darkness called oblivion, remembered no more, and not to come to mind. The wolf will not lay down with the lamb in this earth age, this is to be looked for after this earth age in the Kingdom of God to come.
Some believe at the end in the last days most still living on earth will come to know Christ as savior, but this also is not proven true in scripture as in Matthew 24:12-14 "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." To the contrary wickedness in the end will result in persecution of Christians told in Matthew 24:9-11 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people."
Do not confuse scripture related to this earth age with that concerning coming earth age, or as having the same understanding, as example in Revelations 2:26 "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations..." Here is what God has said about the coming earth age or New Heaven and New Earth in Psalms 10:16 "The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land." The message to man from both Old and New Covenant's was authority not centered upon ruling, instead our authority is to serve, only God has supreme authority to rule.
We must understand that only God rules, more importantly only God reigns supreme, and to reign is so very different than ruling. We must understand the difference in ruling during this earth-age and reigning for eternity. In this earth-age Christ warned about those who want to rule, telling of the rulers of the Gentile, how they rule or yoke their people in burden, yet call themselves benefactors for those they rule over in such manner. Christ then explained reigning with responsibility is done with love and compassion, saying those wishing to be first must then be a servant, and those in this way to become greatest, must be servant of all. In this earth-age this is how Christ reigned, serving but not as judge or ruling, instead giving his life for others that they might live. There are some today that wish to bring un-suspecting Jewish people into a man made State controlled by a secular Zionist-gov. They wish to hurry armageddon and death for most of these people today secular, those involved believing in this way they may have some part of a Kingdom over which they will apparently rule. This is the same ambition as Satan, and here discernment from Gods people is sorely needed.
A common error of many Christian leaders is in reference to a sign of the end times, this in regard to the re-establishment of the Israel state in 1948. Christian leaders encourage becoming part and helping the State of Israel, unaware or caring about the conditions and evil done by the secular Zionist government of Israel. Also ignoring religious Jewish leaders and Bible prophecy that says only the Messiah Christ after returning gathers these chosen from the nations, and only after purging the rebellious from them. The archangel in Daniel spoke of rebuilding Jerusalem and walls to be accomplished in Old Testament time. Jewish religious leaders as far back as the scattering in 70AD did not once teach that Israel be re-established by man, noting that Bible prophecy describes only the returning Messiah may accomplish this re-gathering. Today fulfilling prophecy there began in the early 1900's a secular Jewish political group calling themselves Zionists, these engaged mans empires and the UN Permanent Members to permit taking land of Palestine to establish a Jewish State.
This works of man gathering Jewish peoples into the new State of Israel is fulfilling the prophetic will of God, this by establishing a man made Israel with a secular Zionist government, this is the City of God called Jerusalem. Meanwhile true prophesy calling for an end of transgression and sin still is not a sign found within this State, instead there is but a small remnant who have existed long before remaining true to God and their Torah today living in peace with their neighbor's. As for the true gathering of the chosen remnant during the time of Desolation called the last days when Satan is released, God alone will accomplish this as prophesied through saving grace. In this region of the world it is clear that evil is becoming ever more evident by rebellious man, this being an accurate sign of the end times. I strongly urge that Christians become as wise as the serpent in this matter, and not accept false teaching and prophecy concerning these end times. I strongly believe the secular Zionist government as formed and remains today, is not work and will of God, but is the works of man fulfilling the will of God.
For those not familiar with the State of Israel today and Israel of prophecy, you are encourage to read another study-article titled (Israel Today).
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It is understood by most that the 'antichrist' means Satan, however this does not mean Satan is against Christ, instead meaning that Satan will appear as a false Christ. Then speaking of these in 1 John 2:18 "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come." These antichrist's (plural) are also not against Christ, here also the meaning is being false body of Christians or false churches. We know that the word Christian came from those being Christ-like, and here antichrist's are easily understood as false Christian's and churches. These are the deceivers, servant's of Satan who lead many astray, this is warned of in 2 John 7 "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." Do these announce their rejection of Christ, not in word, but they will be discerned or identified by the fruit they produce, and this is important that believers should learn to discern. But here we find so many immature still involved with the world, these no longer hear the warning's from the Holy Spirit or the appointed sentry upon the wall, and here we find ourselves and the church today. False teacher's, prophet's and brethren are not those outside the church, but inside the church.