[:en]SCRIPTURE REDING: REVELATION 20
“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” (Revelation 20:6)
“If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15)
THE THOUSAND YEARS (vs. 1-6)
An angel from the heaven with the key to the Abyss seized the dragon (the serpent, devil and Satan) and bound him with chain for a thousand years. Then, the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their faith in God came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. They had not worshiped the beasts or his image and had not received the marks on their foreheads or hands. This is the first resurrection. They won’t have second death and will reign with Christ for a thousand years as priest of God.
SATAN’S DOOM (VS. 7-10)
After a thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison to deceive the nations for four corners of the earth – God and Magog – to gather them for battle. His followers were like sand on the seashore. They surrounded the city of God. But fire came down and devoured them. The devil was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophets were thrown. They will be tormented day and night.
THE DEAD ARE JUDGED (vs. 11-15)
God was seated in a great white throne will all the dead standing before Him. He opened the Book of Life to judge the dead in sea or in Hades according to what was recorded in the book. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
SUMMARY:
The “Thousand Years” in Latin is millennium. Before the Millennium, the Beast and the false prophets were already in hell. Now Christ cast Satan into the bottomless pit. Then the martyrs in Tribulation will be resurrected. This is the first resurrection. They will reign with Christ for a thousand years and will not experience the second death.
During the millennium, Christ will be the ruler. There will be peace and joy on earth and the saints will reign with Christ as kings and priests.
After the millennium, Satan will be released and he will gather a huge army to fight against Christ. They will attack Jerusalem but fire from heaven will devour them. Satan will be captured and thrown into the lake of fire.
Then the final judgment has come. All the bodies of the lost sinners will be judged. Those whose name that are not in the Book of Life will be cast into hell. There is also a book containing the deeds of people. God will punish and reward each justly according to what he did on earth.
Knowing that lost sinners will go to hell, we ought to proclaim the gospel and lead them to Christ now. Knowing that all will be judged according to what he did on earth, we must live a life pleasing to God now.
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