What About the Millennium and the Final Judgment?

Read Revelation 20:1-14

At this point in history, the Antichrist has come, established himself as head of a ten-nation confederacy, and has led them into the bloodiest battle of all time, Armageddon! But it’s at the end of this horrible massacre that Jesus Christ returns, and with His return He throws both the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire!

The Defeat of Satan

Regarding Satan, the Scriptures tell us, “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend; 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” (Isaiah 14:13-15).

This is Satan’s day of humbling. Though he was at the top of the heap of demon powers, he is now bound by a simple angel.

All the hosts of the fallen angels, the demons, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the world of non-believing people were under his complete domination until this day. Now Satan is bound in the bottomless pit with his cohorts—chained for 1000 years!

A World of Peace

“He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. . . He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:2,4-8).

What kind of world will there be when Satan is chained? The wolf will lay down with the lamb as animals will be tame and docile. There will be no more disabilities, suffering or crime.

“And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there” (Isaiah 35:5-8 NLT).

There will finally be world peace! The Scriptures tell us, “The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end” (Isaiah 2:4 NLT).

Lastly, the curse that came upon the world because of sin will be lifted! The Bible states, “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God’s curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:19-23 NLT).

Believers Ruling with God

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was commited to them . . . “ (Revelation 20:4).

Jesus, in meting out our rewards, says, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17).

Who will believers judge? It would seem we would rule different aspects of the Lord’s kingdom on earth. It will be a rule of love, but there will be a tremendous number of people on the earth who will need direction. The tribulation believers who have survived will still be in their physical bodies and will still have sinful natures. They and their children can choose to rebel against God, and some will.

Satan is Released

1000 years in the bottomless pit hasn’t changed Satan. Upon being released, Satan once again begins to deceive the world. Amazingly, though man has enjoyed great security, prosperity, peace, perfect ecology and government, he still desires to rebel against God.

“The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The Final Judgement

It is important to understand on what basis we will be judged. It’s not on the basis of what I have done for God, but rather, what God has done for me!

Back in the Garden of Eden, God gave the word, “In the day you eat thereof, you shall surely die.” The Bible teaches there are actually two deaths; one physical and the other spiritual. Jesus warned that we are to fear the second death more than the first death. He discussed the second death as hell, which is eternal seperation from God. Jesus indicated that the death of the body is nothing compared to the conscious everlasting banishment of a soul from God.

God is no respector of persons. Whether a pauper or a prince, no one will be exempt from the Great White Throne Judgement, except believers. The Bible states, “He who believes in Me is not condemned but he who does not believe in Me is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son” (John 3:18). The purpose of this final confrontation between God and man is to clearly demonstrate to the non-believer why he is already condemned.

The Books

One of the books which will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgement will be the book of God’s law. Anyone who had been exposed to the truth of God’s law will be held responsible. For those who might say, “I lived by the Ten Commandments,” it will clearly be shown they did not.

Perhaps another book that will be used will contain a record of everything we have said or done. The Bible tells us, “For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement” (Matthew 12:36).

Another book may show how humanity fails to live up to its own standards. The Scriptures state, “Even when Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right. The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life. This is my message” (Romans 2:14 NLT).

Then, there may be a book that has a record of all the times the gospel was heard and then rejected. Knowledge brings responsibility!

Finally, the Book of Life will be opened. The nail-scarred hands of Jesus will scan the book for names. “Depart from Me, you cursed one, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels . . . “ (Matthew 25:41).

If you don’t know him now, He won’t know you then.

Lake of Fire

The Lake of Fire is the final destination for Satan and his followers.

You will decide where you spend eternity. It’s not based on how bad or good I am but on what I have done with Jesus Christ. Say “yes” to Him now, and He will say “yes” to you then. Say “no” to Him now, and He will say “no” to you then.

Remember, your life is a gift of God to use and invest for His Glory.

Part VI