Revelation 20
Climb Every Mountain was sung by the Reverend Mother to her novitiate Maria in the Sound of Music. We’ve also climbed numerous mountains in this study, ascending and descending, only to approach yet another one. Keep in mind there’s repetition of events from various perspectives in this book as we view Satan’s final days once again.
An authorized angel was given the key to the burning pit and a chain to render God’s opponent powerless as he’s taken into custody, so to speak. John saw this event and reminded us of his character using four names: the dragon, a raging destroyer, the deceptive serpent from Gen. 3, the devil or accuser, and Satan, God’s adversary. That imprisonment will last a long time (symbolic 1,000 years) and then he’ll be released for a short duration. During that same time-period believers who have died standing in His victory will experience reigning as kings and serving as priests in the heavenly sphere. We won’t be floating around purposeless after death but will have royal responsibilities. I stand with Augustine, Luther, and Calvin believing that long period of time (called the Millennial Reign) is the church age we’ve been experiencing for over 2,000 years waiting for His Return.
I hope you’ve learned in this study that Jesus obtained victory with His death and resurrection, consequently delegating His power over Satan to us. Remember, he only has power over us when we relinquish it to him. John repeated these truths in his letter to the Church:
You have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13-14), greater is He who’s in you than he who’s in the world (1 John 4:4), everyone born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith (1 John 5:4). Who overcomes the world? Believers in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:5). His point is well-taken: we are a NIKE CHURCH, not only in the future but right now.
Yes, Satan will be released for a short duration and, as we’ve discussed previously, there’s a battle that Satan loses (possibly Armageddon and Gog/Magog). The unholy trinity is cast into the lake of fire for eternity only to experience the fruit of their rebellion against God. Seated on the Great White Throne is the Judge and books were opened: specifically the Book of Life. Since believers do not experience this judgment the symbolic books will reveal what people did with the gospel of Jesus. Death and Hades are cleared out and all that remains is God’s culmination for eternity: His Son and His Bride.
To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. … The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. The one who conquers and who keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. Revelation 2:7b, 11b, 26
We’ll climb higher next week.
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