REVELATION LESSON 40

     We will begin this lesson in Revelation 20:1 "And I saw an angel
come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a
great chain in his hand."
     Revelation 20:2 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand
years,"

     This "...angel..." is not Jesus Himself but is a ministering
spirit that Jesus has given authority to. This angel comes from heaven
(near the throne). We can assume from this, that Jesus has turned the
key to the bottomless pit over to this specific angel and has given
him power and authority for this job. this "...great chain...", in
this angel's hand, shows the power God has given him over the devil
for this task. When he bound the devil for the 1000 years, the angel
put him in the abyss, not in the burning hell. This burning hell was
reserved for his final punishment. Here we see the devil spoken of as
the dragon which we read about in a previous lesson. We also see him
recognized as the serpent. You see, he has the one who deceived Eve in
the garden. The devil will not be here on the earth to harass the
Christians until the millenial 1000 year reign of Jesus is over.

     Revelation 20:3 "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut
him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no
more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he
must be loosed a little season."

     This earth will be like the garden of Eden here, while the devil
is locked up. We will not have to lock our doors. No one will cheat
anyone else. There will be no tornados, no floods, no earthquakes.
People will not envy others. There will be no cancer or other bad
diseases. No one will be deceived any more at all, because the old
devil is the deceiver. {At the end of the thousand years I believe he
will be loosed for a short season to test those who have never been
tested.) There will be no flies or mosquitos, in fact, no pestilence
at all. We will have beautiful gardens without any weeds.  You see,
everything that aggravates you now will not be then, because the root
cause of it all will be locked up in the bottomless pit.

     Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which
had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
[his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years."

     Many of the writers do not believe that this thousand years is a
literal time. I personally do. They believe that this is spiritual,
and that Jesus bound the devil when He defeated him on the cross. If
that were so, who is this terrible thing that has been nipping at my
heels all the time that I have been working for God.
     The devil is real. Just as he brought trials and tribulation
(with permission from God) on Job, Christians are allowed to go
through tribulation here on this earth to make them strong. Believe
me, the devil is not locked up now. We Christians, from all
generations, will live here on this earth and will rule over those who
took the mark, or for any reason, fell short of accepting the Lord
Jesus as their Saviour. Won't it be wonderful to reign with the
martyrs like Stephen.

     In the verse above, we find that the martyrs and those who refuse
to take the mark of the beast will reign with Christ right here on
this earth. We will not be equal with Christ. but we will reign as His
subordinates.

     This 1000 year Millenial reign of Jesus Christ here on this
earth, I believe, has to be 1000 years. Mankind has worked six-1000
year days since Adam, and this will be the one-1000 year day of rest
(sabbath). God set this universe up on six days of work, one day of
rest. The land was set to work six years and one year of rest. Jesus
hung on the cross six hours to complete his work. This will be a
literal 1000 year of rest to conform to this pattern that God set up.

     You see, all of the people, who were to reign here with Jesus,
were the same ones that were on the white horses that follow Jesus
into battle against the beast and the false prophet. Jesus led them to
victory and then cast the beast and the false prophet into the lake of
fire. The devil was not put into the lake of fire at that time,
because he would be loosed for a little season at the end of the 1000
year reign of Christ on this earth.

     Revelation 20:5 " But the rest of the dead lived not again until
the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection."

     The rapture of the church is the first resurrection. Those dead
who did not accept the Lord as their Savior, have not risen from the
grave yet. This 1000 years is just for the resurrected Christians.

     Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a
thousand years."

     We Christians are the blessed. you can easily see that the wicked
dead have no part in this resurrection. We believers in Christ (the
redeemed) are not subject to death because we have life (which Jesus
breathed into us), when we were born again. We will never die. This
second death mentioned here is for the lost. Not only will the
Christians reign on this earth with Jesus for 1000 years, but we will
live for all eternity in heaven with Jesus, because we have eaten of
the Tree of Life which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

     Revelation 20:7 "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan
shall be loosed out of his prison,"
     Revelation 20:8 "And shall go out to deceive the nations which
are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea."
     This "...battle..." is very similar to the battle we read about
in chapter 19 of Revelation. The only thing that makes this appear to
be a different battle is that the one in chapter 19 happens in the
valley of Megeddo. and this battle seems to be around the city of
Jerusalem.  However, if millions of people take part in this battle,
it would be very easy for both locations to be in battle at the same
time. Israel is a small country.

     In Ezekiel 38:39. we read detailed information about a battle
very similar to this. I believe"...God and Magog..." are modern
Russia. When you read this in Ezekiel, you will see Iran (Persia),
Lybia and Ethiopia. All of these are already having problems with
Israel. You decide if this is two battles or one.

     Revelation 20:9 "And they went up on the breadth of the earth,
and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and
fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

     These enemies of God here, come against Jesus and the saints. In
fact, they surround the saints. the "...beloved city..." here
mentioned is Jerusalem. When the devil thinks he has won, fire comes
down from heaven (from God) and devours them. This is where 5/6 of Gog
and Magog (Russia), die as you read in Ezekiel 38:39.

     Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into
the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet
[are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

     Here is one more argument for there being two major wars. The
beast and the false prophet were thrown into the lake of fire in
chapter 19, and here we see the devil thrown into the lake of fire to
join them at the end of the 1000 years.

     Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and
there was found no place for them."

     This is judgement day. The use for the earth is over. the earth,
heaven, and everything in them are under control of God, and if He
tells them go they will have to.

     Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand
before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened,
which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those
things which were written in the books, according to their works."

     Remember that the Christian dead have already won their victory.
The one these are judged by is Jesus. He is the Judge.

     "...books..." is plural here. Those who didn't accept Jesus will
have to stand or fall on their deeds. Of course, they will all fall if
they didn't accept Him, because all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. The Christian's sins have been done away with by the
blood of Jesus. You see, the Christians all have their names written
in the Lamb's book of life. Christians will not taste of the second
death.

     Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they
were judged every man according to their works."

     You see, those who are lost wait in hell until judgement day.
The terrible thing is that they are aware that they will be thrown
into the lake of fire on judgement day. These souls will come out of
hell and stand before Jesus to be judged. These will be judged last.

     Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of
fire. This is the second death."

     It does not mean these places are thrown into the lake. It means
the inhabitants of the these places.

     Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book
of life was cast into the lake of fire."

     This one sentence, here, is what drives me to continue to
minister as long as there is breath in my body. I cannot bear to think
of anyone going to this terrible place of torment.

     Sometimes, when I am with a group of people who I feel are lost,
I cry for hours. I am not a crier, but I remember this Scripture. It
is so easy to get your name written in the Lamb's book of life. In
chapter 10 of Romans verses 9 and 10 tell you how. Romans 10:9 "That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

     You see, Jesus must be our Lord as well as our Savior. If you
truly believe. you will repent and be baptized. If your name is not
written in the book of life, do not delay, do it today.

     Additional scriptures: St. John 16:11, Luke 8:31, Romans 10:7,
1 John 3:8, St. John 12:31, St. John 16:11, Matthew 12:26 and 29,
Ezekiel 39, 1 John 3:14, Ezekiel 38, Matthew 25, and Daniel 12.

     Memorize Revelation 20:15 and St. John 3:16.











                        Revelation Questions 40


1.  What did the angel have the key to?
2.  What did he have in his hand besides the key?
3.  This angel did what to the devil?
4.  Name four names he was called here in V-2.
5.  What does the chain show?
6.  For how many years does he bind the devil?
7.  Where does the angel throw the devil?
8.  What will happen after the 1000 years?
9.  Describe this earth while the devil is locked up.
10. Why will the devil be loosed?
11. Who are going to judge with Jesus?
12. Name the groups and individuals who will reign with Jesus.
13. Why do Christians suffer tribulation?
14. Who will the Christians rule?
15. How long approx, has it been since Adam?
16. How long did Jesus work on the cross?
17. The rapture of the church is called what?
18. This 1000 year Sabbath is for whom?
19. Who does the second death not have power over?
20. In V-6, what are the believers?
21. We Christians are not subject to death. Why?
22. Who is the Tree of life?
23. What will Satan do when he is loosed?
24. What is the only thing that makes this battle look to be different
    than the one in chapter 19?
25. Who does the author believe is Gog in the land of Magog?
26. What do we read in Ezekiel 38:39?
27. Name three modern countries other than Russia.
28. What is the beloved city?
29. Who sends the fire down on them?
30. What percent of Gog and Magog is killed?
31. Where will the devil be cast after this battle?
32. What color is the throne?
33. Who will stand before Jesus to be judged?
34. Who will not taste the second death?
35. What is the second death?
36. Who is thrown into the lake of fire with the devil, false prophet,
    and beast?
37. What Scripture tells you how to be saved?
38. Write Revelation 20:15.
39. Write St. John 3:16.
40. What have you received in this lesson?