Title: Resurrection and Judgment / Revelation 20:1-15
Contents
But the Resurrection and Judgment will come. Because it is the promised word of God, and because Jesus Himself died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day, confirming it with the first fruits of resurrection. Therefore, no further evidence is needed. This is because God is all-powerful who created all things in the universe with a single word, is the one who always keeps his promises, and is sincere and trustworthy.
Therefore, those who truly believe in and know God rightly do not need more evidence than this. All evidence that satisfies the human senses is incomplete, because the human senses are imperfect. There are many misconceptions and misconceptions about what we have seen with our own eyes. But God's Word is correct. Therefore, what is written in the Bible is more true than what we see with our own eyes.
Verses 1-3 are about the abyss where Satan was imprisoned and played.
Here, it is said, 'They captured Satan and bound him for a thousand years, threw him into the abyss, locked him, and sealed him up so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. It's showing what's going to happen.
In verses 4-6 we are talking about what will happen on the earth after Christ returns. Here, “those who sit on the throne” refer to the saints who will reign as kings, referring to those who have ascended to heaven and those who have kept the fidelity of their faith to the end of the earth.
In verse 10, it says, “You have made them a kingdom and priests before our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
In verse 19:14, it is said, “The armies of the heavens, clothed in white and clean linen cloths, and riding on white horses, followed him.”
Up to now, we have talked about those who lived on earth and kept their faith, but then we are talking about those who were martyred. They were beheaded in order to live according to the word, and they were martyred after not worshiping the antichrist and idols. If you look at the original word for resurrection here, it is ‘Ekjesan’, which means that you have been resurrected in the body. That is why it is called the first resurrection. In that regard, you will be more moved by the great comfort and glory of the Lord.
However, as verse 5 says, “the rest of the dead”, that is, those who died without believing in Jesus, will not see this glory and will fall into destruction.
Verse 6 says, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in this first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Christ for a thousand years.”
Only then will the word of the Lord's promise that those who endure to the end are blessed will come true. The authority to rule will be restored again. In Genesis 1, it is a precious blessing given by God after creating all things in the universe and human beings in the image of God. That’s what it means to ‘rule and conquer’. It is such a wonderful blessing that he saw this and said, “God saw that it was very good.”
Because humans sin, they lose this authority and blessings, so they become slaves to sin and slavery to material things. We can understand to some extent how miserable and unfortunate it is to be called a 'slave' by watching the movie ｢Root｣.
It is a joy to be freed from slavery, but to have the authority to rule over everything is a real joy and a great blessing.
Now, after the Second Coming of Jesus, the saints who kept their faith until the end will enjoy this blessing together with Christ. Those who will participate in this blessed glory are those who obeyed the Word despite any persecution or difficulties, did not submit to the Antichrist, did not bow down to idols, and kept the fidelity of faith until the end.
There are three opinions of commentators on verses 4-6.
That is, different views of the millennial kingdom.
One). Postmillennialism.
2). It's amillennialism.
This refers to the Intermediate State, which refers to the age in which souls go to heaven until the Second Coming of Christ. Then, a problem arises here, and the interpretation of verse 5 becomes a problem. The saints who participate in the ‘first resurrection’ are interpreted as the spiritual life that the saints receive through faith. However, the original meaning of resurrection means to be resurrected in the body. It is because we cannot dwell on earth without being resurrected in the body. So there are some problems with interpretation.
3). I'm a millennial.
This refers to the age of the millennium that will be accomplished by the second coming of Jesus. Those who believed in the Lord, died and were resurrected, and those who were changed by meeting the Lord who came after keeping the fidelity of faith until the Lord's return, will enter the Millennium Kingdom.
Verses 7-10 speak of a brief event after the thousand years are finished.
At that time, when Satan was released from prison, he deceived the people for the last time, and he deceived Gog and Magog to fight the saints, and the number was as great as the sand of the sea. Even now, there are many people who are deceived and possessed by the devil, but at that time, the number of those who will be deceived and who will be destroyed forever will be as numerous as the sand.
Just as our Jesus said, “Will you see faith in the last days?” will appear as it is. In the last days, even if the tribulation is like sifting wheat with a key, I hope that all those who will keep the faith and overcome will be victorious.
If you look at the text, ‘Gog and Magog’ appear, and you can see that the definite article ‘ton’ is attached before this noun, indicating that it is the name of one country, not two countries. This country was at that time a nation that was very opposed to God's people. So this country is being shown as the representative of the antichrist kingdom that will appear last in human history.
When Gog and Magog were besieging and attacking the camp of the saints and the holy city, that is, the church, God poured out fire from heaven and consumed them, and threw Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophets into the lake of brimstone, torment forever. said done.
Verses 11-15 speak of the final judgment.
Here, first, the image of the judge is shown, and it is said that he was seated on a great white throne. ‘White’ symbolizes holiness. Judgment is always based on holiness. And the object of judgment is heaven, earth, and all living beings. And the method of judgment is to judge according to one's deeds.
Verse 12 says, “The dead, great and small, will stand before the throne.”
All souls will stand before the judgment seat to be judged. They will be judged first, and then will be resurrected. The souls recorded in the book of life will receive the resurrection of life, and the souls of unbelief will receive the resurrection of judgment. No matter where or how people died, they will all be resurrected as bodies by the power of God.
In verse 13, it says ‘death and Hades,’ where death is the immortal law that causes death, and Hades is like the prison that imprisons the dead. However, on the Day of Judgment, these will also submit to the power of God's resurrection and deliver the dead.
Dear saints,
Prepare well for the day of the Lord's Second Coming with faith, but like the five wise virgins, always watch and pray and be armed with the Word so that the lamp of oil does not go out. So, no matter what Satan's trials and tribulations come, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will be able to overcome without fail and be lifted up without a single grain falling.