Monday, July 10, 2006

Revelation 20 (NIV)

The Thousand Years

1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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.

Satan's Doom

7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Dead Are Judged

11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

2 comments:

cas said...

Rev 20

Well, I really feel like I need a commentary for this one fellas. Some serious stuff going on and I am sure that there are some good explanations, but it is not going to come from me today. I would be nice to have a chart/timeline of the events described in Rev. don't you think. I should ask y father-in-law. Pretty sure his dad wrote a book on Rev.

Father, renew my desire Father to study and learn. Remove my blah feeling and help me celebrate every day You give me and spend time being thankful for all the wonderful blessing I certainly know that I do not deserve... Watch over these men and renew them as well. Keep timmcd and SM safe on their honeymoon and as they travel home.

In Christ.
cas

CRB said...

Rev 20
Curiously, have we ever considered the fact that we might be in that short time after the 1000 years? I'm sure we would have known that Christ had returned, and we had 1000 years of paradise, but it sure feels like:
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves.
A little part of me is just curious if there is any way we are living in that time...

Father, help us to believe and trust now and understand later. You are truly an amazing God and I thank you daily for AJB ELB and AAB. Continue to be her strength with her new endeavor. She will need your help. Continue to watch over these men and spark our group anew. In Jesus' name,
Amen
crb