Imagine a world that is perfect with no crime and we do not need prisons and police. Imagine a world where the weather is perfect and we do not need to worry about hurricanes and floods. Imagine a world where there is no disease and we don’t have to worry about cancer. Imagine a world where there is no death and don’t need hospitals. Imagine a world where there is no Devil and no one to tempt people and thwart the will of God.

We are not talking about Heaven but rather the Millennial reign of Christ. Heaven will be even better! A King is going to rule for a thousand years and carry on into eternity. See Daniel 7:13-14. There will be peace because the Prince of peace will come. It will not be a president or prime minister who will be ruling. It will be the Lamb of God.

1 – The removal of Satan (vs. 1-3)

You are not going to have a utopia while Satan is still around. The first order of business is to get rid of Satan. Satan is bound and taken away for a thousand years by one of God’s angels. Satan is not on the same power level as God. He is called dragon, serpent, Devil and Satan. The enemy of mankind will be taken out of this world. He is our real enemy. He wants to destroy families and lives.

• The period of his removal (vs. 2) – He will be locked away for a thousand years. This period of a thousand years has been called the Millennium. There are many terms that we use to describe Bible truth that are not found in the Bible. E.g. Rapture and Trinity. There are several schools of thought on the Millennium. Some don’t believe it will occur. That it is spiritual rather than literal. They believe that the Devil is already locked up. I don’t see it! It is a literal Millennium. There is another school of thought that Christ will appear after the Millennium. They believe that the world is going to get better and better and we will enter this period of a thousand years. What sense does this make? It is not plausible. The world is getting worse! The UN was formed to put an end to war and bring world peace but it is not happening. Only Jesus can stop war. Christ is going to return before the Millennial period. It is clear from what we read that He will literally bring peace to this world for one thousand years.
• The place of his removal (vs. 3) – This is not the Devil’s final destination. This is just a “holding area”. It is a “bottomless pit” or abyss. It is a place that other demons reside. The Devil does not want to go there but he has no choice!
• The purpose of his removal (vs. 3) – He will not be able to deceive the nations. He will not be allowed to blind others. The Devil is the behind murders, wars and terrorism. Will this mean that people will not be able to sin? No it doesn’t.

2. The reign of the saints (vs. 4-6

There are others reigning with Christ as vice-regents. Jesus will rule on His throne and others will be running the place.

• Their power (vs. 4) – Jesus will dethrone one group and enthrone another group. The Devil, demons and evil rulers of the earth will be deposed. See Isaiah 24:21. The saints of God will rule with Jesus for a thousand years.
• Their protection (vs. 5) – The first resurrection protects us from the second death. The second death is mentioned in verse 14. If you are born only once then you are going to die twice. If you are born twice then you will only die once. The second death is the separation of the soul from God for ever. You must be born again! This second birth is spiritual.
• Their purity (vs. 6) – They are holy and happy. It is a happy time during the Millennium. It is going to be wonderful. Children could play with snakes in safety! Bears will come up to you and give you a high five! The Lions can skip with the children! No more worry! It is a wonderful existence.
• Their position (vs. 6) – We will be kings and priests.

3. The revolt of society and sinners (vs. 7-10)

The Millennium does not mean there will be no more sin. It is a perfect society. Then the Devil is released.

• The adversary (vs. 7) – Why is Satan set loose? Children are born during the Millennium and there is a population explosion with no one dying. These children have not had to live with the Devil in their lives. God will use the Devil to show the true believers from the false. The depravity in the human heart has not gone away. Sin is still there in this perfect environment. We shouldn’t be surprised. Sin started in the perfect setting of the Garden of Eden.
• The apostasy (vs. 8) – The nations will be deceived by Satan. It is an otherwise perfect world, millions will still follow Satan. It is not the environment that creates a criminal. Sin comes from the inside. There will be no excuse to blame anything else other than their own heart. You can’t change a person’s heart by changing their environment. We need to be changed from the inside out. Jesus can change your heart. He can make a murderer into a missionary.
• The attack (vs. 8) – There is a great multitude who will fight Jesus along with the Devil. It is Armageddon all over again. Satan will never give up if he can still destroy you.
• The annihilation (vs. 9-10) – God gets sick of this attack. He sends fire from heaven to destroy them all. God does one mass cremation and it is over. The Devil is cast into the Lake of Fire forever and ever. It is time for Satan’s final destination. It is the place that was created for him and those who reject God. The battle is over and God has won!

Categories: Revelation