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Sunday Evening at Framsden Baptist Church 20 02/08/2020

The 1000 years and the Great White Throne

Revelation 20

At first glance, I even wondered if I could skip chapter 20 and move immediately to the glory of the new heaven and the new earth. I did not, for two reasons: this is God’s Word, not mine, and I am not free to pick and choose when working through a book. Secondly, I began to see that this chapter is the climax of all the prophetic scriptures; it explains mysteries previously not clear to us.

During the war, telegrams were sent to the bereaved from the War Office. The telegrams were said to be “black-edged,” reflecting sorrow. We could say parts of chapter 20 are black-edged, filled with sorrow, but other parts are edged with gold and filled with hope, and offer us God’s gracious explanation of what He will do at the end of our age.

Another reason for careful study is that chapter 20 of Revelation is the most urgent warning to mankind in the whole Bible to run to Christ and strive with all your heart to take firm hold of Him for salvation. Jesus said in Luke 13:24, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, for many will try and not be able to’ (because it will be too late once Jesus has returned). I do not think many slip easily into God’s family; Jacob wrestled with God. Revelation 20 makes the whole matter urgent.

The 1000 years

An angel with a great chain confines satan to the Abyss for 1000 years. It is only for 1000 years because God has one last task for satan to perform at the end of that time. Satan was cast out of heaven for his rebellion against God and here, he is cast out of the earth.

About a generation ago, books were written insisting on “spiritualising” this chapter. The 1000 years are not literal, they said, for when Jesus died and rose, satan was chained and no longer able to tempt or deceive. It is true, Christ’s death and resurrection sealed satan’s doom, but the sentence against him has not yet been effected. Satan is a defeated foe but he is still, for a time, free to attack God’s people and oppose God’s work. Peter writes, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

of 2 5So are we really living in a time when satan is bound and can no longer tempt us, nor influence world events? Living in 2020, I have to reject such a notion. Satan is more active than ever, knowing his time is very short now.

The 1000 years (mentioned six times in this chapter) is a time of peace and beauty and restoration for our tired, sin-stained planet. In verse 4 we meet the believers — represented here by the martyrs — who refused Antichrist’s mark. It is typical of Revelation to identify one group as representative of all. These believers are reigning with Christ over the earth. They comprise Old Testament

believers. Daniel speaks of this resurrection for his people. Many other scriptures speak of the church of Jesus Christ of our time, having our part in the “first resurrection,” for there are two resurrections.

The chief objection to Christ’s reign over the earth for 1000 years, the millennium (I’ve asked and been told several times), is that they cannot see the reason for it, therefore it must mean something else.

So what is the purpose for Christ’s 1000-year reign over this earth?

1. It fulfils the promise Gabriel made to Mary that her Son would sit on David’s throne (Luke 2)

2. It fulfils the many promises to Israel of a time of peace and blessing in their own land3. It fulfils their promised restoration to evangelising the whole earth, which was always

God’s plan for them4. Christ’s apostles will sit on 12 thrones to judge (Matthew 19:28)5. The millennium is the answer to the prayer Christ taught us: “Your Kingdom come on

earth”6. Christ promises all believers that they will reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10 and

many other scriptures)7. And finally, I feel this lies at the heart of the reason for the millennium: it demonstrates

that a perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart, just as the garden of Eden showed.

For as long as man has lived upon the earth, he has blamed his environment for his sins and failures. Remove the obstacles to righteousness and see if that is true. What if we had a perfect government? If nature were restored? If there were total safety for children? If justice were swift and absolutely fair? If we lived long lives with neither war nor poverty? And this is exactly how it will be. It is the “Utopia” men have sought through politics and law, education and conquest, and money, and have utterly failed to deliver.

of 3 5There are many prophecies of the millennium which are found in Isaiah. Here is a little sample:

All nature is at peace:“The wolf will live with the lamb,

    the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

    and a little child will lead them.  

The cow will feed with the bear,     their young will lie down together,

    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  

The infant will play near the cobra’s den,     and the young child will put its hand into

the viper’s nest.” Isaiah 11:6-8

The glory of God will be visible everywhere:

“They will neither harm nor destroy     on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord     as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 11:9

Wars will no longer devastate the earth:

“He will judge between the nations     and will settle disputes for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares     and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,     nor will they train for war anymore.”

Isaiah 2:4

Then, just look at the role of the Jews:

“And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you,

because we have heard that God is with you.’’”Zechariah 8:22-23

The population of the earth will be people and nations who are prepared to submit to the reign of the Lord Jesus, perhaps drawn initially from those too young to receive the mark of the beast.

of 4 5Then, after 1000 years comes the test. Satan is released from the abyss and allowed one last revolt against the Lord. Will he be able to recruit even one from the golden age of the earth? Yes, he gathers an army like the grains of sand on the seashore. He surrounds Jerusalem, Christ’s capital city. The “obedience” of the last 1000 years is seen for what it is: feigned submission in many rebellious hearts. Fallen human nature has not been changed by outside circumstances.

What a blessed time the 1000 years will be for believers who are caught up in the first resurrection. They do not earn these blessings, for they are part of the believer’s inheritance in Christ. They share in the glory of their Lord, they reign with Him. What a prospect!

The Great White Throne

All earth and sky will fly away “wrapped up like a scroll” (Isaiah 34:4), leaving no place for resurrected sinners to hide. The Great White Throne fills the vision of all who stand before it. The Lord Jesus is the Judge, for the Father has committed all judgement to His Son (John 5). Now, all the unsaved must face Him Whom they rejected. This is the second resurrection at the end of the 1000 years. It is the resurrection which Daniel said is “to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12)

The books are opened. God’s Word is there and sinners are judged for their rejection of the truth they heard or had opportunity to search out in this life. Jesus said, “the words I have spoken will condemn you in the last day” (John 12:48). The Judge knows the recesses of every heart and He is fair. The punishment is just, not all are treated the same; “Sodom and Gomorrah will find it more bearable” than the Jews who persecuted Christ. (Matthew 11:24)

The Book of Life is there, containing all the names of God’s redeemed people. But none of the unredeemed are found in this book.

God’s record book of every life is there. The record is true and complete. Many, Jesus said in Matthew 7, will protest: “We did all kinds of good works.” But Jesus replies: “I never knew you; away from me.” Salvation results in knowing Christ personally.

The last verse tells us that those not found in the Book of Life are thrown into hell with satan forever. There is a very widespread sentimental, humanistic religion which refuses to face judgement, even though Jesus taught it regularly. But God sends no one to hell. People send themselves. Man’s destiny is his own responsibility. We were not created as robots.

In the light of the cross of Jesus and the availability of the Bible, and the witness to Christ’s saving work by those who live it and tell it, no one can condemn God as unjust. He has waited so very patiently.

of 5 5He has sent His witnesses over all the world, many of whom have been killed. God will not lower His standard of admission into heaven. He has ordained from the beginning that faith in His Son is the only way of salvation.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life.”

John 5:24

When all this is over, God says:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”

Revelation 21:4-5

It will be our joy next week to explore God’s new heaven and new earth.