Revelation 20:15

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:15

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15 And [kai] whosoever [ei tis] was [heurisko] not [ou] found [heurisko] written [grapho] in [en] the book [biblos] of life [zoe] was cast [ballo] into [eis] the lake [limne] of fire. [pur]KJV-Interlinear

15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NASB

Note that in this verse it does not say that ‘all’ who were given up by death and Hades, and from the sea and so forth as defined in the previous verses.

This verse defines who is thrown into the Lake of Fire.   Only those whose names are not found in the book of life.

Verse twelve introduces the final trial, the Great White Throne.

Verse thirteen introduces who is called before that throne, all who remain in the world of the dead.  Not one, not one single believer is included in this group.  All believers have been resurrected by this time and are in their resurrection bodies and possess eternal life.  Only unbelievers remain in the confines of death by this time in history.

Verse fourteen tells us that only those who ‘remain’ in death, will be cast into the Lake of Fire.  That the source of those going into the Lake of Fire is death.  This emphasizes that no one from the living, no believer will go to the Lake of Fire.

And now our last verse in this chapter, tells us that only those whose names are ‘not found.’

And not found means not found in the Book of Life.  This suggests a last but final mercy from God, to those who are about to lose it all, forever.  The Bible takes four full verses to explain this principle.

Now, note that this is only by implication.  It may very well be that no one will accept this mercy, if indeed it is extended.  However, we all know that God has infinite mercy and that God does not will for anyone to go to the Lake of Fire.  That implies at the very least, one final opportunity for those who are in the state of death, to believe in Christ and accept him as their savior.

The Bible does not state emphatically that ‘all’ who came out of death, out of Hades, etc. will for certain be those same people who will be cast into hell. Only that those who are going to hell will come out of that sphere of death in which all unbelievers will be in, by the time of this last historical event.

Since the anti-christ and the false prophet are cast directly into the Lake of Fire, without any interim incarceration, that Satan is cast directly into the Lake of Fire, even with a 1000 year imprisonment, and yet the unbelievers of history are thrown into an interim incarceration in Torments.  Why are unbelievers not thrown into the Lake of Fire immediately upon their physical death?  Why the temporary imprisonment?

So, you have three principles of examples.  The first is of those who are so bad that they deserve nothing better than immediate punishment.  The second is that regardless of an imprisonment, Satan, he will never change his mind and is deserving of eternal punishment.  And then we have the third example, which may include people who by being in Torments, have learned their lesson and are willing to change.

In any case, we will not know the answer to that last question until we get to that last trial in history.  Believing in Christ is the best way to approach life and to insure never having to face eternal punishment.

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Revelation 20:14

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:14

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14 And [kai] death [thanatos] and [kai] hell [hades] were cast [ballo] into [eis] the lake [limne] of fire. [pur] This [houtos] is [esti] the second [deuteros] death. [thanatos] KJV-Interlinear

14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. NASB

All who have rejected Christ have been called to the court to stand before the Great White Throne.  This will occur at the end of human history.  There they will receive their final sentence and judgment.  Whether they have one last opportunity to make a statement, to repent, or express themselves in some fashion, is not known, except that God is fair and merciful.  One would assume that a final statement would be allowed.

The sea (the nations, those lost and swallowed up to history) and death and hell (the place of death and temporary punishment, have also given up their occupants.

Death is where all people are, who have died in history.  Believers will have been resurrected, and therefore no longer in death. That leaves only the unbelievers of history still in death by this time.

And death and hell are again referred to in this current verse.

However people are not identified specifically but their former residence is identified.  Death referring to those who have died and have not been resurrected in the first resurrection, and hell referring to Hades or the underworld in which all who have been residing in Torments and still fit this description as non-resurrected persons.

It may very well be that the unbelievers who will die at the end of the Millennium will not go to Torments, but will somehow remain in death until summoned before Gods last great court.

When the first three occupants of the Lake of Fire, namely the anti-christ, the false prophet, and Satan, were thrown into the Lake of Fire, they were identified specifically.  And the result of the judgment was identified specifically.  They were cast into the Lake of Fire.

Now, however, the people are not identified but the address is identified, namely death and hell, and all who were residents of those places, are said to be cast into the Lake of Fire.  The next verse will further define those who are cast into the Lake of Fire.

So, thus far we have only the concept and former residence of those who are going to be sent to hell.

This serves to clarify that anyone who has not been in Torments (or currently in the state of death), will not go to the Lake of Fire.  No believer in Christ will ever go to the Lake of Fire.  No believer in Christ will ever be in the compartment in Hades, known as Torments.

Remember that the Underworld, known as Hades has four compartments – Paradise, Torments, Tartarus, and the Abyss.  The first compartment, Paradise, was where all Old Testament believers went until the time of the Cross, after which Christ took all of them out of Paradise and into heaven.  After that, no one has ever lived in Paradise again.  It is currently an empty compartment.

The other three compartments housed the evil of the world.  Torments was where all unbelievers go and still do go.  The other two compartments serve as the residence of evil demons.  Those too, will be emptied when their occupants are sent to the Lake of Fire.

After the Cross, when believers die, they go directly to Heaven and thus no believer ever resides in Hades since the Cross, and no believer in all of human history has ever been in Torments.

When people are born into this world, they are all born physically alive but spiritually dead.  That is the first death, the spiritual death or separation from God.  When people believe in Christ then they are said to be born again, or reborn into a new life.  They never die again (physical death is not the first death).

Now everyone dies a physical death sooner or later, but that is a picture of the first death.  Both believers and unbelievers die physically, so physical death is not the source of separation from God.

When the final judgment comes along at the end of human history, then all unbelievers who have already died spiritually the first time, not having believed in Christ and having died physically confirming their first death without Christ, will have yet another death to face them.  And that second death is a second separation from God, which this time will be a permanent separation.

Interesting enough, all unbelievers though separated from God in their first death will be brought before Him one more time to face Him (Christ), at the Great White Throne.  One would think that they would have one last opportunity.  However, unbelievers could also be defiant and retain their stubborn rejection and certainly many (if not all) will.  Thus, being sent to the Lake of Fire.

This verse makes it clear, that only occupants from Hades and death will be sent to the Lake of Fire.  All believers have been resurrected by this time and thus none will be even in death by this time.

This casting into the Lake of Fire, which is synonymous with the term for hell, is also called the second death.

Death is a separation from something and in this case it is a second separation, a permanent separation, from God, forever.

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Revelation 20:13

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:13

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13 And [kai] the sea [thalassa] gave up [didomi] the dead [nekros] which [ho] were in [en] it; [autos] and [kai] death [thanatos] and [kai] hell [hades] delivered up [didomi] the dead [nekros] which [ho] were in [en] them: [autos] and [kai] they were judged [krino] every man [hekastos] according to [kata] their [autos] works. [ergon] KJV-Interlinear

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. NASB

There are two sources of the dead – the sea and the dead.  Both reflect the world of the dead as being consumed or absorbed into itself.

The sea is vast and deep and its dead are thought of as being lost forever, swallowed up, never to be recovered.  The sea is also typically uses to refer to all unbelieving nations or peoples.

The dead, is a reference to the underworld of Hades, and sometimes called Sheol.  Both are terms for the underworld, and more specifically the compartment called Torments, Lk. 16:23, where all unbelievers go and remain until the final judgment.  There, they suffer during history, until the end of history.  So not unlike Satan who will spend 1000 years in the Abyss, all unbelievers will spend various time frames in Torments, during history, until they are called before Christ.

All believers, by this time have been resurrected and are in their resurrection bodies awaiting the beginning of eternity.  And now it is time to dispatch all unbelievers to their eternal condemnation.

But note one important principle here. In all of the Bible, when large groups are gathered together, the Bible usually numbers them in one form or another – like the stars, like the sands of the sea, or myriads and myriads and so forth.  But here, at the end of history, what seemingly may be a very large group of unbelievers, no reference is made to its number, even in ambiguous terms.

So, we will never know their number or their identity.  We will never have a memory of these people who have lived in history and passed into oblivion.  And that is a good thing.  No one should enter into eternity with a guilt or sorrow of having known someone who they will never see ever again. 

Of course there may also be the possibility of this being a small number.

The only thing we know for certain, is that if a name is not recorded in the Book of Life, then that person will not be in heaven. And that is the only reference to distinguishing believers from unbelievers.  Only God knows whose names are recorded, when they are recorded, and whose are not.  There is nothing to prevent last minute recordings for last minute repentance (faith).

In every court proceeding, the condemned, though found guilty, is always given a last say in his own behalf.  That may or may not move the judge to issue, alter, or commute a sentence.

The Bible states very clearly, that all who reject Christ will go to the Lake of Fire.  That all whose name is not in the Book of Life, will go to the Lake of Fire.  On that, you can depend.  It also states that all who believe will be saved.

So, here all unbelievers, all peoples from all nations, from throughout all of human history (unbelievers all), will be summoned from the prison cells of their first death.  They were not resurrected with the rest of the believing population, but have their own resurrection (the second resurrection) if you will, and those will be condemned because of their works, which is a rejection of Christ’s work on the cross.

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Revelation 20:12

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:12

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12 And [kai] I saw [eido] the dead, [nekros] small [mikros] and [kai] great, [megas] stand [histemi] before [enopion] God; [theos] and [kai] the books [biblion] were opened: [anoigo] and [kai] another [allos] book [biblion] was opened, [anoigo] which [hos] is [esti] the book of life: [zoe] and [kai] the dead [nekros] were judged [krino] out of [ek] those things which were written [grapho] in [en] the books, [biblion] according to [kata] their [autos] works. [ergon] KJV-Interlinear

12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. NASB

The great court of God has been cleared and made ready for the last and final court appearance of those who have rejected Christ.

In all of history, there are but two great categories of people – believers in Christ, and unbelievers.

In all of history there are but two destinies – Heaven for believers, and the Lake of Fire for unbelievers.

The only difference between the two is a single thought or belief, ‘Father I believe in Jesus Christ.’  That is all that separates everyone between heaven and hell for all of eternity.  Quite a major difference because of a simple single thought.

Believers will never face Gods judgment, because "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1). Everyone "who believes in Him is not judged" (John 3:18); they have "eternal life, and do not come into judgment, but have passed out of death into life" (John 5:24). Far from being judged, all believers in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6) will have already received their rewards (Rev.20:4; 19:7-9; 1 Cor 3:12-15; 2 Cor 5:10) at the Judgment Seat of Christ with each respective group of believers.

As for unbelievers, this is the "resurrection of judgment" (John 5:29), the resurrection "to disgrace and everlasting contempt" (Dan 12:2), the "resurrection of . . . the wicked" (Acts 24:15).

The planet earth has been swept away (not yet destroyed, but simply pushed aside), and the court of God is going to be held in a venue which will boggle the minds of everyone. The reality of truth will be overwhelmingly apparent to all.  And for those who hold on to their contempt and rejection of Christ, then the judgment will again be reinforced in its righteousness.

Court is now in session, and the roll call of names begins.  The dead.

All who have rejected Christ as their savior, are identified.  They are the great and the small.  The somebodies, the nobodies, Rom 2:11; cf. Deut 10:17; Job 34:19; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17.  God has no favorites or bias toward those who reject truth.

Those whose lives were filled with pettiness, selfishness, and little sins. Those whose lives amounted to nothing whose sins were mean, spiteful, peevish, groveling, vulgar, common, and cheap. Those who would be great in their own minds, men and women who sinned with a high hand, and courage and flair. Men and women who went in for wickedness on a grand scale with the world for their stage and who died unrepentant.

Now, one and all (unbelievers only) are arraigned and on their way to their final judgment and sentence before the Great White Throne of Christ.

And all are called before the Throne.

Then the books (plural) are opened.  These books are identified in this and the next verse, the books of their ‘works,’ or ‘deeds.’

In them is recorded every thought, deed, action, motivation and so forth of every unbeliever who has or will ever live.

The test for freedom or judgment is based on ‘works.’  The works of man verses the works of God. 

Which, will be sufficient to produce salvation and a life with God, versus the insufficient work which will lead to eternal separation from God?

Another book, the single book of life is also opened.  In this book all those who have received eternal life, are recorded.

The standard is perfection, Matt. 5:48.  If anyone is perfect then they have a right to eternal life.  However if they are not perfect, then they do not have a right to eternal life.  Only God is perfect and only God is able to make that which is imperfect, perfect.  Imperfect man cannot make himself perfect by means of his own efforts.

The standard is holiness, righteousness plus justice, 1 Pet. 1:15-16.  Only God is able to make that which is unholy, holy.  Man cannot make himself holy.

And since Christ has paid the ultimate and complete price for sin, then human good, mans works, are the only things remaining with which man can claim themselves as perfect or holy.  This is mans defense, since unbelievers have rejected God and Gods plan and Gods work.

The scales of justice are set and the works of man, numerous as they are, carry no weight whatsoever and the scales of justice tip in the favor of God, of Christ and His work on the Cross, the only work which has efficacious merit.

That is what the final judgment is based – mans works versus Gods work.

This court appearance is open and public.  There is no secret trial, no hidden back room decisions or negotiations.  It is thoroughly documented and proven by means of mans own works.  Mans condemnation is by means of his (unbelievers) own decisions.

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Revelation 20:11

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:11

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11 And [kai] I saw [eido] a great [megas] white [leukos] throne, [thronos] and [kai] him that sat [kathemai] on [epi] it, [autos] from [apo] whose [hos] face [prosopon] the earth [ge] and [kai] the heaven [ouranos] fled away; [pheugo] and [kai] there was found [heurisko] no [ou] place [topos] for them. [autos] KJV-Interlinear

11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. NASB

When history has been completed, all sinners, all peoples who have rejected Christ as their savior, will be resurrected in the last and most sobering judgment of all time.  This will be the last court appearance, the last court proceeding.  After this proceeding, there will never again be a need for a court appearance, and never again the need for a judge to decide a case.

In Gen 3:4, Satan told Eve, ‘Surely you will not die,’ implying that there will not be a judgment, a judgment that even Eve had known about, for she was taught in the Garden along with Adam, from the beginning. 

Though they were the first of perhaps trillions of people to be born into history, and though no sin had yet taken place, both Adam and Eve knew the principle of sin and death, and the consequences of their decisions, ‘do not eat of the fruit.’

And so Satan has attempted to deceive all of humanity throughout history, that there are no consequences to your decisions. 

Atheists believe that they live as they please and then they cease in their existence. 

Evolutionists believe that all has happened by accident and that life is an ongoing process of adjustment and improvement.

Liberal thinking follows this same principle, making everything relative and ever changing, making things like a constitution and/or laws subject to the principle that they deem reasonable at any given moment. That is, those in power decide, and those not in power have to live with it.

Religions face life with many variables of human righteousness and goodness, making things right subject to that which is in the heart or in sincerity, thus human good takes precedence over divine good.

Cults entertain sin as the reward of behavior.  Many virgins or wives, or many rewards for killing infidels are promoted, rather than integrity and basic truth.

The Bible is not a cult, not a religion, not a nothing philosophy, but a relationship with God through Christ.

The Bible promotes Gods righteousness and Gods justice, demanding perfection of Gods integrity and sinless existence, and demanding justice against all that is not true and good. His work is perfect and all his ways are just, Deut. 32:4.

When righteousness is compromised and sin in any form is allowed in, then the only destiny is disaster.  And so, while all are looking to the stars and the next generation of conquering the universe and imaginary villains, or while all are looking to the utopia of health care, acceptable unemployment, social justice, or things that are not possible, then time advances forward at a steady pace, second by second, year by year, and will eventually end as these last several chapters of scripture have painted for us.

Our present dispensation will continue and will end with a great apostasy seizing all of society worldwide. 

The Rapture will occur like a thief, in the midst of apathy, taking all by surprise.

The Tribulation will open the door for mindboggling stupidity and unimaginable suffering.

And will end with the greatest and bloodiest war ever.

Christ will rule for 1000 years with prosperity and growth that too will zoom off the charts.

But by the end of the Millennium, a huge population will still reject Him in person even as He was rejected in the First Advent, in person, and will follow Satan totally clueless as to who he is.

History will end and then the last and final court appearance for all unbelievers will occur.

And now John describes a Great White Throne.  Great because of its significance and authority and power and finality.  White because of its purity and holiness and rightful authority.  And it is a throne because it represents the sovereignty of the final and highest authority in all of heaven and creation.

It is the resurrection of judgment, Jn. 5:29, the judgment of God, Rom. 2:5, the final judgment, Psa. 9:7-8, Dan. 7:9-10.

And the one who sits on the throne, is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Jn 5:22, 26-27, the one who has been appointed to judge, Acts 10:42

The John describes an incredible event.  The earth and the heaven fled away.

This is not the final destruction of the universe as we know it, but sort of a clearing of the courtroom so to speak, as this final hearing is set to unfold.

In one swift and phenomenal event the world and all that is around us will be removed.  If that does not open up the eyes of folks, then nothing will.

And why will the world be set aside?  Because all unbelievers have placed their trust in the world, in their things, in their own plans, which do not exist beyond this world.  And now suddenly there is nothing for them to rely or place their trust.

This is the ultimate of realities.  All of your plans, all of your hopes and dreams, all that you are or own, will cease to exist, and before you and everyone, will be nothing.  Nothing to be, nothing to own.  Nothing to claim as superior.  Nothing to claim as qualifying you as better or smarter or wiser.

All of our possessions will exist in the next life in the next universe.  Nothing from this life or world will survive into the next.  Just as sin cannot continue into the next life, most likely all that we know from this world will not be repeated in the next universe.  The next universe will be far better.

So, John describes the setting.  The final throne, the Great White Throne, and a cleared courtroom made ready for those who are the accused.

If you have believed in Christ, then you will be only a spectator. 

If you have not believed in Christ, then you will be hauled in before the greatest judge, facing a judgment that will never end, from which there is no probation, no termination.  And all because you did not think or believe six little words during your entire life, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ.’

Who could risk a horrible outcome for their life over those simple words?

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Revelation 20:10

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:10

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10 And [kai] the devil [diabolos] that deceived [planao] them [autos] was cast [ballo] into [eis] the lake [limne] of fire [pur] and [kai] brimstone, [theion] where [hopou] the beast [therion] and [kai] the false prophet [pseudoprophetes] are, and [kai] shall be tormented [basanizo] day [hemera] and [kai] night [nux] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear

10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NASB

Not having learned anything throughout history, not having learned anything from a 1000 year imprisonment, Satan will immediately be thrown into the Lake of Fire, without further due process.

He will have run out of all of his options, and knowingly rejects God and all of the rules of probation, and as such, is subject to the sentence already pronounced against him.

When a person is convicted, he is usually given a sentence in accordance with recognized guidelines. Often times that sentence is reduced and or an early release is allowed with the understanding that the convicted person abides by the rules of probation.  If the rules are violated, then the original sentence can be immediately imposed without further court proceedings, as all prior court proceedings have already occurred.

Satan will violate his probation by leading a rebellion, once again, against God, in an attempt to overthrow God.  Thus, his original sentence is imposed immediately and he will be thrown, without any fanfare or formality, into the Lake of Fire. 

Thus will end all chapters and book containing Satan.  He will be in the Lake of Fire forever, never to be seen or heard from again.

It is again stated that the anti-christ (beast), and the false prophet, are already in the Lake of Fire.

In some cases the convicted and their crimes are so horrendous that they are not given any consideration for probation or any type of second chance.  And as to the anti-christ and false prophet, by being thrown immediately into the Lake of Fire, indicates that their crimes are far beyond the norm for evil in history.

If we look back into history, we can see examples of extreme evils being committed. But all unbelievers when they die, go into Torments, and there await their time before the Great White Throne.

The anti-christ and the false prophet are never sent into Torments, but are sent directly into their sentence of the Lake of Fire.  This makes it very clear that the time of the Tribulation, will be far beyond any evil that history has ever known.  Anyone who tries to convince you that the tribulation is occurring or already has occurred, is a fool.

One wonders if all unbelievers will actually have a second chance to believe in Christ (given that they have been suffering extremes while in Torments) when they are brought before the Great White Throne, which is coming up in the next verse.  Perhaps some will learn as Satan did not learn, and they will repent.  Or perhaps the Great White Throne is there to further prove their stubbornness of unbelief.

In either case, that would be an extremely dangerous path to follow, and should not be followed as the Bible is very clear that unbelief leads to the Lake of Fire.  Satan uses up all of his chances.  The anti-christ and the false prophet are beyond repentance.  Do not, do not follow their example.

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Revelation 20:9

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:9

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9 And [kai] they went up [anabaino] on [epi] the breadth [platos] of the earth, [ge] and [kai] compassed [kukloo] the camp [parembole] of the saints [hagios] about, [kukloo] and [kai] the beloved [agapao] city: [polis] and [kai] fire [pur] came down [katabaino] from [apo] God [theos] out of [ek] heaven, [ouranos] and [kai] devoured [katesthio] them. [autos] KJV-Interlinear

9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. NASB

Satan and his demon angels, will sweep around the globe and deceive and convince all who have not believed in Christ, to follow him and rebel against Christ.

They (unbelievers) will travel, by whatever means, to Jerusalem, and surround the city and those believers who are encamped around the city.  The word for camp, ‘parembole,’ describes a Roman military barracks and the camp sites of groups around the perimeter of the city and in the city.

The occupants of the encampments in and around Jerusalem, will be believers who have decided to live as close as possible to Christ.  This is not a quickly thrown up camp, but an established and long term encampment.

And, just as the final battle of the Tribulation, which will have occurred 1000 years earlier, ended quickly, so too, this final battle will end even quicker. 

Armageddon will be a very bloody affair. This final battle will not.

Armageddon will end on the mountains of Israel.  This final battle will end on the plains of Israel.

Recall, that at the end of the Tribulation, the world topography will be changed dramatically.  Mountains will be no more.  Islands will be no more.  The continents will be reshuffled somehow.  Rev. 16:20; Zech 14:4,9-11.

This final battle will be more of an execution, as when all of the unbelievers are assembled and ready to attack Jerusalem and its occupants, God, will bring fire down out of the sky, and all enemy forces will die instantaneously, consumed totally by the fire and removed from the earth.

In death, all of the unbelievers will go to Torments, as have all unbelievers before them, and there wait for their final judgment of the Great White Throne, which will happen shortly, and is described in verse 11 and following.

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Revelation 20:8

Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely

Revelation 20:8

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8 And [kai] shall go out [exerchomai] to deceive [planao] the nations [ethnos] which [ho] are in [en] the four [tessares] quarters [gonia] of the earth, [ge] Gog [Gog] and [kai] Magog, [Magog] to gather [sunago] them [autos] together [sunago] to [eis] battle: [polemos] the number [arithmos] of whom [hos] is as [hos] the sand [ammos] of the sea. [thalassa] KJV-Interlinear

8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.  NASB

When Satan is released from his imprisonment at the end of the Millennium, he will go immediately to the earth.

He really has nowhere else to go, since he has a Lake of Fire sentence hanging over his head.  He has to either repent and plead for mercy and time served, or he has to defeat God and thus prevent his sentence from being carried out.

This verse documents his decision to continue his fight against God.

When Satan arrives on earth, he will discover a huge population that has grown to quite possibly hundreds of billions or even beyond the trillions of people mark.

With perfect weather, perfect environment, longevity in lives (multi-century lifespans), great health and such, then the population will explode during those thousand years to numbers beyond counting.

Among those numbers there will be a huge population of unbelievers (people who have refused or have been indifferent toward believing in Christ as their savior).  This verse numbers them as the sand of the sea, or a number beyond counting.

These unbelievers will exist throughout the world (to the four corners).  And they are described with the phrase, Gog and Magog, two terms that were introduced as enemies of God in Ezekiel.

These terms typically are used to describe the enemies of God.

According to Ezekiel, Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, Ezek 38:2 f; 39:1-16, which describes the vast territories to the north of Jerusalem.  His land is called Magog, or the land of Gog.

Included in the armies of Gog are Persia, Cush, Gomer and Togarmah, which describes basically the rest of the world in all directions from Jerusalem.

The armies of Gog are said to descend on and die on, the mountains of Israel, and applies to the final battle of Armageddon, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation.  These armies are said to be assembled by God for the day of the Lord.

At the end of the Millennium, these similar armies, unbelievers from across the planet, will be gathered by Satan this time (not God), and will descend on the die on, the plain (not mountains) of Israel.  Remember that at the end of the Tribulation, the mountains of the earth and especially in Israel, will crumble into a vast plain.

Both battles will be short in duration and both will be complete and final.  The method of Satan’s deception is not described.  But suffice to say, people without spiritual resources, are and will be easily deceived.

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