SATAN'S FINAL DESTINY REALIZED AT LAST
It is with a lot of inspiration from Prophecy Update.com, and an article, "Down with the Devil! By J. R. Church, that I felt the overwhelming desire to see how the book ends. Therefore we jump ahead to Chapter 20 of the Revelation.
The message of this chapter may seem a bit harsh to the modern man (ancient habits) of our day. Upon being caught in wrong today's evil immediately begin to drag out the defense lawyers and start laying out reasons why personal responsibility should not be held to. We see every day where evil doers shrug off responsibility and look for excuses for their conduct. It is no longer surprising to see an individual released from prison only to go and repeat the same or more hideous crime than what it was that got them locked up in the first place. The reason they committed a crime was because of economics, life-style or social surroundings in their background. Why, it may be that a parent disciplined them at one time by spanking and that led them to their harsh behavior. Then, even though a jury finds them guilty a judge will over-ride that decision and reduce the penalty. In our time the victim is likely to be punished more so than the one that committed the crime.
In this chapter 20 of Revelation we see the final consummation of God's judgement upon all evil as well as origins of Evil – at last! How our Father, the Lord God, has been able to put up with evil so long speaks to His overwhelming patience. It is not, as some church-goers think, that their god (small g) would not be so full of vengeance as this chapter would imply. Chapter 20 of Revelation for the most part is ignored. One is likely never to hear a sermon preached on the text. If these so-called-christians were able to see God as His Son was hung on the cross of Calvary, and understand what placed Him there, they would have a better understanding of what is happening in this chapter. They would weep that so many have been murdered over the centuries because of the influence of the Evil One, Satan. Therefore it is most understandable that nearly the entire chapter 20 is taken up with God's final judgment of evil and the locking up of the devil in the bottomless pit.
"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season" (Rev. 20:1-3).
ITS ALL ABOUT TIME
This is when the great deceiver is judged. The Tribulation Period is now over. In this seven year period of time the dragon, the beast, Satan and all those that follow him have succeeded in murdering as many as one half of the population. These billions of people will be slain for many reasons. It is still my contention that millions of people, those who may have heard the Gospel preached and didn't respond prior to the church being taken out, will have remembered that Word they had received, repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The seed of the Gospel will reach many during these seven years and they will be saved for eternity but still have to suffer through the Tribulation. How else will there be such a Cloud of Saints? Who are these people that will accept death so easily by denying the Mark of the Beast? It is my understanding that the Holy Spirit will not leave the earth during the time of the Tribulation but will remain (step aside) and indwell these believers that will be martyred by the millions, if not billions. Where else can the "Martyr's" come from? If they had been saved prior to the beginning of the Tribulation they would have already been "taken out." It is either that, or it is that they were not "ready, working and watching" for His return at the time of the ‘Translation" (Rapture) of His bride, the Church. SEE OUR STUDY IN CHAPTER SIX
THE FINAL ACT & THE CURTAIN FALLS
It is now time to deal with the great deceiver. During the just-concluded Tribulation Period, Others of the one half of the earth's population (more than 3 billion people at present estimates) will be murdered simply because they are in the way. Now look closely at this! These will not be killed by God's judgment but by politicians and the Eco-Nazis..These killers will be bent on enslaving mankind and killing off those who would use up the planet's natural resources. They had set out to solve the problem of an ever-expanding growth in population. Starvation must also be viewed as a possible reason for murdering others. Food sources being increasingly scarce will lead people to murder less desirable (the politically un-correct) as a source of food.
We are also aware of the hosts of people today that are so Eco-conscious that they already worry more about survival of previously unknown species then they do about mankind. Here in Norfolk, VA, we have the offices of P.E.T.A. [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]. (http://www.peta.org/) This group would be quite willing today to trade the life of a human for that of any animal. We see them preaching that it is wrong for man to harvest those things that God has provided humanity as food. We should eliminate all animal flesh from our diets and become vegetarians.
Vast armies will be duped into thinking they were only ridding the populations of inferior and combative people. Like the deluded Adolph Hitler of a generation past, these world rulers were demonically possessed with the notion that they could create their own self-styled utopia and repopulate the nations with a superior and more loyal race.
History is strewn with the countless bodies of the victims of misguided armies. Their goals were couched in measured words, framed with lofty phrases to engender loyalty and patriotic pride, while the real motives were classified top secret. The public has never been told some of the real reasons for history's wars. There is one mind behind history's outbursts of inhumanity — the devil. It is now time to deal with him. At the conclusion of Armageddon, we are told that he is incarcerated in the nether world, restrained from invading Earth for the next thousand years.
FOUR DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EVIL ONE
(Down with the Devil!
- by J. R. Church, Commentary on Revelation Chapter 20, December 12, 2003)
Just as four names were used to describe the glorious appearing of the Savior, four names are used here to describe heaven's infamous foe: "the Dragon, the Old Serpent, the devil and Satan."
1) THE DRAGON
The term "dragon" represents his political aspirations to control the governments of this world. He is the power behind the thrones of all despots. He delights in cloak and dagger intrigue, pitting one politician against another, one king against another, one race against another, one religion against another, etc., until he is in complete control. His goal is to put himself upon Earth's throne in the form of the Anti-christ.
His political prowess is designated as "dragon power." But when Armageddon is over, and Earth's armies are defeated, dragon power ceases to exist. When this evil entity returns at the close of the seventh millennium, the term "dragon" is not used. He can no longer influence kings. They are appointed by Christ, Himself. The dragon is no longer welcome in the halls of government. He can only return as Satan and the devil, as we shall see.
2) THE OLD SERPENT
The second name for this evil entity is "the old serpent." The term "old" reminds us that he was in Eden. He was the one who deceived Eve into partaking of the forbidden fruit. He is responsible for the fall of the entire human race. The term "serpent" is used to refer to his subtle and deceitful abilities. His influence upon the minds of men is notorious. Not only was he able to beguile the first couple in Paradise, he continues to stir rebellion among all groups, be they political or religious. Divide and conquer is his method of operation.
Joseph Seiss writes: "It is as the serpent that he deceives souls, insinuates false doctrine, unbelief, and presumption into the human heart, corrupts the purity of the Church, and deludes men with a false and perverted wisdom" (Apocalypse, p. 444).
With his incarceration in the bottomless pit for the next thousand years, his ability to use his "serpent" power to deceive good men is ended. The saints are now beyond his ability to trick and tempt. The power of deception used to foment the final battle of Gog and Magog, cannot infect those who have been saved. Only the unsaved will join this malignant wickedness after a thousand years of peace on Earth. When he returns to this planet, he is only seen as the "devil" and "Satan."
3) THE DEVIL
The term "devil" refers to a slanderer and liar. With this aspect of his character, he told Eve that God didn't really mean what He said. He suggested that Eve would not really die, but that she would become god-like, knowing good and evil. He lied to her and slandered God, implying that her Creator was somehow less than pure.
Jesus reminds us of his character, saying: "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).
It is with this characteristic that he returns to Earth at the close of the Kingdom Age and stirs up the wicked against the King of kings. He is the "devil."
4) SATAN
Finally, there is "Satan" (I Chron. 21:1), a term that refers to "an adversary and accuser." It is a Hebrew word, transliterated into English. It is used 40 times throughout Scripture, suggesting one who opposes, lies in wait, snares, and brings down. Before Adam and Eve, he accused God. Before God, he accused Job. In Revelation 12:10, he is called, "the accuser of our brethren."
It is in this capacity that he reappears at the close of the Kingdom Age to stir up all those who harbored rebellion against the Savior. For a thousand years, Christ reigns upon Earth, offering eternal life, but forcing no one to receive it against their will. The invitation will be extended, but not all will accept. Those will be easy prey for Satan when he returns.
THE UN-NAMED WARDEN APPEARS WITH THE KEYS
Having read about the horrific slaughter on the battlefields of Armageddon; the consignment of the beast and false prophet to the Lake of Fire; and the feast of Earth's fowls, we come now to the angel with the key to the bottomless pit.
Once again, we are not given the name of this angel, but many scholars assume that He is none other than Christ, Himself. It is possible that certain other angels, who provide specific tasks in the book of Revelation, are simply manifestations of Christ. Jesus wants to be known as the "Lamb." But, when it comes to the work of bringing judgment upon others, He assumes another identity. The Savior does not want to be identified with negative, though necessary, work. He would rather have us think of Him in more positive terms.
The Lamb opens the seven-sealed scroll and gives us an overview of the Tribulation Period. But the first order of judgment from heaven comes when "another angel" takes live coals from the altar and casts them to the Earth. This angel performs the task of the heavenly priesthood. Yet, we are shown a view of Christ standing at the Temple Menorah in chapter 1, dressed in the garments of the heavenly priesthood. Therefore, that "another angel" is likely an altered view of Christ.
In chapter 10, "another mighty angel" descends with an opened scroll in his hand. He stands as a conqueror claiming both land and sea. Earlier, this scroll was opened by the Lamb. Therefore, this "another mighty angel" is likely an altered view of Christ.
In chapter 18, "another angel" descends to oversee the destruction of Mystery Babylon. We are told, "the earth was lightened with his glory." All previous biblical descriptions of glory lighting up the Earth are ascribed to Deity, it is likely that this "another angel" is an altered view of Christ.
THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
In the passage before us, the "angel" has "the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand." Since Jesus tells John that He holds "the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1:18) we may assume that He has a key to the bottomless pit as well. In chapter 9, we are told that the key was given to Apollyon. However, after Apollyon's defeat, it is possible that Christ retrieved the key for the purpose of incarcerating the devil with a thousand-year sentence in that same bottomless pit.
When Christ is first announced, He is called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David." However, when He appears, He is described as "a Lamb as it had been slain." When He appears in Revelation 19, He is a great Warrior upon a white horse doing battle with the armies of the world. But when He appears to incarcerate this fallen angel, He appears as an "angel." His appearances seem to change to fit the occasion of His work.
Though Michael fought against the dragon in chapter 12, he was only able to drive him out of heaven. Here, however, the dragon is chained in the abyss, a deed that calls for a far more powerful judgment than Michael is capable of carrying out.
We are told that the angel uses a great chain to bind the dragon and somehow confine him from this realm for the duration of the seventh millennium. It is no mere chain of iron or steel, but a special heavenly chain capable of binding the devil, himself.
THE BEGINNING
Only fifteen verses are given over to a description of the seventh millennium. But the thoughts of such a time stagger the imagination. The Apostle Paul wrote:
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (I Corinthians 2:9).
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