Christ's Rule on Earth, Pt. 4 Revelation 20:7-10

Jeff Stephens

Revelation • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Judgment

Satan

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Introduction

Up to this point so far we have looked at The Rule of Christ on earth affirmed by the fact that Satan, the one who many thought ruled was bound and cast into the abyss Making Christ the Ruler on earth. It is not that He wasn’t before this, but that now it is perfectly clear who the real ruler is. Then we looked at the thought that Christ’s rule on earth is assisted by the saints. We saw that very clearly in our text and we identified them as Saints from OT, NT, and up to this time of tribulation.

Now we turn to The Rule of Christ approved by the final defeat of Satan and his attendance in the lake of fire, v.7-10. You might think, ‘approved, how does that impact Christ’s rule. Well I was struggling a bit for a word that started with the letter ‘A’ to help with the outline. But the word ‘approved’ doesn’t only have the meaning as many think of as consent. It also means to ratify or to sanction or to prove or demonstrate. That is how I am using that word here. The fact that Satan and his army is defeated and cast into the lake of fire to be tormented eternally is proof positive that Christ is SUPREMELY SOVEREIGN over all creation. There is nothing that is outside of His control, knowledge or purpose. He truly does rule over all.

Now we have The Rule of Christ approved by the final defeat of Satan and his attendance in the lake of fire, v.7-10

Just a cursory reading of the book of Revelation ought to give you enough evidence to convince you of this truth. God is moving everything towards His purpose. He even uses the choices of men and Satan to His advantage. Surely you see in Scripture that God lets kings and people follow their desires yet their desires do not thwart His plans or purposes, but rather they fall into those plans. Nothing takes God by surprise and makes Him go to plan B. There is no plan B with God. There is only Plan A and it has been the same plan since before the foundation of the World.

My hope is to help you see that in our text today.

I think we should be able to see that in three ways:

All goes according to God’s timing, not our own

All beings (Satan/people) go according to their desires

All ends up according to God’s design

So then we go to the first one.

All goes according to God’s timing, not our own.

I think first and primary here is that God has His own schedule and it is not often in sync with ours. We want things done now. I am sure that Abraham would have preferred Sara get pregnant with Isaac 25 years earlier than she did. I am sure that Joseph would have rather shot up to Prime minister of Egypt without all of the hardships and nonsense in between. Surely, fullness of times for many would be sooner rather than later, but part of growing in the knowledge of God is learning to wait for His timing. Well we have his timing in our text don’t we?

Look at verse 7, And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.

Not a minute or a year early. There will be no early parole for good behavior or because the abyss is full up and they have to make an early release of those who have been on their good behavior. No, not at all.

Only when the thousand years is complete, finished, time is up. Only then will Satan be released from his chains and imprisonment. That is what we see here is it not. Satan is not able to shorten his stay for one moment.

In fact, he has known this was the end for centuries. He knew his time was short when he was cast out of heaven. Isn’t that what scripture says in He has great wrath toward the inhabitants of the earth, because “the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.”

So even against the landscape of eternity a thousand years is a short time.

Do we not see this very truth unfold in those events I already spoke about with Abraham and Joseph. Or even in This book , remember when the martyred saints cried out to God, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? and white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled’

You see all things are to come about according to the time God has set for them to happen. That ought to give us great comfort. How so? Well, to begin with you were born at the time God decreed you would be born. You live in the family, at the time of history He chose for you. You also have a time to die. You have an appointment with the Lord at some time. Whether believer or unbeliever you have a resurrection ahead of you in which you will be before God as a believer to be with God and as an unbeliever to be separated from God. But that time is coming and you cannot stop it.

We have seen the unbelievers call on God’s creation to hide them from the Creator. But there is no hiding from God. You cannot stop the inevitable. Now I am implying a sort of fatalism at all. But you can no more stop these events in your life than you can stop time. You maybe able to stop your watch but you cannot stop the seconds of your life from ticking off at the rate of 60 seconds per minute.

You and I should be redeeming the time as best we can. Stop wishing it away or trying to hurry it up as you kids wish you could do so you can be grown up like the rest of us. No don’t do that. Make the most of it. One of the things this teaches us very clearly is that even if you were Satan you could not prolong your reign in this life one minute. But you can make the most of it by using your time to worship and serve God

I am sure I could go on with this, but time is getting away from us. As John Wayne was known to say in his movies, “We’re burning daylight.”

So then We see the Sovereign Rule of Christ on earth in the fact that all goes according to God’s timing. Satan is loosed when the thousand years are complete.

Satan is loosed at the end of the thousand years. when they were complete.

Now a second point that needs to be made with regard to the Sovereign rule of Christ on earth is that

2. All beings (Satan/people) go according to their desires. v.8, 9a

What I mean by this is that God let’s Satan and people follow the desires of their heart. Now this is conundrum for all of us to consider. We have been speaking of the Sovereignty of Christ/God. Nevertheless, that doesn’t nullify the responsibility of man. We see that in at least two ways in our text:

(1) in his purpose to deceive the nations.

Satan's purpose has always been to deceive. He did that with Eve and he is the father of lies. He implemented rebellion on through Cain and it continues through today and into the end times we are speaking of. His business is always one of deceit. He is a master of deceit. He can change himself into an angel of light and almost deceive true believers into believing him.

In verses 7,8 he uses the future tense like a prophet, but in 9,10 he uses the aorist like a seer. (WPNT)

So what? what does that mean in my interpretation?

It will not just be to deceive them to the truth, but to gather them together to annihilate the Lord and His people. And that leads me to the second point here.

(2) the people will also follow their desires.

To gather them to the war

They will not be dragged into this conflict unwillingly. They will go willingly. Satan will not hypnotize them into following him in rebellion against the Lord. If you don’t want to be deceived you will not be. These folks will have plenty of evidence of the Supreme Sovereignty of the Lord, but are unwilling to subject themselves from it if they sense a way out.

Such will the great wickedness that will attempt to prevail over the righteousness of the Lord.

The four corners is a semitic way of referring to the entire earth as in "He will raise a signal for the nations

and will assemble the banished of Israel,

and gather the dispersed of Judah

from the four corners of the earth."

the nations are obviously those people who have lived during the millennium under the rule of Christ. But when Satan is loosed their true colors will be revealed and they will easily be deceived by Satan because that is what they want.

Why does this happen? Wiersbe, it is "final proof that the heart of man is desperately wicked and can be changed only by God's grace."

But when Satan is loosed their true colors will be revealed and they will easily be deceived by Satan because that is what they want. Sin will still be present, man will still be depraved to the core. Their obedience was a mere facade. Their depravity and wickedness of heart is revealed by the fact that they had been living in a perfect environment under a perfect government and yet still prefer to have it their own way. They will not have any real true faith in Christ at all.

Sin will still be present, man will still be depraved to the core. Their obedience was a mere facade. Their depravity and wickedness of heart is revealed by the fact that they had been living in a perfect environment under a perfect government and yet still prefer to have it their own way. They will not have any real true faith in Christ at all.

It will be a time of perfect law, but law will not change a persons heart. (Wiersbe).

The nations of he earth are called Gog and Magog - these apparently the titles of the conglomeration of nations.

Gog, mentioned in as “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince,” also referred to as the prince of Rosh, believed by many to refer to Russia. The Sept. translators understood Magog as a people, not as a country. The ancients understood Magog to refer to the northern nations which they also called Skúthai (4658).

Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

We also know that Magog, the second son of Japheth (; ) and the name of a people descending from him or the country inhabited by that people and of which Gog was the king (; , ). Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Magog, the second son of Japheth (; ) and the name of a people descending from him or the country inhabited by that people and of which Gog was the king (; , ). In the Middle Ages, the Syrians applied the name of Magog to Asiatic Tartary, and the Arabians to the region between the Caspian and the Black Seas. Generally, the people of Magog are identified with the Scythians who, in the time when Ezekiel wrote, were well–known in western Asia. Descending from the Caucasian Mountain regions in the beginning of 700 B.C., they conquered Sardis, the capital of Lydia, in 629 B.C. and defeated Cyaxares, King of Media, in 624 B.C. They penetrated even into Egypt, but were bought off by Psammetichus. They were not expelled, however, from western Asia until the beginning of the next century. They are described as excellent horsemen, skilled in the use of the bow (, ; ), and by exactly the same traits prominent in the descriptions of the Scythians by the Class. Gr. historians. In , , we are told that Satan, after being bound for one thousand years, “shall be loosed” and “go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle.” This is referred to as the last great battle between the powers of evil and the armies of God and as the occasion of the final overthrow of the wicked when fire comes forth from heaven to devour them. In this passage, Gog and Magog are represented as nations dwelling in the four quarters of the earth and are symbolic of the enemies of the Lord. The names are taken from the prophecy of , where Gog is represented as a person, “the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,” and “Magog” as the name of his land (). The prophet depicts this prince as leading a great host against the people of God, and being utterly defeated and overthrown. This final and abortive attack on the part of the powers of evil is referred to in ., while in the names of Gog and Magog appear as a description of hostile nations.

Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Many think this refers to Russia, Persia and so on. but you must remember those nations will not be delineated like that during the millennium.

So Satan was to deceive Gog and magog into gathering to war against the beloved city. And these names are simply reference to those that are in rebellion against God’s righteous rule.

They are gathered to the war with the definite article showing this is the war of all wars. The war to which all in history is moving. It is the war that will truly end all wars.

The number of them was as vast as the sand on the sea shore. Ezekiel said they will be as clouds covering the land.

The fact that their numbers were so vast and they had surrounded the camp of the Lord and the beloved city must have given them great boldness that they at last can have the desires of their heart and overthrow God’s rule in their lives. The odds are overwhelmingly in their favor. But that has always the way it has been for God’s people. We have always been a minority. the bible teaches that the way is narrow, the gate is narrow. But this isn’t the first time we have seen God’s people greatly outnumbered.

Jabin King of Hazor came against Israel with an alliance whose number was like the sand of the seashore () but the Lord gave them into the hands of Joshua and Israel.

That is what has been happening with man ever since the fall in the garden hasn’t it. Man is constantly trying to usurp God’s rule. People don’t like God’s morality, or God’s commands regarding marriage or His determination of one’s gender

the Midianites were described in number in the same way, but God used Gideon and 300 men to destroy them,

Or those that surrounded Elisha and his servant, but were blinded

Or those who surrounded Jesus intent on killing Him but he walked through their midst and out of harm.

People have been following their own desires since the garden. People are constantly trying to usurp God’s rule over their lives. People don’t like God’s morality, or God’s commands regarding marriage or His determination of one’s gender. they don’t want God telling them what to do. But God lets mankind do what they desire. The mantra is to follow the desires of your heart. unknowing that our heart is desperately wicked and untrustworthy.

This is most clear in God lets man do what he wants and gives the over to their own lusts, v.24, 26.

Jesus challenged believers with this notion; don’t follow your heart, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Beloved, in the sovereign rule of Christ all people go according to their own desires.

I know that some might I am talking about free will. And I am to a degree. You can’t speak of following your heart without speaking of free will. And I said in the sovereignty of God everyone goes according to their own desires. The sovereignty of God doesn’t nullify man’s responsibility to choose rightly else how could God hold someone accountable.

In our text we are talking about Satan. He goes according to his desires. We know that he is a created being. And we know also that God created all things and by your will they existed and were created. At least that is what the 24 elders say as they praise God and the Lamb in . We also know that God created all things for Him, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. For sake of time we cannot go through all of this but suffice it to say that Satan was made for God, for Christ, just as you and I are. Just as Pharoah and Moses were. And it is safe to say that it was all created to bring glory to God.

But I want you to notice the Lord said, "in the latter days, I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes." (). Look at verse 17, "that I would bring you against them?"

So then Satan is allowed to follow his desires because in that way God will get the most glory. And we can also then say that God lets man follow his or her own desires, whether sinful or not, because in that way He will get the most glory.

Now with regards to one like pharoah God gets the most glory by showing His power through his sin and rebellion. But pharoah gets his own desires. They might not turn out as he wants but he still makes his own choices. if you don’t believe me.

In the same fashion those whom God has chosen follow their own desires. Apart from God their desire is to rebel and follow their own way. But God has chosen those whom He wants. You can also look to or or or for further proof of this. But someone might say that takes away free will or desire. Yes and no. here is why. Paul put it this way in “it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” In other words, God makes it so you desire to choose Him. No one is forced to choose Him. It is the first work of the Holy Spirit to impart to your heart the desire to want to choose the Lord. He has to be the first cause because in your unregenerate heart you do not even seek after God. In fact, you are dead. You couldn’t choose Him even if you wanted to. So the Holy Spirit works in your heart to want to choose Him.

someone might say you haven’t gone far enough down this path. We don’t have time today, but if you have questions about this see me later I would be glad to address this further.

If you have questions about this see me later I would be glad to address this further.

All I am saying is that in Christ’s sovereign rule you/Satan/other people go according to your own desires. This doesn’t thwart God’s plan it works in accord with God’s plan. As I said, there is no plan B so it has to work according to His plan for His creation.

In God’s sovereignty all goes according to God timing - Satan is released at the end of the thousand years.

And all people go according to their own desires - Satan desires to deceive the nations in order to gather them to the war against the Lord. And the people/nations willingly follow Satan because they do not want God’s rule either.

Then we come to the last point I want to make.

In God’s sovereignty

3. All end’s up according to God’s design. v.9b-10

And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. and the devil . . . was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . .

this end of Satan is not anything new. It wasn’t like God said, ‘Satan sure is messing things up. We have got to do something about him.’ Not at all. God designed his demise from the beginning. If He chose us from the beginning, If He determined the Son would become a man and die on the cross before the foundation of the world, the beginning as we know it, Then surely God specifically created Satan to do what he has done and will do in order to bring God the most glory.

We see this in many ways. for example, the beast in though he reigns for a time he still ‘goes to destruction.’ or The ten horns will join with the beast to ruin the great harlot, “for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast until teh words of God are fulfilled.”(ESV)

The inhabitants of the earth during the plagues of understood that God does as He pleases for “they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues.”(esv).

The two witnesses of chapter 11 went as God desired or designed. They fulfilled their divine purpose then were killed by divine design and were raised from the dead by God’s design and it all gives glory to God, v.13.

Again the purpose outlined in v.23 "I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. then they will know that I am the Lord."

And then again look at chapter 39:2 "and I will turn you about and drive you forward, . . . and bring you up . . . and lead you against. . .."

And so if you read further through v.8 you see it plainly what God has planned for Gog and Magog.

They went up to the plateau of the earth. You will remember there are no mountains. But the Beloved City was on a plateau, probably the highest location on the planet is my speculation.

They went up against the camp of the saints which is a word for a military encampment. It was used for the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness ; for a Roman barracks in , and an army in line for battle

The camp of the saints is a word for a military encampment. It was used for the camp of the Israelites in the wildernessEx. 29:14; for a Roman barracks in , and an army in line for battle

The beloved city is Jerusalem. it is so called this in ; ; for a clearer description.

During the thousand years Everyone went up to the city to worship God. But this time it is not to worship the Lord, but to destroy Him in battle.

However, fire descends out of heaven and devours them. For this scene see with Sodom and Gomorrah, upon Gog and Magog, Elijah called fire to come down on the captains of fifty as they came for him, ,. Then in the disciples wanted to call fire to come down on the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.

So it is here, that Satan goes down in defeat just as God designed so that He would get the most glory.

v.10

The devil is cast into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and false prophet were at. and they were tormented day and night forever and ever.

and they were tormented day and night forever and ever.

this was his final doom. it was Satan’s eternal destiny. Just to show you this is not an anomaly remember what Jesus said about Judas Iscariot who would betray Him “not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” Judas even went according to God’s design, but it wasn’t unwillingly on his part but willingly.

Now I need to say one more thing about the verse and we are done.

this teaches that eternal punishment, damnation of Satan, the beast and false prophet. And we will see those who are lost in their sins. This is not annihilation. It is not once and done. it is eternal. It is torment from which there is no escape. You cannot come back from this and have a do over. This is it. Those who go there are those who reject Jesus Christ. We will talk more of this in the next section when we talk about the Great white throne of judgment.

This is no laughing matter. It is not a joke. This is serious business. This is eternal torment. God has made a magnificent offer to you to turn from your sins in repentance and faith to follow Him. To give up the desires of your heart that lead you on the wide path the the wide gate straight into the lake of fire, eternal torment.

If you do not know Christ, you should be terrified of this. This is a picture of God’s wrath. it will be eternal torment that you cannot imagine. no amount of pain or physical torment you could conjure up on this earth will compare to the torment you will experience in that place. No amount torture that man can dream up can hold a candle to what torture you will experience in hell.

Won’t you repent of your sin and believe in Jesus. put your faith in Him. He took this wrath so that you wouldn’t have to.

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