Revelation Series
A Reformed View of the 1,000 Years — Revelation 20:4-6
The number ten is a specific number that holds meaning in the Bible. Like the Ten Commandments which cover all the Laws of Moses. So the number 10 times 10 times 10 is the completeness of the Trinity’s view on a matter within time and history. Two illustrations of that.
Remember the number 144,000 that are saved? Was that a literal number limiting the actual souls of people who can get saved? Of course not. In sermon #27 covering Revelation 14:1-5 I said that This 144,000 represents the twelve tribes of Israel, multiplied by the twelve Apostles, multiplied by a millennium. It’s God’s way of speaking about the Great Host of the Redeemed, united in one Faith Community in Heaven. (12x12x1,000=144,000) Cults think it is literal.
Jesus talked this way when He said that 7 times 70 is all the goodness and kindness we must offer in hospitality. To limit our forgiveness to 490 would disappoint Jesus and the Apostles. We must think deeper than that.
When a period of time is described as a thousand years, God is describing a period of time that is complete and done. God is counting out complete periods of time between one event and another. 
God is not counting out the exact years. This period of time described as a 1,000 years is God’s way of saying that the specifics of that period of time will never again occur. The uniqueness of that period of time is done. Complete. Satan will never again be bound awaiting his being loosed back to the Earth. Satan is never coming back!
There is a long period of time when Satan is bound, and a short period of time when Satan is loosed. If 1,000 was literal, then why didn’t God give us the exact number of years for the little period of time? Because neither period of time is necessary for us to know in real numbers.
Read MoreA Place Prepared for the Devil — Revelation 20:7-10
What is the Lake of Fire? The Sea of Fire is a place so big, that there are no shores. No islands of refuge. No stable footing and no reachable surface. There is sulfur. Gunpowder is made with sulfur to increase the heat and explosive nature of the compound. Sulfuric acid has lots of sulfur. Sulfur boils at 850 degrees.
Ancient civilizations understood that volcanoes have lots of sulfur in the magma. The Old Testament tells us that God rained down brimstone, which is a synonym for sulfur, on Sodom and Gomorrah.
So God is asking for us to imagine a sea of boiling sulfur into which the Devil is cast and sinks. That’s not a comforting thought, unless you hate the Devil.
And this experience of the Devil is permanent. There’s no end to his torment. He is lost under the billowing waves of God’s wrath. He will forever feel like he is burning up. He will forever feel like he is drowning. He will be forever lost to God’s love.
Read MoreThe Dragon Isn’t Above the Law — Revelation 20:1-3
Jesus will orchestrate the Omega of this Creation and declare with absolute finality the destiny of every person.
After the war. After He has changed His blood splattered garments. After He has brought us into His eternal rest. God the Father will reveal a new name by which we will know Jesus.
Today we know Jesus as Redeemer. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is the Lamb and He is a Lion. Jesus is THE Wonderful Counselor. He is Mighty God, Everlasting Father and THE Prince of Peace. Jesus is the Great High Priest. He is the Great Prophet. Jesus is the Great King.
Revelation 19:12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. This name will be revealed!
Maybe His new name will have something to do with reversing the Fall, ending sin and chaining the Dragon.
Read MoreCapturing the Bad Guys (The Gruesome Ending of All God's Enemies) — Revelation 19:11-21
One day soon God will again send His only begotten Son into the physical realm of this planet.
Jesus will show up in all His glory and splendor with orders from the Father to finish out the victory He already won at the Cross.
Jesus will have orders from the Father to tie up loose ends, squash the resistance and bring an end to the conflict.
The rebellion will not be resurrected. God will call the unclean birds of the air to remove the impurity and filth that they leave behind.
This is a glorious victory for our battle scared Lord Jesus.
Peace will be found at the tip of His sword and He will win the battle.
Read MoreAre the Saints Guilt of Heavenly Schadenfreude? — Revelation 19:1-5
Schadenfreude is that wonderful German term for those who experience wicked glee at the demise of others.
If we see someone suffer, someone that we don’t like very much, and our hearts feel malicious pleasure, then we can be accused of Schadenfreude.
Well, are the saints in this passage feeling that? Are we going to sin a little in our hearts while watching sinners receive God’s judgment?
What causes our hearts to shout for joy when sinners are judged?
There is an answer, and it isn’t what you might imagine.
Read MoreThese Are God's Final Warnings in the Bible before the End — Revelation 18:1-24
The Holy Spirit is vexed when pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, gluttony and laziness are at home within our hearts. When these traits increase, we know that the end is near.
God has been warning the Earth of His judgment since the beginning of Genesis.
These are literally the last words of warning before the end of the world comes.
Are you ready for that final moment? Are you saved? Have you repented of your sin and walked away from a love of this world?
God loves you so much. God has been patient for so long. Will you keep testing His compassion? Will you seek His forgiveness? May God give us the grace to repent right now.
Read MoreA Woman Rides the Beast — Revelation 17:10-18
Everywhere you look people talk about being spiritual. Yoga empties us for spiritual enlightenment. Walking outdoors connects us to the Earth. Buying a hybrid car makes us feel like we are saving the planet.
Yet, none of these things are real connections to the Father in comparison to what Jesus offers.
Many churches participate in meeting spiritual needs without Jesus. They provide religious rituals and sentimental experiences. Churches seek to be relevant to impress and attract “seekers.” Worldly techniques for entertainment are used to grow the financial and congregational numbers.
But, what does Jesus think about this alliance between the World and the Church?
Jesus uses a brutal and graphic allegory to share His thoughts.
Read MoreA City on Seven Hills — Revelation 17:1-9, 18
The whole book of Hosea is based on the accusation from God that the people of God had prostituted themselves for what the world had to offer.
God illustrates our sin by commanding one of His very godly men to marry a very silly girl who was in love with this world.
Hosea 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.”
God does shocking things to teach us valuable lessons. This passage is provocative.
The Church that was started in the Book of Acts has now become, like Israel became, an unfaithful spouse.
How many of these harsh accusations could be applied to us?
Read More. . . and God Remembered — Revelation 16:17-21
Sometimes my children mess up a LEGO project. I have to disassemble their project until I find the wrong piece in order to fix it. God will disassemble the universe for the same reason.
The dis-assembly part scares me, but for God to fix the imperfections of this Creation, it has to be totally disassembled and reassembled correctly.
My children come to me in tears wondering why their project looks wrong and doesn’t work right. In love I have to judge certain LEGO pieces as wrong and then break it apart that it might be corrected.
God is going to judge certain things as wrong. God will then disassemble the sinful things and reassemble the Creation perfect and holy.
That’s the message of all the judgment passages in the Bible. God loves us all too much to let things stay imperfect forever.
God looks forward to the day that your body disassembles into the grave that He might resurrect you into life everlasting.
Don’t fear the tear down. God is a great re-builder!
Read MoreInvitations to Repent — Revelation 16:1-16
This passage is one of the most negative chapters in the whole Bible. Let me offer a new view.
When my children disobey, as a parent I place them in crisis through discipline. I might threaten to take away their favorite toy, ground them or spank them. I bring trouble in their life to lead them to repentance.
God did this with the Egyptians. He brought Ten Plagues to upset their life and motivate them to obey His commands.
During the end times God will bring these plagues back. God will bring Humanity into a great crisis that He might lead us all toward the last great invitation for repentance.
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