Throughout
history many kingdoms have risen and fallen.
All kingdoms come to an end, morph, and start again. If we remember it was the angel Azazael that
taught mankind to make weapons and taught mankind about war. He also taught
about the coloring of hair, makeup, and jewelry. We know that Azazael was then cast into the
desert and covered with sharp rocks because of what he did. Since that time the world has been under the
curse of war. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-scapegoat-capricorn-mazzaroth.html When Lucifer was fallen from heaven, there
was no war. Lucifer was removed from the
higher heavens because he wanted to sit on the mount of the congregation as a
judge. Lucifer had sanctuaries, and he
made merchandise of those beings that followed him. Because of that, he was removed from the
places he inhabited. Although he still
has access to the mount of the congregation, presenting himself along with the
other sons of God as we know from Job. So we see there was no war or battle at
that time. However we know from Revelation
12 there will be a battle when satan is finally thrown out of heaven and bound
to earth. We know that has not happened
yet as the angels in heaven rejoice when it does come to pass. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucifer-had-sanctuaries-church-has.html http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/02/throne-of-god-firmament-what-was.html When the angels came to earth, and
cohabitated with earthly women, they exchanged their heavenly bodies for
earthly tabernacles, yet once again there was no war. War seems to be an earthly problem of people
dominating other people until the time satan stirs up the kings of the earth to
try and make war with the Lamb.
Since
satan has had control of the world, surrendered to him by Adam, satan has been
in charge of the kingdoms of this world.
Satan offered them to Jesus if Jesus would fall and worship him. There are two sections to look at, one in
Matthew, and one in Luke which give us some interesting information. I personally think satan has done a good job
hiding himself as the ruler of the world, and making it look as if men rule the
world. Because satan does not have good
intentions toward mankind, he uses insanity to twist and spin nations and
people to harm. None of what he does
makes sense; therefore we cannot make sense of world events, violence, and
politics. Yet God in His foreknowledge knows what satan will do. God gave us
the events that will come to pass. There will be a point in time where satan
rallies all the kings of the world, working with the beast and the false
prophet, to make war with the Lamb. Similar
to what we saw with Nimrod conquering many nations, the beast and false prophet
will rule all nations, leading them to their doom. We need to take a look at
what satan said to Jesus to help us take the veils off of our eyes, so that we
understand that we are living on enemy territory.
Matt
4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
sheweth him all the kingdoms [932]of the world[3625], and the glory [1391]of
them;9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall
down [4098]and worship [4352] me.10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve.KJV
Kingdoms NT:932 basileia
(bas-il-i'-ah); from NT:935; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or
(concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):KJV - kingdom, reign.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
World NT:3625 oikoumene
(oy-kou-men'-ay); feminine participle present passive of NT:3611 (as noun, by implication
of NT:1093); land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically, the
Roman empire: KJV - earth, world.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Glory NT:1391 doxa
(dox'-ah); from the base of NT:1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide
application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):KJV - dignity,
glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Thou wilt fall down NT:4098 pipto
(pip'-to); a reduplicated and contracted form of peto (pet'-o); (which occurs
only as an alternate in certain tenses); probably akin to NT:4072 through the
idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):KJV - fail, fall (down),
light on.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Worship NT:4352 proskuneo
(pros-koo-neh'-o); from NT:4314 and a probable derivative of NT:2965 (meaning
to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e.
(literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to,
adore):KJV - worship.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Satan
believes the kingdoms of the world are glorious. Satan tells Jesus that he will give him all
the kingdoms of the world if he will fall prostrate and pay homage to
satan. Satan cannot give Jesus what he
doesn’t have, and Jesus does not dispute that satan has the kingdoms of the
world. Instead Jesus adds something here
that satan did not say, but was probably implied. Jesus said that thou shalt worship the Lord
my God and Him only will thou serve. Jesus added serve. If we decide to worship something or someone,
we will become servants to that thing; whether sins, such as lust; or people,
such as leaders. The word thou is
added into the words worship and serve; therefore we are all to worship and
serve God, not just satan. In Luke we have a few added words; translators
probably thought it smoothed out the story making it similar to Matthew.
Luke
4:5-8 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto
him all the kingdoms [932]of the world [3625] in a moment of time.6 And the
devil [1228]said unto him, All this power [1849]will I give thee, and the glory
[1391]of them: for that is delivered[3860] unto me[1698]; and to whomsoever I
will I give it.7 If thou therefore wilt [1799]worship [4352] me, all shall be
thine.8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for
it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.KJV
Devil NT:1228 diabolos (dee-ab'-ol-os);
from NT:1225; a traducer; specially, Satan [compare OT:7854]:KJV - false
accuser, devil, slanderer.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Power NT:1849 exousia
(ex-oo-see'-ah); from NT:1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e.
(subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery
(concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated
influence:KJV - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right,
strength.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Delivered NT:3860 paradidomi
(par-ad-id'-o-mee); from NT:3844 and NT:1325; to surrender, i.e yield up,
intrust, transmit: KJV - betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give
(over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Unto me NT:1698 emoi
(em-oy'); a prolonged form of NT:3427; to me:KJV - I, me, mine, my.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Wilt NT:1799 enopion
(en-o'-pee-on); neuter of a compound of NT:1722 and a derivative of NT:3700; in
the face of (literally or figuratively):KJV - before, in the presence (sight)
of, to.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Here
the devil wanted to give Jesus the kingdoms and exercised authority over them.
Again the devil can’t give what he doesn’t have. Here the devil says this power over the
kingdoms of the world was delivered or surrendered to him. Adam surrendered the kingship of the world to
the devil by disobedience to God. What
we have previously surmised from Psalm 8:5 is that man was made a little lower
than Elohim, not angels, which is a mistranslation that is clear from the
Hebrew text as well as some translations such as the ASV. Man had more given to him than the angels,
and the anointed cherub. If satan’s sin
was pride because he wanted to judge others, and have authority over others, it
seems a sore point for the devil when man (Adam) is given authority over the
kingdoms of the world. This created
being had more power and authority than the anointed cherub himself. But satan thought he was far more splendid
than any of the sons of God and humans. So mere man was made a little lower
than God Himself, and satan stole man’s rulership of the earth. It is said that
the planet Rahab may have been satan’s dwelling, now reduced to an asteroid
belt between Mars and Jupiter where there is a dwarf planet called Ceres. Our
world is controlled by satan, yet he would have given Jesus authority over the
kingdoms if Jesus would have worshiped satan to his face and in the presence of
all.
Jesus
came to earth in a human body to announce God’s plan. As a byproduct of belief in Jesus we now have
authority on this earth. We have changed
our citizenship and we are living in enemy territory. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/03/christians-power.html http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/04/changing-your-citizenship-to-kingdom-of.html We now can make sense of the bad things that
happen around us, and learn to be overcomers as Jesus had encouraged us in the
seven letters to the churches. At the
end of the wrath of the Lamb, when the seventh trumpet sounds, we hear a
declaration made by “voices” that the kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever.
That is an amazing declaration. Somehow the
announcement is made that there is a change in leadership. What I find interesting is that the devil
wants to fight the Lamb, not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The devil provokes the kings of the world to
fight the Lamb, he must know he cannot overcome God Almighty the father of our
Lord Jesus. The devil wants to keep
Jesus from taking over the world, but he can’t. The declaration is made at end
of the first 42 months.
Rev
11:15-19 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.16 And the four and twenty
elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and
worshipped God,17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art,
and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and
hast reigned.18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.19 And the
temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of
his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an
earthquake, and great hail.KJV
Once
this declaration is made, the redeemed are judged for rewards; those who were
servants and prophets on the earth that were either harpazo’d, or the dead in
Christ who precede the harpazo’d. At this time the temple of God opens in
heaven and John can see the ark of His testament. It seems like a coronation, with the singing,
and lightning, and thunder. This is not
a small quiet announcement. Instead it
is loud and made known on heaven and earth.
I can picture the Lamb walking to the temple, majestic music playing,
and the people in heaven cheering and singing.
But this is not the end of the story; the devil has now been thrown down
to earth, out of heaven, probably just before this seventh seal is opened when
there are the seven thunders. The devil had access to some parts of heaven, but
now will not have any access to heaven; Michael and his angels fought the devil
and won. An angel stands on land and
water and swears an oath with his right hand to God Almighty, and says that in
the days of the seventh trumpet the mystery of God should be finished. Let’s read.
Rev
10:3-7 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had
cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.4 And when the seven thunders had
uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and
write them not.5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the
earth lifted up his hand to heaven,6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and
ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and
the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein,
that there should be time no longer:7 But in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be
finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.KJV
What
is the mystery of God? We have previously noted: 1) the blindness of the Jews
until the Gentiles come in; 2) the
Gentiles are fellow heirs and of the same body; 3) had the princes of this
world known they never would have crucified the Lord of Glory; 4) we shall not
all sleep but shall be changed; 5) that in the fullness of times he would
gather together in one all people which are in Christ on heaven and earth; 6) we have obtained an inheritance; 7) the
fellowship of the mystery was hidden in God before the world began; 8) and it
is Christ in us the hope of Glory. After
this, the angel swears to God that the mystery is finished. Then the seventh trumpet declares that the
kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ. Satan
has lost the kingdoms of the world but there will have to be a battle as it
seems it is the curse of the world to war.
And again like Nimrod, the people of the earth will be deceived into
thinking they can fight against God. We see from Revelation 14 that Jesus comes
upon a cloud with a gold crown on his head and a sickle in his hand. The crown symbolizes kingship, again by this
time the devil has lost the kingdoms of the world.
Rev
14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp
sickle.KJV
We
see the newly crowned King, Jesus, and God judges the whore.
Rev
19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in
heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power,
unto the Lord our God:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he
hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication,
and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
The
first thing to notice is that there are a large amount of people speaking
together regarding the judgment of God. They
say that God has judged the great whore and avenged the blood of His
servants. If we remember, the ones in
heaven are the first group of redeemed, along with the 144,000 redeemed, and
the people martyred in the temple. Everyone is commenting on the finality of
Babylon’s fall.
3
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.4 And
the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God
that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.5 And a voice came out of the
throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both
small and great.
And
we see the beasts and elders leading a worship service. Again there are more voices and thundering,
and the announcement that the bride has made herself ready.
6
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord
God omnipotent reigneth.7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
The
bride is clothed in white linen which is the righteousness of the saints. Comparing
chapter 11 of Revelation, when the saints are judged, the bride making herself ready is probably in reference to putting
on the white garments, and the other things written in Revelation 2 & 3.
8
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.9 And he saith unto me,
Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Those
who get to go to the marriage supper of the Lamb are called Blessed. Remember the parable of the wedding, when all
the guests are given white robes, and one man tried to sneak in and he didn’t
have a white robe? Matthew 22:1-ff. The last two points of the parable are quite
important. The improperly dressed man is
thrown into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. People who do not have the white robes are not
part of the wedding and are separated from Jesus. The second point made is that many are called
but few are chosen, compare this to Revelation 17:14, those coming back with
the Lord, his armies, are the called, chosen, and faithful.
10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not:
I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The
angel says something interesting to John here in verse 10. John is overwhelmed at all of this and bows
to worship the angel, but the angel says not to do that because he is a servant
and a brother. We know that the angels are servants of the heirs of salvation,
but we seldom think of them as our brothers. Then he says the witness of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy. Just a
thought, but when we testify about Jesus, we gain knowledge of future
events. The more testifying we do about
Jesus the more prophecy we understand.
Next
we see Heaven open. The last time people
got a glimpse of heaven, everyone on earth saw God the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ sitting on His throne as well as the wrath of the Lamb. The people of earth cried out for the rocks
and mountains to fall on them. The
previous time heaven opened was when the redeemed entered in at the time of the
harpazo. Remember after the harpazo, people would be knocking on the door but the Lord will say
he never knew them.
11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
This
time when heaven opens, Jesus comes out of heaven on a white horse and he is
called faithful and true. We looked at
the day of the Lord and the events that happens when Jesus comes back, the parousia. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-day-of-lord-mystery-of-iniquity.html This is a tale of two cities; the one,
Babylon, is destroyed. The other one,
Jerusalem, has been torn in two by the enemies of God. Zechariah 14:1-ff. Remember we saw that God calls his people to
come out of Babylon in Revelation 18:4, which tells us there must be Israelites
working in Babylon. Once Babylon falls, the kings turn on Jerusalem; but that
is when the Lord comes with his armies.
The nations blame the God of the Israelites for the wrath of God and they
then plunder Jerusalem. We have to keep in mind that the Israelites’ entire
culture is interwoven in the word of God; this is the only culture on earth
that lives the Torah. The Jews were
supposed to go out into other nations and teach the precepts of God. They were successful to a degree, as some
nations have stronger moral, civic, and hygienic laws than others. But when
Jesus came they rejected him and they have struggled to overcome the devil
without the authority Jesus made available.
12
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had
a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.13 And he was clothed with a
vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Jesus
is wearing a garment that is red; if it’s moistened in blood, it will be
red. Jesus is dressed in red with many
crowns and his armies are dressed in white.
14
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in
fine linen, white and clean.
These
armies are dressed just like the bride.
Could the armies of heaven be the bride?
15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress [the wine] of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16 And he hath
on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND Lord Of
Lords.
Add
the words the wine in verse 15.The
winepress is a tub; the picture John is giving us is Jesus stomping on grapes,
and the wine that is made is the anger and indignation of God Almighty. A sharp
saber comes out of his face, to strike the gentile nations. He comes with the
indignation and wrath of God Almighty. His title is announced on his robe and
on his thigh; he is King of kings and Lord of lords.
17
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying
to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God;18 That ye may eat the flesh of
kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of
horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and
bond, both small and great.
An
angel calls to the birds to get ready to eat the flesh of the dead people of
earth.
19
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered
together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the
sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:
and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.KJV
The
beast and false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, alive. They will be alive in the lake of fire for
one thousand years and then will be joined by the devil and the dead whose
works do not measure up.
Rev
20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 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.
Here,
we are getting close to end of the story; the devil is chained in the
bottomless pit for one thousand years. He cannot deceive the nations again
until one thousand years are over. That
tells us that when the one thousand years are over, the devil will go out to
deceive the world again.
4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Now
Christ begins judging those who did not receive the mark of the beast; these
people reign with Christ one thousand years. These are the people who were not
redeemed because they did not believe on Jesus as Lord before the harpazo.
Yet these people will believe on Jesus after the harpazo and they are rewarded by living and reigning with Christ
during His millennial reign. Many of
these people will be of Israel. Two thirds of the Israelites will be
killed, one third will then pray to Jesus, personally. That is more Jewish
deaths than the holocaust was; many see this day as the second holocaust for
Israel.
Zech 13:4-9 "On the Big Day, the lying
prophets will be publicly exposed and humiliated. Then they'll wish they'd
never swindled people with their 'visions.' No more masquerading in prophet
clothes. 5 But they'll deny they've even heard of such things: 'Me, a prophet?
Not me. I'm a farmer — grew up on the farm.' 6 And if someone says, 'And so
where did you get that black eye?' they'll say, 'I ran into a door at a
friend's house.'
7 "Sword, get moving against my
shepherd, against my close associate!"Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies."Kill
the shepherd! Scatter the sheep! The back of my hand against even the lambs! 8
All across the country" — God's Decree — "two-thirds will be
devastated and one-third survive. 9 I'll deliver the surviving third to the
refinery fires. I'll refine them as silver is refined, test them for purity as
gold is tested. Then they'll pray to me by name and I'll answer them
personally. I'll say, 'That's my people. 'They'll say, 'God — my God!'" (from
THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
All rights reserved.)
5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath
part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.
The
people who died while rejecting Jesus, as well as those who did take the mark
of the beast during the tribulation do not live again until the one thousand
years are done. If we remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, there
are different places for the believing
dead and the non believing dead. And when Jesus died, he went into hell taking
the believing saints out and bringing them into paradise. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2011/04/graves-open-woman-in-travail-book-of.html The non believing dead are not moved or
taken out of the grave at the time of the harpazo,
as that it is the believing dead that
rise. Therefore if someone dies, not
believing in Christ they will not be judged until the millennial reign is
over. That is a long time to be in
hades.
7
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison,8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters
of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of
whom is as the sand of the sea.9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth,
and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came
down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.10 And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The
devil is loosed again to deceive the nations. He will gather people once again
to make war with the Lamb, encompassing the city; but God sends fire down from
heaven to devour them. Here we have to wonder, if Jesus is the King of kings
and Lord of lords, this will be a wonderful place to live. Everyone will have their needs met. But
people will still become rebellious.
Zechariah says that if people don’t come to Jerusalem on Tabernacles to
worship, they will not have water. Zechariah14:16-ff. That is hard to imagine. Now
the devil goes into the lake of fire to join the beast and the false prophet,
and they are tormented together forever. Forever is a long, unending, time.
What we see is Jesus going out to war before the one thousand year reign, then
the devil goes out to try and fight Jesus again but this time fire comes from
heaven to devour those in the devil’s army.
11
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12 And I
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God [#2362 the throne]; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works.
The
word God here is translated the throne, understood as the throne of God. Everyone who was dead is
judged according to what they did in their lives. All of the dead, who did not
believe on Jesus, missed the millennial reign of Christ. But then death and hell are cast into the
lake of fire. After this last attempt by the devil to harm Jesus and his
followers, even death and hell are thrown into the lake of fire. Remember when
death and hell went out in the first half of the tribulation? This makes better
sense when we understand that death and hell are beings, not only places.
14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire.KJV
If
people were not found in the book of life, those who never accepted Jesus as
Lord, they are then judged for their works.
If their works were not worthy (remember these people never wanted Jesus
as their Lord) they are cast into the lake of fire.
The
goal of the devil is to take as many people to the lake of fire with him as he
can. His ways are to muddy the waters so
that there is seemingly nothing logical in the world we see around us. Whether secret societies, new world orders,
extreme religious groups, modern secularism, or deceptive Christianity; it is
all by the manipulative hand of the devil with the end goal of bringing people
into eternal damnation. Clearly we have a black and white choice ahead of us,
but the devil has made life and death, and eternal life, and eternal death,
confusing. Hollywood makes death look
horrifying in disaster movies; but the opposite is true for the believer in
Christ. There is an end to those who do not make Jesus Lord of their
lives. This is the truth that the devil
tries to hide. One of the mistakes we humans make is to believe that Jesus and
the Father are in control of the world.
With this false belief we blame Jesus and the Father when bad things
happen. Now the question must be asked,
does the devil know what is in the bible? Obviously the answer is yes. Our next question then should be, can the
devil manufacture false signs to confuse people about the wrath of God? Again
the answer is yes. Therefore if we are
advocating that the bad things we see around us are due to the wrath of God, we
are incorrect. The wrath of God is not poured out until the second half of the
tribulation. The devil has control of
the kingdoms of the world. He is also known as the prince of the power of the
air, which tells us he has control of airborne communications, and airborne
disasters. The devil is also known as
the god of the age, which means he has a time period to his rulership. Not
being deceived by him is our quest in this life so that we can throw our hat
into the ring with Jesus Christ, and bring as many along into eternal life with
Him as possible.
