Why would Satan need to be bound if the armies opposing God were destroyed at the second coming? Historic premillennialists argue the armies in chapter 19 do not represent all people—some were not destroyed at the second coming and thus enter the millennium.
However, nowhere else is there any indication that some human beings are not judged at the second coming. Perhaps there is ammunition for the premillennial view in Zechariah 14; there the Lord judges and slays those opposed to him Zech. Angels descending from heaven are a common feature in Revelation, and here an angel holds in his hand the key to the abyss and a great chain cf. The angel seizes the dragon, the great monster opposing the people of God, and binds him in the pit for a thousand years.
They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. The angel throws Satan into the pit and locks him in. Thus Satan is unable to deceive the nations for one thousand years. Near the end of the thousand years, Satan is released for a short time to wreak havoc.
Premillennialists say the events in verses 2—3 occur when Christ returns to earth, arguing that Satan cannot be locked up before Jesus returns, for he is alive and well during the present evil age, standing behind the beast and false prophet, deceiving and inciting the people of the world to persecute Christians — It is difficult to see how, according to premillennialists, these statements can be true if Satan is confined to the abyss. In Revelation 12 Satan is cast from heaven to earth, and the point there, though certainly symbolic, is that Satan has no ground to accuse believers before God since the death of Christ has removed their guilt.
It seems here, however, that John goes a step further, the symbolism indicating Satan is absolutely restricted from acting on the earth. Amillennialists suggest the locking away in a pit is symbolic and does not mean Satan is absent from earth. The text says he can no longer deceive the nations. Some interpret this to mean that Satan, during the present evil age, is unable to deceive the nations into gathering at Armageddon.
Another way of interpreting this from the amillennial perspective is that the deception relates to the spread of the gospel. With the coming of Christ, the gospel now goes to the ends of the earth. In the OT salvation was confined to Israel, and the nations of the world were deceived.
Now the gospel is believed in all nations, and thus Satan no longer deceives the nations as he did in the OT era. Unbelievers are still deceived by Satan, but the deception over all nations that characterized the OT period is now lifted, so that some believe from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
Satan was bound at the cross Matt. John ; Col. He sees thrones, and those who sit on them are given the responsibility of judging. In a sense, the entire church is viewed as a martyr church, as those who have given their lives for Jesus Christ.
They did not worship the beast or its image, or receive the mark on their hand or forehead. John has earlier made it very plain that those who worship the beast or its image or receive the mark will suffer torment forever Rev. On the other hand, the saints triumph over the beast and its image Is it things above? Or is it things below?
Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else! America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol. James But how about a book titled The Righteous Father? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him Hebrews Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God.
Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises. Friendship is the marriage of affections. Thomas Watson.
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Titus Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises.
That is integrity. Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word. Integrity of heart is indispensable. John Calvin. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city.
Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life 2 Corinthians The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb.
He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians , the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him. If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.
The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world. Francis Schaeffer. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent.
The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him John The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.
Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. William Gurnall. Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.
The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge Mark We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help.
Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon Daniel Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do John , and prayer was His means. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we Psalm ? Prayer and a holy life are one. What is humility?
Is it the opposite of pride? But what is the biblical view of humility. At one judgment, Christ will gather together the house of Israel Ezekiel , and He will cause the people to pass under His rod of judgment Believers will return from the lands of the diaspora, will enter into the new covenant with Christ, and will be sanctified in the promised land , Every one that survives shall go up to Jerusalem annually to worship the King Zechariah This means that the first generation of millennial inhabitants will all be believers.
This also means that the unbelievers of the final millennial generation who participate in the great rebellion must be descendants of the first generation believers.
Category: Faith Pulpit ,. Faith Seminary. To spread the Gospel to every nation, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. It's certainly exciting to ponder all the events that will soon take place, but we'll allow the Lord to exercise His righteous timing, and continue to be diligent workers for the Lord.
Spreading the Good News to whom we can, so that we can have more brothers and sisters to participate in the Millenial reign together. Does God Have a Throne in Heaven? What Is the Mark of the Beast in the Bible? What Is the Book of Life? What Is the Day of the Lord? Hope Bolinger is an editor at Salem, a multi-published novelist, and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 1, of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids.
She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her modern-day Daniel trilogy is out with IlluminateYA. And her inspirational adult romance Picture Imperfect releases in November of Find out more about her at her website. Share this.
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