MILLENNIUM

Other than the concept “Rapture”, Millennium may be the most misunderstood mystery in the Bible. Many have tried to explain it and even dismissed it as a fairy tale. However, the following will explain the concept and offer proof that is a promise from God.

The “Millennium”-what is it and from where did the concept come? The Old and New Testaments include references to the kingdom of the Messiah, long-anticipated rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Himself upon the earth. In fact, it is one of the most frequently mentioned subjects in the Bible. In Matthew 6:10, when Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Thy Kingdom come”, He was referring specifically to the time of this earthly reign, In the most incredible kingdom in all human history, Jesus, the anointed king, will have the nations for His inheritance (Psalm 2:8), “the wolf also shall dwell with the lame” (Isaiah 11:6), and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:9).

How long will His earthly kingdom last? Only one chapter in the entire Bible reveals its duration- Revelation 20. “Blessed and holy is He who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” -Revelation 20:6. The kingdom is often referred to as the millennium, a name derived from the Latin words “mille” (meaning- one thousand) and “annum” (meaning- year).

Before the thousand reign of Jesus on earth, the Millennium, can begin, two things must happen: Jesus must return (Revelation 19:11-19), and Satan’s rule must come to an end. Revelation 20:1 states that an angel comes out of heaven with a key to the Abyss and holding a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:2 says the angel seizes the devil or Satan and binds him for a thousand years.  The Millennium is needed to redeem creation. Revelation 20:3 states that the angel threw Satan into the Abyss, locked and sealed it over him until the thousand years were ended.

More to come in several other parts!

PROMISE OF A NEW HOME!

With all the problems, turmoil, tragedy, evil, insecurity, and sin, it is a good thing this world is not all there is. We have a promise of a new home. The Bible shows us God provides a permanent home where God will dwell with His entire family. It is a home with not health issues, insecurities, or sin. In Christ, we are promised the perfect home with Him. A life in Christ means life with Christ is forever. Our new home will also be in God’s presence. This is is a continuing study about standing strong on God’s promises. How fitting it turns to Revelations.
Read Revelation 21:1-3
The Book of Revelation details the consummation of world history, in which God judges all those who reject His offer of salvation in Jesus Christ and oppose Him. Chapter 21 describes the time immediately after the Great Whit Throne Judgment, after Satan and all of God’s enemies have been condemned to the lake of fire (20:7-15). It details the coming of the new heaven and new earth, the time of the fullness of God’s rule and reign. God had promised Isaiah (65:17; 66:22) that He would create a new and eternal earth. The new world will be marked by perfect fellowship of believers with one another and with God, and is the final, perfected state of the universe as prepared by God. God’s plan here is that all are equal and all will be in a true relationship with one another. And God will bring this new order into existence at the end of history as we know it.
We don’t know how the new earth will look or where it will be, but God and His believers- those whose name is written in the Book of Life- will be united to live there forever. Basically, the Bible begins in a garden and ends in a garden. Yet between the two gardens a great deal of action, both sacred and secular, takes place. The sacred mainly concerns God’s redemptive efforts, and the secular concerns mankind’s sin, rebellion and puny self-efforts to realize their true destiny. The overall story is about paradise lost and paradise regained. Because people sinned, the material world somehow suffered from mankind’s fall (Gen. 3:17-18) and also will share in his redemption (Rom. 8:22-23). Although the prophet Isaiah was probably the first to envision an ideal society in which people “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isa. 2:4), others at different times also have dreamed of a perfect society. Plato conceived the idea of an ideal city-state. Later Thomas More wrote his idealistic Utopia (meaning “no place”). Roger Bacon wrote the New Atlantis, Karl Marx wrote his Communist Manifesto. More recently, Franklin Roosevelt proposed his New Deal, Harry Truman his Square Deal, John Kennedy his New Frontier, and Lyndon Johnson his New Society. I have seen many movies where some group is trying to make a “ideal world”- usually at the expense of someone or depriving some people of their God given free choice. The Biblical term for the ideal society is the kingdom of God!
In the new creation, there will be no “sea”. As noted earlier, the sea represented danger, turmoil, restless masses of people, and separation. The first beat came up out of the sea (13:1). John saw a sea before God’s throne (4:6), symbolizing His moral transcendence or holiness. On the island of Patmos, the sea separated John from those he dearly loved. Now in heaven there is no more sea, thus no more separation. Believers will enjoy God’s presence in the fullest sense and have sweet fellowship around His throne. Since the redeemed will be saved even from the presence of sin, there will be no residue of sin to prevent them from enjoying intimate fellowship with God. Revelation seems to depict mankind’s perfect environment as fulfilled in heaven, not during the millennium. Although in the millennium we will be with Jesus and there will be no Satan (until the very end).
Although John earlier had introduced the subject of the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9), we now see its fulfillment. In contrast to the worldly city, John “saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”( v. 2). Since a city consists primarily of people, not buildings, we note further that John “heard a great voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them” (v.3). The word translated “dwelling” is the usual word for “tabernacle”, and the verb for “will dwell” means “will tabernacle” or “will pitch tent”. In fact, it is the identical verb used in John 1:14, which reads, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. The tabernacle symbolized the presence of God. Thus, God became present with people in the person of Jesus Christ, who truly was Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). No God’s tabernacle or presence will continue permanently with His children in a much fuller sense than they realized His presence during their earthly experience. As Paul wrote, “to depart and be with Christ…is far better” (Phil. 1:23). Although believers are God’s people at all times, they will be His people in a more intimate and personal way in the new creation. While Moses in his human, finite state, could only see the “back” of God (Ex. 33:23), in heaven, all of God’s people will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12. Even though now “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), then “we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).
Read Revelation 21:4-5
Verse 4 describes God’s tender care for His children. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying not pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” Some have wondered if tears may include those resulting from regret for deeds left undone, plus wasted opportunities to witness for Christ or minister to people in need. Apparently at some point God mercifully will blot out our remembrance of past failures and sins. Here the picture is one of perfect bliss. Death, mankind’s greatest enemy, will no longer exist for believers. Moreover, the mourning, crying and pain that accompany death will be unknown in the heavenly state. What a wonderful truth! Although John may have meant “former things” in a bad sense, the expression likely is broad enough to cover all earthly experiences and relationships. However, it seems very clear we will know all those in heaven from our earthly contact with them.
God has written the final chapter and it is a about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love Him. We don’t know as much as we would like but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine. We will take our memories with us to Heaven. We are told we will give an account of our life before God. We will know everyone we knew on this earth who is in the New Earth (Acts 1:4-5; John 20:10-18; 20:24-29; 21:15-22). We will be able to be with our families, maybe even live in the same “mansion” (John 14:2-3). We will make new friends. I Thess. 4:13-17 says there will be a glorious reunion with friends and loved ones. We will enjoy fellowship with Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Ezekiel, Elijah, Esther, Mary, David and all the disciples. We can sit with them and ask them questions and just talk with them. We all –even if we can’t sing now- can go out to the parks of the New Earth and join in with the choirs of heaven. However, relationships with Jesus and God will be the most magnificent of all relationship.
God, of course, is the one “who sat upon the throne” and who said, “Behold, I make all things new” (v.5a). Again the word for “new” means renewed, refreshed, or renovated, not the word that means altogether new. The statement “for these words are trustworthy and true” is God’s most emphatic assurance to John that the vision of the new heaven and earth will certainly come to pass and that God Himself will accomplish His purpose (v.5b).
Read Revelation 21:6-8
The verb translated “It is done!” is plural and literally means “they have come to pass”, perhaps indicating the accomplished renewal of both heaven and earth (v.6a). Although yet future, the consummation of all things is just as certain as God’s promise. Further assurance comes from the declaration, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (v.6a; 1:8; 22:13). God additionally declared, “To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment” (v.6b; 22:17). This means we can do nothing to earn it. Since water is necessary for the life of human beings, animals, and plants, it became symbol for life. The psalmist compared the righteous with “a tree planted by streams of water (Ps. 1:3). Jesus said, “If any one thirst let him come to me and drink,” and He went on to say, “out of His heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). Centuries earlier, Isaiah had uttered a similar invitation to “everyone who thirsts” (55:1). “Without payment” means that eternal life is a gift of God, thus all grace. “He who conquers” is one who has faith in Christ and consequently “shall have His heritage” and enjoy a true relationship with His Heavenly Father (v.7).
In contrast to God’s children, the “cowards” are fearful ones who abandon Christ at the threats of the beast. They fear persecution so badly that they choose temporary safety over eternal life. They are put in the same list as the unbelieving, the corrupt, the murders, the immoral, the idolaters, the liars, and those practicing magic arts. It says “their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and Sulphur, which the second death” (v.8). The “cowards” are those who did not have the courage to confess Jesus as Lord (Matt. 10:32-33). The people who are victorious “endure to the end”(Mark 13:13). They will receive the blessings that God promised: To follow Christ requires boldness and bravery to stand for Him when oppression occurs. Pray for courage to do what is right no matter what pressure you face. Those who can endure the testing of evil and remain faithful will be rewarded by God. Paul says in 1 Cor. 6:9, 11 that “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God”. Consequently, forgiven sinners, whatever the nature of their sins, are no longer what they once were. They are truly God’s children. Only by accepting Christ’s salvation through faith and repentance can people avoid an eternity in hell! Or to express it positively, only true believers can claim God’s promise of eternity- in the New Heaven and the New Earth!

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REVELATION: A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE MEANING

THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS IS FILLED WITH SYMBOLISM AND PHRASES THAT ARE NOT EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD BOOKS ON REVELATION AND HEAVEN. THIS IS JUST ONE FOR YOU READING TIME.

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER LOOK AT REVELATIONS

REVELATION- 2:1-7

This is likely a bit different study in Revelations that you might think. It begins with Jesus telling John to write seven letters to seven churches. Our lesson is about only one of these churches- Ephesus, where Paul spent three years on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:31). Ephesus had done some good things but had lost their first love. We will try to determine who was the Ephesian’s first love and how it happened. It can be easy to lose sight of what brought us to our good habits and lose the motivation to continue doing what we know is right. This is especially troubling when applied to our walk with Christ. A steady routine to life is not a bad thing, but sometimes that routine can become a rut or even worse.
Read Revelations 2:1-4
We have talked about Ephesus previously but a bit more background may help us understand why Jesus selected Ephesus as the first city for John to write about. The city of Ephesus was the largest city in the Roman province of Asia. Being a free city, it had self-rule granted by Rome. The most famous structure was the temple of the goddess Artemis (Greek name) or Diana (Roman name). The magnificent temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. East met West there, and Ephesus became the center of Gnosticism and the mystery religions. When John wrote, the emperor cult also was evidently strong in Ephesus.
As verse 1 indicates, the letter came from the glorified Christ. The church received commendation for their “works”, their “toil” (labor), and their “patience endurance” (steadfastness). Also, in their favor, they did not tolerate “evil men” and proved that certain self-proclaimed apostles were false. Whether these people included libertine Gnostics, Judaizers, or other heretical groups, we can only guess. These false teachers were indeed causing the church problems by trying to draw people away from their faith (Acts 20:29-31). Paul had written in his letter to Ephesians that he knew the church had resisted thee false teachers. John spent much of his ministry in this city and knew that they had resisted false teaching (v.2).
Revelations uses a lot of symbolism and phrases that are not easily understood, like “seven stars”, “seven gold lampstands”, and who is the “angel” to whom John wrote the letter. The one who “walks among the seven gold lampstands” – which is the seven churches- is Jesus (1:11-13). Jesus holds the “seven stars in His right hand”- which are the messengers of the churches- indicating His power and authority over the churches and their leaders. Ephesus had become a large, proud church, and Jesus’ message would remind them that He alone is the head of the body of believers.
To further support this, Jesus instructed John to “write to the angel of the church in Ephesus”. There are two thoughts on who the “angel” is: 1) An angelic being who had specific responsibilities assigned for the church, and 2) a human messenger not a supernatural being. The difficulty with believing the first option is- why would John write a letter to an angelic being. The Greek word can refer to human messengers as well as angelic beings. In this case, it would apply if John were writing the letter to the pastor of the church who would read it to the entire church. So it is clear this letter was written to the church.
Does God care about our church? If we are tempted to doubt it, look more closely at these seven letters. The Lord of the universe knew each of these churches and its precise situation. In each letter, Jesus told John to write about specific people, places, and events. He praised believers for their successes and told them how to correct their failures. Just as Jesus cared for each of these churches, he for ours. He wants it to reach its greatest potential. The group of believers with whom we worship and serve is God’s vehicle for changing the world, Take it seriously- God Does. Many believe John’s writing of Ephesians and the other 6 churches were only about those 1st Century churches. However, this was also about warnings that Jesus knew would exist in future churches. So Jesus was telling us and all churches after those in the 1st Century about specific problems to watch for and to prevent them from controlling our church.
Verse 3 implies that the Ephesian Christians were both sound and faithful in doctrine. Yet the Lord registered a complaint against them by saying “that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (v.4). While some limit their neglect to their love for Christ and the proclamation of the gospel, their problems seem to have been broader. Since love was to be the main distinction of Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35), perhaps they had largely ceased to demonstrate love toward one another and toward their opponents.
Over a period of time, the church in Ephesus had steadfastly refused to tolerate sin among the members. This was not easy in a city noted for immoral sexual practices associated with the worship of the goddess Artemis. We are living in times of widespread sin and sexual immorality. It is popular to be open-minded toward many types of sin, calling them personal choices or alternative life-styles. But when the body of believers begins to tolerate sin in the church, it is lowering the standards and compromising the church’s witness. This caused those involved to “lose” their first love- the love of their witness and of the church and its members, and their charitable spirit. It is also likely that their love for the Lord had dimmed as they tried to maintain doctrinal purity to labor in an environment where persecution was growing stronger every day.
Read Revelations 2:5-7
The Ephesians were told to return to a passionate love for Christ. The cure consisted in remembering their former state, repentance, and putting love into practice again (v.5a). Otherwise, Christ would remove their “lampstands from its place” (v.5b). This meant, of course, that their church would cease to exist, which, in fact, it eventually did. Just as the seven-branched candlestick in the Temple gave light for priests to see, the churches were to give light to their surrounding communities. But Jesus warned them that their lights could go out. In fact, Jesus Himself would extinguish any light that did not fulfill its purpose. The church needed to repent of its sin.
The second commendation included their hatred of “the works of the Nicolaitans”, which Christ also hated (v.6). We should note that the hatred was directed toward their deeds, not the people themselves. Although the Nicolaitans perhaps were the same as the Balaamites (v.14) or the followers of Jezebel (v.20), one tradition holds that Nicolaus, one of the seven (presumably deacons) defected from faith (Acts 6:5). Perhaps the Nicolaitans were libertine Gnostics. The name Nicolaitans is held by some to be roughly the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word for “Balaamites”. Balaam was a prophet who had induced the Israelites to carry out their lustful desires (2:14 and Numbers 31:16).
So who were the Nicolaitans? They were “believers’ who compromised their faith in order to enjoy some of the sinful practices of Ephesian society (sound familiar to some today?). When we want to take part in an activity that we know is wrong, we may make excuses to justify our behavior, saying that it isn’t as bad as it seems or that it won’t hurt our faith. This is what the Nicolaiatans did regularly. Christ has strong words for those who look for excuses to sin. Today we have those who will say I had no choice that is the way we were made. There is always a choice. If we have a choice not to be a drunkard or not to give in to drugs, there is a choice to resist any sin, including homosexuality.
Through John, Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for hating the wicked practices of the Nicolaitans. Note that they didn’t hate people, just the sinful actions. We should accept and love all people but refuse to tolerate any evil. God cannot tolerate sin, and He expects us to stand against it. The world needs Christians who will stand for God’s truth and point people toward right living.
The exhortation of verse 7 serves as both an encouragement and a warning. To anyone in the church who would heed His words, Christ promised: “To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (v.7). The military figure of conquest is prevalent in Revelation. According to 12:11, believers overcame Satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death”. We read in 1 John 5:4 that faith “is victory that overcomes the world”. Thus, the overcoming life includes faith in Christ and faithfulness in living godly lives as we proclaim His redemptive message even at the cost of our physical lives.
The “paradise of God” reminds us of the Garden of Eden and Adam’s failure (Gen. 3:1-24). Those who “eat of the tree of life” are the ones partaking of the living bread (John 6:51). Two trees had been in the Garden of Eden- the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). Eating from the tree of life brought eternal life with God, eating from the tree of knowledge brought realization of good and evil. Certainly eating from the tree of knowledge by Adam and Eve was disobeying God command. So they were excluded from Eden and barred from eating from the tree of life. Eventually, evil will be destroyed and believers will be brought into a restored paradise. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, in the new earth, everyone will eat from the tree of life and live forever.
Sometimes Christians go through the motions rather than doing what they do out of love for Christ and love for people. True awaking involves remembering one’s first love and repenting of the deeds that are one without that love.

REVELATION: A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE MEANING

THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS IS FILLED WITH SYMBOLISM AND PHRASES THAT ARE NOT EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD BOOKS ON REVELATION AND HEAVEN. THIS IS JUST ONE FOR YOU READING TIME.

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER LOOK AT REVELATIONS

SATAN

Of course, Satan is real. Satan is ever at work to do evil in the world and to encourage our involvement with sin. However, we can’t really blame our sin on Satan. We still have freedom of choice. Satan wants to make all sin very attractive so all humans will make the wrong choices. Also, our problems and bad situations are not caused by Satan but he tries to direct us toward those problems through his deceptions. Christians are wise to stay alert to the devil’s work, since he is ever scheming to pull us down. We still have to take responsibility for our decisions no matter where they lead us. The Bible presents a clear picture that Satan will not prevail in his evil. He is defeated by Christ and he is defeated in our lives when we walk with Christ. We will also discover truths to help us when we engage in spiritual warfare. The spiritual warfare we are likely to encounter on earth is nothing like what John tells us about in Revelation 12.

Read Revelation 12:7-9

The apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation while he was exited to the island of Patmos. Revelation 1:9-11 tells how John received the revelation from Jesus that he recorded for us. One of John’s purposes was to encourage believers who faced persecution (spiritual warfare) for their belief in Jesus. Here in these verses (7-9) we are told how Satan will be thrown to earth in the future. It describes the conflict between good and evil: then, now, and to come. One problem many encounter in reading Revelation is to forget it is describing the future. This event fulfills Daniel 12:1. Michael is a high-ranking angel. One of his responsibilities is to guard God’s community of believers.

Much more happened at Christ’s birth, death and resurrection than most people realize. A war between the forces of good and evil was under way. With Christ’s resurrection, Satan’s ultimate defeat was assured. Some believe that Satan’s fail to earth took place at Jesus’ resurrection or ascension and that the 1,260 days (3.5 years) is a symbolic way of referring to the time between Christ’s first and second comings. Others say that Satan’s defeat will occur in the middle of a literal seven years tribulation period, following the rapture of the church and preceding the second coming of Christ and the beginning of Christ’s 1,000 year reign. Whatever the case, we must remember that Christ is victorious- Satan has already been defeated because of Christ’s death on the cross (12:10-12).

The devil is not a symbol or legend; he is very real. Originally, Satan was an angel of God, but through his own pride, he became corrupt. The devil is God’s enemy, and he constantly tries to hinder God’s work, but he is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is permitted to do (JOB 1:6-2:8). Satan actually looks for people to attack (1 Peter 5:6-9). Satan likes to pursue believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually weak, or who are isolated from other believers. This is a great case for church and Bible study with other believers.

Even though God permits the devil to do his work in this world, God is in control. And Jesus has complete power over Satan- he defeated Satan when He died and rose again for the sins of everyone. One day, Satan will be bound forever, never again to do his evil work (20:10). Again, we must be careful to understand the time involved in this passage or we merely compound the problem. According to the account, “Now war arose in heaven. Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (vv.7-8). The expulsion of Satan from heaven is in the future -not in the past. The Book of Job depicts Satan as traveling back and forth from earth to heaven (Job 1:6-12; 2;1-7). Michael is an archangel or chief angel. The apocryphal Book of Enoch names Michael as one of seven archangels. Ultimately, however, Christ, not Michael defeated Satan at the cross (Luke 10:18).

Read Revelation 12:10

God’s (future) victory over Satan and his followers is announced by “a loud voice in heaven”. This saying that John heard was “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (v. 10). As in Job, this passage indicates Satan’s access to God. But here his access is forever barred (9:1). He can no longer accuse people before God like Satan did about Job before God (Job 1:6). The term “Devil” means accuser or slanderer, whereas “Satan” means adversary or opponent.

Two overlapping issues deserve some attention here. First, what is the nature of God’s kingdom? Jesus primarily used parables to describe the kingdom. Many Jews hoped for a national, political kingdom. The Zealots were Jewish political revolutionaries who were willing to use violence to overthrow the Roman rulers. Jesus insisted God’s kingdom was not a political realm. He told Pontius Pilate that His kingdom was not like a human kingdom (John 18:36). The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, established by God, through which people are delivered from the powers of sin, death, and Satan. It is God’s reign or rule over His people. The coming of the kingdom of God also involves the end of the rule of Stan and the judgment of the wicked.

Second, when did the kingdom of God arrive? Many Bible scholars suggest that the kingdom was inaugurated during Jesus’ earthly ministry, especially through His death and resurrection. The kingdom will be completed or perfected at Jesus’ return. The overall witness of Jesus’ ministry and the New Testament writers is to balance the already and the not yet of the kingdom (the kingdom of God has in one sense arrived, but in another sense, will not be fully consummated until Jesus’ second coming. Jesus’ disciples did not always comprehend what He said regarding the nature of His kingdom. For instance, they were still asking about the kingdom in Acts 1:6, right before Jesus’ ascension.

Read Revelation 12:11-12

According to biblical usage, there is only one devil- but many demons, who serve as the devil’s agents. Significantly, the heavenly voice continued to say, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (v.11). The expression, “word of their testimony,” probably refers to the Christian confession, “Jesus is Lord”, in contrast with those who said, “Caesar is Lord.” During Domitian’s reign, to confess the lordship of Christ often meant death. Verse 12 consists of both joyfulness and warning, joyfulness for heaven and its occupants, warning for “earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” Thus, the already persecuted Christians were to prepare themselves for another assault by Satan. The brevity of Satan’s time may mean thousands of years to God’s calendar (2 Peter 3:8).

The critical blow to Satan came when the Lamb, Jesus Christ, shed His blood for our sins. The victory is won by sacrifice- Christ’s death is our place to pay the penalty for our sin. And the sacrifices we make because of our faith in Him. As we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it, but we should loyalty serve Christ, who alone brings victory (Romans 8:34-35).

The devil begins to step his persecution became he knows that “he has little time”. We are living in the last days, and Satan’s work has become more intense. Even though the devil is very powerful, as we can see by the condition of our world, he is always under God’s control. One of the reasons God allows Satan to work evil and bring temptation is so that those who pretend to be Christ’s followers will be weeded out from Christ’s true believers. What do we think that the Israelites of the Old Testament, who continued to worship idols, teaches us? Knowing that the last great confrontation with Jesus is near. Satan is desperately trying to recruit as great an enemy force as possible for this final battle. We see in Revelation- twice- that Satan did recruit a mass army- once just before Jesus’ second coming and then again when Satan was released at the end of the Millennium. Jesus tells John to record that in both cases the outcome will be the same- Satan loses, and with the last time it will be for keeps.

If you haven’t read Revelation chapters 20 and 21 recently, you need to! They tell us what we, as believers, will be doing as Satan is cast to “his fiery permanent end”. Our basis response to Satan is to follow Christ completely. While we are not likely to be required to die for our faith, but we need to be bold in our witness for Christ