Between the Millennial Kingdom and the Eternal State
The Millennial period and kingdom will end when Satan is released from the Abyss.
The Loosing of Satan and the Final Invasion of Israel
When Satan is released from the Abyss, he will pick up right where he left off in his work to deceive the nations all over the world. As stated already, there will be large numbers of unregenerate mankind for Satan to deceive.
The reference to "Gog and Magog" highlight the extent of Satan's influence and success is raising up a rebellion once more against the Lord. This battle, like the earlier one in Eze 38 and 39, target's Israel. But this invasion will be put down massively and suddenly, as fire will come down from heaven to destroy the invading armies as soon as they reach Jerusalem.
It is at this point that Satan, previously contained in the Abyss, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and False Prophet have been for the last 1000 years. This will end the influence of Satan for once and for all.
Rev 20:7-10 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison (8) and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. (9) They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (10) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Authority at this point will be transferred from Jesus to God the Father. This can only happen after Jesus has made a final end to all challenges to Jesus' rule on earth. The last enemy to be defeated is death itself. In the Millennial Kingdom, death still existed. Satan was the originator of death in the Garden of Eden, and Satan is the one who caused death for man ever since. Now that Satan has been defeated and banished to the Lake of Fire, death can also be banished forever.
At this point all things have been placed under the total subjection of the the Lord Jesus, and the kingdom can now be handed over to the authority of God the Father.
1Co 15:24-28 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (27) For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. (28) When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
The Great White Throne Judgment
After the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom, a judgment called the "Great White Throne Judgment" will take place in preparation for the Eternal State. The person sitting on the throne is likely Jesus, for all judgment has been entrusted to Him (Joh 5:22). In preparation for this judgment the old order, or the present heaven and earth, will pass away, and be replaced by a new heaven and new earth.
Rev 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
This judgment is a judgment of unbelievers of all times, not to determine whether or not a person is saved, but to determine the degree of punishment for not believing.
There is a principle in scripture that teaches degrees of punishment based on the degree of knowledge a person has and their response to that knowledge.
Mat 11:20-24 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. (21) "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. (23) And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. (24) But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Luk 12:47-48 "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. (48) But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
A persons appearance at this judgment will be based on their failing to believe on Jesus as Savior, however, the degree of punishment will be based on a persons works. These works are recorded in "books". Note these distinctions between the books.
Book of Life - Contains the names of every person ever born.
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Those who believe have their names retained in the Book of Life.
Rev 3:5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
Those who do not believe have their names blotted out of the Book of Life.
Psa 69:27-28 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. (28) May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
At the Great White Throne Judgment, if a persons name is not found in the Book of Life, that will reveal that person to be unsaved.
The Lamb's Book of Life - This book is a list of the names of every person who is born again. While the "Book of Life" is every person ever born, the Lamb's Book of Life is every person ever born again, and those names were recorded before the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:8 (NASB) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Rev 17:8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
The Second Resurrection
Additional information about resurrections and judgment can be found here --> (https://www.tojesusbeallglory.com/2021/05/a-look-at-resurrections-and-judgments.html)
In preparation for the Great White Throne Judgment, unbelievers are resurrected for judgment. They receive resurrection bodies and will live forever.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
The Second Death - The Lake of Fire
Following the Great White Throne Judgment. the judgment will be carried out. The eternal abode of the unbeliever will be the Lake of Fire.
Rev 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (15) And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
A little about abodes. Throughout the Old Testament, both the believer and the unbeliever were said to go to "Hades" (Greek) or "Sheol" (Hebrew). While the sacrificial system covered the sins of the Old Testament saints, it did not remove them. Only the death of the Messiah could remove sins permanently.
Heb 10:4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
So while the Old Testament sacrificial system was sufficient to keep the believers from hell, it could not get them into heaven. Luke explains this place, Hades, and we see that in this place there were two compartments.
Luk 16:19-31 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. (20) At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores (21) and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. (24) So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' (25) "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. (26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' (27) "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, (28) for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' (29) "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' (30) "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' (31) "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
The unbeliever was destined for the Hellish portion of Hades, which was indeed a place of torment (Luk 16:23-25, Luk 16:28).
The believer was destined for the Heavenly portion of Hades, which was known as Abraham's Bosom", and was a place of comfort, but was not Heaven itself. In Luk 23:43 this place is called "Paradise".
Luk 23:43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
When Jesus died to remove sin, He did so for all the Old Testament saints that they committed in the past. When Jesus died on the cross, He removed the sin for the Old Testament saints who were in Paradise.
Rom 3:25 (NIrV) God gave him as a sacrifice to pay for sins. So he forgives the sins of those who have faith in his blood. God did all of that to prove that he is fair. Because of his mercy he did not punish people for the sins they had committed before Jesus died for them.
Heb 9:15 (NIrV)That's why Christ is the go-between of a new covenant. Now those God calls to himself will receive the eternal gift he promised. They will receive it now that Christ has died to save them. He died to set them free from the sins they committed under the first covenant.
What happened next is that the Old Testament saints had their sins removed, and they were led from Paradise to Heaven.
Eph 4:8-10 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (9) (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? (10) He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
While the body of Jesus remained in the tomb for 3 days and nights, His soul went down to the Paradise side of Hades where He told the people there that their sins had been removed. He subsequently bought all the souls of the people in Paradise up to heave with Him at the time of His Ascension.
So today, Paradise, the comfort side of Hades does not exist any longer, for New Testament saints do not go to Hades, but to Heaven.
Following the Great White Throne Judgment, the Hell side of Hades will no longer exist, since all the judged will be in the Lake of Fire.
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Php 1:23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Heb 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, (23) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (24) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The Eternal State
In the Old Testament, the Messianic Kingdom is the high point of scripture, and in the New Testament it is the Eternal State that is the high point of scripture.
The Passing of the Old Order
This passage echoes Rev 20:11, where it is said that "the earth and heavens fled from His presence". Following the destruction of the old earth and old heaven, a new heaven and new earth are created. In this new earth, there is no longer any sea.
Rev 21:1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
The New Jerusalem
The New Jerusalem is said to come down out of heaven. The New Jerusalem current exists in the "third heaven", and will come down to rest on earth.
Rev 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Other references to the New Jerusalem include Gal 4:6. In this passage it shows that the New Jerusalem is "free". This means that this place is free from corruption and bondage to various forces like the present earth is.
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
By faith, Abraham looked forward to the future New Jerusalem.
Heb 11:9-10 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. (10) For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
The New Jerusalem is described at the place where all the saved go.
Heb 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, (23) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (24) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
A number of groups will live in the New Jerusalem forever. The triune God will live there, as will the entire angelic hosts, the church saints, the Old Testament saints, the Tribulation saints and the Millennial Saints.
God will live with the angels and redeemed saints in the New Jerusalem as His Shechinah glory is continuously present, while below them is the New Heaven and New Earth. The curse and it's effects will no longer exist and we will truly live in a pre-fall condition.
Rev 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (4) 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
In vs. 5-8 God reveals some of the conditions of the New Jerusalem. It does and will exist, because God is trustworthy and true and said it would exist. The thirsty will be able to drink the water of life, and God again states that the believers will inherit this.
Rev 21:5-8 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (6) He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (7) Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (8) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The New Jerusalem
Additional details regarding the New Jerusalem will be covered here in Rev 21:9 to Rev 22:5. Considering the Bible is some 1500 pages in length, only 1 and a half pages is dedicated to the New Jerusalem, so what can be known about it is quite limited.
First, there is an elaboration of Rev 21:2.
Rev 21:9-10 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Next we have a description of the New Jerusalem. It is unimaginable in beauty and glory.
Rev 21:11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
The city walls are described a great and high, indicating their protection of those inside. There are 12 gates, each guarded by an Angel. The gates, three on each of four sides are labeled with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Rev 21:12-13 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. (13) There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
The city foundations will be labeled with the names of the 12 apostles. The size of the city is 1500 miles per side, length and height. This city will be incredibly spacious.
Rev 21:14-17 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. (16) The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. (17) The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.
The entire city is constructed of precious gems and transparent gold. The city gates are made of pearls, a single pearl for each gate.
Rev 21:18-21 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. (19) The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, (20) the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
In addition to no more seas, there are some of other items missing in the New Jerusalem. A temple is missing because God and Jesus are the temple. The sun and moon are missing because the glory of God and Jesus is it's light. There is also no more night.
Rev 21:22-24 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (24) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (25) On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
In the city, there is a source of water called the "river of life". On each side of the river stood the "tree of life". This is the same "tree of life" that was in the Garden (Gen 2:9, Gen 3:22-24). Mankind was not allowed to eat the fruit of the tree of life in the garden for it would enable him to live forever, which would not be good in the fallen state. In the Eternal State mankind has been redeemed and has eternal life, and the tree is good to eat, for it brings healing to the nations.
Note that the word "month" is used in Rev 22:2, so there is some kind of time passing and keeping going on in the eternal state. It is not just a timeless blissful existence. But since there is no longer a sun or moon, timekeeping will be something different than what we have today.
The word "healing" of the leaves of the tree of life in vs. 2 is not used to heal sick people, since there is no longer any sickness. The leaves are health giving to the nations.
The Greek word "nations" means "Gentiles", so there is still a distinction between Jew and Gentile, although there does not appear to be any functional difference.
Rev 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (2) down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
There will be a total absence of the curse in the New Jerusalem, and the people there will serve God. They will see Him.
Rev 22:3-4 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Vs. 5 expands on Rev 21:24 which says there will be no night in the New Jerusalem.
Rev 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
The Conclusion
Authentications
An authentication of the Revelation itself, by God.
Rev 22:6-7 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." (7) "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll."
An authentication of the John, by the Angel that gave John the Revelation.
Rev 22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. (9) But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"
Declarations
Not to seal up the words of the prophecy.
Rev 22:10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.
This is connected to what Daniel was told. Daniel's prophecies covered such large periods of time, and he had trouble understanding them, certainly those hearing them would have difficulty as well, so Daniel was told to seal up the prophecy until the "time of the end". At that time, much prophecy would be fulfilled and understood. John's prophecies could be understood as could Daniel's in light of those fulfilled, so John was not told to seal them up.
Dan 12:4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
Dan 12:8-9 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" (9) He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
The purpose for the return of Jesus, to distribute rewards for the redeemed and judgment for the unrighteous.
Rev 22:12 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
A declaration of the eternal nature of the Messiah.
Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
The blessings of those who have washed their robes.
Rev 22:14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
And finally, the characteristics of the un-redeemed. The "outside" place is the Lake of Fire.
Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Affirmation of Christ
Jesus affirms that the Revelation is His to give, and it is He that gave it to the churches.
Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
The Invitation of the Holy Spirit and the Church
The reader is invited by the Holy Spirit and the Church to be a part of all this that is going on. While the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts, and does the calling and regeneration, it is the Church that presents the gospel message. The Church and the Holy Spirit work together in this task.
Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
A warning is given against adding or removing from scripture. Adding or removing portions of the scripture are the frequent practice of cults, such as the Mormon and their Book of Mormon and Christian Science with their Key to the Scriptures, and many others. Also included in this list are those who hold to a partial inspiration or no inspiration of the scriptures.
The warning is stark. Those who fail to heed these warnings are destined for the Lake of Fire.
Rev 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. (19) And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
The Closing
The Bible closes out with an affirmation once again of Jesus, and a benediction.
Rev 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
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