Revelation 20 - part two

The binding of the satan 1-4

The first curiosity that we come across is the binding of satan, or the satan. If we understand that the millennium refers to the period of history between Christ's birth and his return, what does this mean? Certainly the world around us does not seem free from evil. There are enough distressing stories on the news for us to be aware of personal and corporate evil.

This refers back to satan's role in the heavenly court as accuser. That's what the Hebrew word means. So in Job, it is the satan's role to point the finger at Job, and say that he only loves God because things are going well.

Jesus tells us in Luke 10.18, when the 72 return from the mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God, that "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven." As the Kingdom of God is proclaimed to the nations, the power of satan to accuse is diminished, or bound. The Kingdom is not limited to historic ethnic Israel, but is available to all people everywhere, so the deception that the Kingdom was just for one nation is removed.

So why will he released again? Tom Wright suggests that God uses the satan in his role as accuser at the end of time to expose human wrongdoing one last time, both to encourage people to repent, and in order to ensure that judgement is fair and open.

What happens when we die? 4-10

Do we go straight to be with Jesus, or is there a delay for us before the Resurrection of all?

Confusingly, the Bible seems to teach both. So we have Jesus saying to the repentant thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise." However, Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 suggests that death is a form of sleep, and that we will awaken from that at the Resurrection. Although Paul also says that he wises he could depart, to be with the Lord, in Philippians 1.23.

This is all a matter of perspective. From the point of view of eternity, any period of time will appear to be infinitesimally small. So even if there is a delay, it will be just like when someone nods off after lunch for twenty minutes, and can't believe that the clock hands have moved around so fast!

So although those of us left behind will grieve, and will feel as though those who have died have been gone a long time, from the point of view of the person who has died in Jesus it will be as though they just nodded off, and suddenly they are with the Lord and all their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The awesome throne of God 11-15

The white throne of God is so awesome, that before his majesty, heaven and earth themselves flee away. In the presence of great beauty and purity, we become aware of our own inadequacies and failings. We don't need anyone to tell us how bad we are!

Before the throne are the two books.

The first, the book of deeds, records all the good things that I have done or thought or said. However, it also records all the bad things that I have ever thought or done or said. Worse than that, it records that I have not put God first in everything. Sometimes I have put myself first. Sometimes I have put my family or friends first. If I am judged on the basis of this book, then I too will have to flee away.

The second book is the Lamb's book of life. The amazing and wonderful thing is this: if my name is written in the book of life then I won't be judged according to my deeds. Instead, I will be judged according to the deeds of the lamb. When Jesus was earth he always put his father first, and so was declared the Righteous One. If I am judged as one whose name is in the book of life, then life I shall have, and reign with him forever.