The Book of Revelation (page 6)

STUDY INDEX

Page 1 Introduction, Rapture, Judgement of Christians, Marriage Supper

Page 2 Daniel's Dreams and Prophecies

Page 3 Daniel's Vision of Seventy Weeks; Great Tribulation Period

Page 4 Seven Trumpet Judgements; Middle of Tribulation Period

Page 5 Seven Vials; Great Whore; Second Coming; The Millennium

Page 6 Judgement of the Wicked; New Heaven and Earth; Conclusion

Satan Loosed for a Season

"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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. 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. 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." (Revelation 20:7-10). This time, the saints are not involved. God Himself puts an end to Satan and his followers once and for all. God will reign down fire from heaven on this army "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea" as they surround Jerusalem. Then Satan is taken and cast into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night for ever!

Judgement of the Wicked

All Christians will be judged by Christ, which we saw earlier in our study. But, now all the unsaved must stand for God to give account of themselves." 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," John said, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15). This will be a terrible time for all involved. Men's lives will be played before them, and all of their excuses will be for nought. "Who shall stand when He appeareth," Malachi wrote, "for he is like a refiner's fire." (Malachi 3:2). The Lord said through Isaiah, "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear..... all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed." (Isaiah 45:24). Paul echoed this promise to the church at Philippi, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).

What will happen to people who have never heard the Gospel, or never heard of Jesus? Will God condemn people to Hell who have never heard about Christ?

This is a common question and a good question. What will happen to the countless souls who lived, before Christ and since, who never heard the Gospel, who don't know about Jesus or the Bible, who have never heard a sermon, who know nothing about salvation or regeneration? Of the 6 billion people who currently live on earth, it is believed that as much as half of them have never heard about Jesus. What will happen to them? The Scriptures teach that no man can come to the Father but through Jesus Christ. Does this automatically condemn every one who has never heard about Jesus?

It has been said that there is a God-shaped void within every man. The variety and number of religions on the earth account for this. People over the world, from civilized nations to remote tribes in Africa, the native Indians of America, and the jungles of South America, realize there is a Higher Power, that there is Someone who is greater than themselves, Someone they must seek to please and Someone they can turn to for help and guidance. And in their own way, they have reached out to this Higher Power. Paul said to the Romans, "Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been seen, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20 NIV). While men are sinful by nature, even uncivilized tribes have certain moral laws similar to our own. These people, who have no knowledge of the moral standards and laws given by God, by nature have set up laws that are similar. Paul addresses this to the Romans. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law," Paul said, "do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the men while accusing or else excusing one another; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Romans 2:14-16). Paul also says a little earlier in verse 13 that it is the hearers of the law who are just before God, but the doers of law. Paul makes it clear in verse14 that people without any law can do by nature the things in the law, and it is the doers, and not the hearers, who are justified.

Paul says that God "will render to every man according to his deeds." At the final judgement of the unsaved, John saw in his vision " 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. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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.... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15).

We know from the Scriptures that Jesus is the way of salvation, and the only way to come to the Father. We also know that God desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth and commands all men everywhere to repent. The Church has received the mandate to go into the world and preach the gospel to every person, and make disciples of men from all nations. Some have said that if ignorance is an excuse, then we shouldn't "go" but "stay", for by telling the ignorant of Christ, they become condemned if they do not listen. This subject is not without controversy, but I believe the Bible teaches that people who have never heard the Gospel will be judged according to their works, and who by nature do the law, will be judged according to the law written in their hearts. Without doubt nor question, I do know that God will do what is fair and just.

New Heavens and New Earth

This is what the prophets and people of the early church longed for. Peter declared, "We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13). Their eyes were not on this earth, but on the one to come. John saw in his great vision, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:1-5).

Concerning the new Jerusalem, the angel told John that the city has no temple, for God and the Lamb are its temple; it needs no sun, for the glory of God and the Lamb are its light. There is no need to shut the gates, for there is nothing to keep out, and nothing to be afraid of. "The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it..... And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsover worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:22-27). Is this what you long for? A world without pain? without death? without sin? without sorrow nor tears? God has promised all of these things will pass away as He creates for His people a new earth and a new heaven. God spoke through Isaiah so beautifully of this day, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." Even God will rejoice during this time. "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.... They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat..... They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord..... And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:17-24).

In Conclusion

"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:12-20).

Revelation closes with the Spirit and the bride crying out for Jesus to return. And one last call is given to man, "Let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely." I long for the day which Jesus returns. I grow tired of fighting with sin and fighting my flesh, and I look for the day when "we shall be like Him." David, the Psalmist, declared, "I shall be satisfied when I awake with His likeness." "Even so," John exclaimed, "come, Lord Jesus." If you weren't before, we hope this study has caused you to also long for His appearing.

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:10-13).

We hope that you enjoyed this study on Revelation and the End Times. We tried to touch on all major topics in Bible prophecy and give you some details, but didn't want to give you so much detail that it became confusing or boring. We hope that we accomplished our goal. Join us soon for another study, and as always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.