Article for Dec 11, 2024
Revelation 20:1–3 1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
The test is this, be faithful till the end and believe Jesus is coming back for us. The devil we say is already defeated. However, the devil has not yet been locked away. You might ask why not. The answer is not simple because God Himself is the keeper of the answers. We just know from God’s word that the time is coming, and Satan will be thrown into the pit and the pit will be sealed for a thousand years.
The good news that we should take away from the devil being captive for a thousand years is that His influence will have no power over anyone. We will witness a time of peace. In this life of peace many generations will come and go. Hopefully life will remember Jesus Christ during this time. Through the history of man, man has turned their backs on God and forgotten the need for salvation. If life is too good, we might forget God and all He is doing for us. Maybe that’s why Satan will be released after the thousand years is over.
What then would the significance of the devil being released for a short time be? Probably to weed out the nonbelievers from the believers. This is Jesus clearing the threshing floor of the chaff. Either way, Jesus comes with a gift of peace that will last a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4 4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
This is interesting, when Jesus comes for His second coming, He will raise those who were beheaded for His and His word’s sake. One was beheaded that comes to mind is John the Baptist who was beheaded for the daughter of Herodias. John the Baptist will be among those who come back to life and will rule with Jesus for a thousand years.
Notice that these people did not have the mark of the beast on their forehead or their hand. These are people who worshiped God, who died for God and who will reign with God. These are the people of great faith and will carry the righteousness of Jesus with them.
Revelation 20:5 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
These who were beheaded will be of the first resurrection. The rest of the believers who were not beheaded will be of the second resurrection. Note the second resurrection will be after the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. This too may be a reason to release the devil back into the world. When the final time comes and all who are resurrected are safe in heaven’s guard, Satan and the unbelievers will meet their final defeat and their second death.
Revelation 20:6 6Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Not that the idea of being beheaded fits anyone’s fancy, but if it happens for the sake of God and His word… Well, let’s just say God makes good use of turning tragedies around for His good purpose. We have salvation to look forward to in Jesus’ second coming and even in the second resurrection. Because Jesus died for our sin, forgives us from the cross, and leads us through His word and Holy Spirit to our resurrection into life eternal with Him. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May
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