Don't Go to the Lake on Mother's Day!

Today is Mother’s Day.  This morning, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Don’t Go to the Lake on Mother’s Day!”  Some of you are saying, “Of course not.  I’m here aren’t I?”  Hold that thought.  We’ll come back to this idea in a few minutes.

 

We are continuing to think about End Times Chronology in our study of Revelation.  After the rapture of the church, there will be a seven-year earthly tribulation.  The tribulation will end with the return of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon.

 

We saw that last Sunday in Revelation 19.  In Revelation, we see what is often called the earthly, millennial reign of Christ.  The word “millennial” is Latin and means one thousand.  You can find it used six times in this chapter: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. 

 

Historically, Christians for 2000 years have interpreted this “one thousand years” in one of three ways, and all of these words that I am about to share speak of the millennium in relation to the return of Christ. 

 

First, Amillennialism says there is not a literal millennium, and we are perhaps living in a time of divine peace as we speak, and it is happening before Jesus returns.  Second, Postmillennialism says that Jesus will come back after the millennium.  Most of those who held that position went by the wayside at the advent of World War II. 

 

Finally, Premillennialism says that Jesus will come back before the millennium.  In short, I believe that you can take Revelation 19-20 in chronological order. 

 

I also believe that you can understand the 1000 years as literal as opposed to figurative.  This morning, I want to show you what happens before the millennium, what happens in the millennium, and what happens after the millennium, and remember, don’t go to the lake on Mother’s Day!

 

 

1. What will happen before the millennium?

 

The short answer is that the devil will somewhat be free to do as he pleases.  Please, notice I said “somewhat,” and we’re talking about right now.

 

Job 1:6-12

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”  So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”  8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”  9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”  So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

 

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

 

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

 

Again, Satan has to have God’s permission to do anything.  However, he is looking for someone to attack.  He can’t endanger your eternal life, but he can certain attempt to destroy your earthly life.

 

 

1. What will happen during the millennium? Revelation 20:1-6

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.  4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 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. 

 

John doesn’t tell us a lot of details here in Revelation 20.  Some specifics are added from Old Testament Prophets.  However, we do know at least two truths. 

 

First, Satan will be restricted.

John saw an angel coming down from heaven in verse one, and he had keys and a chain.  He laid hold of the dragon, the serpent.  If we stopped there, you might be wondering who this is.

 

However, the verse continues, and we are told this is the devil and Satan.  He will be bound or restricted for 1000 years.  He is not restricted to hell at this point, but to the abyss, a prison of sorts.  He won’t be able to deceive anyone for 1000 years.  However, after the 1000 years is over, he will have a very temporary freedom.

 

Second, the Saints will be reigning.

In verse four, John saw a group sitting on thrones and judging.  Who is this?  The bible mentions at least three groups of saints elsewhere and then one here. 

 

First, Daniel 7:27 says that OT saints will reign. 

 

27 Then the kingdom and dominion,

And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,

Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

 

Second, Matthew 19:28 says that the twelve apostles will reign. 

 

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Third, 1 Corinthians 6:2 says that the Church will reign. 

 

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

 

Therefore, you have here Jesus, OT saints, the twelve apostles, and the Church reigning during the 1000 years.

 

John then, introduces us to a fourth group.  This is the group of Tribulation saints who were martyred.  They were murdered for the cause of Christ, and they did not worship the beast, and they did not have the mark of the beast on their foreheads.  They also will reign with Christ and these other saints during the 1000 years.

 

Verse five then says that the rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years was completed.  That is a reference to all dead nonbelievers.  They will be resurrected after the 1000 years.

 

Then we come to a rather interesting statement.  This is the first resurrection.  What does that mean? 

 

In the Bible, there are two deaths and two resurrections, and here is the sequence.  There is the first death.  That is physical death.  Then, there is the first resurrection.  It includes Jesus and all saints of all time, and it happened in stages.  There was Jesus.  There were some OT saints.  There was the Church.  Then there were the rest of the OT saints.  Finally, there will be these Tribulation saints who were martyred.  That is all of the first resurrection. 

 

There will then be a second resurrection that we will see in just a minute.  It will be all the nonbelievers of all time.  They will be resurrected in order to be judged.  Then they will experience the second death.  Notice in verse six that everyone who experienced the first resurrection will not be influenced at all by the second death.  However, they will reign with Christ for 1000 years.

 

During the 1000 years, Satan will be restricted, and the saints will be reigning.

 

 

• What will happen after the millennium? Revelation 20:7-15

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

First, Satan will be destroyed but everlastingly.

After the 1000 years over, Satan’s time is over, but not before one last attempt to overthrow the Lord.  He will do his best in rallying his troops from the four corners of the earth. 

 

Who will be his troops?  They will be unbelieving offspring of millennial saints.  Keep in mind that there will multiple generations during 1000 years.  Christ will be on His throne, but it won’t be perfect, and it won’t be sinless. 

 

Gog and Magog is a reference to Ezekiel 38-39.  Gog will be the individual in charge.  Magog will be the rest of the followers.  Their attempt to overthrow the Lord will be short lived. 

 

In verse nine, fire will come down from heaven and destroy them in an instant.  Then in verse ten, the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire joining the anti-Christ and the false prophet.  The unholy Trinity will then spend forever in hell.  They will be destroyed but everlastingly. 

 

When you say destroyed, by definition, it assumes an end.  There will be no end to Satan’s destruction.  He and the rest of the unholy Trinity will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  His destruction will be everlasting.

 

Second, sinners will be dead but eternally.

Our final observation is found in verses eleven through fifteen.  This is known as the great white throne judgment.  It is the final judgment of nonbelievers.  They will be judged by King Jesus, and the standard will be perfection symbolized by the color white. 

 

As you see in verse eleven, it will happen somewhere in space as the earth and heaven flee away.  We are about to enter eternity. 

 

In verse twelve, all unbelievers from all time are resurrected for judgment.  They stand before the throne and books are opened.  These are books of every deed by every individual in all of history who hasn’t trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior. 

 

Also, we have here the book of life.  That is eternal life.  If you are believer, your name is here.  Otherwise, you will be judged on your works. 

 

Again, the standard is perfection…not even one little sin or mistake.  No one measures up.  All are judged to death in hell.  If you lie once and committed your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is death in hell.  If you get angry once and haven’t committed your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is death in hell for you.  If you are prideful once and haven’t committed your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is death in hell for you.  Like I said, no one measures up.

 

As a result, they are all cast into the lake of fire joining the unholy Trinity.  This is the second death, but it doesn’t have an end. 

 

It is death but eternally.  There will be no reprieve. There will be no letting up.  There will be no mercy and grace at this point.  This is the second death for unbelievers, and it is death eternally in the lake of fire.

 

 

Conclusion

So here is my question again.  Are you headed to the lake on Mother’s Day?  I’m not talking about Fork or Tawakoni or Holbrook.  I’m talking about the lake of fire. 

 

Today, our invitation for you is to repent and call on the name of the Lord and be saved.