23--THE MILLENNIUM

Read Revelation 20


Note: A careful study of this chapter reveals to us the fate of both righteous and wicked. We see the righteous get a chance during the thousand years to understand more of God’s justice and mercy in destroying the wicked. We will see why a friend or loved one didn’t make it and why others, who we thought would not, did. We will understand the fairness of it all. After the righteous have this opportunity, the wicked are raised. They also will finally see the justice in God’s actions. During this brief period Satan lets them think he resurrected them and that they can take the New Jerusalem, which has come down to the earth. When they are ready to try, fire destroys them. We are told they are destroyed root and branch. Malachi says they will be ashes underfoot. What does last is the smoke ascending forever and ever spreading out into the vast universe. The fire is not quenched until every bit of them is destroyed. If we quench a fire ahead, some of the remains will still be there. But this fire is not quenched.

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" – 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3


Note: This is speaking of the thousand years where we examine the cases of the wicked. Their fate is already decided, but we will learn how just God is during this time. We will learn why some didn’t make it to heaven. In this sense we are part of a judgment. We will even judge the fallen angels.

"I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger." – Jeremiah 4:23-26


Note: Jeremiah, way back in the old testament, saw the end of the world and the destruction of things on this present earth.

"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


Note: After the thousand years and the final destruction of the wicked, God creates this world anew. No suffering or death will be here. The Eden of the beginning will be here for us to enjoy.

"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt] thou [be] any more." – Ezekiel 28:18, 19


Note: Remember how we read this text in a earlier study. Satan will be destroyed and will be burned to ashes, as will all the rest of the wicked.

CONCLUSION:

God is merciful and longsuffering. The act of destruction of the wicked is “a strange act” to Him. It is in mercy they are destroyed, because they would not be happy in a pure heaven. We should thank the Lord He understands all of us and wants to save those who seek for Him. God loves you. He is wooing you with His Spirit. Let Him have your heart.