The Release Of Satan & Day Of Judgment (20:7-15)

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                       "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

           The Release Of Satan & Day Of Judgment (20:7-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. Previously in chapter twenty (Re 20:1-6) John described how he saw...
   a. That Satan would lose his ability to deceive the nations for a long
      time ("1000 years")
   b. That the faithful saints who had suffered greatly during Satan's
      deception of the nations in the first century would serve as priests
      and reign with Christ during this time

2. Now in chapter twenty (Re 20:7-15) John describes...
   a. The future release of Satan
   b. Another effort by Satan to deceive the nations and destroy the people
      of God
   c. His ultimate defeat and eternal torment with the beast and the false
      prophet
   d. The great white throne judgment in which all will stand before God to
      be judged

[It is possible that we might find ourselves living in the time described
in verses 7-10.  It is certain that we will find ourselves facing the
judgment of verses 11-15.  So let us give careful consideration to what
is said, beginning with...]

I. SATAN'S FINAL ATTEMPT AND DEFEAT (7-10)

   A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT...
      1. His release from prison - Re 20:7-8
         a. After the thousand years were completed
         b. He will go out to deceive the nations
            1) Those in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog
            2) To gather them to battle
      2. His final attempt and defeat - Re 20:9
         a. To have the nations surround the camp of the saints and the
            beloved city
         b. But fire from God out of heaven devoured those Satan had
            deceived
      3. His eternal torment - Re 20:10
         a. The devil who deceived the nations was cast into the lake of
            fire and brimstone
         b. The same place where the beast and the false prophet are
         c. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever
      -- The devil, together with the beast and false prophet are given
         their due!

   B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION...
      1. After the "1000 years" are over, Satan is released for a short time
         where he once again seeks to "deceive the nations" to persecute the
         people of God - cf. Re 13:14; 20:3,8,10
      2. The mention of "Gog and Magog" is likely an apocalyptic reference
         to forces of evil at Satan's disposal during this time, not any
         particular nation or nations - e.g., Ezek 38-39
      3. But the final attempt of Satan is quickly thwarted by the Lord,
         and the devil is cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and
         false prophet were - cf. Re 19:20
      4. If any section of Revelation pertains to the time just prior to
         the Lord's final coming, I believe it to be this one
      5. The description is brief, for the book was written for the benefit
         of Christians in Asia Minor about things to shortly come to pass 
         - cf. Re 1:1-4; 22:6,10
      6. The Christians of John's day would not experience this last attempt
         of Satan
      -- But these few verses assure them (and us) that Satan himself would
         ultimately be defeated!

[We may wonder whether we might be living during the last time Satan will
deceive the nations. Current trends in our day certainly cause me to consider
the possibility. But even if not, we still need to be ready for...]

II. THE FINAL JUDGMENT (11-15)

   A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT...
      1. The One on the great white throne - Re 20:11
         a. John sees a great white throne and Him who sat on it
         b. Before whose face the earth and heaven fled away so no place
            was found for them
      2. The judgment of the dead - Re 20:12-13
         a. John sees the dead, small and great, standing before God
         b. Books were opened, including the Book of Life
            1) The dead were judged according to their works
            2) The dead were judged by the things written in the books
         c. All the dead were judged, each according to his works
            1) For the sea gave up the dead who were in it
            2) For Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them
      3. The lake of fire - Re 20:14-15
         a. Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire (which is the
            second death)
         b. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the
            lake of fire
      -- A judgment that determines the ultimate destiny of all mankind

   B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION...
      1. The One on the great white throne is likely Jesus Christ - cf.
         Mt 25:31-32
         a. Whose words will judge us in the last day - Jn 5:22-23,27;
            12:48
         b. By whom God has ordained to judge of the world - Ac 10:42;
            17:30-31
         c. Before whom we must we stand to be judged - Ro 2:16; 14:10;
            2Co 5:10; 2Ti 4:1
      2. That no place is found for earth and heaven suggests their
         annihilation - cf. Re 20:11
         a. Also that stated later - cf. Re 21:1
         b. Which is one possible interpretation of 2Pe 3:7-13
         c. Also supported by that found in He 12:25-27  
      3. The books opened by which we will be judged could be either:
         a. The books of the New Testament containing the words of Jesus,
            His apostles and prophets
         b. Books that have recorded everything we have done in this life
      4. The Book of Life contains the names of those redeemed by the blood
         of the Lamb
         a. Such as Euodia, Syntyche, and Clement - cf. Php 4:2-3
         b. Also Old Testament individuals such as Moses - cf. Exo 32:32
         c. For the blood of Christ cleanses the faithful under the Old
            Covenant as well as the New - He 9:15
         d. Note well: one's name in the Book of Life can be blotted out!
            - cf. Re 3:5; 22:19
      5. None will escape this judgment!
         a. For the sea will give up the dead in it - Re 20:13
         b. Death and Hades will give up all the dead that are in them
            - Re 20:13
         c. Indeed, all will be raised, either to "eternal life" or "eternal
            condemnation" - Jn 5:28-29
      6. Those cast into the "lake of fire", described as "the second death"
         a. Where the beast and false prophet are - Re 19:20
         b. Where Death and Hades will be - Re 20:14
         c. Those whose names were not written in the Book of Life - Re 20:15;
            21:8
      -- A judgment for which we want to make sure our names are in the Lamb's
         Book of Life!

CONCLUSION

1. Studying Revelation 20:7-15, we might best ask ourselves...
   a. Should we find ourselves living in the time in which Satan will be
      released and try one last time to deceive the nations to persecute
      the people of God, will we remain faithful to Jesus even unto death?
   b. When we find ourselves standing before the judgment seat of Christ,
      will our names be in the Lamb's book of life?

2. With the aid of the Book of Revelation together with all of God's Word,
   the answer to both questions can be a resounding "YES!"
   a. By the grace of God, the blood of Christ, and the regeneration of the
      Holy Spirit we can be born again and live a life that will prevent us
      from experiencing "the second death"
   b. Hearing words as these on the day of judgment: "Well done, good and
      faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you
      ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." - Mt 25:21 

In our next two lessons we shall consider a beautiful depiction of what
"the joy of your lord" will entail...!
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