Revelation 20:10
Worst of All
Last week I mentioned that we had left the Tribulation and moved into
the Millennium, but by the time I finished preaching last Sunday
morning, we had also left the Millennium and moved into Eternity. To
be honest, I feel a bit awkward about that. I literally spent months
preaching on the Tribulation, seven years, then zoomed across the
Millennium in less than a whole message.
I think there is a reason for that. Although the Old Testament does
give us more information than I shared on the Millennium, the truth
is that the Millennium is just not our time period. We are the church
and our time of ministry and responsibility ends with the rapture.
Since we hold the reigns or responsibility up to the Tribulation, God
has revealed some truths to us so that we can warn our generation,
who will be the generation that we go through the Tribulation; but
the further from our time we get, the less we know and the less we
understand.
This I do know about what happens beyond our time period, you don’t
want to be there.
Last week, we zoomed through the 1000 Year Reign of Jesus on the
earth, and noted that at the end, the Devil will be released from his
bottomless pit and will lead the world to rebel against God one more
time. \\#Rev 20:7-9\\ The major difference between that rebellion and
all of his others is that rebellion will be his very last one.
Rev 20:10 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.
Today we ask another question. What happens after Satan is judged?
I. The Last Resurrection
A. John mentioned two resurrections in a verse we read last week.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
B. When John spoke of the resurrection, he did so in two unique
ways.
1. John counted differently.
a. John called this the "first resurrection," but we
know that was at least one more—and it was major.
b. It was not a resurrection of PEOPLE but of a PERSON,
Jesus Christ.
c. But there is also another resurrection John did not
mention.
(1) We call it the rapture, but it also includes a
resurrection.
(2) It is discussed in \\#1Thess 4:13-18\\ and the
last half of 1 Corinthians 15.
(3) Those who are alive when Jesus returns will be
changed but those who are dead will also be
resurrected.
(3) This is when the corruptible puts on
incorruption, mortal puts on immortality,
dishonor puts on honor, and weak puts on power.
d. To be honest to me that is the most important
resurrection because that is my resurrection and the
resurrection I want for all of my family and friends.
e. Why did John not mention these?
(1) We don’t know because he did not tell us.
(2) It appears John was only counting the "last"
resurrections.
2. John was vague about somethings.
a. There are questions that I can’t answer.
b. Why was he vague? Perhaps because it is beyond our
time period and responsibility.
3. But John did record more details about what I call the
"last" resurrection when he recorded Jesus’ words.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me
I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day.
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he
said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of
Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is
it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,
Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him
up at the last day.
C. As far as I know this resurrection is the last resurrection,
and it appears to be the very last event that occurs before
eternity begins.
1. I get that because Jesus said this resurrection will occur
on "the last day" four times. \\#John 6:39, 40, 44, 54\\
2. Since you can’t have more than one last day so it would
seem that this resurrection will occur just before
eternity begins.
D. Some saved and all of the lost will be resurrected on this
resurrection.
1. These verses are all speaking about the saved that will be
raised.
a. Jesus was talking to the Jews when He spoke.
b. This is before the cross so these would still be Old
Testament Jews.
c. And Jesus was telling THEM, the JEWS, that He would
not lose any, but would raise THEM up "at the last
day."
d. That leads me to think that all of the Jews who
trusted Jesus by faith and demonstrated it by
obedience in the Old Testament will be raised up at
or on that last day.
e. This would appear to be what Martha understood from
the teachings of Jesus as well:
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that
he shall rise again in the resurrection at the
last day.
2. But the unsaved from all ages will also be raised on the
last day too.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word
that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
the last day.
E. So…
1. The Millennium ends.
2. Satan is loosed.
3. The world is deceived and rebels against God at Jerusalem.
4. God destroys them with fire.
5. Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire.
6. And the dead whose remains are still entomb in the earth,
but the saved dead and the unsaved dead, are resurrected.
7. Then the world and galaxy as we know it, ends.
II. Then the Judgement
A. As bad as your life may be, as bad as the Tribulation will be,
this event is the worst of all! It deals with the last
judgment.
Rev 20:11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake
of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
B. The Details:
1. \\#12\\ The People of the Judgment
a. The Bema Seat for Christians would have occurred
before we were joined to Jesus, around the Marriage
Supper of the Lamb \\#Rev 19:5-9\\.
b. This is definitely for the lost and perhaps somehow
the resurrected Jews will be there.
(1) There is no mention of any saved in these verses.
(2) I am just supposing that the saved Jews that were
resurrected are going to have some kind of
judgment too.
c. \\#Rev 19:14\\ Notice that death and hell has given up
all of their residents now. These two will cease to
be for their purposes are complete.
2. \\#11\\ The Place of the Judgment
a. The Bible says that earth and heaven flee away, giving
the impression that all of creation is simply thrown
to one side and his judgment takes place in the middle
of nothingness.
b. Now each man, woman, boy, and child stands before
God—and there are no distractions. It is just you
and God.
3. The Person Over the Judgment
a. \\#12\\ God
(1) You keep telling yourself He is a myth.
(2) See if that makes Him go away.
b. In this place before that Person men will simply fall
in the fetal position and whin and tremble.
c. Why the fetal position?
(1) Because that is the bowing position.
(2) Mankind lives the first nine months of his life
bowed and many will live the last days of our
lives in the bowed.
(3) The only time wicked men stand erect is when
they walk on this earth.
4. The Purpose of the Judgment - The purpose is described by
two sets of books.
a. \\#12-13\\ One is the Books of Works.
(1) "books" as in it is plural, more than one.
(2) Perhaps every work we have ever done but no doubt
every ungodly thought we have thought, every
ungodly deed we have done, and every ungodly
word we have spoken.
(3) These Books will frighten and condemn you, but
they will not damn you.
b. \\#12-15\\ The Book of Life.
(1) John does not give us much information on this
book in this place but other passages tell us
that this book is the record of all who have
ever trusted Jesus as their Savior.
(1) Faith
(2) Repentance
(2) The damned will be those who names are not
written in this book.
(3) I do not care how bad a life you have lived or
how many years you lived it that way, the Bible
does not say that your works will damn you, but
your name being missing from this book will
damn you.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(4) If you are listening to me preach, it will not be
life of sinfulness that will damn you but your
stubborness in not bowing before Jesus Christ
right this very moment and calling upon Him
for that is all that stands between you and
forgiveness.
5. The Pain of the Judgment
a. In \\#Rev 20:10\\ It is called the Lake of Fire and
Brimstone.
b. In \\#Rev 20:14, 15\\ It is called a Lake of Fire.
c. In \\#Rev 20:10\\ It says the people who go there
"shall be tormented day and night for ever and
ever."
(1) You have never seen a place like this because
there has never been a place like this.
(2) I suspect that even hell itself will look
pleasant compared to the Lake of Damnation.
(3) Why? Because this is a place with absolutely
no mercy, grace, compassion, or forgiveness.
d. Question - Why would God make a place so awful? How
can He be a God of love and make a place like this?
e. Answer - God is also a God of Justice, and you and I
have no idea how wicked it was for us to rebel
against Him, to steal His glory, and to blaspheme
His holiness. The only way we will understand is to
see this place, then we will know.
You say, "Preacher, you are just trying to scare me." Yes, I am. I
am trying to scare you out of hell and into heaven. I am warning you
of a sure future if you reject Jesus Christ; but this Book is not
finished yet. As awful and severe as the Lake of Fire will be for
those who reject Jesus, so glorious and sweet will be heaven for those
who accept Him. You get to decide. Make your choice most carefully.
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