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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 29

John S. Torell

March 23, 2003

CHAPTER TWENTY Part 1
This chapter describes four events, the locking up of the Devil, the 1000 years kingdom with Jesus reigning out of Jerusalem, the last war on this earth, and the final judgment for all people, who did not make it to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

THE LOCKING UP OF THE DEVIL
Verse 1-3: This verse tells us that the Devil does not have very much power. After the war in heaven, before Adam and Eve were created, when he was sentenced to the Lake of Fire, God limited his power - Revelation 12:7-12

This time it only takes on angel from God, to chain up the Devil and lock him up in the bottomless pit.

NOTE: The bottomless pit (Abyss) is not the same as hell. There are the following references to it in the Bible: Revelation 9:1-2; 9:11; 11:7; 17:8; and in chapter 20. In the book of Enoch, this place is referred to as "the prison house for the fallen angels." Compare this with Jude 6.

THE 1000 YEARS KINGDOM
Verse 4-6: The earth will now at this point be restored to its original beauty it had before Adam and Eve fell into sin. The best description of this time is found in Isaiah 11:1-16; 12:1-6 and repeated in Isaiah 65:25. A covenant is promised in Hosea 2:18.

The prophet Daniel was given a glimpse of this event, and it is recorded in Daniel 7:7-28. Jesus also spoke about this time - Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 22:29-30. The apostle Paul adds his insight - 1 Corinthians 6:1-3

In order to understand the following, we must now establish who the real Israel is:

1. God spoke to Abraham about his seed - Genesis 12:1-3 Note that Abraham was a Chaldean, born in Ur, situated south of Babylon (Iraq).
2. God repeated his promise in Genesis 22: 10-18
3. The apostle Paul makes it very clear who the seed of Abraham is - believers in Christ. Romans 2:14-29; 9:1-8 It is in Galatians 3:1-29 that Paul settles this issue once and for all.

Abraham was a Chaldean, who was selected to become a blessing to all nations. The twelve tribes of Israel were the core of the Church to be born, which is compassed of all humans who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Born again Jews and Gentiles are the Church of JESUS CHRIST!

The prophet Isaiah tells us that the people of Israel (believers in Christ) shall be the prominent people on the earth at this time - Isaiah 49:10-26 and that they shall assume leadership around the world - Isaiah 61:1-11

Jerusalem shall at this time be a praise in the earth - Isaiah 62:1-12
Sickness will be done away with - Isaiah 33:24
No infants shall die, and if a person makes the choice to sin, he will die at the age of 100 Isaiah 65:17-25
No more sickness - Isaiah 35:1-10
Young men shall no longer train for war - Isaiah 2:1-5

Who will live during this time? If we add up all the Scriptures which speak on this matter, there will be the following groups of people:

A. All the believers in Christ coming back with Christ from heaven and the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will have our resurrected bodies and will not be able to reproduce children.

B. Those believers in Christ who were killed after the catching away, will be resurrected and also have resurrected bodies, and will not be able to reproduce children.

C. Believers in Christ who survived the tribulation period, will be used by God to repopulate the earth again.

Understand this: This will be the last resurrection of the dead, who are going to be with God forever in heaven. There will be one more resurrection of the dead, but it shall be THE RESURRECTION OF THE DAMNED!

            WHICH RESURRECTION IS GOING TO BE YOURS?

Do you have an ear to hear with?

To be continued...

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