DAY NINETY-NINE:
Hallelujah!
Our study today is entitled "Hallelujah!" with good reason. The first time I read the Book of Revelation it filled me with horror. All of those images of death and destruction! It looked more like bad news than good news to me. But then as I read it again, I saw the glory this book contains! It shows that even in the midst of trials Jesus is on the throne and in control. I can't think of anything that gives me more comfort!
And now it's suppertime in heaven! "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure." The church, the Bride of Christ, is ready to be united with Him forever! The Bible uses the metaphor of marriage to describe the church's relation to Jesus (Ephesians 5:25 ff.) But our union with Christ is so much deeper than with our earthly spouses, so much more glorious! And this wedding feast is going to last forever! An angel told John, "Write this:Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." Blessed indeed! Let us all strive to serve Christ with all that's in us and look forward to this great and eternal feast.
Then John said he saw heaven opened, and a rider on a white horse came forth. "His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God." The same Jesus who conquered through dying on the cross is coming again with His heavenly army to rule the earth. "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." It's amazing, isn't it, how many of our hymns were inspired by the Book of Revelation! Do you see a line from the Battle Hymn of the Republic? And how about All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name?
Satan and the the earthly kingdoms he controls make a last-ditch effort to resist Jesus, but it is in vain. The birds of the air feast on the bodies of the slain. Chapter 20 begins, "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years..." Satan no longer has free reign to roam the earth and deceive people during this Millennium. I'll talk about different ways to interpret this in a while. During this time the saints who came through the Great Tribulation are by Christ's side and are reigning with Him. The Second Death has no power over them!
At the end of the thousand years Satan will be released and try to regain a foothold. He manages to deceive many nations, and they take up arms against Christ. But God dispatches them quickly. "...the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev. 20:10)
Now comes the judgment. John saw a white throne and the One sitting on it was so awesome that all trembled before Him. "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." I heard a recording of the late British evangelist Leonard Ravenhill preaching on this passage. He said that someone once remarked to him that if each one of us who has ever lived has to stand individually before God, that would take a really long time. Ravenhill responded that it doesn't matter, you've nowhere else to go! But when God looks at our entries, He will see a red blot covering the list of our sins and a statement in Christ's handwriting that says "Paid in full. Transferred to the Book of Life." But of those who were not found in the book of life we read, "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." I can't begin to comprehend the horrors of eternity in the lake of fire! But remember, people send themselves there, not God. The invitation to repent of our sins and trust in Christ is out there, and if we refuse we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Now, how do we make sense of this part of the Book of Revelation? There are three major views on the thousand year reign of Christ (the Millennium):
- Premillennial. Christ will come at the beginning of the thousand years, bind Satan and then reign in righteousness. After Satan is released and incites a short-lived rebellion against God, the final judgment comes and then the new heaven and earth (which we'll look at tomorrow).
- Amillennial. The thousand years is a figurative expression for a long, indeterminate period of time. Christ is reigning already from heaven over His people. Satan was bound when Jesus gave His disciples authority over the demons. Christ will return, judge the living and dead, and then institute the new heaven and earth.
- Postmillennial. The church will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, reach the entire world for Christ (not every single person, but a large majority in each nation of the earth). Peace and righteousness will prevail on the earth before Jesus returns. He will carry out His judgment and then inaugurate the Kingdom in all its fullness.
I know that's confusing, and there's not time or space here to elaborate. I've held all three positions at different times, but for a good while now I've called myself a postmillennialist. If you'd like to study the subject of eschatology (the theological word for the end of time), you can read a whole series of articles dealing with all kinds of views from Theopedia.com. But don't get too wrapped up in it. I have a friend who describes himself as a "panmillennialist" because he believes it will all pan out in the end! And he's right! No matter what view you take you end up in the same place.
Beyond all of this, however, is the lesson that Jesus will prevail over this evil world system that's in place right now. He will be victorious, and we will share in the joy and glory. Put your trust in Him and take your stand with Him. I heard someone say of the return of Christ, "Believe it before you see it!" Amen! Hallelujah!
There's no better way to wrap this up than with Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. King George II, a man who wasn't known for his piety, felt moved to stand before the King of kings. The king's subject stand when he stands, so the whole theater was on its feet. A custom was born. Years later her advisors told Queen Victoria that protocol required her to stay seated- a king rises to greet another king, but the queen remains seated. She tried to stay in her seat, but just couldn't. She stood too! This performance by the Royal Choral Society, backed by a full orchestra, though magnificent, will not compare to what's going on in heaven!
Tomorrow is our 100th and last day! Come back and see how it all ends!
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