THE JUDGMENT OF SATAN, AND OF THE SAVED #65
He is called Satan, which means adversary and accuser.
He is called the dragon, to show his ferociousness.
He is called a serpent, to show his subtlety.
He is called the Devil, to show his slander.
Each of these names is a metaphor to show the nature of this wicked angelic being.
The Devil is not only confined for the 1,000 years, but he is chained so he cannot escape. The chain, regardless of its nature will restrains him.
Satan’s main weapon against men and the nations is deception. Thus, during the 1,000-years, Satan cannot deceive anyone. However, at the end of the 1,000 years he “must” be released for a little season. We will see why a little later.
The Judgment of the Righteous Dead
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4-6).
The reader should note that there is a 1,000-year gap between verse six and seven. Once Jesus has conquered all enemies, he will begin putting together His government for His righteous Kingdom. To do this, He must raise all the righteous from the dead. That event takes place at His Second Advent. It is called the first resurrection. (See verse 6.) The thrones, or seats, will be for those who will assist Him in His choices and assignments. These thrones, or seats, are the same ones in Daniel 7:9-10, 27. We are told in the Gospels that it will be the Twelve Disciples who will sit on these thrones or judgment seats. (See Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:29-30; Psalm 122:5; Ezekiel 43:7 and Zechariah 6:13.)
The first resurrection will consist of all the righteous dead from Adam to the Second Advent. The exception will be members of the church, which is Christ’s body. The resurrection and Rapture of the church was a mystery, which was unknown until revealed to Paul. (See I Corinthians 15:51 and I Thessalonians 4:13-17.) The resurrection under consideration was not a mystery and was well known.
Those who refused the mark of the Beast during the Tribulation will qualify to serve as Kings and Priests in the 1,000-year kingdom. This was the promise given to the overcomers in Revelation 2:26-27. Satan will be released from prison after the 1,000-year kingdom. The second resurrection will follow the 1,000-year Kingdom of Heaven.
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 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.” (Revelation 20:7-10).
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.