When
Satan's time is up, he still is not sorry. In verse 7 of Revelation 20 we
can see he is still angry at God. He immediately goes around deceiving
those that God has just raised back to life. He is just the same. He
continues telling lies. He stirs up all the old soldiers and generals to
make more weapons and get ready to fight God, the holy city, and God's
people. It is an impossible thing to do. He knows it but he tricks
everyone again to try. |
![]() This
is what the Bible is talking about when it says Satan is loosed. He has
people to work with because God raises the wicked when He returns to earth
the 3rd time. This time God has brought the holy city and His people with
Him. God places this city on the earth in a place He fixes up for it on
the Mount of Olives on the east side of Jerusalem. (Zechariah 14:5, 4, 9.)
Everyone watches this last drama. The wicked all look sick. They are not
given new young bodies when God raises them from the dead. They look just
like they did when they died. Those who died of sickness are awakened
looking just as sick as when they died. They do not have much strength but
Satan stirs them all up to fight.
Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, |
Look at what the Bible says about
this battle. They must have a little time to make weapons.
Satan gives them energy. I imagine there will be arguments over
kinds of weapons for each generation made different kinds. There will be
wicked people from before the flood, and throughout all the history of
this earth. All will be angry people. It will not be pleasant times. It is
amazing that Satan can unite them to fight together against God and His
people.
20:8 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. |
Suddenly
Jesus is seen above the city on a gold throne high up in the sky. All
around Jesus are His people. Right next to Jesus are the very people who
used to work for Satan. Then the others who went through very difficult
times and the martyrs are next. Beyond these are thousands of others who
love Jesus. |
Are
God's friends afraid of the wicked charging their city?
No, there is the sound of singing. They are praising God for saving them from Satan. while the city is surrounded by soldiers and their weapons, something happens to Jesus. Jesus is made KING OF KINGS. He is given His crown by God Himself. All the wicked watch. All those who love Jesus watch. The record books are open for all to see the evidence. Jesus, our FOREVER FRIEND is made KING OF KINGS. He deserves it all. He is full of love for all of us. He gave His life for us. |
| God wins this final battle.
Revelation 20:9 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. |
Now, just
before the fire falls from heaven, something amazing happens. This is
recorded in the book Great Controversy pages 664 & 665. A giant video
appears above the Holy City. The whole history of this earth is pictured
for all to see and understand without Satan tricking them with lies. They
see it all for themselves. They realize God is just in all His decisions.
They drop their weapons and kneel down and say God is right. But their
hearts are not changed. As soon as the picture is over, they pick up their
weapons and Satan stirs them up to fight. Then fire falls from God and
they die.
You can read more about this in the last section of this lesson under "More Information". |
![]() Since
God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked, I picture Him
crying during this event. I picture His Bible loving people also crying as
they see friends and relatives who chose not to follow God's way.
It brings a sadness to my heart when I see friends, relatives, and children turning away from God and believing Satan's lies. We must do all we can to help them want to be in heaven. |
In
the sanctuary story of the Day of Atonement, you can learn what happens to
the wicked at this time. They do not burn for ever. They become ashes.
That is the end. Malachi 4:3 says they are ashes. A kind God does bring
things to an end. There is not torture lasting forever. We could not stand
watching this. God has no pleasure in torture.
Malachi 4:3 "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts." Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" KJV |
Quiz
1. How is Satan bound? 2. How long is Satan bound for? 3. Who is on this earth during this time alive? 4. What does the earth look like during this time?
6. How healthy do the wicked look when they are raised from the dead? 7. What appears above the city when the army begins to attack? 8. Can you name some people that will be in that wicked army? (see details in the "More Information" section. 9. When Satan and the wicked bow down and say God, the Judge has pronounced the right sentence on them, are they sorry? Can they be good and live in heaven? 10. What do they do that confirms how they would act if taken to heaven? 11. Do the wicked burn forever? 12. What text helps to document your answer? 13. How many does the Bible say will be on Satan's side? (Rev. 20:8) 14. Will the people who worship the beast and receive his mark 666 in their foreheads and right hands be in heaven? (Rev. 20:4) 15. Who is raised from the dead when Jesus comes the 3rd time, bringing the Holy City to set down on earth? 16. Where is the Holy City set down? 17. How many times do the wicked die? (Rev. 20:6) 18. What do God's Bible loving people do during the 1,000 years and where are they? 19. Is Jesus and His people happy to watch the wicked burn up? (Ezekiel 33:11) 20. What is left after the wicked burn up? (Malachi 4:3) 21. How long is Satan loosed? (Rev. 20:3)
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More information about the video above the Holy City I highly recommend reading the Book Great Controversy chapter 42. God gave details which really help understand the mercy and justice of God in this destruction. "Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam's temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Savior's lowly birth; his early life of simplicity and obedience; his baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; his public ministry, unfolding to men Heaven's most precious blessings; the days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains; the plottings of envy, hate, and malice which repaid his benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; his betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror,--the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by his best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest's palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die,--all are vividly portrayed. {GC88 666.2} Great Controversy by Ellen White More And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes,--the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of Heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding his expiring agony; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world's Redeemer yielded up his life. {GC88 667.1} Amid the ransomed throng are the apostles of Christ, the heroic Paul, the ardent Peter, the loved and loving John, and their true-hearted brethren, and with them the vast host of martyrs; while outside the walls, with every vile and abominable thing, are those by whom they were persecuted, imprisoned, and slain. There is Nero, that monster of cruelty and vice, beholding the joy and exaltation of those whom he once tortured, and in whose extremist anguish he found Satanic delight. His mother is there to witness the result of her own work; to see how the evil stamp of character transmitted to her son, the passions encouraged and developed by her influence and example, have borne fruit in crimes that caused the world to shudder.
...And now Satan bows down, and confesses the justice of his sentence. {GC88 670.1} Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God's justice, and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle against the King of Heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects, and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury, and arouse them to instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them. {GC88 671.2} ..."The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter." "Upon the wicked he shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup." [ISA. 9:5; 34:2; PS. 11:6 (MARGIN).] Fire comes down from God out of Heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. [MAL. 4:1; 2 PET. 3:10.] The earth's surface seems one molten mass,--a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men,-- "the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion." [ISA. 34:8; PROV. 11:31.] {GC88 672.2}
To learn more about Ellen White look at lesson 29 in Basic Bible Lessons |
| For more information on the Day of Atonement click here. This was the yearly acted out drama of this very same section of Bible prophecy. The Scape goat describes this section of Revelation 20. |