Revelation 20
During Jesus’ millennial reign, Satan is cast into the bottomless pit. He was not allowed to deceive the nations during this 1,000 years, but after the millennium, he will be released for one last event.
Jesus reigns on the earth, and He does so with saints that have been martyred during the Great Tribulation. I believe all saints will reign with Christ on the Earth. Obviously, like Christ, they have a resurrected body. This is called the first resurrection. During the millennium on the earth, there will also be human beings that haven’t died yet, those who lived through the wrath of God. They rest of the dead, those who were not born again, will go to Hades.
After the 1,000 years, Satan is released. He attempts to deceive people all over the globe, the four corners of the Earth. Gog and Magog is mentioned (see Ezekiel 38-39). Some say Magog is illustrative of Israel’s enemies, others suggest it could be a specific region, perhaps Turkey, the Soviet Union, or even into Asia. Satan incites the nations to battle against the Christ. Fire came from heaven and devoured them. Then Satan is thrown into the place prepared for him – the lake of fire and brimstone where the Antichrist and False Prophet have gone before. They will be tormented in the Lake of Fire day and night forever and ever.
In verse 11, we read about the Great White Throne Judgment. This judgment is for the dead, not the raptured saints, but sinners were judged according to their works, so punishments differ. They were all thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you should do that. None of us know when we will die, so don’t put it off. You don’t have to fix yourself or be good enough before you go to God, so don’t let that stop you. You may have done something wrong or you may wrestle with unholy thoughts, but don’t let that stop you; God sent Jesus to die for us while we were all still sinners. Jesus’ sacrifice paid the price for you. You can surrender to Him and speak to Him right where you are. If you want more information, find a local Christian church in your area and ask to meet with a pastor or church leader to lead you in salvation.
Zechariah 10-12
Chapter 10 is about the restoration of Judah and Israel.
Verse 1 says to ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. Early rains come at the beginning of a planting season, where seeds are germinated. The latter rain comes toward the end of a harvest, causing a ripening period. The early and latter rains are often mentioned in prophecy with the meaning of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We know there was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was first given to the Jews, then spreading around the world. That was the early rains. There is also a latter rain of the Holy Spirit that will be poured out, specifically to the Jewish people, causing revival and salvation among the Jews.
Verse 9 prophesies God sowing the Jews among the nations. The purpose for sowing is reaping. God didn’t flippantly scatter the Jews; He intentionally placed them. This was true during the captivity and it has been true since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. One day God will gather them again, placing them in their land, and Jesus will rule over them.
In chapter 11, Zechariah tells of the desolation of Israel with a prophecy that speaks against the shepherds, or the spiritual leaders of the day.
In chapter 12, the message is about the coming deliverance of Judah. In verse 10 is a Messianic prophecy about mourning for the pierced one. Why was it prophesied that the Messiah would be pierced? Because it was important that Jesus be cut for a new covenant where blood would flow. Life is in the blood, so a blood covenant is the strongest covenant that can be made. When Jesus died, that brought an end to the old covenant and began a new one. He was pierced with a sword, and blood and water flowed out (John 19:4). Thank you, Jesus!
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