Participants:
Series Code: RAD
Program Code: RAD170015A
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00:01 What does the future hold?
00:02 Where can we find certainty in a world of uncertainty? 00:05 The book of Revelation provides hopeful answers 00:08 for today, tomorrow, and forever. 00:11 Join Mark Finley, author and world renowned speaker, 00:14 on a journey into the future with, 00:16 Revelation's Ancient Discoveries. 00:24 The book of Revelation reveals God's plans for the future. 00:29 Revelation clearly gives us light on the road ahead. 00:35 There are many people that are confused about the future. 00:37 They wonder about this 1000 year period 00:42 mentioned in Revelation the 20th chapter. 00:45 Is this a thousand years of peace on earth? 00:49 Is this really a thousand years of peace at all? 00:55 What about the millennial period? 00:57 Does anybody exist on earth during the millennium? 01:01 We're going to discover some answers in our presentation 01:04 this day, but let's pray together first. 01:07 Father in heaven, we need answers, not human answers, 01:11 but divine answers. 01:13 We need answers, not based on human opinion, 01:16 but answers based on the word of God. 01:19 So come and speak to us. 01:21 But as we study this subject of the millennial period 01:24 in the Bible, may it not only fill our heads with knowledge 01:27 so we understand correctly biblical teachings, 01:31 but may it change our lives. 01:33 In Christ's name, amen. 01:36 My topic during this telecast is... 01:43 Margaret was a real party girl. 01:46 It's the roaring 20's. 01:48 And parties seemed to be everywhere. 01:50 In America the finances are good, 01:52 the stock market has not yet crashed, 01:55 as it would a few years later in 1928. 01:59 And Margaret goes from party to party, 02:01 she's excited about life. 02:03 But yet there is this aching void within her heart. 02:08 She's a girl that loves to go to dances. 02:11 She's a girl that, whatever the party is, 02:13 she is the life of the party and she is there. 02:16 But then something happens. 02:18 She begins losing her strength. 02:20 Her energy seems to be gone. 02:22 And she develops a very strange disease. 02:27 She lies on her bed in a catatonic state. 02:31 She's conscious or semi-conscious, 02:35 but says nothing. 02:37 Her eyes are open. 02:40 And then she settles into this deep sleep. 02:45 It's a sleeping sickness. 02:46 Not aware of anything around her by this time. 02:49 Just lying there on her bed. 02:52 Heart is beating normally. 02:54 Lungs are functioning normally. 02:56 But she cannot respond. 02:59 Five years go by, she's lying there. 03:02 Ten years go by, she's still lying there. 03:04 Twenty years go by. 03:06 Thirty plus years go by. 03:10 Nearly forty years go by. 03:13 And this woman, isolated in a hospital ward. 03:19 By now some kind of nursing home retirement center. 03:23 She becomes case history in America. 03:26 But then Dr. Oliver Sacks discovers something 03:32 called L-Dopa, which is a drug that he believes 03:37 could wake her out of her sleeping sickness. 03:40 He administers the drugs. 03:41 And there is this great awakening. 03:44 She wakes up. 03:46 Certainly her limbs are stiff. 03:48 Certainly she is an aged old woman now. 03:51 But her mind is sharp, it's clear. 03:54 But you know what happens? 03:55 When she wakes up, she goes back to the roaring 20's. 04:00 She had no idea of that last 35 to 40 years 04:03 of the passage of time. 04:06 She simply is stuck where she was. 04:10 It's called, the great awakening. 04:12 There is another great awakening coming 04:15 when the saints of God wake up when Jesus Christ comes. 04:19 And in that great awakening, we'll have 04:21 glorious immortal bodies, we'll have sharp minds. 04:24 Not a great awakening like Margaret experienced. 04:50 Now notice, according to Scripture there are 04:53 two resurrections. 04:58 I told you, didn't I. There are what? 05:00 How many are there? There are two. 05:02 What are they called? 05:08 Which resurrection comes first? 05:11 Which one comes first? 05:13 The resurrection of life. 05:16 Then the resurrection of damnation. 05:19 When do these resurrections take place? 05:22 It's very clear when the resurrection 05:24 of life takes place. 05:26 The Bible describes the second coming of Christ, 05:29 the return of our Lord. 05:30 It describes the graves opening. 05:32 It describes the righteous coming forth 05:35 out of their graves. 05:37 1 Thessalonians 4:16 puts it this way. 05:46 The shout of victory, the shout of glory, the shout of triumph. 05:53 That voice pierces the tomb. 05:57 That glorious trumpet of God that blasts the tombs 06:02 and the voice of God that calls the dead forth from their tombs. 06:11 That is the first resurrection. 06:30 So the Bible is very clear. 06:32 The first resurrection is the resurrection of the righteous. 06:37 The first resurrection is the resurrection of those 06:40 that have been believers in Jesus Christ. 06:44 The Bible says in Revelation 20:6... 06:55 Just think of it. 06:57 That little child that you have laid in the grave 07:01 will come forth to new life. 07:04 Just think of what it's going to be like 07:06 to see that little five year old, six year old, 07:08 come running to you again. 07:10 You're putting your arms around them and being caught up 07:13 in the sky to meet Jesus in the air together. 07:17 Just think of the joy. 07:19 Wouldn't it be a tragedy to miss that rendezvous, 07:22 to miss that reunion with your child? 07:25 With your brother, your sister, your father, your mother, 07:28 your husband, or your wife? 07:30 Wouldn't it be a tragedy to miss all eternity 07:33 for the cheap pleasures of this world? 07:37 Yes, the first resurrection. 07:39 The resurrection of the righteous 07:41 is going to be an incredibly glorious event. 07:44 You know, when Jesus comes back the second time 07:47 there is no second chance. 07:49 There are only two groups. 07:50 The saved: those that look up to see Christ's coming 07:54 and say, "This is our God. 07:57 We have waited for Him, and He will save us." 08:00 There will only be two groups, the saved and the lost. 08:03 And you remember, for one group it is a new beginning. 08:07 For the other group it's a tragic ending. 08:09 For one group it's the beginning of a new day. 08:13 For the other group it's the ending of a day 08:17 and the beginning of a long night. 08:19 For one group it's glory in heaven. 08:22 For the other group it is condemnation and lostness 08:26 and destruction. 08:28 The Bible describes there are two groups. 08:30 And the decisions that we make in this life 08:33 settle our destiny for all eternity. 08:37 This one group says... 09:01 The wrath; that's the judgment. 09:05 What a tragedy it is. 09:07 Jesus wants to save all humanity. 09:10 His death on the cross has made provision 09:14 for all to be saved. 09:16 Not one man, one woman, one child need be lost. 09:21 But yet, some run and cry for the rocks 09:25 and mountains to fall on them. 09:27 God has given us the freedom of choice. 09:29 God has given us the capacity to choose. 09:32 He influences that choice. 09:34 He sends His Holy Spirit to touch our hearts. 09:39 He sends angels to beat back the forces of hell. 09:43 But the choice to serve Him is ours. 09:47 That's why the Bible says, "Choose you this day 09:50 who you'll serve." 09:52 And let it be Christ the Lord. 09:54 So God gives us the power of choice. 09:57 He influences and impacts that choice, 10:00 but the choice must be ours. 10:02 If men and women are lost at last, it's because they 10:06 turned from His love, rejected His grace, 10:10 and walked away from the convictions of His Holy Spirit. 10:14 Jesus is doing everything He can to save you, 10:17 but the choice is yours. 10:18 And at the end, there's no second chance. 10:20 Why is it that there's no second chance? 10:22 Because He's given us a thousand chances in this life. 10:25 No, ten thousand chances in this life. 10:27 No, many more than that. 10:28 Every day we live, every breath we take 10:31 is another opportunity. 10:33 You see, this group run and they cry for the rocks 10:35 and the mountains, and they say... 10:42 The answer to that question is, those that have accepted Jesus, 10:46 those for whom Christ becomes their Lord 10:49 and their Savior forever. 10:51 But those who run from Him are those that have rejected 10:56 His love and turned their backs on His mercy. 11:01 What does it mean to accept Jesus as King? 11:04 You see, if we do not accept Christ as the King of our 11:07 hearts here, we're not going to worship Him as the King 11:10 of our hearts in the universe. 11:11 If we do not accept Him as the Lord of our life here 11:14 and let Him sit on the throne of our hearts 11:17 to be the major governing factor in our lives, 11:20 then we would want to throw Him off the throne in the universe 11:23 and sin would start up all over again. 11:25 What does it mean to accept Jesus as King? 11:27 It means to invite Him to rule on the throne of your heart. 11:30 It is not complicated, it is not difficult. 11:33 It's simply saying, "Jesus, You come. 11:37 I don't want to be ruling on the throne of my heart. 11:39 I don't want to be governing my life in my own way. 11:42 Because I know that's not the way of joy at all. 11:45 I know that's the way of disaster. 11:47 Lord, Your way is best. 11:48 Not my will, but Thy will be done." 11:51 You know the old song, "Have Thine own way, Lord, 11:53 have Thine own way. 11:55 You're the Potter and I'm the clay. 11:57 Mold me and make me." 11:59 And that's the prayer of every committed, converted Christian. 12:04 "God, make me what You want me to be." 12:11 The Savior, the one that died for you. 12:13 The Lord, the one that lives in your life. 12:15 And the King, the one that you're looking forward to come 12:18 to take you home again. 12:20 John 14:1-3, Jesus says... 12:22 Yes, certainly. Two classes when He comes. 12:24 But He's coming for you because He does not want to 12:27 be separated from you. 12:29 Because He wants, as your Lover, to be with you forever. 12:46 Who's the place prepared for? 12:47 It's prepared for you, prepared for me. 12:59 Jesus said, "I'm coming. 13:01 Not primarily to destroy the earth. 13:03 I'm coming, not primarily to burn up the wicked. 13:06 But I am coming because I can't bare to be 13:08 without you any longer. 13:09 I am coming because I want to be with you for all eternity. 13:12 I am coming to receive you to Myself." 13:15 He loves you that much. 13:17 He died for you. 13:18 And He's going to come back to get that which He has purchased. 13:22 He came once as a babe in Bethlehem's manger. 13:26 He came once to face the temptations of Satan head on. 13:29 He came once to have victory over sin and the evil one. 13:34 He hung on the cross to die to provide 13:37 eternal life for you and me. 13:39 But He is coming back again in glory to resurrect the dead, 13:44 to change the dead into immortality, 13:48 and to change the living into immortality, 13:52 and to catch them up in the sky to take them with Him 13:56 for all eternity, in a moment at the last trump. 14:00 The trumpet shall sound, 14:01 the dead shall be raised incorruptible. 14:04 And we which are alive and remain shall be caught up 14:07 together with them in the clouds. 14:10 Here are the events at Christ's second coming. 14:12 What are they? 14:15 Believers will be resurrected from the dead 14:18 to receive new glorious bodies. 14:20 They'll receive immortality. 14:23 The wicked living will be consumed with the 14:25 brightness of His coming. 14:27 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 talks about them being destroyed 14:33 with the brightness of His glorious return. 14:44 His coming is not a secret coming at all. 14:47 Revelation 1:7 says, "Every eye will see Him." 14:51 Psalm 50:3-5 says, "Our God will come and not keep silent." 14:57 1 Thessalonians 4 that we've just read says 15:00 He comes with the sound of a trumpet. 15:02 So every eye sees Him, every ear hears Him. 15:05 It's a glorious event. 15:06 And these events... 15:18 ...they take place surrounding the second coming of Christ. 15:22 But what happens after He comes? 15:24 What is the state of the earth after Jesus Christ returns? 15:31 What's the condition of the earth? 15:33 Is there anybody who is left alive on earth? 15:36 And what happens to Satan when Jesus Christ comes? 15:41 When does God make the new heaven and the new earth? 15:46 When do all those events occur? 15:48 And what about this 1000 year period the Bible talks about? 15:52 Do we have living people on earth? 15:54 Are they alive during this 1000 years? 15:57 Those are really good questions. 15:59 And the Bible answers those questions. 16:01 Here in the book of Revelation we have the description 16:05 of the 1000 year period. 16:07 Now there are places where the condition of the earth is 16:10 explained in the Bible in other places. 16:12 But it's only in Revelation 20 that we read 16:15 about this 1000 year period. 16:37 Now this is an interesting passage. 16:39 Here's where we get the word in the Bible, millennium. 16:54 So the word, "millennium," simply means, 1000 years. 16:57 Writers use it. 16:59 You may have heard preachers talk about it. 17:02 It's not used in the Bible, but it's that term to describe 17:06 this 1000 year period that we have just read about 17:10 here in the book of Revelation chapter 20 and onward. 17:15 Now let's take a look at Revelation 20:1 17:17 a little more carefully. 17:19 It says the devil is chained or bound in a bottomless pit. 17:25 What is this bottomless pit? 17:27 Is it some subterranean cavern in the center of the earth? 17:34 What is this bottomless pit? 17:36 Is it some dark hole down there some place? 17:41 Well the word, "bottomless pit," in the Greek language 17:45 of Revelation 20... 17:47 You remember the New Testament is written 17:49 in the Greek language. 17:50 ...abussos. 17:52 What does that word mean? 17:54 It means, abyss. 17:55 You can see very similarity between it. 17:58 So Satan is thrown into this abyss, 18:01 this cavern of darkness. 18:03 It also can apply to darkness, desolation. 18:07 That whole concept or idea. 18:10 In Genesis 1:2 when the Bible, the Old Testament Hebrew, 18:15 was translated into the Greek language, 18:18 this word, "abyss," was used. 18:22 It was an abyss. 18:23 In other words, at creation, before God spoke life 18:27 into existence, the desolate dark earth is termed, 18:32 the abussos or the abyss. 18:34 So when Jesus comes the second time, 18:37 every mountain, every island moves out of its place. 18:41 When Jesus comes the second time, 18:43 the buildings of the earth come tumbling down, 18:47 darkness over the earth, it is like an abyss. 18:50 It's like a place of desolation. 18:53 It is this abussos that the Bible speaks about 18:57 in Genesis 1:2 when the earth is without form, and void. 19:01 That's exactly the condition of the earth 19:04 after the coming of Christ in glory, 19:07 after the resurrection of the righteous saints 19:10 or the believers, and after they ascend to heaven with Christ. 19:14 Jesus comes, the righteous are caught up to meet Him 19:17 in the sky, the earth is left in this dark, desolate state. 19:21 It is a destroyed planet earth. 19:23 Buildings topple down. 19:25 The earthquake has shaken the earth, 19:29 The beauty of earth is gone. 19:32 It's a desolate place. 19:37 Are they iron chains that he's just bound with a 19:40 ball and chain to earth? 19:43 The Scriptures explain very clearly the meaning 19:47 of these chains. 20:00 Now the word, "hell," there in the original 20:03 language is, tartarus. 20:05 It means, place of darkness. 20:07 This word does not imply burning at all. 20:11 It's a place of darkness. 20:20 Keep that in mind. 20:22 The devil is cast out of heaven. 20:23 Not cast into some hot spot in the center of the earth. 20:26 It says he's reserved for judgment. 20:30 But what does the Bible say? 20:31 It talks about chains of darkness. 20:34 So what are the chains that Satan is bound with? 20:37 The chains that Satan are bound with are chains of darkness. 20:42 The earth is desolate. 20:43 Satan cannot leave it. 20:46 He is on this earth without the ability to leave. 20:50 He wanders to and fro over a desolate earth. 20:56 And as he wanders to and fro over that desolate earth, 20:59 shouting and re-echoing in his ears are these words, 21:03 "The wages of sin are death. 21:05 The wages of sin are death." 21:07 God is dealing with a controversy between 21:10 good and evil in a way that sin will never 21:12 rise up a second time. 21:14 Why do you have a millennium? 21:15 Why doesn't Christ just come and re-create the earth? 21:18 Because God wants to ensure the security of the universe. 21:22 God wants to ensure the safety of the universe 21:25 forever and ever and ever. 21:27 And so the whole universe can see, and Satan can see, 21:32 the destruction that sin has brought. 21:35 Withdraw the hand of God, you withdraw life. 21:38 Withdraw the hand of God and you withdraw everything good, 21:42 and holy, and righteous, and pure, and true, and beautiful. 21:46 And you just have the ugly and death. 21:48 And Satan wanders around seeing the result of his work. 21:52 Everything around him is death. 21:54 He had said that if human beings followed him, 21:58 if Adam and Eve followed him, they would have life, 22:01 they would be as gods. 22:02 But during the millennial period the desolation of the earth 22:05 proves that is a blatant falsehood and a lie. 22:19 And during that millennial period God reveals 22:22 that His love brings life and joy. 22:26 And Satan's way brings death. 22:29 What is wrought out on the cross? 22:31 You remember when Christ dies on Calvary, 22:34 He hangs there. 22:35 And we see the worst in human nature in what human beings 22:40 did to Christ. 22:41 We see Him, the God of love, bearing all 22:44 the guilt and shame. 22:45 But now, during the millennial period, 22:48 we see the worst of what has happened to the human race. 22:52 Without God it is only death. 22:55 And that echoes in Satan's ears. 22:58 The wonderful thing is this. 23:01 No sin is so dark God's love cannot blot it out. 23:05 You see, God desires that when He comes again 23:10 that you and I are caught up to meet Him in the sky, 23:13 that we live with this God of love forever. 23:17 That the wages of sin, which are death, 23:21 do not destroy our lives. 23:25 Jesus longs to forgive you, my friend. 23:29 He longs for you to be in heaven with Him 23:32 during this 1000 year period. 23:34 Because you see, really there are only one of two choices. 23:37 There are only one of two places that we would be. 23:39 Either in heaven with Christ during the 1000 years, 23:43 or still in our graves not resurrected when He comes 23:47 the second time or destroyed by the brightness of His coming. 23:51 But you say, "My life is just not in harmony with God's will. 23:55 I know I'm not living how He wants me to live." 23:59 You can make a decision right during this telecast 24:03 to give your life to Christ. 24:04 You can make a decision right now that settles your destiny. 24:09 And you can say, "Lord, I want to be with You 24:11 forever in heaven. 24:12 I want to live with You. 24:14 I do not want to experience sin's wage of death 24:18 and have my body strewn over the earth 24:21 in this desolate darkness." 24:27 The Bible is very plain. 24:29 It describes exactly this desolate earth. 24:32 And it points out that there's not one person alive here. 24:36 The only ones here are Satan and his evil angels. 24:39 Here's what the Scripture says. 24:47 What a minute. Is this at creation? 24:49 Not at all. 24:56 When is every mountain and island going to 24:57 be cast out of its place? 24:59 When Jesus comes. 25:09 So here, nobody lives on earth during the millennium. 25:14 During this time there's only Satan and his evil angels. 25:18 Here, Jeremiah goes on. 25:25 It used to be fruitful. 25:26 This is not creation. 25:28 This is after Christ comes the second time. 25:35 Fierce anger against what? 25:37 Fierce anger against sin. 25:39 So here is a desolate earth, cities broken down. 25:43 Here is a desolate earth with only Satan and his evil angels. 25:47 Nobody is on earth during the millennium. 25:51 Jeremiah 4:23-27 goes on. 26:04 Why is God not going to make a full end yet? 26:10 Because at the end of the 1000 years, as we shall see, 26:13 the holy city will descend. 26:15 And remember what the Bible says in Matthew 5:5? 26:18 "The meek shall inherit the earth." 26:20 And so here the Bible teaches that the earth 26:24 will be made over again. 26:26 Micah says that the first dominion like in Eden 26:31 will be restored once again. 26:34 But during the 1000 years, Jeremiah 25:33, 26:40 notice what Scripture says... 26:51 Isn't it a very sobering thought that when Christ comes again 26:58 you and I are either caught up to meet Him in the sky 27:01 or we're destroyed by the brightness of His coming. 27:04 Our graves either open and we hear, "John, come forth," 27:09 "Mary, come forth," "Tom, come forth," 27:12 "Betsy, come forth," and that grave opens 27:15 and there's new life in the glorious immortal body, 27:18 and we ascend to heaven with Christ. 27:19 Either that or we remain in our graves until the end 27:23 of that 1000 year period. 27:26 Or if we are live, we're destroyed by the 27:29 brightness of His coming. 27:30 And from one end of the earth to the other 27:32 the slain bodies are there. 27:34 And the devil wanders around and among all that 27:36 death and desolation. 27:38 And he hears echoing in his ears, 27:40 "The wages of sin are death." 27:42 The Bible says in Jeremiah 25:33... 27:48 Why Not? There's nobody to gather them, 27:49 nobody to lament or sorrow for them, or bury. 27:56 The wicked are destroyed with the brightness of His coming. 28:01 Bodies strewn over the earth. 28:03 What a gruesome, what a horrible scene. 28:05 Sin is horrible. 28:07 And the whole universe sees the results of, the effects of, 28:11 the consequences of sin. 28:19 God is the way, through Christ of love and grace 28:23 and mercy and pardon. 28:24 And the devil's way is the way of selfishness. 28:28 And selfishness is separation from God 28:30 who is the source of love. 28:32 And that only brings death. 28:33 Remember what the Bible says in Revelation 20:6? 28:45 If you die once only in that physical death, 28:55 then you will die a second time eternally. 29:01 If you die in this life, not only once in the 29:06 physical death, but if you die to self in this life 29:10 and let Christ live within you, you will live eternally. 29:15 So if you die once in this life, you're going to 29:17 die eternally at the end. 29:19 Die once and live a selfish life. 29:21 If you die to your self in this life and then happen to die 29:25 the physical death, what consequence is that? 29:28 Because Jesus Christ is going to come again. 29:31 I'd rather die to self than die eternally at the end. 29:33 Wouldn't you? 29:35 I'd rather accept the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary 29:37 for me than to die eternally. 29:41 The Bible talks about those who are in the first resurrection. 29:46 It says... 29:51 You've got royal blood in your veins. 29:53 We are priests and kings with God. 29:57 We don't want to surrender our heritage 29:59 or give up our destiny. 30:02 We reign with Christ a 1000 years. 30:05 What are we doing with Christ? 30:06 "I saw thrones, and they that sat on them, 30:08 and judgment was committed to them." 30:12 We reign with Christ. 30:14 We become witnesses for Christ. 30:17 Notice it says judgment was given to them. 30:20 "...the books were opened." 30:22 Now follow me closely. 30:24 During this life right now, since Revelation's prophecies 30:31 are being fulfilled, since 1844, we've studied 30:33 about that in this series, we have been living 30:36 in the judgment hour. 30:38 What's that judgment hour for? 30:40 It reveals before a waiting world and a watching universe 30:44 the goodness, the graciousness, and the majesty of God. 30:48 God shows before the whole universe the fact that 30:52 He's loving and just, and that anybody that's lost 30:55 is lost, not because of God's choice, 30:57 but because of their unfitness for heavenly companionship. 31:01 And they're lost because of their own choices 31:03 and their own decisions. 31:06 Before the whole universe God reveals His love 31:09 and that every human being could have and should have been saved 31:12 if they would have responded to that love. 31:14 During the millennial period what does it mean, 31:17 the books are opened? 31:18 What does it mean that we sit on thrones in judgment? 31:22 God answers every question in our minds. 31:27 So there can be no question going into eternity 31:30 of His grace and His love and His goodness. 31:37 Why doesn't He come the second time and just 31:40 do away with sin forever and re-create the earth? 31:43 Why the 1000 years? 31:44 Here's two great reasons. 31:45 One, the whole universe sees the wages of sin is death 31:49 as they look at a desolate earth. 31:50 Two, we get a chance to look at the books of record. 31:53 Have you ever wondered, "Why did that happen to me in life? 31:57 Was God really fair in allowing that to happen?" 31:59 "Why is it that I had this circumstance?" 32:02 "Why did this son die?" 32:03 "Why did I go through this horrible experience in my life?" 32:07 "I tried to live for Christ, but I experienced this." 32:10 In the millennial period the books will be opened 32:12 and Jesus will show you that He has led you in the way 32:16 you would have chosen to be led 32:18 if you could see the end from the beginning. 32:20 He will show you during that period that He was 32:22 working in your life, in every aspect of that life. 32:27 We will see then questions that we don't have 32:31 answered now answered then. 32:32 You know, what if you were in heaven and your son or daughter, 32:34 your husband or wife, a friend wasn't there, 32:36 you'd say, "God, why?" 32:37 What if you had doubts going into eternity? 32:40 Before the new heaven and new earth are created 32:43 God Himself will explain that He could not have brought 32:46 certain people to heaven, because if He did 32:48 they would have then exhibited selfishness, 32:51 and greed, and envy, and lust in heaven. 32:53 So what does Jesus do? 32:55 He explains that all to us ahead of time, 32:57 then He wipes the memory away. 33:00 And we are just filled with His love and filled with His grace. 33:09 You know, we see the poverty in this earth, 33:11 we see terrorism in this earth, we see bombs drop and 33:14 children with legs blown off. 33:16 We see kids and famine starving to death. 33:19 We say, "Why, God? Why, God?" 33:20 We see terrorist attacks, and terrorists enter into churches 33:24 and kill people, and they go into malls or theaters 33:26 and kill people. 33:28 We say, "God, this makes no sense at all." 33:30 Every question about His justice, 33:33 every question about His love will be fully settled 33:37 during that 1000 years. 33:38 The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3... 33:45 We will participate as believers with Christ 33:48 in the final judgment. 33:53 What does that mean? 33:54 We'll actually participate in the final judgment 33:57 of the evil angels who are lost. 34:00 Because God will reveal to us the fact that if they would have 34:07 been given another chance they would have been so 34:10 bent on evil they would have destroyed the universe 34:12 and brought this sin, suffering, and heartache up again. 34:16 We're going to be participants in that. 34:18 And that ensures the security, that ensures the safety 34:22 of all the universe. 34:28 We'll understand every tear. 34:29 We'll understand why the sword pierced our heart. 34:32 We'll understand heartache and sorrow and disappointment. 34:36 And then Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes. 34:40 Then the memories will only be ones of joy and positiveness. 34:44 So what are the events during the millennium? 34:48 What are the events during this 1000 year period? 34:51 First, the righteous are in heaven. 34:54 We've been caught up to meet Christ in the sky. 34:56 Dead righteous resurrected. 34:58 Living righteous with immortal glorious bodies, 35:01 along with the dead righteous, 35:03 we are caught up to meet Christ in the sky. 35:05 Death is but a sleep. An instant. 35:07 And the trumpet blasts. 35:09 We see Christ coming. 35:10 The wicked who are dead remain dead. 35:14 The wicked who are living are destroyed with the brightness 35:16 of His coming, and their bodies are strewn over the earth. 35:20 Satan and his angels are bound on earth. 35:24 They see the impact of what they have done. 35:28 The earth at this point remains desolate. 35:37 What takes place at the end of the 1000 years? 35:40 Often truth is stranger than fiction. 35:42 And here is the climax of the ages. 35:45 This is more thrilling, this is more exciting, 35:50 this is more dramatic by a million trillion times 35:54 than any Hollywood movie. 35:56 Every Star Wars controversy and trilogy 36:00 fades into insignificance in comparison to the divine 36:05 prophetic insight of what happens at the end. 36:09 All of this great controversy between good and evil 36:12 comes to a glorious climax. 36:15 All of this comes to a screeching halt of conclusion. 36:20 And there we see at the end of the millennium 36:24 the wicked dead here are resurrected. 36:28 Now how do you know that? 36:29 Remember what we read at the beginning of our presentation? 36:32 It says, "Marvel not at this, for..." What? 36:37 "...all of those in the graves shall hear His voice; 36:41 those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, 36:43 and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of..." What? 36:45 "...damnation." So two resurrections. 36:47 When, then, are the rest of the dead, 36:49 those not caught up in the first resurrection, 36:52 when are they resurrected? 36:53 Here the Bible is clear. Back to Revelation. 37:09 So the second resurrection takes place at the 37:13 end of the 1000 years. 37:14 Now to be sure that we have it clear in our minds, 37:17 let's go back to the chart. 37:19 At the coming of Christ we have the first resurrection. 37:24 And that is called, the resurrection of what? 37:27 The resurrection of life. 37:29 During the 1000 years Satan is bound on earth. 37:35 The people of God, the saints of God, 37:37 the believers are in heaven. 37:39 At the end of the 1000 years you have the resurrection 37:43 of damnation. 37:45 That is, the unsaved are resurrected. 37:49 Why would God bring them back to life at that moment? 37:54 Why would you have this resurrection of damnation? 37:58 Why doesn't God just let the wicked stay in their graves? 38:02 Why doesn't He just let the wicked who have been 38:04 destroyed by the brightness of His coming lie on earth? 38:07 There's a specific reason in the plan of God for this. 38:10 You know, some people are saying, 38:13 "Only if we had a second chance. 38:15 You know, then we'd turn to God." 38:17 The second resurrection, the resurrection of damnation, 38:21 reveals that those who are lost have made so many decisions 38:27 against Christ that their brains are fixed. 38:31 And even if God would give them another chance, 38:35 even if that would take place, they would never make 38:40 their decision for Christ. 38:42 Now the Bible looks out at this group in Revelation 20:8. 38:51 What a tragedy. 38:53 What heartache. 38:55 What a disappointment to God. 38:57 Tens of thousands and millions of people 39:00 who have turned their back on His love, 39:02 rejected the promptings of His Spirit, 39:05 turned away from Calvary, they are the number 39:09 as the sand of the sea. 39:11 And the Bible talks about what happens. 39:13 The devil gathers them together. 39:16 He places them under his control. 39:21 He tried to convince them, "We can take the city. 39:25 Look at our numbers. 39:27 Thousands and tens of thousands. 39:29 Look at our numbers. 39:31 We can take that city. 39:33 We can overthrow that city." 39:35 He sees in that army vast military generals 39:40 that have never lost a battle. 39:42 He sees in that army the brilliant minds of captains 39:48 and lieutenants, military leaders. 39:51 And he marshals the legions of the lost. 39:54 They see that holy city. 39:56 The Bible says, Revelation 20:7-8, 40:00 "Now when the 1000 years have expired..." 40:03 What does expired mean? 40:05 Finished, completed. They're over. 40:11 How is he released from his prison? 40:12 He's been chained by a chain of circumstances to earth. 40:18 He's wandered around for 1000 years over these dead bodies. 40:22 There has been nobody at all to tempt. 40:26 And so, now the chains are unfettered, they're unloosed. 40:31 Now he sees the legions of the lost. 40:34 Now he sees those wicked men and women 40:38 who are bent against Christ, and he looks at them. 40:41 He's released from his prison. 40:43 He goes out to do what? Deceive the nations. 40:46 Did the devil deceive a third of the angels in heaven? 40:51 Did the devil deceive Adam and Eve? 40:53 Did the devil deceive men and women 40:56 down through the centuries? 40:57 The devil is a deceiver. 41:01 That is who he is. 41:02 John 8:44 says the devil is a liar, 41:05 and he is the father of lies. 41:08 So down through the ages this deceiver, this liar, 41:12 this one bent on the destruction of the world, 41:15 here he looks at the nations, he deceives them once again. 41:19 He says, "We can take the city. 41:21 We can take it. Let's go and attack that city." 41:25 The Bible says, the scene changes, Revelation 21:2... 41:39 The holy city is descending out of heaven. 41:43 And as the holy city descends, 41:45 you and I are in one of two places. 41:47 We're either inside that city with Christ, 41:51 coming down, rejoicing in praise as God is going to re-create 41:56 this earth in Edenic splendor, or we're outside of that city 42:02 battling with Satan against Jesus and the angels. 42:06 The Bible says that Satan and the legions of the lost 42:10 come up on the city, they attack the city. 42:13 You see, Jesus is either going to be the Lord 42:15 of your life today or not Lord at all. 42:20 You see, there's only one of two choices. 42:21 We're either inside that city worshiping Him 42:24 or outside of that city battling against Him. 42:28 We're either inside of that city with Christ as our Lord, 42:32 Christ as our Savior, or outside of that city 42:37 being guided by another master. 42:39 See, there are only two masters. 42:40 Only two masters. 42:42 Somebody says, "Well, I don't think I'm going to decide. 42:44 I'm kind of on the fence." 42:46 That's not possible. 42:48 That's not possible. 42:50 You're either going to be fully for Christ 42:53 or fully for Satan. 42:55 Either Jesus is going to be your Lord and Savior, 42:59 led and guided by Him, or you'll turn your back on that Christ 43:04 and be guided by the evil one. 43:07 John says in Revelation 21:3... 43:16 The tabernacle of God, the dwelling place of God, 43:20 the city of God is with men. 43:28 Sin, suffering, heartache no more. 43:31 God is going to be with His people forever. 43:35 He is going to remake this earth. 43:36 The holy city descends. 43:38 The wicked rush up on that city. 43:40 The Bible says in Revelation 20:9... 43:47 Satan says, "We have the city. We can take the city. 43:50 We can overthrow the city. 43:52 I can be ruler of the world. 43:54 I can have dominion over the universe. 43:57 The city will be mine. Earth will be my capital." 44:01 But the Bible says... 44:07 The glorious, magnificent presence of God destroys evil. 44:14 The glorious, magnificent presence of God destroys sin. 44:19 The Bible describes it. 44:22 Out of the ashes of this old world there is a new world. 44:44 A panoramic view comes in the sky 44:47 there of the lives of the wicked. 44:50 And they see, they see clearly 44:55 every opportunity they could have had to be saved. 44:59 The judgment bar is opened before them. 45:03 And they see that they could have made decisions for Christ. 45:08 And every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess 45:12 that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. 45:23 My name, your name, the name of every believer 45:26 is written there in the book of life 45:29 when we accept Christ. 45:30 You can live and need not die. 45:32 The choice is life or death. 45:34 The choice is eternity with Christ 45:36 or destruction, being gone, consumed, burned up forever. 45:41 You and I can live in a new heaven and a new earth. 45:44 And the whole universe says, "Just and righteous 45:47 are Thy ways, oh Lord." 45:48 Even the wicked recognize that they could not 45:51 be brought into heaven, that they are unfit 45:54 for heavenly companionship. 45:55 That the rebellion would start all over again. 45:58 God deals with the problem of evil in a way 46:01 to ensure that sin will never raise its 46:04 ugly head a second time. 46:06 And John says in Revelation 21:1... 46:18 Think of it, to be in that city. 46:19 And to think of being at creation again. 46:23 Only God and Jesus and the Spirit and the angels 46:28 were at creation when God created 46:29 the world the first time. 46:31 But when He re-creates it in Edenic splendor 46:33 we'll be there in that city. 46:35 And He'll speak, and earth will be carpeted with living green. 46:38 And He'll take His finger and carve babbling brooks 46:41 in the earth again, and beautiful lakes. 46:44 And we'll see Him plant flowers in this earth. 46:47 And we'll see this earth like its Edenic splendor again. 46:50 And we'll marvel, and we'll sing, "Worthy, worthy, worthy 46:54 is the Lamb who was slain; 46:58 to receive riches and glory and honor forever." 47:01 When we see the majesty of His love, 47:04 the power of the new creation, and the earth made over again. 47:08 All we can do is fall at His feet and worship Him. 47:11 What are the events at the end of the millennium? 47:28 Again, and again, and again. 47:30 And we live with Christ forever and ever and ever; 47:34 there with no more fear, there with no more anxiety, 47:38 there with no more suffering, there with no more heartache. 47:41 The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:13... 47:56 One day the flowers will never fade. 47:58 One day the heartache will be gone forever. 48:00 One day cancer will be a thing of the past, 48:03 heart disease will be a thing of the past. 48:05 One day tears will be a thing of the past. 48:07 One day sorrow will be a thing of the past. 48:10 One day war will be a thing of the past. 48:12 One day terror will be a thing of the past. 48:14 One day Christ will reign forever and ever 48:17 and ever and ever. 48:19 One day there will be no more separation with our loved ones. 48:24 That father that you long to see, 48:26 that mother that you long to see, 48:29 that husband that you want to embrace again, 48:31 those children whose hands you want to take 48:34 and race through fields of waving grain; 48:38 we'll be there with our families. 48:41 I long to see dad again. 48:43 I long to see my mom again. 48:46 You know, my mom died not long ago with cancer. 48:52 It was a very, very difficult time for our family. 48:58 I was traveling. 49:00 And before I went on my trip to preach, I said to my godly 49:05 father and mother, "Should I go? 49:08 Should I go?" 49:10 I know mom's really sick. 49:11 I had been there visiting with her. 49:14 I don't want to be gone if she dies. 49:17 I want to be here. 49:19 My father and mother said, "Mark, you go preach. 49:22 We'll keep you posted on the condition." 49:25 My sister said, "Go preach." 49:26 I was preaching, traveling in another country. 49:29 And I'd call home very day by the phone. 49:34 My sister said one day, "Mark, you better come 49:36 if you want to see mom alive. 49:38 She's taken a turn for the worse." 49:40 My wife, Teenie, and I got an airplane ticket. 49:44 We flew back. 49:46 By the time I got back it was early in the morning, 49:49 12:30 or 1:00 o'clock in the morning. 49:51 We decided that we did not want my mother 49:54 to die in the hospital alone. 49:57 That we're going to bring her and she would be at home. 50:02 My sisters got a hospital bed, it was put in the living room. 50:06 And there mom was. 50:07 We wanted to be holding her hand when she died. 50:10 We wanted to be running our fingers through her hair. 50:13 We wanted to be telling her how much we loved her 50:15 and singing the songs of heaven. 50:18 It was late at night. 50:21 I came into the room. 50:23 Her bed was in the living room, we tried to be quiet, 50:25 I was going to see her in the morning. 50:27 And as I opened the door it made a little creak, 50:32 mom woke up. 50:34 And she looked up and said words that I will never forget. 50:37 She said, "Son, I knew you would come. 50:41 Son, I knew you would come." 50:43 She knew that I loved her too much. 50:46 She knew that I cared for her too much. 50:49 She knew that I wouldn't let her die alone. 50:53 Jesus says to you, "I'm going to come, My child. 50:58 Calvary speaks about My love. 51:04 I love you too much. 51:06 The nails in My hands show that. 51:10 The spear wound in My side shows that. 51:13 My death on the cross shows that." 51:16 Calvary says love to me. 51:19 Jesus loves you too much to leave you along. 51:22 Listen as Danny sings. 51:33 In compassion and love He looked down to earth, 51:42 then He sent His Son, born of a virgin birth. 51:51 He knew from creation what was to be, 52:00 with great love for man He planned Calvary. 52:12 Calvary says love to me, 52:21 like words could never say. 52:30 The blood He shed was love written in red. 52:39 Calvary says love to me. 52:52 Separated by sin was the whole human race, 53:01 man was destined to die were it not for grace. 53:10 A cross and three nails never held Him there, 53:20 for He willingly chose the cross to bear. 53:31 Calvary says love to me, 53:40 like words could never say. 53:49 The blood He shed was love written in red. 53:59 Calvary says love to me. 54:07 The blood He shed was love written in red. 54:18 Calvary says love to me. 54:28 Calvary says love to me. 54:42 What does Calvary say? 54:45 Calvary says love to you. 54:49 Are you wondering about the love of God? 54:53 Do you look to the future frightened and fearful? 54:57 As you think about the end of that 1000 year 55:01 millennial period, are you concerned, troubled, 55:07 that you may not be saved? 55:09 Calvary says love to you. 55:12 The nails in His hands speak of His love. 55:15 The spear wound in His side speaks of His love. 55:20 Grace and mercy flow from the cross of Calvary to you. 55:27 You see, my love for my mother led me there 55:33 that night of her death. 55:36 We sat with her. 55:38 We told her of our love. 55:40 She knew that a son that loved her was going to be there 55:46 when she needed him most. 55:48 The Christ that loves you is there when you need Him most. 55:55 Mom knew that the son that loved her 55:58 was going to come home for her. 56:00 Jesus loves you. 56:02 Loves you more than you know or could ever realize. 56:07 And He's coming for you to take you home with Him, 56:11 where you can live with Him through all eternity 56:15 forever and ever and ever and ever. 56:19 Let's pray together. 56:20 Right now would you like to say, 56:22 "Jesus, I know Calvary speaks love to me. 56:25 And Jesus, I know that love of Yours 56:28 is so strong and so great for me that You're going to come back 56:33 and take me to Yourself. 56:35 And I have that security in Christ." 56:38 Why not make that decision that you want to live with Him 56:41 forever as we bow our heads to pray. 56:43 Father in heaven, we thank You, first, for creating us. 56:50 We're not some cosmic accident. 56:52 You created us and fashioned us. 56:55 You've given us life. 56:57 Thank You for giving us life a second time. 57:00 When we sinned, the wages of sin were death, 57:03 You died on the cross so we could live, live eternally. 57:07 And thank You, my Father, that Calvary's love is so strong 57:11 and so great that it leads You to come 57:14 to get us to take us home. 57:16 We long to be with You forever 57:18 and make that decision to serve You, 57:22 to respond to Your love right now. 57:24 In Christ's name, amen. 57:27 Thank you for joining us for, 57:28 Revelation's Ancient Discoveries. |
Revised 2018-04-26