Revelation 20:1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years . He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years. It almost impossible to imagine what a thousand years would be like. I have yet to reach half of 100 and to think 1000 is 20 times 50. Time is measure but it is relevant as well. When things are going good it seems time flies but when they are bad time seems to go soooooo slow.
This 1,000 year reign of Christ will be a reality one day and we will not have to worry about the devil and temptation at least during this time for the devil will be bound during Jesus' reign of a thousand years. Because of the absence of the adversary, the devil, I wonder if it time will fly during Jesus' reign? Either way we will just go from better to best after that because then comes the eternal state, which will get into the following weeks. Could you imagine the shame the devil will go through. It is not the Almighty God who throws him into the Abyss it is another angel. Not that the devil is any way God's equal or even opposite, God is holy and stands alone. It is fitting that God would send an angel with chains to bind satan and hurl him into the Abyss. There are "mighty" or "strong" angels mentioned throughout the book of Revelation but I find it interesting the this angel is not referred to as a mighty or strong angel just an angel. I am in know way saying the this angel or even satan himself is not strong but I am saying that the Spirit of God made sure at this point in future history to exalt Jesus Christ and His reign not the imprisonment of Lucifer. Once the light bearer of God, Lucifer will spend 1,000 years bound in chains in darkness. Those who regarded Jesus' Name as more important than what they could have this side of glory, including their own lives, will enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ and rule with Him for a thousand years. It is said blessed and holy are those who take part in the first resurrection. These will be those who believed and trusted Jesus to save them from sin's penalty. Interesting that they don't speak of second resurrection only a second death. Those who believe will die once and live twice but those who refuse to believe will live once and die twice. Which group do you fall in? Of course our prayer is that all of our students would know only one death, our physical one for the second death has no power over the believer as John records for us. This is good news worth holding on to when life just seems like it will never get any better. Brother/sister we look forward to Jesus literal 1,000 year reign here on earth. Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good!
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