***Note: due to a mistake I made last week, post #49 follows this post. Oh, well, I am definitely not a tech person.
    In this post, we’re going to wrap up the sequence of events that might occur throughout the process of Christ’s return. We left off with the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19) which we found represents the celebration of our victory over Satan and his cohorts. Now, Revelation 20:1-10 tells something else takes place at the return of Christ–Satan is bound and sealed in a deep, deep pit for a thousand years. The purpose of this “prison sentence” is that Satan would not be able deceive the human race during that time. This passage also says that those who were resurrected and those who were changed as Christ returned would take their places on thrones to rule with him. The question is, who are they reigning over? Since in every war there are both casualties and prisoners of war, I’m thinking that the forces of evil that were taken as prisoners of war leading up to the return of Christ might be the ones who are ruled over with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). Then, when Satan is released at the end of the thousand years, he gathers those forces and goes out to deceive the human race again. However, before he even reaches them, he is captured and thrown into the lake of fire.
    By the way, speaking of the thousand year reign, I’m sure some of us have wondered what its significance is. I wouldn’t be surprised, if it is a literal thousand years, that it is a part of the revenge of God on the kingdom of evil for the devastation Satan and his cohorts have brought upon the human race. What would be more fitting a punishment for Satan than to have to watch the human race be one with God without being able to do anything about it?
    Next, let’s go on to the White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 19:11-15. Here is where we are going to tackle the concept of God’s absolute love. Many traditional teachings have told us that, at this point, all who never accepted Christ are going to be cast into eternal hell. Indeed, there are some scriptures that seem to point in that direction. For example, Matthew 25:31-46 talks about Christ separating the sheep from the goats when he returns, and the goats will go into eternal punishment. The most important aspect of this passage is found in the identity of the sheep and goats. Christ said nothing about accepting him or even about loving God, but he said that what separated the sheep from the goats was how they treated other people. Remember, Christ was talking to the Hebrews whose tradition revolved around the Mosaic law rather than around their interactions with other people. I think Christ was making a strategic point to his listeners (and to us) about what is important to him and his Father: their adherence to the law wouldn’t save them, but being kind would. Furthermore, Christ made another statement in John 5:28-29 which might add some clarity to what he said in Matthew, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
    Remember when we talked about the baptism of fire as part of the process of becoming a son of God (post #31)? The fire represents the power of the cleansing that God sends us through. As the time of Christ’s approaches, vast multitudes people will go through that fire and get rid of all evil in their lives because Satan looses the power of deception (Revelation 7:14). Now, let me ask a question, why do people die without Christ? Try listing as many reasons as you can and think about them. Don’t all of the reasons come down to the same point of people not understanding the absolute love of God? Whose fault is that? Satan’s, because he is the father of lies. I propose that the White Throne Judgment is where God takes care of the results of Satan’s deceptions.Â
    Not too far back, God painted a picture in my mind. I saw a man bent over under a huge load of evil deeds–his forehead was touching his knees. He was before God and God lifted an evil deed from his back. I saw God bend over to look straight into the man’s eyes and to say these words, “This is the deception you believed, and here is the truth, I love you. Now do you want Me to give it back to you or should I throw it into the fire?” The man answered, “Into the fire,” and so the process went on until every evil deed had been tossed into the fire. The man ended up standing straight and looking God in the eye. Then, God asked him the final question, “What do you choose–life or death, blessing or cursing?” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). In a loud, clear voice, the man replied, “I choose life and blessings.”
    I Corinthians 3:11-15 back this mental image up. Listen to Paul’s words:
  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
What is the foundation that is Christ? I John 2:1-2 says it well, “…And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” This foundation–this outworking of God’s absolute love–is that everyone’s sin was forgiven through Christ’s death on the cross. Just because Satan has kept some people from understanding truth doesn’t mean God’s love was stymied. God is greater than Satan and His love is absolute–perfect, complete, and real.
     In my next post, we will be talking about the end result of God’s absolute love. But, before we pause in our discussion, I want to point out a significant misunderstanding some of us have. I’ve heard people speak of eternal hell–in fact, some use the threat of eternal hell to try to get people saved. Guess what–Revelation 20:13-14 overrules that doctrine. Listen to the wording, “And the sea gave up the death which were in it, and death and [hell, KJV] gave up the dead which were in them…Then death and [hell] were thrown into the lake of fire…” Neither death nor hell are eternal because they end up in the lake of fire and they will never harass the human race again.
    Now, let’s consider just what hell is. In Matthew 10:28, Christ said this, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Tradition has told us that the one who is able to destroy us in hell is God, but let’s think this through. The next three verses in Matthew 10 talk about the care our Father has for us. In our tradition, there’s a huge contradiction–on one hand, we’re to fear God because He can send us to hell while at the same time, He cares for us and has counted the hairs of our head!! What??
    I think John 10:10 has our answer, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it [more, KJV] abundantly.” Satan is the one who destroys, not God! I believe hell is a work of Satan in his depraved effort to completely destroy the human race. Before God takes care of all the evil deeds people have done, He is going to eradicate death and hell forever. Then, when people stand in front of Him at the White Throne Judgment, they will no longer have to fear the one who destroyed their souls and bodies in death and hell. They will be set free!
    All scripture passages are taken from the NASB unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to comment–just be respectful!
    ©2009-2010 by Patricia Zell. All rights reserved.
