Satan imprisoned while Christians reign 1,000 years before Satan's doom

Revelation 20:1-10
AIM: The devil is doomed but desires to deceive and destroy people

A) Satan is locked in the abyss
(1) John sees angel down from heaven, had key to Abyss, holding great chain
(2) Seized dragon/ancient serpent/devil/Satan - bound him 1,000 years
(3) threw him into Abyss, locked and sealed, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore, after he'll be set free a short time

• Satan's activity in the world: roams the earth, looking for someone to kill (Job 1:7;2:2;1 Peter 5:8), Makes people unable to hear Jesus and they carry out Satan's desires - murder, hates truth, father of lies (John 8:42-45; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
• My confidence in the Lord's power over Satan's activity: God hears me, heals me and helps me when I listen to him carefully, do what is right in his sight and earnestly seek him. (1 John 5:14-15; Exodus 15:26; Hebrews 11:1,6)

Application: How am I living in the power of God and resisting the devil? What do I need "bind" and "throw into the abyss" that causes me to stumble? When will I ask God for help to stand against the devil?

B) Martyrs reign with Christ for 1,000 years

(4) Thrones, seated by those given authority to judge AND souls of martyrs testimony about Jesus and word of God

• Not worshiped the beast/image or received it's mark on forehead or hand (Rev 13, Daniel 7-8)
• Came to life, reigned with Christ a thousand years (Genesis 1:14 stars in the sky mark season/days/years, original man lived a 930 years Genesis 5:4-5). (Isaiah 63:9 - in their suffering he also suffered, personally rescued them, redeemed them, lifted them up and carried them through all the years)

(5) The rest of the dead didn't come to life until 1,000 years ended - first resurrection

(6) Blessed (#5 of 7 blessings) and holy are those who share in first resurrection 

• second death no power (Rev 2:11 - victorious will not be harmed, Rev 20:14 lake of fire is the second death, death/grave/Hades thrown in back at 19:19
• priests of God and Christ (Rev 1:6;5:10 echoes 1 Peter 2:5,9 God building us into a spiritual temple, offering spiritual sacrifices - royal priest, but emphasizes service our God, Psalm 132:9,16 clothed with righteousness/salvation, Leviticus Hebrews summarizes in chapters 7-9)
• Reign with him a 1,000 years "a life time of preparation for an eternity of service"

Application: How can I change my priorities to live for God and reflect my eternity to come? What form of hypocrisy do I try to hide from God and others? What is God asking me to change so that I'm victorious, blessed and holy?

C) Satan is released to deceive nations but they are defeated and Satan is thrown in lake of fire

(7) when 1,000 years are over Satan will be released from his prison, 

• (8) going out to deceive the nations four corners of earth 
• Gog and Magog (Genesis 10:2 explains these are Japhethites, Ezekiel 38:2;39:6 prophecy against them)
• and gather them for battle, 
• huge like sand on seashore (Blessing Genesis 22:17;Hosea 1:10; Psalm 78:27; 1 Kings 4:29; but mostly armies are described this way Joshua 11:4; Judges 7:12; 1 Samuel 13:5...)
• (9) they marched across the breadth of earth surrounded "camp of God's people- city he loves", fire from heaven devoured them (Gen 19 Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed this way)
• (10) and the devil who deceived them thrown into lake of fire (burning sulfur) tormented day and night

Application: How am I standing for God in a culture that is idolatrous and ungodly? Where am I deceived by the devil in my heart and mind? Am I willing to repent and let God remove this deception from me?

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Doom of the great prostitute and beast fulfills God's Word

Revelation 17
AIM: Satan deceives people for their eternal destruction

A) John is show a great prostitute on a beast
(1) one of seven angels, who poured the bowls - "Come I'll show the judgement/punishment/doom going to great prostitute/harlot, rules many waters (influencing nations)"

• Isaiah 46-47, Ezekiel 16:23

(2) kings committed adultery, people who belong to the world, drunk by wine of her immorality
(3) angle took John to wilderness, woman sitting on

• scarlet beast, 
• seven heads, 
• ten horns, 
• blasphemies against God written all over it

(4) woman

• wore purple/scarlet clothes, 
• gold, precious stones, pearls, 
• held a golden cup filled with abominable/obscenities/filth/impurities of her immorality/adulteries
• (5) Mysterious name: Babylon the Great, Mother of all prostitutes (false religions, heresies) and Obscenities/Abominations in the World/of the earth 
• (6) she's drunk with blood of God's holy people, witnesses/martyred for Jesus (bore testimony to Jesus), Rev 13:1-10
• John's starred/marveled/ completely astonished/amazed

Application: How am I compromising my testimony with immorality, false religion and wealth?

B) Angel explains who the woman and beast are

(7) angel "wonder/marvel/amazed/astonished? I'll explain the mystery.."

(8) beast, once was, now is not, will come from abyss

• bottomless pit, dwelling place of demons (Matthew 8:28-34 Demon possess with legion)
• go to destruction/perdition/ eternal destruction (Hell)
• Inhabitants of earth, who belong to this world, not in the book of life from the creation of the world...amazed at the reappearance of this beast who died yet is

(9) This calls for mind [with/which has] wisdom/understanding

• Seven heads of beast represent seven hills where woman sits/rules, also seven kings
• (10) five kings already fallen, sixth now reigns, seventh yet to come but for reign will be brief
• (11) Scarlet beast (from Rev 17: 3,8) is the eight king of/belongs to the seven heading to destruction/perdition/hell
• (12) ten horns, ten kings not yet risen to power, will reign with beast a brief moment
• (13) One purpose/mind, all agree - give their power/authority to beast
• (14) wage war against the Lamb (Christ) - Lamb overcomes/defeats/triumphs over them - He is Lord of lords, King of kings (Hallelujah - Messiah (Handel) and those with him called, chosen, faithful followers

Application: How do I use wisdom and understanding to help people be freed from Satan's deception?

C) Angel explains the beast hates and devours people, fulfilling God's word

(15) Angel said, "waters you saw...peoples, multitudes from every nations and languages

(16) Scarlet beast, his ten horns hate the prostitute, 

• strip her naked (stripped of power/influence), eat her flesh, burn her remains with fire (Luke 16:19–31 Rich man and Lazarus)
• (17) God put a plan into their hearts/minds (Rev 17:13) to accomplish his purposes - they give authority to scarlet beast so/until the words of God are fulfilled

(18) the woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth/world

Application: Who will I share the truth about eternal hell with?

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Lamb opens six seals bringing calamity, judgement and wrath

Revelation 6

AIM: God is sovereign over everyone and we will answer to him

A) The Lamb breaks 4 seals releasing a ruler, wars, economic distress and death

(1-2) Lamb breaks first of seven seals on scroll, living being “come” - white horse, rider/bow/crown win battles, victory

(3-4) Lamb broke second seal, second living being “come” – red horse, rider/sword/authority to remove peace, war and slaughter everywhere

(5-6) Lamb broke third seal, third living being “come” – black horse, rider/scales “food/wages/savings”

(7-8) Lamb broke fourth seal, fourth living being “come” – pale green horse, rider named death with hades nearby. Authority over ¼ of earth to kill with sword, famine, disease, wild animals

Application: What do I put my security in that is not the sovereign God? What needs to change in my heart to change this?

Helpful verses: Revelation 6:1-8; James 4:1-8; Luke 16:22-31 ;Revelation 20:13-15;Zechariah 6:1-8; Matthew 24:1-8

B) Lamb’s fifth seal brings white robes of assurance to martyrs

(9) Lamb broke firth seal, under the altar souls of martyred for word of God, faithful in testimony

(10) Shouted O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge people who belong to this world and avenge our blood?

(11) each received a white robe, told to rest a little longer until full number of brothers and sisters, fellow servants of Jesus were martyred had joined them

Application: How sure am I in my salvation? Is my hope in a decision made long ago or the decisions I’m making right now? How do I believe God in my life today (Psalm 46)?

Helpful verses: Revelation 6:9-11; Romans 2:5 ;2 Peter 3:9;Isaiah 61:10;Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 3:13-17; 4:12-16; 5:10;1 Peter 5:10

C) Lamb broke the sixth seal and the great day of wrath came

(12-14) Lamb broke sixth seal, earthquake, sun dark, moon blood, stars fall, sky rolled up like a scroll, mountains and island moved from their places

(15-17) Everyone on earth hid in caves, cried to the mountains “fall on us, hide us from the one who sits on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

Application:  Who do I know needs to be given the perspective of the day of the Lord?

Helpful verses: Revelation 6:12-17; Exodus 19:18; Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Joel 2:30-31; Zechariah 14:3-5

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