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Published: April 22 2019

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The Two Last Judgments | TheLastDays

Just as we have two Last Battles, so we also have two Last Judgments. It’s no wonder that the Last Days are so confusing. It’s typically very hard for the average person to keep these dual events straight, much less sort out all the other mysteries. Here is a rule of thumb: The Judgment Seat of Christ is the First Last Judgment. It comes right before the Millennium. Jesus does the judging and this one is primarily for believers. The Final Last Judgment is The Great White Throne judgment. It comes right after the Millennium. Father God does the judging for that one and it is primarily for non-believers. Got it? Good because from here on in there are complications and exceptions too numerous to mention! Mercifully, we don’t have to know the details in advance. We just need to be on good terms with the “Judge of all the earth.”

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" Genesis 18:25

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Chief Characteristics

Whole books are written about most of these crucial components. These characteristics are summaries of what is grounded in scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[1] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer.

1. Judgment on Ungodly Rulers

It is a curious fact that the Bible shows us significant times when humanity will be judged in the future. For instance, the judgment in this passage (20:4) leads to the first resurrection. A second judgment of humanity will come later at the Great White Throne when all the rest of the dead are resurrected. However, the Bible shows us no future judgment for the fallen angels and demons. They go immediately to their punishment without standing trial, so to speak. The reason is that they have all been judged in the past. Their sentence has already been pronounced.

The soldiers who die fighting against God at Armageddon will end up being raised in the final judgment to learn their inescapable fate. However, that battle is the last account we have of anyone representing the powers of darkness, except Satan himself. He alone will be released when the thousand years are up. He alone (it seems) will deceive the nations once again and gather the doomed forces of Gog and Magog to suffer their crushing defeat. God decreed his fate long ago.[2] It is the same for the fallen angels who gathered the army at Armageddon. Their fate was decreed in Psalm 82. As the vast army dies in the field these rebel warriors of the unseen realm also suffer defeat, punishment, and destruction. For the Millennium to come both these immense God-hating masses must be annihilated. This is the unseen side of the battle.

God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince." Psalm 82:1, 6-7

2. Preparing for Our Own Judgment

These are the famous Last Judgments. Only the very foolish have no fear of God’s judgment, though terror will surely seize them when the day arrives. Even the redeemed had a fear of it, for knowing that we will be judged is an integral part of the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. Thankfully, that fear has been overcome by the gospel and by our faith-surrender to the Lord Jesus. Never will we be more grateful for the Blood that covers us than when these books are opened! Tragically, those same books carry a sentence of doom for all who have not turned to our God for their salvation. This is the moment they hoped would never come.

We have only three verses in the Book of Revelation describing the First Last Judgment and five verses which describe the final one. How slender that seems! Perhaps, no other subject could possibly hold greater long-term interest for all involved because what is at stake here is nothing less than eternal destiny. The Word of God, however, seems blithely indifferent to our curiosity. The Bible gives us what we need to know, not what we might like to know. What we know is this: Any rational creature would want to end up on the right side of this judgment!

Fortunately, we don’t have to wait to find out. God’s judgment in the future will be based entirely upon the way we live our lives now. The great judgment that is coming, however, is not based on the balance sheet of our deeds—whether our good deeds will outweigh the bad. That you can never know. Besides, that’s not even what’s at issue. The real questions are: Are we putting our hope and faith in Jesus to be our Savior? Are we trusting Him enough to obey Him as Lord? Are we living for God or for ourselves? These will all be on the test. If we start getting them right now, the coming judgment may barely be a blip on the screen, not a pothole on the road to hell.

But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Pre-Figured in Scripture

Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[3] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.

1. The Judgment of Solomon

Solomon’s famous judgment may indeed be a light thing compared to the incomparable weight of judging eternal destiny. Nevertheless, it is an encouragement to remember it before wading into the deep waters of fate or freedom. It is worth remembering that everything about Israel served also as an example (a type) of the reality which would come through Jesus. In addition, many things about Israel were based on the pattern of the perfect originals in heaven. Israel’s kings enthroned when sitting to judge their subjects, give us a living picture of that future reality when the Judge of All the Earth sits enthroned to dispense final judgment upon His subjects.[4]

Solomon rendered judgment in a case that involved life or death. Two mothers (prostitutes) lay down to sleep with their infant sons. Only one newborn made it through the night. Both claimed that the surviving child was her own, but there had been no witnesses. Could Solomon discover who was the real mother of the surviving child? Both that child’s destiny and the heart of the true mother hung in the balance. That he did ensured his reputation as Israel’s wisest king, but it also gives us great encouragement. As God’s representative, Solomon judged with perfect insight, wisdom, and compassion. So will our God!

Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother." And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. 1 Kings 3:27-28

2. The Books of Earth and Heaven

As will become evident, books play a crucial role in the final judgment. Apparently, the names of all the living are kept in books in heaven, where their deeds (good and bad) are also recorded. Because this topic should be of intense personal interest, it will be examined in detail. In a moment, we’ll review the earthly counterpart, then the heavenly original.[5] First, here is a glimpse through the prophet Daniel’s eyes of a scene in heaven when the books are opened.

"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10

1) Records Kept for Use on Earth

The Jewish people weren’t the only ones in the ancient Middle East who kept track of their history and their transactions. Since our God keeps books in heaven, it’s no surprise that this is a universal tendency of all who have been created in His image. The nation of Israel did it, however, as a people uniquely called by God to know Him and His ways and to represent Him by becoming like Him.[6] What they kept track of is, therefore, quite intriguing to say the least.

a) The book of the generations of Adam encompasses the whole of the fifth chapter of Genesis. It only refers to life on earth and the lineage of Adam through Noah. This is a record that may have been handed down through oral tradition before being included in the scriptures written by Moses. Or it may have been given directly to the prophet by the Holy Spirit. Either way, it is the first book of records ever recorded. It gives us an infallible guide to the originating ancestors who lived before writing was invented.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1

b) The Jewish people kept extensive records. Just as the plan for the tabernacle mirrored the perfect original in heaven, so it seems their bookish ways were inspired by the Spirit after the heavenly pattern of keeping written records. For instance, they kept detailed genealogical records and even carried them into captivity. One of the main reasons for doing this was the necessity of keeping track of those uniquely called to be priests, for only Aaron’s bloodline could serve at the altar. We may be certain that heaven is recording if we, too, are pursuing our own appointed purpose or doing deeds God never prepared for us.

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it. Nehemiah 7:5

c) Ancient Israel also kept thorough records of the deeds of her kings, whether good or bad. Comprehensive annals documented each king’s reign, both in Judea and the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Upon the written evidence of these chronicles, the more condensed scripture summaries pronounced the kings either righteous or wicked. This illustrates the way heaven keeps written account of each person’s deeds—for judicial purposes. Our God, too, will pronounce us either righteous or wicked based upon the written evidence.[7]

Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 2 Chronicles 25:26[8]

2) Records Kept for Heaven’s Use

For better or for worse (depending upon one’s perspective), heaven records everything about us. These accounts fall into two main categories: a) the names of those destined to live forever as saved and redeemed children of God and b) the deeds of everyone whether good or bad. Since eternal destiny is the foremost consideration, let’s begin there.

a) The Book of Life holds the record of those who belong to the Lord. Though it goes by various names, including “The Book of the Living” it is clearly not a listing of people living on earth at any specified time.[9] These are the fortunate and blessed souls whose names were recorded there by God’s divine foreknowledge, even before “the foundation of the world.”[10] In other words, by faith they are alive to God in this life, and by grace, they will be living (not perishing) in the next. This is the book we want to be in!

At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1

This is the book Jesus was referring to when He rejoiced on the successful return of the seventy-two disciples He sent out to the towns of Israel. Although He saw Satan falling “like lightning” and the disciples would, therefore, be given authority over all the power of the Enemy, they were to rejoice with Him in only one thing.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20

Both Paul and the unnamed writer of the Book of Hebrews refer to the record in heaven of those who will live forever with the Lord.

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:3

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-23

Others will never have had their names listed in the book because of their refusal of repentance and God’s grace. That, too, has been foreseen.

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. Revelation 17:8

Is it possible to have one’s name removed (blotted out) from this all-important book? Apparently, it is even though a person may have been originally listed as among the redeemed. A person’s sins—if not atoned for—can precipitate just such a removal. In the matter of the golden calf, Moses interceded for the sins of the people, offering his own life in exchange for theirs. He understood that multitudes of the people were now at risk for having their names removed from the book of life, including his beloved brother Aaron and sister Miriam.

But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. Exodus 32:32-33

The Psalmist went the other way. He sought to damn one who sinned against him by praying for him to no longer hold a “living” position among the redeemed of Israel.

Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. Psalm 69:27-28

Is there a way to ensure that one’s name is never blotted out of the Book of Life? Indeed, there is! Become a valiant-hearted, faithful “overcomer” of anything the enemy throws at you. Cling to the Lord and refuse to deny Him when tempted by sin or persecuted unto death, especially during the coming Tribulation.

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:5

b) The Book of Deeds is where everyone’s works, or deeds, are recorded. There may be separate books kept for the righteous and unrighteous, but all of one’s deeds, both good and evil, are in there. They remain in the record unless they have been blotted out. Unlike the “Book of Life” which is always referred to in the singular, these are sometimes referred to as “books” in scripture. The Book of Remembrance might be the proper name for the book of deeds.

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. Malachi 3:16

Aware of this record, Nehemiah prayed that his good deeds would not be “wiped out” from God’s book of remembrance. It would be wrong to assume that Nehemiah was basing his hope of heaven upon his good deeds. No! As a man of consistent faith in the God of Israel, he would have understood that he was being saved by God’s grace through covenant faithfulness, just as Abraham had been. This plea was to ensure that his good deeds would be remembered in view of future rewards in eternity.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. Nehemiah 13:14

David believed that even a “deed” such as his tears were being recorded.

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8

The downside of this is that all sins are also recorded—permanently.

May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! Psalm 109:14

Now for the good news. Sins and misdeeds can be blotted out of the “permanent” record through repentance and divine grace. David gives us a clear example of this in his prayer for mercy following his exposure as an adulterer and murderer.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1

Centuries later through the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, David’s prayer of faith and hope was shown to be based upon the eternal counsel of the Living God. Genuine repentance truly does gain the removal of past sins from the record.

"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right.” Isaiah 43:25-26

“Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:21-22

“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.” Ezekiel 18:21-22

Once Jesus opened the way for everyone’s sins to be finally and fully removed, Peter made this all-embracing invitation on the Day of Pentecost.

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus. Acts 3:19-20

Revealed by Scripture

The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.

At the very beginning of the Millennium, John saw thrones put in place. These were for unidentified assistants but were likely for Jesus' disciples whom He promised would one day judge the tribes. We also know from Jesus’ own testimony that He will sit to judge the nations. This is often called the judgment seat of Christ and could easily be confused with the Last Judgment because it does come last, after the final battle of Armageddon takes place. It also involves the thorny issue of eternal destiny for those brought before Him. The confusion comes in because Armageddon is not the last battle: that’s the war of Satan, Gog and Magog which ends the Millennium. Nor is the judgment by Jesus the final judgment for all concerned. That will be the one that takes place before the Great White Thone. Clear?

1. The First Last Judgment

At His judgment seat, Jesus will separate the nations into sheep and goats. The goats will be sent to eternal punishment. It will also bring those who are being saved through “the first resurrection” into eternal life. The redeemed who died in faith will be raised and receive their glorious new bodies along with those still living believers who faithfully survived the Tribulation. Truly, this is a judgment which decides eternal destiny, but not for all.

The judgment of Jesus is limited in scope. It prepares the earth for the Millennium by removing unrighteousness souls from the earth and by raising to new and eternal life those who will reign with Him. Only the ones from “the nations” who are still alive when Jesus returns will be judged. His born-again followers will pass through the first resurrection to live forever with Him on earth. Those who are found to be unrighteous will be sent to hell. All the rest of the dead from bygone years will have to wait their turn. That will come before the Father’s Great White Throne.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:31-33

The Judgment Seat of Christ

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Revelation 20:4a

John’s attention and ours are abruptly turned from viewing Satan’s incarceration to this scene of judgment. Since John sees multiple “thrones” assembled here, we are not to suppose that this judgment will take place by God alone. Indeed, John sees “those” who are already “seated” on the thrones and they are either redeemed people like us, or they are a panel of angelic beings. At this as yet undesignated place in heaven there is no mention of God Almighty or of His throne being present. Always John has been quick to honor the Holy One whenever He is present. It is too much to suppose he would pass over God’s presence in silence. Neither is there mention yet of Jesus being present. What are we to make of this?

Our God evidently loves to delegate the operations of His kingdom to His servants and His “sons” both human and divine.[11] We see this every day on earth which we have been given to steward, but it seems surprising to find it here in heaven, especially at such a level. This unnumbered group of people has been given “authority to judge.”[12] Judging is an operation of our God which we have been commanded to leave to Him alone.[13] That at least is the command for us prior to the return of Jesus. Nevertheless, Paul told us that a day would come when the redeemed would be committed with the task of judging both people and angels.

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

It is absurd to imagine that under the prevailing conditions of this life, where we have no visible contact with angels (with rare exceptions), that we could be in any position to judge them. This revelation given to Paul must be pointed towards that time beyond our present age when the unseen realm will be both visible and assessable to us. Also, we should note that at that time we will have been delivered of the sin nature, the voice of the Accuser will have been silenced and we will be as fully in Christ as He is in us.[14] All these soul-liberating factors will make it possible for us to “judge with righteous judgment,” something our present nature renders both difficult and rare for us to achieve.[15]

Having noted all this, it must also be recognized that the silence of the text is not proof that either God or Jesus is absent: “proof from silence is only proof of silence.”[16] This is the Book of Revelation. Nothing happening here is going to go as we might suppose! There are mind-numbing twists and turns leading to unforeseen revelations on every page. So, it may be here. The text we are given points us clearly towards recognizing the unexpected role that the redeemed will have in judging both “the world” of people and divine beings in the heavenly realm. Yet another text, that of Matthew’s gospel, points us to the presence of Christ very likely at this same scene of judgment.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:31-33

Jesus told us that He would “sit on his glorious throne” once He comes to reign. Not only that but his disciple would reign with him.[17] This is that moment. In the timeline we are following, He arrived victorious at the Last Battle and crushed all opposition. Even the devil is now incarcerated in chains in the bottomless pit. Now, Jesus is seated on His throne and is gathering “all the nations” before Him for judgment. What John sees immediately after these same events are thrones and those upon them—the disciples/apostles—committed to judging all who will be brought before them. So, now we have two views of judgments which will take place at about the same time. But are they of the same scene of judgment?

Completely unassisted, Jesus will be judging “the nations” and separating “the sheep from the goats.” By His judgment alone the sheep will hear the glad words, “Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”[18] The goats, on the other hand, will hear Jesus say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."[19] This is a judgment between righteous and unrighteous, between sinner and saint, and the immediate verdict is either eternal punishment or eternal life.[20] There is nothing here of weighing out rewards, or of assignments such as we see taking place in the judgment scene John is privy to. Let’s return to that now.

Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4b

John now is shown a multitude of the redeemed who seem at first glance to be a single company, but actually come from two sources. First, he mentions those who have been “beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God.” In the context of this passage, these would be the martyrs who die during the Great Tribulation, since John will also mention the beast and the mark in this same sentence. That these martyrs died “for the testimony of Jesus” clearly points to genuine Christian believers. That they also are said to have died “for the word of God” may indicate that some of this group are Jewish martyrs. There will be intense persecution against both Christians and Jews in the Last Days.

The qualification of beheading raises several questions. Does it mean that this group of martyrs does not include those who died for the faith in times past or even those who die in the future by some other means than beheading? John has nothing to say about such possibilities. Other souls may have been present, but John is quite specific in describing this first group as only those who have been beheaded. As a side note, beheading appears to be the primary means of execution during the Great Tribulation. Because it was so visually gruesome, most Western nations outlawed it. Nevertheless, it will evidently return in the future to be used by the antichrist’s empire which will likely be run from some European capital. Though it may seem like small comfort, beheading is at least instantaneous with an exceedingly brief period from its execution to final death. There are far worse deaths that martyrs have been subjected to in the past.

Are all those whom John sees martyrs? This cannot be answered with certainty based on this text alone. John may be saying that this entire group had all 1) been beheaded and 2) had “not worshipped the beast or its image” and 3) had “not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.” In that case, this is only a group of martyrs. On the other hand, he may be saying (as the ESV implies with the comma) that there is a second group here. First, the group of martyrs that we have discussed. Then, comes the comma and the “and those” which could signify another group of faithful believers who resisted both the beast and its image and refused to take the mark.

Somehow, this possible second group survived the persecution, either by hiding out or in some way by fighting back. Naturally enough many of us would like to be in that second group! This theory seems to be dashed, however, by the next phrase which gives us additional information. This group “came to life.” That can only mean that they died first. How did they die? By being martyred. Specifically, by being beheaded. Their reward is as certain as their death by martyrdom: they will reign with Christ “for a thousand years.”

Let each of us weigh in our hearts how crucial it is that we remain faithful under the coming persecution. The punishment for denying the Lord, worshipping the beast, and taking the mark is eternal torment. The reward is not only eternal life but reigning with Jesus on a restored earth—for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:5

This next verse is a puzzler. Here, “the first resurrection” is described and it is narrowly limited. Only some of the dead will come to life before the Great White Throne judgment at the end of the Millennium when all “the rest of the dead” will be raised to face God’s verdict on their life. We saw these raised souls of the first resurrection in verse 4 and it only included “those who had been beheaded” during the Great Tribulation. Trying to clarify that point took several paragraphs because it is so important. One would think that all those who died in the faith, whether they were martyrs or not, would be raised to reign with Christ through this “first resurrection.” But that is not what this passage is saying.

To be sure, the martyrs of the Great Tribulation will not be the only ones reigning with Christ during the Millennium. Those who walk faithfully through that terrible time of testing and persecution will also reign for a thousand years. Many will unavoidably die as martyrs. Others, however, will survive as overcomers of everything the devil and the antichrist throw at them. They will not need to go through the first resurrection for they will not have died. In the letters to the churches of Revelation Jesus promised a crown for the martyrs and a crown for the overcomers. A crown signifies the right to reign. Clearly both these groups who prove themselves faithful to Jesus and to the word of God will reign during the Millennium.

Nevertheless, Jesus told us (in Matthew 24) and Paul repeated it that the dead would be raised first, then we who are still alive will be joined with them. Then, we would all come to earth to be with the Lord forever.[21] According to that scenario, it would seem that all those who have died faithfully in Christ throughout the last two thousand years will be raised to join the overcomers and reign with Jesus. Yet, this passage seems to limit the group which joins the overcomers to being only the tribulation martyrs.

Jesus warned us that the coming Great Tribulation will be the worst the world has ever seen.[22] It may be that the special reward for those who remain faithful during it—whether as overcomers or as martyrs—will be the honor of reigning with Him while the earth is being restored. Then, all “the rest of the dead” who were nevertheless faithful in their lifetime would also enter the joy of their Lord on the renewed earth. Of course, “the rest of the dead” who were unfaithful would also be raised but they would go to a radically different “reward.” (See The Great White Throne.)

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6

We hardly need to be told that the one “who shares in” this first resurrection is “blessed.” Anyone in their right mind can see that this is a wonderful place to be—at Jesus' side and reigning with Him during the Millennium. Not only would you be alive, gloriously alive, but you would be taking part in the greatest un-attacked adventure the world has ever seen. All other adventures of faith have been subject to ferocious attacks by the enemy and his dark kingdom. With the evil ones taken out of the way, even difficult tasks will feel like child’s play. Working with Jesus on the restoration of the earth will be akin to assisting Him during the creation of the worlds. That work was reserved for angels. This has been reserved for us!

Yet, we are not only blessed if we share in this great venture, we are “holy.” Holy signifies purity of heart and singleness of desire where devotion to the Lord is concerned. The wordplay in English implies that the one who is holy is “wholly” devoted, wholly consecrated to the Lord. Such a one—the pure in heart—will see God.[23] We know from John’s first letter, that when we see Him, we become like Him.[24] Hence, genuine holiness leads to a union of His nature with ours. This desirable state is something we only get foretastes of now or may experience steadily but at a much lower level than that which is to come.

This first resurrection brings a guarantee to those who experience it: The “second death has no power” over them. The Great White Throne judgment is not for them. They have already been judged worthy of being raised. Never again will they have reason to fear death. Never again will death be able to boast that its “sting” can harm them.[25] This setting free is one tremendous aspect of the “glorious liberty” coming to God’s children.[26] We can all participate in it now to the degree that our faith sustains us because it is Jesus’ death and resurrection that opens this door to all who believe. Nevertheless, unless faith radically grows during the tribulation (and very likely it will!) it is safe to say that the present condition of many believers is fear, not glorious freedom, whenever the specter of death looms large. All that will change, in a moment, “in the twinkling of an eye.”[27]

For the third time, it is affirmed that these faithful followers of Jesus “will reign with him for a thousand years.” When scripture repeats a truth, it is evidence of its importance, just as it was when our parents tried to emphasize points to us when we were young. Usually, truths like the two great commandments, the disciple’s cross, or casting our cares on the Lord are scattered about. However, this truth is repeated three times in a row! We need to have no doubt that this truth will prove true. We only need to be sure that we prove to be true in the testing. Hanging on to this truth by faith and prayer will help us survive a ton of adversity and still consider it a “light momentary affliction” which cannot be compared to the glory to be revealed to us.[28]

We are also informed that these blessed believers of the Millennium will be “priests of God and of Christ.” Certainly, Jesus the High Priest is residing in all His genuine, reborn believers. His presence alone is what makes all of us prophets, priests and kings. Even in this life, we are prophets when we speak for Him, kings when we exercise God-given authority, and priests when we apply the Blood of His sacrifice through intercession for others. Is there a special—a Millennium role—as priests that lie before us? As mentioned earlier, there will be a multitude of people usually called the resisters who successfully resisted the beast, but who also resisted conversion. These will need to be introduced to and trained in the ways of the Lord. That’s a priestly calling.

2. The Final Last Judgment

At some time in our lives the very thought of standing before God at the Last Judgment might have struck terror to our hearts. However, if we are believers and if we are not walking in known sin, then this coming judgment need not be a cause for fear. The Blood of Jesus truly is sufficient to cover and cleanse all of Adam’s fallen children.[29] That’s at least ten billion of us!

If the Atonement can do that for the totality of everyone’s sins and sinfulness, it can surely cover each one of us.[30] So, no matter how big or how many your own sins have been, take heart. Your sins are still just as a drop of ink in the ocean of God’s unstinting mercy which the cross released. Tragically, not everyone will take our loving Father up on His offer of salvation by faith in what Jesus accomplished for us. Nevertheless, if we have, then we can rest easy in His “everlasting arms” of love.[31]

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment... There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19

The Great White Throne

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. Revelation 20:11

John’s head must be spinning! In the previous verse, he described seeing the devil thrown into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet have been already tormented for a thousand years. For John, this had to be a full-on view of excruciating punishment being meted out. “Then,” without a pause, he sees “a great white throne.” From the worst region of hell to the highest reaches of heaven! If John feels any spiritual whiplash, he doesn’t let on but plunges ahead without a pause.

This is likely the same throne that Isaiah and Daniel saw.[32] Neither prophet described the throne as being white, though their description of “Him who is seated on it” matches that of John. This exalted divine Person can be none other than the Ancient of Days, the Lord God Almighty. Evidently, there are ascending levels to heaven, as there are also descending levels to hell. It is the enthroned presence of the Highest and Holiest One that marks this location as the “highest heaven.”[33] Nothing and no one could possibly be higher than the LORD of heaven and earth.

That John does not always give His Name is due to the customary Jewish reverence for the highest name for God, which is usually translated in all capitals as “LORD.” Unfortunately, the rabbis (who were mostly Pharisees) also turned this simple act of reverence into yet another one of their laws, making it a sin to say the Name out loud. One unintended consequence of this outward show of piety is that no one now knows how to pronounce the Name which God first spoke to Moses from the burning bush.[34] We have the four letters (YHWH or JHWH), but whether we should say “Yahweh” or “Jehovah” is a disputed matter.

By any name, God is still LORD over all His creation. Accordingly, John saw that “the earth and the sky fled away.” Where did they go? “No place was found for them” may simply mean no place of proximity to the dread presence, as creation itself hides in holy fear. The Bible is not making a case here for animism—the belief that “objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence.”[35] Nor, can this be pantheism which equates the entire creation with God, for this view of the creation has it fleeing from God’s presence. But it is certainly a slap in the face of Western materialism which denies any form of life to the creation with the sole exception of biological beings, i.e. plants and animals.

Paul gives us insight into yet another way of seeing creation than the three failed perspectives listed above. He wrote that “all creation” has been “groaning together,” yearning for the glorious liberty to be restored to fallen humanity.[36] Jesus spoke similarly when He said that if His followers kept silent, “the very stones would cry out.”[37] There is indeed a mystery here and such mysteries cannot usually be resolved by our theories. They can, however, be gloriously experienced. That promised day will come for all of us if we don’t quit or turn back.

That the “earth and sky” turn and run away is not a sign of sinfulness on their part, as it would be on ours. This sign tells us that even the sinless created order cannot bear the weight of glory which God is capable of manifesting. In Isaiah’s vision, the seraphim covered their faces with their wings, so awesome (as in dreadful) was the unveiled sight of God’s glory.[38] Yet, these sublime spirits were created and equipped for this very purpose—to stand before God all eternity long. If they can’t “bear” His presence, who can?

Fortunately for all of us, our God reveals Himself by degrees as we are able to bear it.[39] Jesus, veiled Himself when He became one of us. His Incarnation began the process which continues through this life into the next: “He became as we are so that we might become as He is.”[40] Indeed, it is the incremental gift of revelation which makes repentance and on-going transformation possible. Too much of God’s good thing would terrify us beyond any ability on our part to respond. The LORD is, therefore, “preparing” us to carry that greater “weight.”

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:12

John’s present vision takes in a vast multitude for he “saw the dead.” By our reckoning there are over seven billion of us alive now. More will be born before the Lord returns, but how many more? Conversely, at least half the population will die during the terrible ordeal of the judgments and persecution to come. In addition to this, some estimates have over 100 billion human beings who lived in the past.[41] That, of course, is highly debated. Nevertheless, it seems that for most of our recorded history, the earth’s population averaged 500 million alive at any one time. This doubled by 1800 (due to improved agriculture and health measures) and has been climbing ever since. [42] How many does all this add up to? We simply don’t know, but that’s what John is now seeing!

In saying he saw the dead, both “great and small” John is not speaking of physical size, but of worldly stature. The world’s estimate of a person’s true worth falls woefully short of God’s vision. Both those who are great in the world’s eyes, as well as those the world despises, may be in for a surprise. All are summoned. All are “standing before the throne” though we can well imagine that many would hasten to kneel and beg for mercy, if it were allowed. It’s not. It’s is far too late for a change of heart. We have all been given only one lifetime to make the next life decision.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27

There will be no reincarnations and no post death conversions. There will only be an accounting taken and a judgment rendered once the “books [are] opened.” For a full discussion of the books, review the “Pre-Figured in Scripture” section of this article. The short version is that there are two kinds of books which will be opened: books of life and books of deeds.

“The Book of Life” goes by various names but carries the far-reaching accounting of who has been chosen for eternal life based upon faith and grace. The other set of books—the first set of “books” that John saw—contains everyone’s deeds. Here is where the balance becomes crucial. Good deeds can’t get anyone into heaven, but that doesn’t mean that one’s deeds aren’t important, or that they don’t matter. We all deep down know that they do. Evidently, one’s good deeds can add up as rewards in heaven, while extraordinary bad deeds can sink a person deeper into hell’s torments.

Everyone—all the dead—were judged “by what was written in the books.” The impression created by this sentence is that God is not weighing each one’s case and deciding on a verdict in this moment. No, that decision was already rendered when the book recorded each one’s life. That recording was made at the time of their death—when they were no longer capable of doing “deeds” of thought, word or action. For many of the people standing here, death would have come at least a thousand, perhaps many thousands of years previously. For all this time, the books have carried the written judgment which is invariably given “according to what they had done.”

Before going further, let us remember that faith is a “deed,” the most important one of all. Faith in the Lord is a decision, an “act” of the will, to choose to live for God, trusting to the saving mercy He offers. The genuineness of that decision is subject to testing. A lifetime of faithfulness proves out the hidden decision of the heart—a thing that only God can rightly judge. Absolute perfection is not required, or King David could never make it.[43] On the other hand, some measure of devotion to the Lord, rather than to sin and self, is required, otherwise why would Jesus and His Apostles give so many warnings to believers? (See “Can I Lose Salvation?” at salvationanswers.org.)

In the next verse, John will be shown more dead arriving to join the waiting throng. So, when he says “the dead” in the above verse he cannot mean all the dead, for many are still coming. But isn’t this a judgment for all who have died? Certainly not! At the beginning of the Millennium, we saw those who were still alive when Jesus returned joined with those who had died in the faith. This is commonly termed the Rapture of believers.

At His return, Jesus judged and raised all these faithful souls to new life “in the twinkling of an eye.” This was called the “first resurrection” for through it many multitudes of believers were raised to new life and given glorified bodies to reign with Jesus for the Millennium. (See The Millennium Reign.) Though our text doesn’t say it with these words, the “second resurrection” will be for those who make it safely through the Great White Throne judgment. As you will see, however, most of the focus is upon those who fail the test and are thrown into the lake of fire. Others, however, will be raised to eternal life, once their names are found written in the Book of Life.

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:13

As we have already seen, John’s line of sight somehow enabled him to see the earth and sky flee from the presence of creation’s enthroned LORD. Now, he sees “the sea” from heaven’s throne room. The possibility exists that following the convulsions of the Last Days (one thousand years previously) there is only one sea remaining upon the earth. Or, it may be that he is speaking collectively of all the saltwater covering the earth, for they are all connected even now. Only the strangeness of this book’s revelations makes this question possible.

In either case, John credits “the sea” with releasing— “gave up”—the dead it contains. He says the same for “Death and Hades.” His language carries forward the theme of a “secret” life to aspects of creation we don’t usually credit with either sentience (having thoughts) or volition (making choices). We are not to imagine that either location held the dead against God’s will, or that they had to be compelled to grant this release. It is simply that their custodial time is over: It was never meant to be more than temporary.

These too were judged “according to what they have done” just like the others who stood before them. Just as it was with the others, the judgment is individual. He sees “each one of them” taking their turn listening to what is written in the books about them. Are all their deeds read out loud, or is just a summary given? John doesn’t say, but this is certain to be a lengthy process. We can also be certain that for the ones this judgment will go against, any delay of their punishment will be welcomed.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14a

Now, something truly extraordinary happens. This is not at all what we were expecting. The coming punishment is for people to be “thrown into the lake of fire.” Hell had been prepared for the devil and his angels. Indeed, Satan, the fallen angels, the antichrist, and the false prophet are already burning in those eternal flames. This judgment is about whether people will go to heaven or hell. That’s what we’re prepared to see. But the first to be thrown in is not a person, but a thing. John sees that “Death and Hades” were thrown into the sea of flames!

Again, John gives us a personification where we wouldn’t usually expect it. Death and Hades is a location! Or, is it? Remember all the way back to the beginning judgments which came when the seals were opened. The first four seals released the Horsemen of the Apocalypse to scourge the earth. The fourth horseman was not one but two. Death rode the pale horse, but Hades followed close behind on another. John sees both those nefarious characters picked up and “thrown” into the sea of flames.

Are “Death and Hades” fallen angels who had been granted authority to hold the dead until this appointed time? In that case, not all the evil hosts of heaven had been dealt with at the Lord’s return. At Armageddon, He destroyed all who were in rebellion against Him which included the realm of the second heavens as well as the human rebels. The ultimate judgment upon those who remained under the earth, such as Death and Hades and those they contained, had to wait for this second time of judgment.

Even if it is true that Death and Hades are not mere personifications, but actually fallen beings, they are nevertheless completely identified with the realms which go by their names. There can be little doubt that those realms are also being thrown into the lake of fire. Why? Surely this is a sign of divine displeasure. Burn the hated place! Our LORD is God of the living.[44] He never created us to be held in the grip of death or to suffer the pangs of the underworld. With great disdain, He casts the cursed prison into the flames.

Beyond this, what further need can there be for such a place? Satan, along with all fallen angels and demons, has come to a blazing end. All those who followed the evil ones into evil will meet the same end through the judgment they now face. That means that sin will be no more! There is no further need for this below-ground dungeon. Never again will living beings rebel against their beloved Creator and Redeemer. This is God’s sign to us: We need to have no fear that as a recreated race of believers, we will ever go back.

This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14b-15

At last, the judgment is given, and it is not based on the book of deeds. Anyone who’s name “was not found written” in the all-important Book of Life, meets a terrible end. The unsaved, unredeemed, lost, and guilty souls are all “thrown into the lake of fire.” No one in heaven wanted any of us to go there. The agony of the cross, the grief of the Father, the work of the Spirit had all been aimed at rescuing everyone from this bitter fate. They could see better than any of these poor lost souls the horror of this now inescapable moment—a moment of stark terror that begins an eternity of endless torment.

John informs us that this never-ending end is “the second death, the lake of fire.” The first death is to die bodily while on the earth. That first death is unavoidable—as unavoidable as taxes. All of us must pass through physical death into what awaits us on the other side. Will it be eternal life or eternal death? As long as we are alive, we can make the choice to avoid this second death. All it takes is turning to God asking Him to forgive us for our sins and yielding our hearts to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

Time to Pray?

If you have not done this but want to learn more, please see “Salvation Questions.” If you feel ready to take this step of faith, follow this prayer. My own life in Christ began with a one-sentence prayer—the middle sentence here: “Lord Jesus, come into my heart, into my life and live your life in me.” I have expanded it so that you can have confidence that you’ve covered all the bases, but the exact words are never what’s important. God sees our hearts. If we are honestly doing our best to turn to Him, He will know, and He will help us get all the way where we need to be.

Father, please forgive me for all the ways in which I have lived for myself, hurt others, and turned my back on You. I confess and repent of all these sins. Thank You for loving me and making a way for my sins to be forgiven through Jesus.

Jesus, please come into my heart, into my life, and live Your life in me. I surrender myself to You, body, soul and spirit. Grant me an assurance of my eventual entry into heaven won for me by Your death and resurrection. Help me by Your Word and Holy Spirit to trust and follow You step by step into the new life here on earth that You have also promised can be mine.

Holy Spirit, please come and heal my broken heart of all the hurt that my own sins and those of others have caused. Show me and tell me Your truth in ways that I can receive and understand. Help me fight to remain loyal to the One who laid down His life for me by laying down my “old life” and my wrong ways for Him!

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Other Scriptures to Study

1. The Judgment Seat of Christ

Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:27-30

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

2. Judgment on Ungodly Rulers

1 A Psalm of Asaph. God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2 "How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince." 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! Psalm 82:1-8

3. The Wisdom of Solomon

16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne." 22 But the other woman said, "No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours." The first said, "No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine." Thus they spoke before the king. 23 Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; and the other says, 'No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'" 24 And the king said, "Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other." 26 Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him." 27 Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. 1 Kings 3:16-28

Next Crucial Component

Jesus Own Timeline  With all the hoopla about the Rapture, one could easily suppose that rising to “meet the Lord in the air” will be the high point of the Last Days. Not on your life! He is coming down with us, not going up! The whole point and purpose of the End Times is to bring to an end humanity’s reign on earth—the kingdoms of fallen man—so that His own glorious kingdom can come. Jesus will be with us on the earth reigning as King, unhindered by Satan for one thousand years. What a strange and wonderful time that will be. Good thing we have scriptures to help us imagine it

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Endnotes

[1] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.

[2] "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! Isaiah 14:12; In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:16

[3] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14 ESV

[4] This is the title ascribed to God by Abraham: “ Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" Genesis 18:25

[5] I owe a huge debt for the research summarized here to “The Heavenly Books of Life and of Human Deeds”

 By Angel Manuel Rodríguez, Biblical Research Institute, Silver Spring, MD. November 2001. The PDF is on the web at this address.

[6] For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44

[7] "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” Revelation 22:12

[8] Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 1 Kings 14:19; Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 1 Kings 14:29

[9] We will look at this passage later, but it carries another name for this same book which needs listing here: But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21:27

[10] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

[11] There are two things about “God’s sons” that we should keep in mind. First, at the human level and speaking in the Biblical language, all who are redeemed have been brought into Christ, the only eternal and perfect Son of God. This makes all of us “sons”—both men and women—since we are being saved through our union with Jesus. At the heavenly level, God created many beings to populate the unseen realm with Him long before He created us. Some of those beings are what we commonly think of as angels (messengers). Some are throne room guardians like the seraphim, cherubim and the four creatures which surround God’s throne. At the highest level, some of these beings are the divine “sons of God”—not at all on the same level with Jesus—but participants in God’s celestial counsel as trusted servants.

[12] Due to the quote from Paul coming up next, I weigh in on the side of this panel of judges being human, not angelic. But the words of Jesus are the clincher: Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:27-28

[13] "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2; Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4

[14] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12; Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

[15] Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." John 7:24

[16] Follow this link to a Wikipedia article on “The Argument from Silence” to read a fuller treatment of this maxim.

[17] Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:27-28

[18] Matthew 25:34

[19] Matthew 25:41

[20] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:46

[21] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

[22] For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Matthew 24:21-22

[23] "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

[24] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

[25] "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:55-56

[26] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21

[27] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:52-53

[28] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17; For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

[29] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

[30] The Hebrew word for atonement literally means “covering.”

[31] The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’ Deuteronomy 33:27

[32] In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1; And: “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. Daniel 7:9

[33] We can see this distinction in the following two passages, one from the Old and the other from the New Testament: To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Deuteronomy 10:14 NIV; Also: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

[34] With the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD and the diaspora which followed, the far-flung Jewish communities began speaking in the vernacular tongue of the nations where they sought refuge. Because of this, Hebrew died as a living language and was not revived until the Zionist movement of the late 1800s drew Jews back to the Land. For that amazing story (which is an unprecedented and incontrovertible sign of the End Times), go here.

[35]  Wikipedia on Animism.

[36] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:20-22

[37] And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:39-40

[38] Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:2-3

[39] Even so simple a thing as hearing the whole of God’s truth is more than we can bear:  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:12

[40] St Athanasius was expressing our transformation into what we would call “Christ-likeness” not actual God essence! Don’t make the mistake of thinking that we can become as God—the first lie of the devil.

[41]  prb.org.

[42] From one website: “For most of history, the population grew slowly, if at all. According to the United Nations' Determinants and Consequences of Population Trends, the first Homo sapiens appeared around 50,000 years ago, though this figure is debatable. Little is known about this distant past and how many of us there might have been, but by the time of the agricultural revolution in the Middle East in 9000 B.C., Earth held an estimated five million people.

“Between the rise of farming and the height of Roman rule, population growth was sluggish; at less than a tenth of a percent per year, it crawled to about 300 million by A.D. 1. Then the total fell as plagues wiped out large swathes of people. (The "black death" in the 14th century wiped out at least 75 million.) As a result, by 1650 the world population had only increased to about 500 million. By 1800, though, thanks to improved agriculture and sanitation, it doubled to more than one billion. And, in 2002 when Haub last made these calculations, the planet's population had exploded, reaching 6.2 billion.” scientificamerican.com

[43] Not picking on David, but this is just to name one of many examples, for the Bible hides none of the blemishes of God’s chosen ones.

[44] He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” Mark 12:27

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The Two Last Battles | TheLastDays

How is it possible that there are two last battles? Shouldn’t one have been catastrophic enough? Couldn’t one have decided the issue once and for all? Wouldn’t one have taught everyone which side to be on for the second? Evidently not. Because there are two “last” battles confusion naturally spreads around them. This makes it difficult to know how they match up with the prophetic texts that describe wars that happen in “the latter days.” The Latter Days cover a lot of time! These colossal conflicts serve as bookends to the Millennium—the thousand years of peace. The first one erupts when Jesus returns to reign and the other explodes after He reigns for one thousand years of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Both battles are gathered into one article here in hopes that it will lessen the confusion to see these accounts in close succession. They have one thing in common: an undefeated Commander.

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." Joshua 5:13-14

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Chief Characteristics

Whole books are written about most of these crucial components. These characteristics are summaries of what is grounded in scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[1] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer.

1. The First Last Battle

The fearsome climax of all the deadly convulsions preceding our Lord’s Return comes with this epic “Final Conflict.” So dreadful is the thought of it that its very name has become a byword for any end of the world scenario: Armageddon! Never mind that this final conflict is not the last battle—that will come a thousand years after this one. Or, that it won’t take place where church tradition and popular culture suppose. Even so, this titanic battle will bring our history to a spectacular end. Earth will no longer be a planet ruled without its rightful King enthroned. Armageddon is the last-ditch effort of fallen humanity to retain the reins of power. It will be a dramatic duel to the death between the vast armies of Jesus Christ and the Antichrist.

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. Revelation 19:19

Finally, we come to the moment when the two opposing sides square off and face each other head-on. So far in the Book of Revelation, we have seen tremendous judgments hurled against the earth and its unrepentant inhabitants for many of the preceding chapters. Much of the havoc has rained down from the skies almost like a mirror image of the earth-shaking bombardments that the belligerents of World War I threw at each other. Those massive artillery barrages would sometimes last for days, even weeks. They were colossal attempts to “soften up” the entrenched soldiers on the other side of the line, rendering them either dead or incapable of resistance.

Astonishingly, once the fire from the heavens ceased, the enemy soldiers often emerged from their positions fully intact and supercharged with a desire to give back as good as they been given. Some had been blown to pieces, of course, but the majority survived more grimly determined than ever to destroy the ground assault that was sure to follow. Sticking to the analogy, we know that the home team was not removed from the battlefield and whisked away to safety behind the lines. No, they were told to stay dig in while the cannons thundered. Tons of deadly ammunition hurtled by overhead, targeted towards their enemies. Though the sounds and shock waves gripped them with fear, the fusillade gave them a respite from being under assault themselves.

Something like that has been happening here. Our God knows how to target His enemies. He also knows how to “pass over” His own people. The terrible bombardments of the Trumpet Judgments and the Bowls of Wrath would seem to leave no one alive who served the Beast and his system. Who could survive those fearful calamities? Of those who survived, who would not want to throw down their arms and surrender? Yet we are told that multitudes will remain unrepentant right up to the bitter end, the end that we see happening here with this final confrontation. Astonishingly, even in the aftermath of the most horrendous judgments the world has ever seen, the Antichrist will still be able to raise a vast army. It will be his (and their) last gasp attempt to throw back the ground assault this is coming. But it will be in vain.

2. The Final Last Battle

This battle isn’t Armageddon. That “Last Battle” is the one that will end our present age—the time that lies between the two advents of Jesus: when He came to be the Lamb slain at the cross and His return as our Lion-hearted King. When Jesus returns at Armageddon, He will face forces of evil that have had at least six thousand years to dig in. The run-up to this battle will be radically different. It is preceded by one thousand years of peace and righteousness upon the earth. If this final conflict seems anti-climactic, it also seems unnecessary. One thing, however, is certain. It will be titanic!

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:7-8

So much can happen within four Bible verses, especially if those verses lie within this Book of Revelation. Time seems to be compressed as we move towards the end. A thousand years go swooshing by, paling in comparison (it seems) to the two events which bookmark the Millennium: the capture of Satan and his release. His release, just as quickly, leads into what we’re calling “The Final Last Battle.” Just as quickly that final offensive of Satan against God comes to a blazing end. Along the way there rises the intriguing question of just who on earth will be falling for the Enemy’s lies this time around. With the victorious Lord already on the throne, with the ending that He decreed already written, who will fall away? And why?

Pre-Figured in Scripture

Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[2] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.

These final two conflicts have been graphically pre-figured in scripture. First, there is the complete annihilation of an enemy army that suffered the misfortune of invading Israel at a time when God was defending His people, not disciplining them. That gives us a preview of Jesus’ return. Next, two nations with the same name as the ones heading up the final last battle meet their match at the Hands of the Lord.

1. The First Last Battle: Sennacherib’s Defeat

In 721 BC Assyrian armies led by Sargon II invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel, laying siege to the capital of Samaria. When it fell in 722 BC, they carried off the defeated survivors as captives. These became the famous “ten lost tribes” of Israel. They passed silently out of history and into legend. Good King Hezekiah of the Southern Kingdom didn’t relish sharing in their fate. Yet, he and the combined forces of Judea and Benjamin were powerless to stop Assyria when that powerhouse of death and destruction steam-rolled towards them two decades later.

Sennacherib’s invasion came southward through the coastal plains before turning east to lay siege successfully to Judea’s key fortress city of Lachish in 701 BC. Lachish was all that stood in the way of a strike against Jerusalem itself. Accordingly, the Assyrian king sent an emissary to King Hezekiah threatening dire consequences if Jerusalem also forced a siege, rather than accept the inevitable and surrender. Hezekiah had no hope that he could stop what no other power on earth had been able to resist. But he believed God could. His prayer is a textbook on how to lay your cause before the living God. God heard and answered with a stunning overthrow of the godless king’s entire army.

"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David." And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 2 Kings 19:32-35

2. The Final Last Battle: Gog and Magog

The issues that God and Magog raise are far too complex and contested to deal with here. For instance, are these two nations part of the forces that confront Jesus at the end of this age when He returns to begin His reign? Are they the sole two powers that God defeats from heaven in the final battle that comes one thousand years later? Or do these incorrigibly difficult-to-identify entities represent instead the spiritual forces that ever align against God and His holy people? What is it about going up against God “Almighty” which fails to hold them in check? They are apparently as reckless as they are determined.

The relevant passages can be found in Ezekiel 38-39. Eventually, a companion article will be written which covers them in detail. For our purpose here, it is enough to note from the following passage that Gog and Magog will indeed play a crucial role in “the latter years.” That role will be one of unmitigated onslaught against the people of God “gathered upon the mountains of Israel.” Theirs will not be a glancing blow, but a direct, unprovoked assault “coming like a storm” with “hordes” of soldiers in their ranks. Even so, it will not be enough.

After many days you [Gog, of the land of Magog] will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.” Ezekiel 38:8-9

Revealed by Scripture

The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.

We certainly have a lot of text to explore here, as well as two titanic conflicts to review, the likes of which the world has never seen. Can you imagine the movies that could be made from this material? Why have so few (as in none) been attempted? Since Hollywood has steered clear of these coming realities, we are left with our imaginations aided only by the Word of God. That should give us all we really need to light the road ahead. After all, all we really need to know is which side to be on!

1. The First Last Battle

Less than ten verses earlier n the Book of Revelation, we were treated to a veiled glimpse of the most glorious wedding banquet ever—the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Then, the Lamb mounted His white horse and lead the armies of heaven into combat, the dreaded final conflict which now lies before us in the text. Ironically, the carnage from that colossal battle is also described as a supper, the “great supper of God.” It is a hideous juxtaposition of images. Yet, what could bring home better the absolute difference between the choices that lie before us?[3]

1) The Antichrist Gathers an Army

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." Revelation 19:17-18

John has certainly seen some strange sights! He sees now an angel “standing in the sun.” From where John is positioned, he can see the earth in minute detail and the far-flung celestial heavens as well. Not only that but the long, agonizing years of earth’s judgments are passing before him in what will likely be only moments of earth’s time when he returns. This is further evidence that heaven lives, moves, and works through both time and space radically different than we do. Is it any wonder that the two questions the Lord rarely answers (to any but His most select prophets) are “how” and “when” Always, once the Lord “shows up” in answer to prayer, the how and when make sense. Yet, we could never have puzzled it out beforehand.

How can an angel be standing in the sun? How can John see such a marvel at so great a distance? How can he hear him? Yet, he does. Not surprisingly the angel resorts to “a loud voice” in order to be heard by the ones his message must reach. He calls to all the birds remaining on earth (for many creatures have perished by now)—those that still “fly directly overhead.” John doesn’t mean over his head, but over the heads of those on the battlefield for the task is immediately assigned: “Come, gather… to eat the flesh” of all the men (and women?) soon to be slain in battle.

Not one of the slaughtered foes of this epic battle will be honored with a dignified burial. All will be picked to pieces by flesh-eating birds. This gruesome banquet is termed “the great supper of God.” Just as dogs ate Jezebel’s corpse, so these birds will feast upon all the fallen. We can have no doubt that any of the righteous ones will fall here. The hosts of heaven cannot be slain, nor can they even be wounded by merely human combatants. There will be neither demons nor fallen angels littering the battlefield, though they would be present driving their human victims mercilessly to their doom. This will be the “flesh of all men”—both “small and great.”

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. Revelation 19:19

This ill-fated army is headed up by “the beast”—the Antichrist himself. He is recklessly putting everything he has on the line. Just like an addict under the full spell of his craving, this power-hungry megalomaniac believes that he not only can conquer the world but also its Redeemer. Those who deceive others are themselves the most deceived. Not only would he believe he can win, but he is driven by knowing that he must. He must beat back this challenge to his power and authority or all is lost. Nothing else matters. Perhaps, the largest army ever assembled will end up as carrion—food for vultures. He doesn’t care!

The highest-ranking “kings of the earth” have been called out to join their villainous leader, along with their immense armies. Somehow, they know who is coming. Have they read the Book? It would seem so, for they have “gathered” here to stand against an earth invasion led by “him who was sitting on the horse.” Unpleasant thought that it is, we must allow that the Enemy and his human team (from the Antichrist on down) may be better schooled in our scriptures than many believers. Why? Naturally, they would want to twist the Word and use it against us. In addition, they would just as naturally want to know what is prophesied so they can bend a path around it, or at least ready themselves for the shocks that are coming their way.

Where are they gathered? We already know the answer to this for John’s vision of the sixth bowl of wrath showed three unclean spirits being sent forth “to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.”[4] We were told then that the location would be “a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”[5] Before exploring this controversial topic at length, the short of it is that ancient Megiddo is not the site for this battle—Jerusalem is. Nothing could make better Biblical sense than that Jerusalem will be this future ground zero, or that Jesus will return to the location He left from, just as the angel foretold.[6]

The Plains of Megiddo which lay before the ancient city indeed hosted numerous epic battles, beginning with a decisive conquest won by Egyptians under Thutmose III in the 15^th century BC. The Israelite prophetess Deborah, Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte and General Allenby are among the many who fought here. Megiddo’s importance lay in its commanding position above a strategic pass through the Carmel Mountains. It guarded the Via Maris, one of the main trade routes of the ancient world, transporting goods as well as armies between Egypt and Persia. That trade route completely lost its importance in the modern world, leaving Megiddo like ghost towns in the old west when the railroads stopped coming.

Although Megiddo and its plains are mentioned a dozen times in the Hebrew scriptures, and several biblical battles took place there, no specific prophecies were ever associated with it. The only mention it receives is this one at the tail end of the scriptures. This is certainly a big one, but does the location belong here? From the Greek, Har-Megiddo translates as the “mount” of Megiddo, which in turn means “a place of crowds.” This sounds like a match except that nothing about Megiddo fits the designation of mountain. It is a tell, a man-made hill, built-up (in this case) over the destroyed remains of twenty previous cities. Megiddo began life as high ground suitable for a settlement, but hardly as a mountain. The biblical writers would have known the difference, just as we do.

There is a mountain, however, that looms large throughout the scriptures with special significance for the End Times: Mount Zion. Without question, Mount Zion and Jerusalem are at the epicenter of the cosmic battle between the Dragon, Satan, and the Lord God. Is it possible that the text points us to this location? Certainly, numerous other texts and prophecies are pointing there. In fact, the meaning of megiddo from the Greek gives us a clue: “a place of crowds.” Modern scholars have further identified a Hebrew root word moed which means assembly.[7] What we have is very likely a typical biblical reference to Mount Zion as the place or mount of assembly. Zion is where God meets—assembles—with His assembled people. God’s people are already “assembled” (vs 16:16) in Jerusalem. All that’s needed is for the enemy’s forces to travel there.

2) The Antichrist and False Prophet Are Captured

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Revelation 19:20

Hallelujah! Victory comes swiftly! No sooner is the opposing army described, than we hear of its utter defeat— “the beast was captured.” Not just the Antichrist is overthrown, but “with it the false prophet.” They who rose together, are brought into captivity together. Does their seizure come before the carnage of that tremendous host? Cut off the head and the body dies. Or does it come at the end—when their absolute and ignominious failure is laid bare even before their deceived eyes? If they are captured ahead of the army’s rout, they could feed their pride into eternity, thinking “if only” they hadn’t been captured, they’d have found a way to win. That cannot be allowed. All their best efforts must surely be exposed for what they are— “vanity of vanities.”[8]

Curiously, John has more to say to denounce the false prophet than he does the beast. Not that John has any sympathy for the devil—in this case, the devil’s avatar, the Antichrist. It is expected that “the lawless one” will be the very embodiment of evil.[9] What John reprobates is the false prophet for “the signs by which he deceived” the world into following the devil incarnate. Specifically, he deceived to their eternal damnation those “who received the mark of the beast.”

The Antichrist is a beast, no doubt about it. However, the False Prophet made the beast seem like a household pet. Where the beast would force multitudes to take the mark—and create the resistors we saw in verse 16, the False Prophet lulls others to sleep: “There, there, this will all work out splendidly for you.” They will awaken—too late—when they feel the flames of hell for the curse of taking this mark is irreversible.[10]

John goes further. In doing so he reminds us that not only is refusing “the mark of the beast” mandatory, but there is a second danger to tempt us. John also denounces the False Prophet for deceiving all those “who worshiped its image.” This second beast—the False Prophet—will not only create a “living” image of the beast, but he will also somehow lure multitudes into worshipping it. Had the beast merely (!) demanded worship from any in his presence that would affect relatively few. This image will go worldwide via the twin technological “miracles” of holographic imagery and the internet, enhanced no doubt by artificial intelligence if it comes online in time. By this image, the False Prophet will lead millions to destruction.

It is only fitting that such a heinous twosome should be punished together. Both beasts “were thrown” into “the lake of fire.” Remember, this is prophetic past tense. If only it were happening now. As it is, we will have to suffer through watching their sordid rise to power (unable to stop it) and suffer through their abuse of it, before this happy moment arrives. But arrive it will and when it does, they will find themselves being thrown “alive” into the eternal flames.

All the rest of unrepentant and, therefore unsaved, humanity will die first before experiencing hell’s torment. These two alone are signaled out for special treatment, a sign of how unutterably despicable their crimes against God and humanity have been. It is as if God were saying, “No need to die and come before Me in judgment—away with you now!” That the fire “burns with sulfur” indicates that eternal stench too is part of the hellish punishment, originally devised only for Satan and the fallen angels.[11] Whatever you do, don’t take the mark! Don’t worship the image! Don’t join these two in their doom!

And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. Revelation 19:21

Now we learn the fate of the vast army that the beast and his False Prophet gathered. All “the rest” are slain. Not one king or soldier remains. Everyone perishes “by the sword.” How fitting that the One who slays them with a sword is the very one that others of their kind arrested with swords.[12] Then, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus pronounced a curse that comes to rest on those who are fallen here: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.”[13] By taking the sword—by violence—they tried to oppose the rightful reign of God. With a conquering violence the Word of God “speaks” forth a sword that destroys them.

Does this happen after the beast and False Prophet are captured and thrown into hell? We are not given a time sequence here, but a catalog of actions. John tells us first about the fate of the evil twins for that is of primary importance, not necessarily because it happens first. Let us remember that all of this in happening swiftly. We hardly need to imagine that the sword from our Lord’s mouth is a weapon that seeks individuals and targets them one at a time. No, even our movies have trained us to imagine weapons that annihilate entire armies in an instant. Art may not be imitating life, so much as anticipating it.

Presumably, all in the same day the birds descend upon the battlefield and “are gorged with their flesh.” This informs us that the supernatural sword Jesus unleashes doesn’t “vaporize” the assembled multitudes. It cuts them off from their life source, in some way severing spirit and soul from body.[14] Their corpses drop lifelessly, helplessly, to the earth from which we all came. Their spirit with soul attached will await the judgment that is coming.[15] Their bodies give immediate satisfaction to the summoned and waiting birds. The “great supper of God” has begun.

3) Satan Is Captured and Imprisoned

The first of the Two Last Battles just culminated with a crescendo of unparalleled violence. A great “sword came from the mouth” of the Lord annihilating the entire army that the beast and the false prophet gathered. Those two partners in crime had already been captured and “thrown alive into the lake of fire.” Their capture and disposal appeared to be as swift as it will be irreversible. With these twin events—the destruction of both the soldiers and their leaders—the great battle of Armageddon ended. It is an ignominious extermination for the defeated and a glorious, complete conquest for the Victor. Nevertheless, all is not yet over. There is a nefarious henchman behind the scenes whose evil machinations brought the world to this appalling moment. Now, his moment has come—and it’s not the exaltation that he vainly supposed would be his just reward. His prophesied doom arrives at last.

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. Revelation 20:1

In the previous verse John saw a vast army instantaneously slain by the sword-slashing forth from the Lord’s mouth and lingered over the battlefield long enough to see birds being “gorged with their flesh.” One wonders how John can keep watching. At what point does looking at the destruction of human beings become too much for anyone to bear? And these unrepented soldiers had been human once. By the time of the battle they were so thoroughly “at one” with the beast that they had lost all desire or ability to repent, even when seeing God’s glorious Son heading their way. Yet, hope-filled mothers had once held them in their arms.

It is this dreadful, grisly sight that John’s eye is turned from: “Then I saw an angel.” It is literally a shift from hellishness on earth to the holiness of heaven for he sees the angel “coming down” from that unsullied realm. Immediately, curiosity combined with divinely conveyed knowing turns his inward focus from the battle’s aftermath. This angel is holding something extraordinary, or rather two somethings. The first is “the key to the bottomless pit” which he could only know by the inner prompting of the Spirit for the angel remains silent throughout. The last time we saw an angel with a key to this same pit, it was used to release fallen creatures from imprisonment in the underworld.[16] That swarm of locusts wreaked unbridled havoc upon the earth. This time will be radically different. This time the angel brings “a great chain” with him.

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years… Revelation 20:2

The angel “seized the dragon.” Lest we are wondering, John wants us to know for certain just who this evil creature is. It is none other than the “ancient serpent”—the one who first appeared at the very beginning of the Biblical record. This is the Tempter who brought Adam and Eve to ruin in the Garden. The earth that they had been divinely commissioned to tend has now been all but destroyed through the cycle of judgments that brought his own evil empire to ruin. But long before this end came, the serpent grew in size and power by feasting on the souls he corrupted, usurping their wills to empower his. He became the dragon through what we gave him—our allegiance and obedience. Nevertheless, though he has been a perfect “devil” to humanity, his will has ever been to be “Satan”—the one who opposes God.

Pause a moment. This is the Evil One whose every word and deed has sown the horror of sin and its consequences throughout the earth and the second heavens. This creature proved himself unstoppable (by us) and ineradicable up to this point. His power over the earth and over the forces of darkness he assembled was unrivaled by any of his peers. Weren’t we expecting the Grande Army of the Lord to take him down? If we were, we would be surprised and perhaps a bit disappointed. In the end, all it requires to take out the Evil One is this unnamed, unheralded angel. Seemingly without resistance, this puffed-up dragon is “bound” with the angel’s chain. The chain is heaven forged. It will hold him fast for “a thousand years.” It turns out he was nowhere near as mighty as he appeared to us, or to himself.

Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?' All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot. Isaiah 14:16-19

...and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:3

Without the slightest ceremony or judicial review, the angel throws Satan “into the pit.” How that must have hurt and enraged his pride! To be so ingloriously treated, as if he were a common criminal. Worse, to be “thrown in,” not escorted into the bowels of the earth’s hidden dungeon. Just how deep into the bottomless pit he’s been cast we have no way of gauging. Yet, it is certainly so deep that it is beyond his ability to touch the world, even with his mesmerizing, accusing voice.

This is solitary confinement devised for a spiritual being who can project his thoughts to others. The angel “shut” the pit and “sealed it over him.” Every precaution has been taken so that he “might not deceive the nations any longer.” Not only is he confined, chained, and unable to escape. He is being held in such a way that he will be entirely unable to communicate with the outside world. That alone will ensure that “the thousand years” will be peace-filled.

Now comes a sentence that should make us all pause, scratch our heads, and say, “What?!” John tells us rather matter-of-factly, as if it’s the most obvious thing, “After that, he must be released for a little while.” What? We have the most notorious criminal in the universe locked up for good. We, therefore, get to enjoy unbroken peace for one thousand years—something we have never known. We are at long last living free of all the thoroughly wicked things this evil being is capable of instigating. And we’re going to set him free? That’s going to take some explaining!

No explanation is given to us, but one is hinted at in the previous sentence. The Tempter is being sealed in a dungeon of profound silence so that he “might not” have an opportunity to “deceive the nations.” Those nations include many who, as we have seen, resisted the beast with his mark, yet never gave their lives to the Lord through faith-conversion. They will need to be converted and discipled. They also will have children. Those children will need to grow in the nurture and knowledge of the Lord.

All of this will take place under ideal conditions. Jesus Himself will be ruling over the rebuilding of the earth. They will live under the most perfect leadership of the most loving and sensible societies imaginable. But their allegiance will one day have to be tested, just as ours was (and still is even to this writing). Improbably, perversely, many of them will reject the Lord and His ways. When the devil is released, they will side with him. This seems almost impossible, but scripture says it will happen. That part of the story will arrive is coming up next.

2. The Final Last Battle

Only four short verses earlier in the Book of Revelation, we thought we’d seen the last of Satan. An angel from heaven descended with a key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. The dragon was summarily seized as if he were a sack of potatoes and thrown just as ingloriously into the pit. Once Satan was inside his prison chamber, the angel shut and sealed it. Case closed. Let’s hope they threw away the key. They didn’t! Because they didn’t, we now have this strange episode to explore.

1) Satan Regathers an Army

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison… Revelation 20:7

What?!? If this little verse doesn’t startle and amaze you, it’s time for the electroshock paddles. The worst mass-murderer in the history of the universe, the very devil who put the “d” in diabolical, was locked up in isolation for a thousand years of perfect peace. And we let him out? Of all the bizarre things we’ve read in this book of strange revelations, this must be the most inexplicable. In fact, no explanation is given.

So, let’s review. He wasn’t locked in solitary confinement in hopes of rehabilitation. This one is evil to the bone with no redeeming qualities. He has zero desire to change his ways, so repentance is out. It was never on the table. Was he locked up, then, strictly as punishment? No, it was “so that he might not deceive the nations any longer (20:3).” What will he do when he is turned loose? You guessed it: deceive the nations.

That he was thrown into the pit should have tipped us off. According to Jesus, the “eternal fires” had been prepared in advance for “the devil and his angels.”[17] His ultimate destination is the lake of fire. That well-deserved torment is written in the Book. It will positively come to pass. This incarceration, therefore, could only have been intended as a temporary measure. First the pit, then the lake of fire. But why such a long delay before the final execution of his sentence? Why this unexpected release? He certainly isn’t getting time off for good behavior!

…and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:8

As we suspected, this incorrigible villain immediately returns to what he knows best: deceiving humanity. He’s not after one or two unsuspecting individuals. This isn’t going to be a slow build-up of his base. He’s been brooding for a thousand years about how best to quickly expand his malignant influence. John tells us that the devil has come out with one purpose in mind: “to deceive the nations.”

If John had left it there, we could picture the mass of humanity divided at the end of the Millennium into a friendly assembly of nations. People from all nations and even some of the nations as a whole may be Satan’s target. John, however, doesn’t leave us in the dark. There are only two nations that Satan sets his sights on: Gog and Magog. These exist “at the four corners of the earth.” The territory they cover is vast and so is their population for “their number is like the sand of the sea.” Who can this be?

First of all, it seems highly unlikely that these two nations are situated solely at the “extremities” of the earth, which is what the Hebrew word for corners (kanaph) means. Most likely the best reading would be “everywhere, out to the farthest points.” If this is correct, it brings us back to seeing the deceiving influence of the Enemy spreading throughout the whole of humanity over the entire surface of the earth, not just two specific nations out on the fringes.

There is an additional meaning of the word which may be significant. Kanaph also means “away from the center.” In Biblical geography, Jerusalem is always at the center of what God is doing, never more so than during the Millennium when Jesus with the redeemed will reign from the holy city. See “The Millennium Reign” for a discussion of who will be in the central group of the redeemed. It is almost unthinkable that any in that well-tested group would fall prey to the devil’s enticements!

Who will? Once again, we must take recourse to the theory that there will be a sizeable group of people who for convenience are dubbed “the resisters.” These will have successfully resisted worshipping the beast and his image. They will also have resisted taking the mark of the beast. Otherwise, they would be slain and punished with eternal torment.[18] That sentence is unavoidable and irreversible. (Whatever you do, don’t take the mark!)

These resisters, however, will also have resisted conversion. They may be God-fearers, but they will not yet have become Jesus followers. They will be scattered throughout the nations and it is their remaining presence upon the earth which will give the redeemed—headquartered in Jerusalem—people to teach about the Lord and over whom to reign with Him. Not only that, but they will still be able to marry and have children. The redeemed will not. The redeemed will have received their glorified bodies and will be “like” the angels in not marrying and raising families of their own.

It was Jesus who said that “in the resurrection” the redeemed would “neither marry nor are given marriage but are like angels in heaven.”[19] We will most emphatically not be angels—they are an entirely separate order of creation—but we will be “like” them in not marrying. This period of the Millennium is only for those believers who have experienced the “first resurrection.” These will have passed (as martyrs) through death into eternal life, or they will have been overcoming believers who were caught up to be with the Lord and changed “in the twinkling of an eye.”

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Under the unprecedented conditions of the Millennium, the only people who will be marrying and raising families will be those who were not born-again Christians before the Millennium began. Somehow, they managed to remain alive throughout the cataclysmic disasters of the judgment cycle and despite the beast’s best efforts to destroy them. Neither were they gathered to be with the Lord’s elect because they weren’t believers yet. Therefore, none of them will have experienced the first resurrection.  Nevertheless, they will be willing to learn the ways of the Lord and live within His moral boundaries. They won’t have the Tempter tempting them and they will have Jesus (and the redeemed) shepherding them. So far so good.

On the other hand, those who were born again before the Millennium will pass through the first resurrection. This will effectively end our present liberty to marry as well as our ability to procreate. We will pass on our inheritance in Christ, but not our DNA, to the resisters we are discipling. God willing, we will gain many “spiritual children” for the Father’s larger family, but we won’t be growing families of our own. Nevertheless, we will have received glorified bodies and with that will come liberation from the sin-prone conditions of our mortal natures. We will have been raised above and beyond the previous pull of sin within. It won’t be there! The glorious liberty of the children of God will be our daily inheritance! Paul has this to say about the unique conditions of resurrected life.

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Hence, there is only one real possibility for who the people “of the nations” are that will be deceived by Satan when he is loosed. The deceived can only come from the ranks of the original resisters, their children, and their children’s children to whatever generation is here when the Millennium draws to a close. Consider this also, that without death and disease running rampant, the numbers of those repopulating the earth can grow exponentially.

Out of the vast numbers of a restored and repopulated earth, the deceived “nations” of Gog and Magog will arise. These two names have been a source of curiosity and confusion since Ezekiel first named them in prophecy. Without going into the details, the reality is that there are no known nations at present or in history which fit these designations. Many have tried a force fit, but that isn’t necessary.

These names identify an assembly of deceived individuals forged into two upstart nations by a freshly released Tempter and Deceiver. Their names are legendary as enemies of God’s people but impossible to exactly locate and identify. It is apparently enough for us to know that this final conflict is coming. We will have one thousand years to learn more about it. Getting safely through the coming Tribulation should be much higher on our agenda than trying to penetrate such a distant mystery until more is plainly revealed.

The greater mystery here is why would anyone want to join their ranks? And why would God allow the peaceful, righteous people of the Millennium to be so sorely tempted that vast numbers of them would fall away from serving Him? The answer to this must surely lie in the mystery of love which God is ever working to cultivate. Yes, the resisters and their children will have lived within the moral boundaries, but their life decision to live for Jesus will not have been tested. Remember that the text said He would be ruling over the nations with "an iron rod"?[20] That may mean that any impulse to sin they may have would be kept in check by Him, not necessarily by them.

As in the beginning, when the Enemy was allowed to tempt two untested lovers of God, so in the end, many will have their love tested to see if it is genuine. By that is meant, to see if it is genuinely what they would freely choose for themselves if given a choice. Love cannot be genuine unless that choice is real. Hence the Enemy will have an opportunity with them as he has had with all of us. As the people of earth pass through this final trial those who choose rebellion will be winnowed out. Only those who freely choose to live for Jesus will remain.

Lastly, we may have something here that goes well beyond the trial of faith everyone must ultimately face in choosing whether to live for God or not. Is God also staging an event which should once and for all settle the issue of His holiness versus the Accuser’s twisted accusations? By “for all” is intended that immense company of celestial beings who inhabit the unseen realm. These are sometimes referred to as “Watchers.”[21] They have been watching this contest between God and Satan—far longer than any of us. Their question could be, “Is God really being fair in His judgment against Satan and accurate in His judgment of humanity?”

Satan is an accuser of God as well as the brethren. His charge has always been that God is unjust. Remember his taunt against God in the book of Job: "Does Job fear God for no reason?”[22] Behind that barb is an accusation that Job’s choice isn’t fairly assessed. God has His finger on the scale. It’s God who’s twisting the truth to make things work out His way. Give Job half a chance and his choice may very well go against God. How do we really know what Job thinks deep down? He’s being blessed out of his mind! Such, at least, seems to be the thrust of Satan’s accusation.

This final conflict may be the Lord’s ultimate revelation to these celestial beings that He has indeed been just and that they made the right choice by siding with Him. Speaking about this future conflagration with Gog, God clearly has vindicating “His holiness” on His mind. The “eyes” that concern Him would not be those of the fallen angels for they have no interest in true justice, but He may be seeking to reach more eyes than those of “the nations.” As this “Very Last Battle” will finally end the rebellion begun by Satan, so it may also be designed to annul his accusations.

You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Ezekiel 38:16

2) The Army Marches to Its Doom

And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, Revelation 20:9

How much time elapses here? This is a battle of such massive proportions that it boggles the mind, yet all we are given is these two brief verses. In the text it ends as quickly as it begins. Yet, how long does it take for Satan to deceive the nations? How long does it take for them to assemble? Where do their weapons come from? Surely it took time for them to fabricate weapons. The earth has known unbroken peace for one thousand years. By this time all swords would have been beaten into plowshares. By this time the art of war would have been completely forgotten. At least that is what Isaiah foresaw in his vision of “the latter days.”

He [the Lord] shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:4

This prophesied worldwide disarmament does not last. At the mere release of Satan from his prison a mighty army rises fully equipped for battle and gathered from all over the earth. From a world at peace to a world at war. Had they read the prophet Joel? Through Joel the Lord called for the mighty men of all “the nations” to “beat your plowshares into swords.”[23] It’s just the opposite of what Isaiah called for, though it’s coming a thousand years later. If one were to have doubts about the accuracy of Biblical prophecy, this ought to settle them. Just give the Lord enough time and He will fulfill every word of scripture![24]

It just may be that precisely because earthlings have “unlearned” the art of war and weaponry, that this battle is reduced to the kind of warfare that our ancestors would have waged in bygone years. In Ezekiel, the descriptions of the soldiers and their armaments are what we would expect of the armies of his day, but it could easily apply to a hastily conscripted (by deception) army with makeshift weapons and only horses for transport into battle. Consider this description of what the inhabitants of Jerusalem will do with the piles of useless weapons left by the defeated army.

Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. Ezekiel 39:9

John records precious little about the battle but we can glean a bit from the hints he drops. First, He says he sees that the army “marched up.” The Amplified Bible says that they “swarmed up”—giving us a riveting image of their enormous numbers. Either way, the direction is up. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem always sits on higher ground because of its close association with heaven. At the beginning of the Millennium, this proximity will be even more pronounced. Jerusalem will be raised upon a “great and high mountain” (which doesn’t describe its present elevation) and heaven will have descended upon it in the form of the New Jerusalem.[25] The convulsions of the Last Days will affect not only humanity but all of nature. Hence, this army is going up in order to reach the holy city.

There are marching up from every direction it seems. The ESV translates their journey as “over the broad plain of the earth.” There is no broad plain surrounding Jerusalem at present, so again this is pointing towards significant future transformations of the geography. The KJV, however, has it that the army “went up on the breadth of the earth” which implies that this going up is from all directions. As we have already seen (v 8), this is an army being drawn from “the four corners of the earth”—its outermost reaches—towards the earth’s true center.

After climbing from all directions, they “surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.” The image here is of an encirclement of Jerusalem by its own defending forces which in turn are encircled by the approaching army. Imagine being on a hill on an African plain as swarms of Army Ants race towards you from all directions. Everywhere you look you can see the deadly disaster approaching—yet there is no way of escape. The “saints” inhabiting Jerusalem during the Millennium will number vastly more than they do now for Jerusalem will be the religious and political capital of the world. Even so, they will be outnumbered, and very likely outgunned.

Nevertheless, the defenders will have the next phrase of this verse to give them courage: “but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Though it may have taken many days or (more likely) many months to raise the invading army, it only takes a moment to annihilate it. Just as fire came down to consume Sodom and the cities of the plain, so now fire comes down to thoroughly stop this swarming tide of humanity in its tracks. Destruction by fire gives evidence of God’s judgment as swift, irreversible, and entire. Nothing would likely be left but the charred remains of this colossal venture. Not a soul is said to have survived. There is, however, one lonely survivor mentioned, but he doesn’t have a soul.

…and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Somehow the devil survived the fiery onslaught from heaven which destroyed his entire army. He certainly would have shed no tears for those poor lost souls he “had deceived.” He led billions more to their doom when he was in his prime. No, we can well imagine that he is entirely focused upon no one but himself. In this grim moment of capture, is he enraged or filled with terror now that his own doom has finally arrived? Let’s hope it’s both! This is one creature that no one should feel sorry for. He saw it written in the Book that he would be “thrown into the lake of fire” but never once did he alter his course. Instead, he purposed to take as many with him as he could.

Two whom he deceived and therefore damned are mentioned now: “the beast and the false prophet.” At this point, their endless torment is only one thousand years old. That’s long enough for them to bring their former master up to speed, if they care to offer any tips on how to make the suffering less unbearable. More likely, these three malignant beings will only add fuel to the fire by hurling invectives, insults and blame at each other. Rather than linger here, let’s leave this unholy trinity to their future hate-filled embrace, and go our merry way, quietly rejoicing that “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Waiting for the justice of God has been worth it.

Other Scriptures to Study

1. Before the Final Last Battle: The Thousand Years

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-6

2. After the Final Last Battle: The Great White Throne

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

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The Return of the King  With all of the focus you see on the web, or on the bookshelves, you would think that the Last Days are all about the antichrist. They’re not! Jesus is the central figure. He is the soon coming King which all the tumultuous events are preparing the earth to receive. Moreover, He is the One continually at work through His Word and His Spirit to help His believing people endure all that He will be asking of us. Nor is the Rapture primarily about our ascent, as it is us joining Him in His great descent. We’re not leaving! And neither is He…

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Endnotes

[1] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.

[2] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14 ESV

[3] I call Heaven and earth to record today against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19

[4] And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates. And its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, working

miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:12-14

[5] And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:16

[6] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:10-11

[7] See  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armageddon. Also see Dr. Michael Heiser’s podcast: Naked Bible Podcast 152, 153 — The Gog Magog Invasion | Ezekiel 38–39 at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3YnPvBwQxk&t=4085s

[8] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

[9] And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10

[10] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Revelation 14:9-12

[11] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41

[12] At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” Matthew 25:55

[13] Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

[14] Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

[15] It is generally agreed that we humans have a tripartite nature: spirit, soul and body. There is a lot less agreement about the difference between spirit and soul. See Genesis 2:7 and this: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

[16] He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Revelation 9:2

[17] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41

[18] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Revelation 14:9-11

[19] In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her." But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God. Matthew 22:28-31

[20] Revelation 19:15

[21] "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.” Daniel 4:13

[22] Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Job 1:9

[23] Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior." Joel 3:9-10

[24] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:18

[25]  The elevation of Jerusalem is between 2,133 – 2,756 feet (650 - 840 meters) above sea level. That places it on a level with the other low mountains that share the same range with it. That hardly fits John’s description:

And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. Revelation 21:9-10

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Israel and the Jews | TheLastDays

It may come as a shock to some Christians who think that Israel has been supplanted by the Church, but the final outcome of the Last Days will be a glorious restoration of God’s first chosen people. The Bible is filled with prophecies describing this still future destiny for the Jews and Jerusalem. Let us remember that Jesus Himself is a Jewish man and will be so forever. That is by His choice. So, let us watch over our Jewish brethren worldwide with prayer and great care as the Lord works through the terrible events of the Tribulation to break down the dividing walls separating His Jewish Bride from Himself.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!... Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved. Romans 11:1, 25-26

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Chief Characteristics

Whole books are written about most of these crucial components. These characteristics are summaries of what is grounded in scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[1] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer.

The greatest obstacle for gentile Christians in understanding God’s relationship with the Jews and Israel lies in thinking that there is only one covenant—the “Old Covenant.” The first mistake is in supposing that the whole of the Hebrew scriptures is one covenant and secondly, that the covenant somehow got old. After all, the Christian scriptures are usually called the New Testament and they contain the New Covenant, so it is easy to reverse the titles and flip the Old Covenant and the Old Testament into irrelevance. Adding to the confusion, some even refer to the whole of the Hebrew scriptures as the Old Covenant—a glaring error. Unfortunately, there has also been a lot of preaching around this that focuses on the covenant made at Sinai where the Law was given as if that were the whole deal. The Law (the Sinai covenant) is then stood up against the Gospel in a winner take all fight to the death. Guess which one wins?

In point of fact, the Gospel has law in it and the Law (if by that we mean the whole of the Hebrew scriptures) had tons of gospel quality grace in it. Not only that but Jesus even said that He didn’t come to abolish the Law (the Sinai covenant). He came to fulfill it. By a reasonable parallel, we can affirm that He didn’t come to abolish His ties to the Jewish people—the previous covenants—but to fulfill them! The Law was only one of those previous covenants. Although it clearly has been repositioned by the Gospel (in some way none of us can totally agree about), it certainly has not been abolished. Or is murder, thieving, and adultery now OK? It is generally agreed, however, that portions of the Law have been set aside (the dietary codes for instance), but there is nothing about the Gospel that has altered any of the other covenants with the Jewish people.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

The covenant with Noah is only the first of five major covenants contained in the Hebrew scriptures. That may be news to some, but it should be good news for all of us because it shows how determined our God is to reconnect with His lost children. Covenants were a common form of legal contract in the ancient world which spelled out rights and responsibilities of the two parties being brought together. Curiously, our word for religion comes from a Latin root meaning to re-bind (re-ligare) as a ligament is bound to a bone. Two disconnected parts that had previously been connected are brought back together and held in place. The binding quality of covenants, ratified with oaths or with blood, held the parties in place.

1. The Covenant with Noah

Right out of the starting gate we run headlong into yet another surprise. The first covenant given by God was not given to the Jews. What? It’s right there in the Hebrew scriptures—their scriptures. That’s true, but they weren’t around to receive it. The only people living on the earth in Noah’s day (and for many centuries afterward) were Gentiles. That’s the Bible’s word for anyone who isn’t a Jew. The phrase “the Gentiles” always refers to the non-Jewish ethnic groups that fill the earth. Without getting into the dates, Noah was the ninth generation after Adam. Abraham came along eleven generations later. Since the Jewish people only came into being through Abraham, the covenant with Noah couldn’t possibly have been given to them. Who then was it given to? It was given to us![2] That’s us there in the pages of the “Old Covenant.” We are the first people on earth that God made a covenant with. Indeed, it is the only covenant God ever made with us (the Gentiles). Let that sink in. It will come up again later.

This gets deeper. The covenant with Noah was never even intended for the Jewish people. We are shown exactly how this happened. After the debacle of the tower of Babel, God disavowed His personal involvement with us (the Gentile “nations” or ethnic groups of the earth) and placed us under the authority of the angelic beings who made up His divine council, usually called in scripture “the sons of God.” Jesus, of course, is the eternal, unbegotten Son. These were created beings of a much higher rank than “angels” (a name that signifies mere messengers). Having passed us on to subordinates in Genesis Chapter 11, the Lord immediately set about calling Abraham in Chapter 12. Because the Jewish people came into being through the miraculous birth of Abraham’s son Isaac, their ethnicity is entirely different than the rest of the world. They came into being through the direct intervention of the LORD (Yahweh) so that He could have His own “allotted heritage.” He would indeed make covenants with them (four in all). However, they are secondary beneficiaries of His covenant with the Gentiles through Noah, just as we Gentiles are secondary beneficiaries of His covenants with the Jews.

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. Deuteronomy 32:8-9

Turning back, now, to our covenant through Noah, who should note how entirely one-side it was. No obligation was placed upon Noah whatsoever, nor on any of his descendants (us). Evidently, God gave the covenant as a pledge to us that no matter what a mess me might make of things in the future, God would never again send a flood to wash the earth clean. Interestingly, this was a pledge made to all living creatures, not just Noah and his descendants, since all living creatures had also suffered loss due to our sinful ways. Then, He placed the rainbow in the clouds as a perpetual reminder of this covenant so that whenever we see rain, the rainbow would hold our hope steady that the clouds cover us with mercy not judgment.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." Genesis 9:8-11

The covenant with Noah has not been rescinded or abrogated: It is fully in effect.

To rescind means to revoke, repeal, or invalidate by a later action or a higher authority. To abrogate means to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal, put aside or put an end to.[3]

2. The Covenant with Abraham

The covenant with Abraham brings into being God’s special relationship with the nation of Israel. We should not, however, imagine that anything like a nation-state is intended here. Nation, as we saw earlier means ethnicity—a people group, not statehood in the modern sense. Even the Jewish people did not form into a nation-state until the reign of Saul and that development came nearly a thousand years later. This covenant, then, gives us wonderful insights into the special calling of the Jewish people and their place in the heart of God. But it tells us very little about the modern nation of Israel. Those insights will come later through the covenant with David. What we see here in Genesis 12 is God promising to “make” of Abram “a great nation” using the same Hebrew word recorded when He said, “let us make man in our image.”[4] This clearly is a momentous new beginning.

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12-3

A promise, however, is not the same thing as a covenant, though every covenant is based upon promises given by one side or the other, or by both. The Lord continued to visit Abram with promises in the next four chapters. By the time the covenant sign of circumcision is given in Chapter 17, the promise had grown to include not just one nation, but many nations, and not just a people group but a land they could dwell upon perpetually. All that was required of Abraham and his descendants was to circumcise the foreskins of all Jewish males. Inheriting the promises of this “everlasting covenant” rested upon natural descent and circumcision. There was a way for outsiders (Gentiles) to be brought in, but the only way out—the only way to break the covenant—was to reject the requirement of circumcision.[5]

"Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." Genesis 17:4-8

This everlasting covenant through Abraham is still fully in place regarding the Jewish people. They have done nothing to break it and we can be certain that God will not renege on His end. In fact, one extended promise has been marvelously fulfilled. Through the death and resurrection of Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, vast multitudes have been spiritually reborn as sons and daughters of God. Therefore, it is uniquely through Abraham that “all the families of the earth” are being blessed just as God promised. Even better, according to Paul, all those who are reborn through faith are true sons of Abraham. He is the spiritual father of all those who are being saved by grace through faith for Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”[6]

The covenant with Abraham has not been rescinded or abrogated: It is fully in effect.

3. The Covenant with Moses

The covenant that came in through Moses is the most complicated of them all. It is complicated not so much by its own internal structure (though it is lengthy and complex) but by the way it interacts with the New Covenant that Jesus inaugurated. This is the covenant that is typically referred to as the Law both in scripture and in Christian teaching. However, it must be kept in mind that “the Law” is often a translation of the Hebrew word torah which usually refers to the first five books of the Bible but can include the whole of the Hebrew scriptures. Accordingly, it should be evident that torah refers to the whole Biblical counsel on how to “walk with God” since it is filled with people and stories, not just legal decrees. So, although torah is often translated in the New Testament as the Law and although it contains laws, it cannot be equated with law. Confused? By now it should be evident why we (Gentiles) are in such a muddle!

As for the laws in the covenant of Moses, there are most famously the ten commandments and the moral codes which extend them. There are also the dietary code, civil laws for the Jewish people, and rules governing all aspects of religious practice: from how to build the tabernacle, to proper dress for the priests, to required festivals to celebrate, and sacrifices to offer. God’s part in this was to bless them, but only if they showed consistency in walking with Him by obeying all the laws contained in the covenant. The Jewish people out of their love of God for delivering them, their fear of God’s awesome power, and their complete failure to grasp the depth of their depravity, ratified the covenant by agreeing with one voice that they would keep it entirely. No one should question their good intentions, but they needed something more. First, they had to discover that their hope for keeping the Law could never be in themselves.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine… All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. Exodus 19:5, 8

As is well known, the failure of the Jewish people to keep their part of the covenant led to personal and national disasters throughout their history. Eventually, Jesus came as God’s appointed Messiah to save the nation from their sins and to inaugurate a New Covenant through His Blood. That covenant included both the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit as provisions for living a new life of faith and righteousness. The Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth century universally agreed that the New Covenant set aside all but the moral code enshrined in the ten commandments. All the rest of the rules and regulations in their view had to do with the specific calling of the Jewish people—and apply to them to this day. In this, they were following both New Testament teaching (primarily Jesus and Paul) and the unanimous decree of the Jerusalem Council which had been convened to settle this issue in the first century.[7] It is these “secondary” aspects of the Mosaic Covenant that have been made “obsolete,” not the moral law.

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13

Now comes the tricky part. Just how does the New Covenant bring believers into relationship with the moral Law of Sinai? Remember, that Paul lambasted that Law as something impossible to keep and worse, a thing that sin uses to overthrow all who try to put their confidence in it as a means of being rightly related to God.[8] Indeed, it does. If we don’t try to keep the moral code, we are lawless rebels and are therefore unrighteous through and through (without a right standing with God). On the other hand, if we do try to keep the Law and fail, we are therefore unrighteous and miserable about it to boot. Worse, if we try to keep the Law and succeed (if only in our own eyes) we become self-righteous bigots and are therefore as unrighteous as the Pharisees. What is the way out of this dilemma? Jesus!

Under the New Covenant, Jesus does not abolish the Law, nor does He keep it for us, as if we are to believe that because Jesus kept the Law sinlessly, we don’t have to. Although it is true that His Righteousness covers our utter inability to produce a righteousness of our own, God still wants to get us to live in a righteous way. The first step is always that of faith. Trusting that God and Jesus love us and have covered our sins and sinfulness enables us to take the second step. That second step is listening in order to obey. At this critical point, nothing has changed from Sinai, but instead of looking to the Law (and trying to keep it on our own) we look to Jesus, the Lord of the Law, and do what He shows us. In this way of trust and obedience, the Spirit leads us step by step into one right thing to do after another. Our life is transformed as we turn from trying to be law-keepers to being faithful at following Jesus. Jesus fulfills the Law (the moral laws of Sinai) through us as we listen to and obey Him, not self.

The covenant with Moses has only partially been superseded: Its moral law is fully in effect.

To supersede means to replace in power, authority, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as by another person or thing: to set aside or cause to be set aside as void, useless, or obsolete, usually in favor of something mentioned; make obsolete.[9]

4. The Covenant with David

Through Abraham, we see an eternal covenant made with the Jewish people that includes a land where they can dwell and a blessing they will convey to the entire world. This one ethnic group has survived and thrived despite everything the Enemy and a hostile world has thrown at them. Against all odds they are now—after 1800 years of exile—back in the land God promised to them. Meanwhile, incalculable blessings are flowing into the world through scientific advancements made by the highest percentage of Nobel winners any people group on the planet has yet produced. Add to this the reality that salvation has come to untold billions of Gentiles through their Messiah, Jesus. All these accomplishments were contained in the covenant with Abraham. Through the covenant with David, we see the makings of the state of Israel and ultimately the enthronement in Israel of the worlds’ true Ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12-13

Neither to Abraham nor Moses, but to David a promise is given that an heir of his lineage will rule over Israel—forever. Moreover, just as God expanded His promises to Abraham with further promises to his descendants, so He did with this one. The promise of this covenant is expanded by an angelic messenger to one of David’s descendants—Mary—who was told that “there will be no end” to the kingdom of the Child she was carrying.[10] This clearly meant no end in time, but it also means no limits upon the earth. Astoundingly, God initiated a covenant with a Jewish king three thousand years ago which promised that through this one nation He would eventually rule the entire world. Never let it be said that our God ever underestimates His ability.

By means of Abraham’s covenant combined with this one, King Jesus has been ruling in the hearts of Jewish and Gentile believers for two thousand years. That kingdom of God reign will continue to advance beyond all present limits through the Harvest of the Last Days. Those Days will not be complete, however, without the return of Jesus to take up the reins of government. Then, His invisible kingdom’s reign in hearts will become the visible reign of a Jewish man-God King on a throne in Israel. For His part, God promised unconditionally to do it. The only part that remained to David’s line was for someone to be raised up who would walk in God’s ways. The waywardness of David’s descendants (not to mention his own) caused the destruction of the Davidic kingdom and the near extinction of his line. Nevertheless, through Joseph, Mary, and a miracle, God brought to birth One who completely fulfilled His will for that beginning stage of fulfilling this promise. An “offspring” from David’s body will reign eternally in Jerusalem.

The covenant with David has not been rescinded or abrogated: It is fully in effect.

5. The New Covenant

This too is a Jewish covenant. That unarguable fact may come as surprise because we (Gentiles) think of the New Covenant as our covenant and the New Testament as our scriptures. They are that, but only, as it were, by second hand. The New Testament was written almost entirely by Jewish men.[11] Furthermore, Jesus inaugurated this covenant exclusively with Jewish men at the Last Supper in the midst of a Jewish nation. There were no Gentile Christians present. In fact, there were no Gentile Christians in existence until months, perhaps years, after His death and resurrection.[12] The New Covenant was entirely in the hands of Jewish leaders and in the hearts of Jewish believers from its beginning. The promises for this covenant were also given exclusively to Jewish believers centuries before Jesus came to the Jewish people and ratified His covenant through them.

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:31-32

Way back in the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God gave this promise of “a new covenant” to the Jewish people. That was six hundred years before Jesus arrived. Notice that it was to be different than the Mosaic Covenant. Specifically, He mentions the forgiveness of sins and alludes to the gift of the Holy Spirit by promising He would give them an ability to keep His law.[13] This gift of the Spirit is reinforced by a companion promise given through Ezekiel.[14] However, the covenants with Abraham and David are left without any hint of alteration—neither here nor anywhere in the Hebrew scriptures. Only the covenant with Moses would be affected by the new one that is coming. As we know, it was a long time in coming (though not as long as our Lord’s promised return). When the time was right, Jesus gathered His disciples for one last supper and announced that the New Covenant had finally arrived. In fact, it would be sealed or ratified by His Blood the very next day.

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:20

Paul is well-known and much beloved as the apostle to the Gentles. Yet, no one in scripture takes greater pains to remind us that the gospel was given to the Jews first.[15] Chapters 8-10 of Romans show us the anguish he felt because so many of the Jewish people rejected the gospel message and were unable, therefore, to receive the saving grace of the New Covenant. This heart-breaking falling away, however, did not mean that their other two covenants had been annulled or that they had been rejected from God’s plans.[16] Paul saw this tragic state of affairs as only temporary. He drew three conclusions: First, that the Jewish rejection of the gospel meant that its riches would now fall to the Gentiles who received it. Second, at that future date when God would restore the Jews, their return would usher in even greater blessings. Finally, if God spared not the first-chosen people, Gentiles should beware lest they too fall away. The gospel came to the Jews first and to it the Jews will eventually return. The Last Days are designed to accomplish this.

The New Covenant has not been rescinded or abrogated: It is fully in effect.

Pre-Figured in Scripture

Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[17] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.

1. Persecution in Book of Esther

One outstanding, never-failing promise of the covenant with Abraham is that God would bless those who bless the Jews and curse those who don’t.[18] Consider, how mighty Egypt enslaved them, then would have pursued them to death had not the Lord intervened at the Red Sea. Where is their empire now? The Assyrians swept in from the north in 721 BC and crushed the northern Kingdom of Israel, carrying captives off into oblivion. Where is Assyria now? Or the Babylonians who in 587 BC ransacked Temple and treasury, leaving Jerusalem razed to the ground. Where are they now? These were followed by the Seleucid Greeks, then the Romans who used the full force of their famed legions to obliterate the nation, its capital, and its people. Where are those empires now? In our own day, the British Empire rose as it showed unusual favor to the Jews and fell when it didn’t. Is anyone learning this lesson?

It was a lesson that had to be learned anew in Esther’s day. Haman the Agagite turned against Mordecai the faithful Jew and out of his demented offense, sought to raise up a massive and murderous persecution of all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Queen Esther managed to turn the tables on him (with God’s help of course) and brought about a reversal of the outcome which her husband’s edict had set in motion. Though there is much that is instructive in all ten chapters, it is the Jewish response in Chapter 9 that calls attention to something new on the world scene.

For 1800 years of exile from their homeland, the Jews almost universally suffered persecution without fighting back. Certainly, they were outnumbered. Nor did they typically have any weaponry or militia of their own. Additionally, they were as crushed by poverty as they seemed in spirit, believing as they did that God desired them to suffer this fate. The events of the Holocaust and the birth of the nation of Israel changed all that, perhaps forever. As Jews flooded back to the Land and built the nation they vowed: “never again!” That swearing-in takes place to this day in military services at Masada, a site seared in the national memory as one of both emboldened resistance and merciless annihilation. This passage from Esther shows that present-day Jews have recovered the same boldness that the Jews of Persia exhibited.

Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. Esther 9:1-2

What will the Jews do as the Enemy raises his Last Days forces against them? They will fight back! There will be no repetition of the passivity they exhibited in Nazi-controlled Germany. Israel will fight to the bitter end, but according to what is written, that can only mean the end of their enemies. What will Jews still scattered around the world do? They will likely run to cover if they can’t make it to Israel. What will their Christian counterparts do? Should we fight back or solely follow the path of suffering as martyred witnesses? The beast’s system cannot be easily withstood. It certainly won’t be overthrown by anyone except the Lord upon His Return. Even so, there may be outbreaks of armed resistance such as Jewish freedom fighters staged in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 for one heroic, unforgettable month. Will Jews and Christians be fighting side by side?

2. Promises to the Exiles in Babylon

Often God used His prophets to warn the Jewish people to repent, turn back to Him, or suffer the consequence by reaping horrendous judgments. Just as often—it seems—they didn’t listen. We should take heed for our record of listening in order to obey is probably as sketchy as theirs. What saves us is that there seems to be unlimited mercy in the New Covenant. There isn’t—if by mercy we imagine that hard discipline, stern correction, and severe chastisement have all be set aside by the cross. What there is in abundance is unlimited forgiveness, but it is only available to those who repent, when they repent. With an almost unimaginable mercy, God works to bring us to repentance, but His mercy at times sends punishing consequences to wake us up and get our attention. When that happens, it never feels like mercy. But it does get our attention.

One of the trickiest things in all this is the way the Lord has to balance getting us to despair of life lived on our own terms without losing hope in Him. This is spiritual brinkmanship at its finest. It is a dark time indeed when we want to give up, but if it’s managed right, that’s the time when we finally give in. Until we come to the end of our selves, the true new life can only go forwards in fits and starts, hobbled by self’s desire to lead the way. This life-shattering dynamic was at work in ancient Israel. Time and again the people came to dead ends. Only then did they look up, wake up, and return in their hearts to God to go His way rather than their own. Babylon was one of those dead ends, perhaps the most bone-crushing and humiliating one of all. God didn’t want them to give up hope in Him, just give in to His desire to be their Leader and Lord. Through Ezekiel, He sent wonderful promises of restoration.

And the word of the LORD came to me… "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.' Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.'” Ezekiel 11:14, 16-17

Once again, the Jewish people are heading towards a dead end. Their two thousand-year-long rejection of their own Messiah is going to be reversed. Already the prophesied age of the Gentiles is winding down.[19] Messianic Jewish congregations are springing up all over the world, including Israel. For the first time in history since the expulsion of Christian believers from the synagogues in 85 AD, Jews are becoming Christians without becoming Gentile Christians. Messianic Jewish rabbis are teaching Gentiles again (remember Rabbi Paul?). Moreover, many forms of Hebrew worship are being adopted by Gentile congregations, including observation of the seven sacred Jewish festivals. Beyond even this, Christians all over the world are in prayer for Israel, for the Jews, and for their conversion like never before.

From a Christian point of view, this is wonderful! That’s not the way it will seem to them. As persecution mounts up and hostilities against Israel increase, the Jewish people will inevitably begin to feel abandoned by God when their longed-for Messiah doesn’t appear. False messiahs will come and go, taking many down with them. Their hopes will be dashed time and again. Only we know that Jesus won’t be arriving until the very end—and He’s the last Person they are hoping to see. They won’t be able to painlessly give up their hope that someone else will rescue them. It will “pierce” their hearts to realize how great their apostasy has been. Paul kicked against the goads for a short season in his life.[20] They have been kicking against acknowledging Jesus for two millennium! Although they will also be thrilled to behold His love and mercy for them, they will still mourn over the tragedies that could have been avoided if only they could have given in sooner.

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” Zechariah 12:10-11

Our God will have to walk a fine line between frustrating all the false hopes and false beliefs of His beloved Jewish people without causing them to give up on life itself. He wants conversions, not suicides. For that to happen, they will need all the promises of restoration that they can find. Our challenge will be to help them hold on to hope in God while praying and waiting patiently to see if they will let us bring up the Name of Jesus as the One to seek as their true Messiah.

Revealed by Scripture

The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.

There are far too many prophecies about the Jews and Israel in the Last Days to list them all here. One researcher says that there are over one hundred passages in the Bible that point to the End Times. Many are in the Hebrew scriptures, often filling whole chapters. This selection is necessarily abbreviated but hopefully it is enough to give you a feeling for the wealth of information waiting for your further discoveries. Unquestionably, the Lord’s love for the Jews, for Israel and for Jerusalem is unbounded by time, or undiminished by their unwitting resistance to Him. We will see this unparalleled love story play out before our watching eyes and wondering hearts in the Days ahead.

1. Jewish Signs of Jesus’ Return

The Jewish people in one generation have gone from being obscure and despised on the fringes of every country, to being in command of one of the most dynamic nations in the world. They are world-class leaders in technology and medicine as well as science. Their economy consistently outperforms that of their beleaguered neighbors. Yet, all this pales in comparison to the role the Lord has chosen for them in the Last Days. The Returning King of the Earth will set up His throne and rule from Jerusalem in the heart of a restored Israel! Naturally enough, with that kind of future intended, the signs associated with modern Israel are, perhaps, the greatest evidence the Lord can give us of His preparations to return soon.

1) The Re-gathering of the Jews

The return of Jews to the land promised by God is a modern miracle. It also set the End Times clock in motion. The Lord promised the land to Abraham and his descendants forever. Every Christian knows this. Less well known is the sheer number of prophecies in the Old Testament which foretold a vast dispersal of the Jews following the loss of their homeland—that, and the subsequent work of the Lord which would restore them. Always, this restoration was couched in terms of “the latter days.” Jesus proclaimed the same things.

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

How were the Jews scattered? And why? The Roman Empire was the agent both of Israel’s destruction and the Jewish dispersal. If you asked them, they would have said the nation was ungovernable. The First Jewish War began as a revolt. The Romans crushed it in a typically brutal manner with the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple (70 AD). The Second Revolt of Judea (132-135 AD) was the last straw. In putting down the rebellion led by Bar Kokhba, the Romans razed Jerusalem, desecrated the Temple mount, and raised a Roman city in its place. Jews of Judea were either killed, exiled, or sold into slavery. The centuries-long diaspora had begun. This, too, was prophesied by a despondent Jesus:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate." Matthew 23:37-38

A Slow Then Sudden Return

For well over a millennium and a half, Jews of the Diaspora prayed with yearning hearts to see a return to the land. No doubt the nearly universal persecution they experienced compounded their anguish at being outcasts and wanderers. Even so, they proved reluctant to leave the relative “security” of the ghetto for an uncertain future. Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, correctly read the signs of antisemitism in the late 1800s. He called for European Jews to return to the Land, but the response was a trickle. Europe was civilized and safe. Far too few realized that the Zionists were the prophesied “fishers.” The Nazi “hunters” came afterward.

But 'As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.' For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. "Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. Jeremiah 16:15-16

In the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War, the Zionist movement, led by David Ben-Gurion, grew ever more determined to regain Israel for the Jews. Even the Allied powers knew about the death camps yet refused to bomb the rail lines leading to them. If the Jews were to survive in such a hostile world, they vowed they would never go meekly to the slaughter again, as so many had in the gas chambers. Many lost all faith that they could count on God. They could only count on themselves. Sadly, just when Israel was reborn, their ancient faith lay in the grave (for all but the Orthodox). To this day the majority of Israelis are adamantly secular, even if avowedly ethnic, in their outlook and allegiance.

Of course, the Lord has plans for a far fuller restoration than land. They have an ancient spiritual inheritance He intends to renew. For now, the Jews are in their Holy Land once again. That is a massive sign of the Last Days!

2) The Restoration of the Hebrew Language

Of all the stupendous, amazing signs of His Return that the Lord gives through His first chosen people, this one probably has the least impact on geopolitical events. But it is no less dazzling. When in the full course of human events has a once-dead language ever been successfully brought back to life? To be sure, Latin and Greek are still taught, but outside the walls of the Vatican, Latin is rarely spoken. And the Greek of Greece is not the original tongue so eloquently written by Paul. Even the English of Shakespeare is practically a closed book to his linguistic descendants. In recent times, the Irish Republic launched a heroic attempt to bring back ancient Gaelic. It failed.

Yet, Israel speaks Biblical Hebrew once again. Let that sink in. They not only speak Hebrew—a language kept alive solely for religious study and ritual as Latin and Greek were. They speak it in pure form! This is even more remarkable when we recall the centuries, no millennia, of dis-use and misuse. The Hebrew kept alive by the Yeshivas (schools) inevitably suffered in isolation. In Jerusalem for instance, the people spoke Yiddish, French, or Arabic, not Hebrew. When Hebrew was required for intercommunication is was a form of Medieval Hebrew, an outmoded and degraded version of the Biblical original. God had promised something far better.

"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.” Zephaniah 3:9

A Very Determined Hero

The Lord used a resourceful man from Eastern Europe to accomplish this modern resurrection. Born Eliezer Perelman in Lithuania in 1858, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda caught the Zionist vision and emigrated to the Holy Land. He worked tirelessly to create a thoroughly modern Hebrew dictionary and to promote Hebrew as the language of instruction in schools. Sensing that this could never accomplish the goal, he and his wife, Deborah Jonas came up with a bold plan. Speaking only Hebrew in the home and isolating their family life from the outside, they brought up their son, Ben-Zion, as the first native-speaking Hebrew child in almost two thousand years.

Now, sabras (native-born Israelis) all speak Biblical Hebrew in a “pure” form, just as their God had promised so many years ago through His prophet Zephaniah. For those who have grown up with the reality of modern Israel, this may seem inconsequential, even expected that as a matter of course a nation would speak its ethnic tongue. Students of history and of prophecy, however, can see it for the astonishing miracle that it is. And move the minute hand on the Last Days clock just that much closer to the midnight hour…

3) The Restoration of the Jewish Nation

The nation of Israel was twice ruthlessly destroyed by the Romans—partially in 70-72 AD and completely in 130 AD.  For almost two thousand years, the forlorn dream of Jews in exile from the land was to return to the land as sojourners. But few would have believed national restoration was possible. Then, first by the Zionist movement beginning in the late 19th century and later by Nazi persecution the Jewish people began returning to the Land. The lineage of the priesthood is identified and available to be restored and many of the furnishings for a rebuilt temple have already been prepared, making the restoration of temple worship in Jerusalem a real possibility—apart from the political chaos that such a move would launch. 

"Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children." Isaiah 66:7-8

Then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 37:21

The day that the British Mandate for Palestine expired, Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared independence. With the vote of the United Nations in its favor, Israel was reborn in a single day—May 14, 1948—just as the Lord prophesied through Isaiah. To top it off, Isaiah’s exact words were fulfilled. Israel as a nation was “brought forth” and immediately afterward the “labor pains” of war began. The surrounding Islamic nations of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia all declared war the same day that Israel became a nation recognized by the world’s governing authority.

4) Israel Restored with National Unity

Another marvel about the founding of Israel is one we might easily take for granted. The nation that emerged in 1948 was a united whole, a single nation. Well, that’s normal, isn’t it? To this day, nations arise with a united purpose; only later might they splinter and divide. Indeed, division is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel under its third king, Solomon’s son Rehoboam. A disgruntled Jeroboam led the Northern Kingdom into rebellion against Judah and Benjamin in the south. That heart-breaking division remained right through the final destruction of Israel and the deportation of the ten northern tribes by Assyria in 722 BC.

When modern Israel declared its independence in 1948 no trace of that former division remained. Centuries of persecution during the Diaspora (dispersal) united the Jewish people with a shared dream of national restoration: “Next year in Jerusalem!” to be sure, political and religious differences of opinion abound, many with vehement intensity, but a common bond continues to hold the nation together. That common bond may have more to do with “us against the world”—the nations which seek their destruction—than with a shared faith in their national God. Nevertheless, this marvel of a united Israel was exactly predicted by Ezekiel over 2500 years ago.

And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. Ezekiel 37:22

5) Jerusalem and Israel in World Politics

Only a hundred and fifty years ago, who would have thought that Jerusalem could ever again have a role to play in world politics? Who could have conceived that it would become the very epicenter of global politics, a fault line setting the nations of the world in an uproar? The answer, of course, is no one except (perhaps) students of Bible prophecy. Even they must have been scratching their heads. Certainly, as shrewd an observer as Mark Twain didn’t see it coming at all. Writing of his 1867 visit to the Holy Land, Twain marveled with undisguised scorn at the “romantic” accounts bandied about by religious tourists.

To find the sort of solitude to make one dreary come to Galilee for that…  these unpeopled deserts, these rusty mounds of barrenness, that never, never, never do shake the glare from their harsh outlines… that melancholy ruin of Capernaum, this stupid village of Tiberias, slumbering under its six funereal palms… we never saw a human being on the whole route [to Tabor]. Mark Twain, “The Innocents Abroad”

Twain was hardly alone in his assessment. Others saw it too. Ten years earlier (in 1857) the British Consul in Palestine reported that the entire land was largely uninhabited, that its greatest need was repopulation. As late as 1895, French author Pierre Loti described a dismal scene: “As elsewhere, as everywhere in Palestine, city and palaces have returned to the dust… This melancholy of abandonment, weights on all of the Holy Land.”[21] These men would be shocked and astonished by present events we largely take for granted. Their writings preserve for us an undeniable record of how stunningly and swiftly an Invisible Hand has overthrown the old order. Exactly as it was prophesied!

The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: "Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. Zechariah 12:1-4

A Continuing War Against the Jews

The mandate from heaven to regather the Jews and restore their nation flew in the face of newly discovered Saudi oil. All the leading nations of the world—especially in their covert operations—conspired against Israel’s formation, including the United States. This sordid story has been masterfully chronicled by John Loftus and Mark Aarons in their book, “The Secret War Against the Jews.” Reading it, one is amazed that the Zionists were able to pull it off in the face of such intense international opposition. Indeed, only a great God could foretell it and accomplish it!

The average post-war citizen in the US and Europe wanted the Jews to have their homeland for the sake of the Holocaust. Nevertheless, powerful people in their governments were willing to sell out the Zionists to gain favor with the Saudis. As a matter of historic record, the first Saudi king, Ibn Saud, intensely hated Jews and vigorously resisted all efforts to restore them to their land. The deadly infection of hatred spread throughout Islam. Hence, from the 1930s on, a witches’ brew of antisemitism, Arab oil, and terrorist violence has turned Jerusalem into a “cup of staggering.” Israel’s emergence and survival are truly miraculous.

Now They Are Positioned to See Him

This miraculous Jewish sign is all the more compelling because Zechariah linked it to the ultimate realization by the Jews that Jesus is their Messiah. This Jewish nation, surrounded by enemies and at the center of world events, would see “him whom they have pierced.” Present-day Israel will see Jesus return and “weep bitterly” to behold that He is the Messiah they rejected. This prophecy is a highly focused sign of the nearness of our Lord’s Return. Israel had to be reborn for this to take place—for them to be in a position to “look on” Him when He physically returns at the Mount of Olives. Israel also had to become “a cup of staggering.” We are there!

"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

6) The Tabernacle of David

For the church as a whole, there is a little-known sign that has, perhaps, escaped the attention of many. Of course, it is well-known to those who are involved in it, but this is still a remnant portion compared to the whole. This gospel sign is the emergence of a worldwide prayer and praise movement. Prayer and praise that is offered before the Lord as continuous worship is prophesied of the end of the age.

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old. Amos 9:11 ASV

"After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.” Acts 15:16-17

King David commissioned a sizable troop of worshippers and musicians to offer continuous prayer and praise at the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. Except for the century-long 24/7 prayer vigil of the Moravians at Herrnhut in Germany, the earth has rarely seen such extravagant worship sustained on the Davidic scale. Curiously, this too is one of the things God is raising up in the earth today and restoring to the life of the church. A 24/7 worship and intercessory movement began in Kansas City, Missouri in 1999. According to founding pastor Mike Bickle, The International House of Prayer (IHOP) has inspired a hundred other prayer groups all over the world to follow their lead.

7) Messianic Jewish Believers

Previous centuries have seen forced Jewish converts to Christianity who practiced their Jewish faith secretly and willing, believing converts who were then assimilated into Gentile Christianity.  The rise of Messianic Jews (Jews who retain their Jewish heritage and identity when coming to faith in Christ) in the past few decades marks a shift towards the end of the age of the Gentiles. For more on this see “Gospel Signs of Jesus’ Return.”

A long-awaited sign is finally coming to pass. The conversion of Jews at the end of the age of the Gentiles is a present reality. Previous centuries have seen forced Jewish converts to Christianity who continued to practice their Jewish faith secretly. Willing, believing converts—though rare—had no other option than to be assimilated into Gentile Christianity with a resulting loss of their Jewish heritage. Such Jewish conversions were in themselves proof that the “age of the Gentiles” was still in full swing.

Something radically different is happening in our day. Messianic Jewish congregation can be found in most major cities. These are Jewish converts to Christian faith in Jesus, but who retain their Jewish heritage and identity. They continue to keep the Jewish festivals, their congregations are presided over by Rabbis, yet they enthusiastically worship Jesus as their Messiah. This phenomenon has not been seen on earth since the expulsion of Jewish Christians from the synagogues late in the first century following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Messianic Judaism began in the 1960s and has been growing rapidly ever since. It marks a dramatic shift towards the end of the age of the Gentiles.

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:23-25

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24

2. The Woman and the Dragon

John received a fascinating vision of a dragon at war with a woman and her offspring. This woman is certainly the damsel in distress of the End Times story. A monstrous dragon is chasing her! He is out to destroy her at both the beginning and the end of this action-packed chapter. This makes her a highly sympathetic character, not at all like her opposite number—the Harlot of Babylon. However, just like that femme fatale, she presents a mystery. It is not the mystery of iniquity, but that of righteousness. Who is she? What does she represent and what can we do, if anything, to help her out?

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Revelation 12:4b

When did this event occur? As we see in the next verse, the dragon could have only “stood before the woman” at the time leading up to Jesus’ birth, because it is Jesus who will ascend to heaven’s throne and “rule all the nations.” Jesus is this woman’s child, the one Herod “sought to devour.” That much is certain. The woman, therefore, could be the Virgin Mary or the nation of Israel. Naturally, opinions are divided on this. Mary, of course, is the human individual God recruited to bring His Son to birth, so she comes to mind first. She is the human embodiment of the Lord’s cultivation of Israel to be His Wife and give birth to the promised Messiah, Jesus.

Mary fits perfectly in this one moment of giving birth. At this point in the vision, Mary is the Woman and the Woman is Mary. There can be little question about it. We could say for this moment the Woman wears Mary’s face and bears her name. However, nothing else in the prophecy fits her. How was she dramatically withstood by Satan? She had some trouble with Joseph at first that’s true, but his doubts were cleared up by a mere dream, not a battle. After Jesus was caught up to God at the Ascension there is no record of Mary fleeing persecution. She is remembered as having lived to ripe old age under the disciple John’s care in Ephesus.

The Jewish people, on the other, are a perfectly suitable candidate. Throughout the Hebrew scriptures, Israel is described as God’s beloved, whom He married by means of the covenant at Mount Sinai.[22] As we know it was a stormy relationship—He divorced the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but not Judah, though she committed adultery, too. It was through the faithful remnant in Judah that God brought forth the promised Messiah. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a divinely prepared nation to raise a Messiah. The scriptures and prophecies had to be sown into the faith womb of the Jewish people and cultivated through their national life for Jesus to not only be born but also to be raised in the knowledge and holy fear of God. No other nation on earth could have done it. That’s why God had to choose one nation (ethnic group), marry her, and impregnate her with longing for the coming Child. That's the faith-seed which Israel uniquely carried in her prayer womb for centuries.

That the enemy has a murderous rage directed against the Jewish people—continuing through to this day—is well-attested to by the events of history. Pharaoh enslaved them, then sought to reduce their numbers. The nations in the Promised Land tried to fight them to death. So did the Philistines. The Assyrians succeeded in conquering and carrying off the northern kingdom. Babylon came and destroyed the southern, carrying them off captive as well. The Lord preserved a remnant every time. The Greeks and Romans also fought wars to destroy their cultural cohesion and national life. Rome succeeded better than any enemy previously. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the obliteration of the nation in 132 AD, the Jewish survivors “fled into the wilderness”—forced to live in Diaspora, scattered among the Gentile nations. Then, with the Zionist movement of the late 1800s, God brought a remnant back to the land. The enemy still attacks them there.

She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Revelation 12:5-6

Even though he “stood before” this vulnerable woman giving birth, the dragon-who-would-be-god proves powerless. His deadly efforts are entirely unsuccessful. She gives birth to a male child who is “caught up to God and his throne.” Jesus is the only person in scripture who could fit the description of one who “is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” If it is indeed our Lord, then obviously, there is a compression of time in the sequence. Between the birth of Jesus and His being “caught up” to heaven by means of the Ascension, there was an interval of 33 years. If true so far, this gives us a template for looking at other passages in this sequence and perhaps also throughout the book.

Prophetic vision (alas!) rarely comes with a set pattern for interpretation. From a beleaguered human standpoint, it really doesn’t help that the Lord enjoys playing with words and images, even sequences. On the other hand, it sure makes the effort to decipher the text feel far more rewarding when understanding comes.

So, let’s take a leap here with the text. In verse 5 we have Jesus ascending to the throne. That was 33 AD by traditional dating. Next, we are told that the woman “fled into the wilderness.” That could be the Diaspora of the past two thousand years. Then we see her in “a place prepared by God.” That could be modern Israel. Finally, at the end of verse 6, we are told that she will be “nourished for 1260 days.” Where have we heard that number before? It just happens to be 42 months—the terrible period of the antichrist’s reign of terror. It is the final 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation.

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Revelation 12:13

As discussed, we have two possibilities for this woman based upon verse 4b above: she is either the Virgin Mary or the Lord’s Beloved, Israel. However, at this point, some believe that we are being shown a third possibility: this woman is the Bride of Christ. But how can that be? This is the same woman that we were shown in the earlier verses as giving birth to the male child who would rule the world. How can the Bride of Christ in any way be thought of as giving birth to Jesus at His first coming? This would be a historic impossibility. The Bride can only be said to appear once the gospel and faith arrive—and that is after Jesus resurrects and leaves. Let’s don’t even consider the incestuous application if we press the metaphor to make the one who mothers Jesus into His future Bride.

The wedding of the Bride with Her resurrected Bridegroom awaits His Return. We are not told what that union may produce by way of divine-human offspring. Meanwhile, the one who mothered the one and only God-Man, Jesus, in the earlier verse must be Mary or Israel. At last, the identification becomes positive. Because of this same woman’s appearance in this and the following verses, she cannot be Mary. What could the Virgin Mary possibly be doing in these End Times verses? That leaves us with Israel, the Jewish people. If there is a woe for the inhabitants of the earth because the accuser was thrown down our way in anger, that woe is doubled for the non-Christian Jews who—in the person of this woman—are now “pursued’ by the dragon himself.

But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Revelation 12:14

Something or someone comes to the woman’s rescue. She is given “the two wings of the great eagle” to flee from immediate danger. That’s an interesting turn of the phrase. She is given the wings, not the eagle. It is she who “flies” with the help of these wings, rather than what we would expect—the eagle flying her. It is tempting to see here the eagle as the national emblem of the United States. The US has maintained a stance of friendship and protection towards Israel right from its national beginning in 1948. Not only that, but the largest population of Jews in the world (outside of Israel) is in the US where they have been protected and have prospered to a degree never reached in other nations.[23]

The American eagle would be the ideal candidate for this identification if it weren’t for the odd fact of its dismembered wings. What could that possibly imply? Many people indeed see America as having a destined role to play in the End Times protection of the dispersed and hunted Jewish refugees pictured here. However, refer to “Mystery Babylon” to see that America also fits the bill as the Harlot which will be judged in a day, resulting in national devastation. Will Christian believers in America still be able to shelter Jewish refugees? Many believe this will happen. If that’s the case, the eagle may indeed be gone as a power among the nations, but enough of her faithful people—the wings (think wings of faith)—may still be around to help carry the woman to safety.

The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Revelation 12:15-16

Whatever this crisis represents it clearly has a supernatural ending to it. At the beginning of the verse, the vision describes the flood as pouring “like a river” out of the serpent’s mouth. Why are we being shown the serpent and not the dragon? This takes us back to the source of the deceiver’s work. The original lie may be mingled somehow in these waters that are intended to “sweep her away with a flood.” We often speak of a “flood of lies” and “sweeping accusations.” It is not hard to imagine the evil one and his puppets—the antichrist and false prophet—pursuing Jews with a propaganda campaign the likes of which Goebbels never dreamed in his wildest fantasies.

It will take a miracle to save them and that is just what we are shown. The earth “opened its mouth and swallowed” this river of lies. By earth here are we meant to see the “salt of the earth”, the humble people of the earth, opening their hearts to absorb the lies without believing them? It may not just be Christian believers giving aid to Jews. Watch for humble, God-fearing resisters of the antichrist to also do the right thing.

Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. Revelation 12:17

This on-going rescue of the Jews creates an additional problem for people of Christian belief—the “rest of her offspring.” Our descent as believers in Jesus is through the Jews for “salvation is of the Jews.”[24] That makes us the target of the dragon’s fury. Wait a minute. Just one verse earlier he was a serpent. As a serpent, he went after the woman. As a dragon, he goes after the Church. This one verse tells us that there will definitely be Christian believers on the earth during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation—the period we would all want to avoid. We won’t be trading quips with a snake in the Garden, either. We’ll be up against the full satanic onslaught of a dragon whose foul breath scorches the earth.

We won’t be (as some imagine) a rag-tag group of compromised believers trying to hang on to scraps of faith. John sees deeply committed followers “who keep the commandments of God.” With a courageous and faithful grasp of truth, these offspring of the woman “hold the testimony of Jesus.” This verse also tells us that there will be a lot of us. The dragon, not the serpent of old, is the one who covers the earth. The final image of the dragon in his unfettered fury is of him standing “on the sand of the sea.” Sea often represents humanity. The dragon towers over all he conquers, but he stands on sand. Jesus warned us about building on sand. There is no solid foundation to support him. Lies, threats, and bribes are not enough to secure an empire. Especially, if the invading army is being led by our Lord.

Other Scriptures to Study

1) Further Prophecies Being Fulfilled[25]

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:11-12

And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.' Ezekiel 36:34-35

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness." Zechariah 8:4-8

2. Other Prophecies Awaiting Fulfillment

Deuteronomy 30:1-9

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:1-4

Isaiah 60:1-62:7

Ezekiel 38:1-17

And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." Daniel 9:27

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Micah 4:1-2

Micah 4:3-7

Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" Zechariah 8:22-23

On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:8-9

Matthew 24:15-28

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." Romans 9:27-28

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." Romans 11:25-27

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Next Crucial Component

The Two Last Battles  How is it possible that there are two last battles? Shouldn’t one have been catastrophic enough? Couldn’t one have decided the issue once and for all? Wouldn’t one have taught everyone which side to be on for the second? Evidently not. Because there are two “last” battles confusion naturally spreads around them. This makes it difficult to know how they match up with the prophetic texts that describe wars that happen in “the latter days.” The Latter Days cover a lot of time! These colossal conflicts serve as bookends to the Millennium—the thousand years of peace. The first one erupts when Jesus returns to reign and the other explodes after He reigns for one thousand years of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Both battles are gathered into one article here in hopes that it will lessen the confusion to see these accounts in close succession. They have one thing in common: an undefeated Commander.

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Endnotes

[1] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.

[2] Please accept my apologies if you are a Jewish reader. This section is intended as instruction for Gentiles—and I’m assuming that Jewish readers would already know these things.

[3] Dictionary.com: rescind and abrogate.

[4] Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26

[5] So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant. Genesis 17:13-14

[6] Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." Galatians 3:6-8

[7] The council met to decide just what exactly the new Gentile converts needed to obey or conform to concerning the whole of Jewish law. Their answer was to abstain from idolatry, sexual immorality (the moral code), eating meat of strangled animals and blood. See Acts 15:19-21 and 23-29.

[8] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20. See also Romans 3-8 and Galatians 2-5.

[9] Dictionary.com:  supersede.

[10] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Luke 31-33

[11] It is possible that Luke was a Gentile. However, the Jerusalem riot was started not because Paul brought Luke into the Temple compound (which he did), but Trophimus. Why, if Luke was a Gentile was he not also mentioned?

[12] Cornelius is generally credited with being the first Gentile convert, because other Gentiles had already converted to Judaism before becoming Christians (the Ethiopian eunuch and Nicolas of Antioch). It is not known when Cornelius’ conversion happened, but it was after the conversion of Saul and the rein of terror he pursued so vigorously and for so long.

[13] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34

[14] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:25-26

[15] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

[16] I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! …God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Romans 11:1-2

[17] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14

[18] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3

[19] Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob." Romans 11:25-26

[20] And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Acts 26:14

[21] Joan Peters, From Time Immemorial, p 161.

[22] For your Maker is your husband; Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:5

[23] As of February 2019, roughly the same number of Jews live in the US as in Israel—6 million.

[24] Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you shall neither worship the Father in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know, we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. John 4:21-22

[25] Many thanks to the Lamb and Lion Ministries for assembling this. Even so, it is not a complete list.

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Overcomers and Martyrs | TheLastDays

We don’t get to choose which we will be, but we do get to choose if want to be in this glorious company. During the Tribulation, things will get so intense in terms of religious persecution and economic pressure that death by sword or famine may challenge us all. Jesus warned us that there will be a great falling away as many believers renounce their faith and seal their fate in a vain attempt to save their lives. Mark this: the faith of everyone will be tested. Be encouraged that those who die faithfully as martyrs will receive the martyr’s crown. Those that survive faithfully will receive the overcomer’s crown. The Lord will prove that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 MKJV

And he said to me, "These [martyrs] are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Chief Characteristics

Whole books are written about most of these crucial components. These characteristics are summaries of what is grounded in scripture, not fabricated through speculation.[1] Speculation is trying to “see” more than we are being shown. What we see by Biblical revelation is real enough, but a fuller view will only come as these still distant components draw nearer.

For every martyr, there are also overcomers. Even at the height of the famous Roman persecutions, there were far more who survived as faithful Christian witnesses, than those who perished. These survivors were the overcomers of their day. Sadly, it is also true that for every martyr there were also those who renounced the faith—the “apostates.” Jesus said that there would be a great falling away in the Last Days. Hence, the persecution of Christians by the Romans gives us a vivid picture of what we can expect in our future.

1. Persecution by the Romans

For the first two centuries following the birth of the Church, Christians were persecuted sporadically, often springing up from local attitudes, misinformation, or the whims of wicked rulers like Nero. All this changed in 250 AD when the first of three empire-wide persecutions began under the emperor Decius. His edict remained in force for a year and a half. Confiscation of manuscripts, seizure of property, incarceration, and judicial murder (martyrdom) became the policy of the state.

The central issue was the refusal of Christians to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods or to acknowledge the emperor as a god. Christians rightly saw that bowing to the cultural demand would have been a denial of their faith in Jesus. Romans saw it as a form of rebellion to state authority that had to be crushed. This same cycle is likely to repeat in the Last Days with sporadic outbreaks of persecution preparing the way for the world-wide, state-sanctioned policy of the antichrist. We should be prepared for seeing that just as the average Roman sided with the state view, so will the surrounding world: Why can’t those pesky Christians just do this small thing and get along with the rest of us?

Although the Roman persecutions loom large in the minds of most Christians, the truth is that the number of martyrs was relatively low. The best modern estimates place the number anywhere between three thousand and seven thousand deaths. Certainly, that was enough to provide a cautionary tale for centuries to follow, a story that seems to have grown by the exaggeration of early church historians like Eusebius. It must be said, however, that some of those deaths followed upon excruciating and horrendous tortures. For those undergoing the persecution, it was not their numbers which mattered most but their own unique experience of pain and injustice: How do you stay faithful when the world around you has gone treacherously mad?

2. Persecution throughout History

There can be no excuse for what was done by the Romans to the Christian believers, or for what was done by apostates seeking to save their own lives by renouncing the faith and betraying their brethren. Nevertheless, compared to modern times the numbers are surprisingly low. What is also surprising is how few modern Christians seem to be aware that the real news about martyrdom is in our recent history and in our own day. It is as if the heightened memory of Roman persecution has relegated martyrdom to a thing of the distant past. To shatter that false view, consider the following facts.

The data, attributed to the late researcher David B Barrett, puts the number of Christians martyred since the time of Jesus at 70 million. It puts the number of Christians systematically exterminated in Nazi Germany at a million, while the number of Orthodox Christians and others murdered in Russia between 1917 and 1950 at 15 million.

In China, at least 200,000 Christians and foreigners were killed in the Boxer Rebellion of 1898 to 1900. Another 700,000 were killed in communist China between 1950 and 1980. The number of Catholics killed in Mexico from the late 1800s to 1930 is estimated at 107,000, while 300,000 Christians are believed to have been killed under Idi Amin in Uganda between 1971 and 1979.[1]

It is a safe bet that these numbers would shock many Christians, so little is made of it in our history books, or ever rehearsed as background given in our news reports. And it has not stopped yet. Though present-day investigations are necessarily stymied by greater efforts at coverup than historical research, there can be no question that the numbers are unconscionably large. The same article quoted above acknowledges that persecutions continue, but laments that there is a wide disparity in estimates of on-going martyrdom. Some have the number of Christian martyrs as high as 100,000 annually; others have it as low as 8-9000 per year. Whatever the real figure is, according to Jesus, it can’t hold a candle to the numbers that will be coming when the Great Tribulation becomes the antichrist’s “final solution” for people of faith who resist his rule.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Matthew 24:21-22

3. Lessons from the Roman Persecution

Tertullian (155-240 AD) was a prolific Christian author often called the “father of Latin Christianity” and sometimes the “founder of Western theology” which is all the more remarkable when one considers that there is no evidence he was ever ordained by the church. Very little is known about his personal life, though tradition has it that he was raised in North Africa in Carthage. It is known, however, that he came to faith through a radical act of conversion sometime in 197-198 AD. He is famous for saying out of this experience that “Christians are made, not born.” He is even more famous for his oft-quoted saying about the Roman persecutions that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”[2]

Tertullian wrote several “apologias” to the Roman magistrates to address the injustice of their persecution directed against Christians. He also thought deeply about the implications of martyrdom in terms of the normal Christian life. It was Tertullian who most clearly showed how genuine Christians live by an interior martyrdom as believers faithfully die to self in order to live for Christ. In his view, the Roman persecution was an objective form of this inward and on-going trial of faith.

Tertullian saw persecution as the will of God, who superintended the martyrdom of his followers. The Christian life, rejecting the world and the enticements of the world, with its submission and obedience to God’s will, was life-long training for martyrdom. Persecution, in short, was a part of the Christian’s total training. Tertullian’s theology in this area was practical and spiritual.[3]

This perspective of Tertullian’s is entirely in accord with the teaching of Jesus, but it perhaps took the experience under Roman persecution and Tertullian’s insight to bring this truth out in fullness. Jesus described the life of His followers as that of a continual death to self. In this one passage, we have both the way of the overcomer and that of the apostate set before us: We can choose either to put Self to death or seek to save our lives by forfeiting faithfulness upfront and life itself in eternity.

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

This is the true overcoming of the world, the flesh, and the devil (and his dark kingdom) which is at the heart of Christian discipleship and transformation. In seeking to follow Jesus, the Christian inevitably must engage in a life or death struggle with his or her own fallen, yet “natural” tendencies. Not to deny self what it desires is to deny Jesus what He deserves. Taking up one’s cross in simplest terms means turning to go the way of the Lord whenever our will and God’s will cross. We can only do this if we continue to trust that the way of Jesus—though hard, risky, and painful at times—is truly the best way to go. Faith as trust in Christ is at the essence of the overcomer’s life.[4] No wonder that Jesus said that the work we must do is to make sure that we believe in Him.[5] The real issue of faith is not do I believe Jesus exists (the demons believe that!), but do I trust Him enough to obey Him—no matter what?

3. Apostates in the Last Days

This chilling prophecy by Jesus shows us in verse 9 that in the Last Days the world around the Church will persecute believers and “deliver them up” to tribulation and death. It only gets worse in verse 10, where Jesus says that believers will do exactly the same things to their fellow believers that the world does. Betraying (vs 10) is the same word as delivering up (vs 9) and the word for hatred carries the meaning of persecuting. Tragically, Jesus repeats it in both verses. The faithless believers who “fall away” will become persecutors of faithful Christians, hating them and betraying them to the persecuting authorities. Why? Sometimes the motive is jealousy or revenge. Typically, however, is done in a vain attempt to save one’s own life. Not that it doesn’t work in earthly terms. The apostates may save their lives in this life by denying the faith and betraying the faithful. Eternity is a far different matter.

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:9-10

4. Crowns

According to the scriptures, there will be crowns given out in heaven, whether we seek them or not. Perhaps, it is best not to seek them at all, but only to seek the One who will give them out to His faithful, devoted servants. As in all else, let Jesus decide what is best for us. Still, He apparently wants us to know that He has crowns He will bestow—and that He rewards us according to our deeds.[6] Crowns will be given to those who overcome, either as overcomers who live as faithful witnesses or as overcomers who die faithfully as martyred witnesses.

This isn’t an issue of faith in the abstract. It is an issue of deeds. As James wrote, faith without works is dead.[7] When life goes from being an obstacle course to a mine field, only those who can summon up enough faith to stay the course will qualify for these crowns. We definitely won’t have a say in which we will be given, only in whether we will be “worthy” of receiving one or the other. What will they look like? How or when will they be worn? Is there a difference between them? Who cares? The only thing that really matters is: Will I be found faithful? Let’s pray that we and all our loved ones will!

In the following passages take note of the three different crowns described by Paul, James, and Peter. Then, note what Jesus says will be required of us in the days ahead—if we would be crowned by Him as one who overcomes.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:4

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 3:11

Pre-Figured in Scripture

Every crucial component of the Last Days has already “appeared” in the Biblical prophetic narrative in the past, somewhat like a dress rehearsal for the final drama. These foreshadows are called “types” because they precede their ultimate expression (the “antitype”).[2] As shadows of the future reality, however, they cast a revealing light of their own.

Every story in the Bible partakes of this mega theme of individuals and nations having to choose between seeking to live their own way verses going God’s way. So long as those two paths are in agreement there really isn’t much of a story—at least not in terms of the dramatic events that get launched by our wrong ways, or the even more dramatic rescues set in motions by God’s interventions to save us—often from ourselves. Certain stories, however, highlight this dramatic interplay more than others. Let’s look at three well-known examples that played out at the extremes where the fine line between martyrs and overcomers gets merged.

1. Joseph in Egypt

Joseph is an outstanding example of someone who overcame immense obstacles which began when his own brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. No need to recount the full story here which required nothing less than the final fourteen chapters of Genesis to give this amazing hero of the faith his due. The relevant part for this discussion comes to us through Psalm 105 where we are shown that God’s Hand was upon those abhorrent events which to Joseph’s young, untested eyes must have seemed entirely a work of the devil.

That God used his brother’s betrayal and the resulting persecution which Joseph endured is not to say that God desired it or caused it to happen. Nevertheless, it was by means of unjust affliction that God “sent a man ahead of them” who would become an agent of God’s salvation for the very people who betrayed him. Not only that, but God used the affliction to grow Joseph into the person he was called to become as the “word of the Lord tested him” during his captivity. Through betrayal and persecution, Joseph entered into the full promise of his calling, a destiny he had been shown in dream form before the calamities happened.

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom. Psalm 105:17-22

It was Joseph’s great good fortune that he didn’t die as a martyr in that Egyptian prison but became instead an outstanding exemplar of one who overcomes. No doubt it required great faith on Joseph’s part to keep believing in God’s promises over his life, despite all the evidence that contradicted it. It also required great faith for him to forgive so great a betrayal. If we are to become overcomers like Joseph, we will need to grow the same caliber of faith under our trials, especially if betrayal by fellow believers lands us in the worst of them.

2. Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego

These three faithful Hebrew men very nearly died as martyrs. They are true heroes of the faith. Their story is told in the third chapter of Daniel. Because they would not serve the gods of Babylon or worship the golden image of the king, they were to be thrown into the fiery furnace. Of course, it was the intervention of the Lord that makes this story remarkable. The flames intended to incinerate them, instantly killed the ones who threw them into the furnace and then liberated the Hebrew men by burning off their chains. Not only that, but one like the Son of Man was seen walking and fellowshipping with them amid the flames. How cool is that?

Even more remarkable than these miracles, however, may be the attitude of the young men. They admitted to the king—a type of the antichrist to come—that they really had no idea whether they would survive the flames or not. They knew that God could deliver them. Such an intervention was certainly within His power. But they didn’t know for sure that He would, even though they were probably praying like crazy to Him for just such a rescue. Nevertheless, they were willing to face seemingly certain martyrdom, rather than betray their faith in God. They were genuine overcomers! They overcame all fear of the flames and fear of dying. That’s truly remarkable!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Even more remarkable, these Jewish men had only part of the Old Testament to go by. Much of it was yet unwritten. They had nothing of the New Testament to ground their faith upon. They were not born again. They did not have immediate and personal access to their Messiah. They did not have the Holy Spirit living in them as an Inner Witness to the truth of the resurrection. They did not have thousands of years of faithful Christian martyrs lighting the right path to take. In other words, they had a mere fraction of what has been showered upon us “on whom the end of the ages has come.” Their brave witness puts to shame the modern impulse in Christianity to seek to be “raptured” out of harm’s way before the trials of faith begin. Jesus once asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Let’s hope He finds it in us.

3. The Hero’s Gallery of Hebrews

Who does not love the description of these heroes of the faith? What stalwart champions they proved to be! The list began at verse four with Abel, moved on to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, and included even Rahab the prostitute. In the passage below, we are near the end of the sequence with a rapid-fire listing of heroes and deeds and the honest admission that “time would fail me” to properly record all who should be included. Just for a moment, go over all the things that faith allowed these heroes to overcome: kingdoms, lions, fire, sword, war, even their own weaknesses. We can evidently overcome any obstacle that the enemy brings against us or puts in our path. Not even death proved able to defeat the ultimate Overcomer whom they (and we) followed!

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Hebrews 11:32-35a

Nevertheless, the list would not be complete if it left us with the false impression that all is sweetness and light for those who follow the Lord. Not everyone gets to overcome their obstacle in this life. Some are taken down by the same enemy that others defeat. Take a slow, sober look at the calamities that our God allowed to befall His chose ones. These heroes were unable to either escape or “conquer” many an unwanted situation. Even so, everyone gets to overcome the obstacle of their own fears—if they choose to die to Self in order to live for God.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. Hebrews 11:35b-39

These heroes didn’t cut and run. They stood their ground and faced persecution, even death, bravely. That’s our calling too—to “fight the good fight of faith” whenever spiritual darkness seeks to quench the Light we carry[8]. It’s one of many reasons why God has given us faith. Faith, rightly held, can turn anyone into a valiant-hearted conqueror of their own worst impulses. Faith can raise anyone into being a light in this dark world. Not every witness is a martyr, but every martyr is a witness. A witness is one who leads others to believe in the God who rescues all who come to Him from every enemy by raising us to eternal life.

Revealed by Scripture

The Bible exposes the secret plans and deceptive operations of the dark kingdom, even as it unveils the glorious realities of what our God is doing. The truths of scripture are, therefore, our rock-solid building blocks for interpreting the times we are entering. Nevertheless, for biblical information to become true revelation both prayer and the Holy Spirit are needed.

Martyrs and overcomers aren’t the only Christians who will face the turbulence of the Last Days. There are two other groups that a hapless believer can fall into. One could take the mark of the beast and survive by being allowed to trade within the system. Don’t do it! That would guarantee being tormented forever in the next life. There is no forgiveness possible for those who take the mark.[9] Or, one could become a survivalist and possibly avoid the beast and his system, but there is no way to avoid the Lord when He returns. He won’t be pleased with any Christians who only thought about saving their own life.

Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Luke 17:33 MKJV

The rock-hard truth is that if we don’t rise up and take our stand to live for God and Jesus, there will be terrible, everlasting consequences. However, for those who choose to be faithful to the Lord, there are tremendous everlasting blessings promised. Settle it then, that no matter what comes our way, we are going to be faithful to Jesus, even if it kills us! There are only two options on the table—if you want to live honorably in this life and arrive safely in heaven in the next. We will look closely at those faithful options first, then cast a mournful glance at the ones who fall away. There is much their baleful example can teach us.

1. Overcomers in John’s First Letter

The Greek word nikaō (Strong’s G3528) is frequently translated as overcome and sometimes as conquer. It derives from Strong’s G3529 which means to subdue (literally or figuratively): conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

This first option is usually everyone’s preference, though some are already indicating their desire to go out as martyrs. Becoming an “overcomer” means seeking to survive the trials that are coming, but never at the cost of being unfaithful to the Lord. That’s the negative way of stating it. Let’s turn in around. Being an overcomer means that your whole desire is to overcome in a faithful way any temptation, trouble, or trial that comes your way. In this way, you’re positioned to walk closely with the Lord and—under His Leadership—help harvest or rescue as many struggling souls as you can on your way home.

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:13-14

According to most conservative scholars and church tradition, John the “beloved disciple” is the author of the gospel that bears his name, three letters, and the Book of Revelation. This is the view taken here. In that case, his use of overcome in his letters should give insights for its meaning and application in Revelation. In the above passage, we see an exclusive application of the word to the “young men” he is addressing. It is they who have overcome the evil one—a direct assault of some kind by the prince of darkness.

This would not necessarily mean an assault exclusively carried out against them by Satan himself. More likely, it refers to their victory over the kingdom of darkness and all that the “evil one” uses against us of the world (fallen humanity), the flesh (our fallen nature), and the devils (demons and fallen angels). That’s a lot to overcome. Presumably, the “fathers” have long since passed through these tests while the “children” are not yet at the beginning. How is it that these young men became “strong”? John emphatically credits “the word of God” that “abides” in them. Jesus said that if only we would “abide” in Him and in His words, we would be set free to bear much fruit.[10]

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world… Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:1, 4

Here John is addressing the “little children”—not the fathers, nor even the young men, who have known and overcome various trials. These believers are still untested in the faith at the level the others have already passed through. They have yet to come up against the full assault of the evil one and his dark kingdom. Nevertheless, these “children” are at that early stage of learning to discern the spirits. If only Adam and Eve in their untried innocence had learned this lesson as well as they! John praises them for recognizing that the voices tempting them were not from God and in the intervening verses offers up further pointers.

Even so, being tested by a voice is not the same as full-frontal assault. When the evil one shows up in one’s life at that level there is no need to test the spirits. They have already shown their true colors! Hence, John prepares them for future testing by assuring them that no matter what comes their way, the one inside of them is “greater than he who is in the world.” Mark this up, then, as a further pointer for our own faith and courage. According to John, we need to not only abide in Jesus and in His Word, but we also need to warp our faith around the truth that He is always with us and cannot fail us. The Almighty One is living in us!

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

In this final chapter of his first letter, we come to John’s most powerful insights into the overcoming life. First, he writes that “everyone” who is born again “overcomes the world.” That’s quite a statement. Perhaps, we haven’t done anything yet. How can this be true of newborn babes in Christ? Even the brand-new Christian convert has overcome the world by turning from its darkness to embrace the light of Christ. That may only be a beginning, but it is a world-shifting conquest just the same. What’s more, every convert has the nature of the Overcoming One living inside them. We are all world-class overcomers at heart.

Continuing, can John’s statement be true of compromised, backslidden believers? So long as believers don’t renounce the faith (the apostates), they are still holding to that which they have received.[11] Yes, there are those who seem to fail consistently in their trials, but if they don’t let go, God will enable them to overcome. The truth is that holding on to faith, even in the midst of weakness and compromise, can be a show of true strength. Only the Lord can search this out, but He is the One who says He dwells with the lowly and contrite.[12] Why are they contrite? Usually, because their weakness brought them low.

Others, however, reap victories where the compromised only spin their wheels. Christians who stay in step with the Lord “overcome the world”! They possess an incredible traction that holds them to the path set before them, enabling them to overcome one obstacle after another, whether it comes against them from outside or rises up from within. John wants us all to know the source of our victorious power. It is our faith that overcomes the world.

Every fresh trial, trouble, or temptation only serves to press them closer to the Lord. In the midst of battle, they reach for God’s promises and cry out for more faith to believe them. As they cast each new care upon the Lord and obey every fresh leading of the Spirit, they see victory after victory arrives as their hearts are held steadfast in perfect peace. Both the world of emotions within and the world of changes without are held in check and eventually overcome through the determined application of a faith that always endeavors to find a way to trust God, no matter what He allows.

John isn’t content to leave it there. There must be no mistaking that what overcomes the world is not our faith in faith, much less faith itself. No, our faith is believing in the One who already told us that He has overcome the world.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

2. Overcomers in the Seven Churches

At the very beginning of the Book of Revelation, Jesus dictated to John seven letters that He wanted to be sent to seven churches in Asia Minor. Why those churches when (by then) there were hundreds, perhaps thousands of others? Why include messages about current events in what would become the most extended prophecy of future times ever given? The view taken here is that these seven churches were chosen because they were undergoing local persecution of a kind that would reappear worldwide in the Last Days. The entire Church of the future will face the same kind of challenges these early believers faced.

As individuals and as individual churches, we may not have to deal with each one but taken as a whole, the Body of Christ will suffer through all these trials. Jesus would want us to know that what He expected of believers in those days, He will also require of believers in ours. His words to these churches, therefore, not only highlight the problems (which will become ours), they also show us the right way to go through each trial. Through John, Jesus sent these letters ingeniously to His Church of the future! With each letter, we will look at a problem and its corresponding promise.[13]

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The problem that the Ephesian believers faced had to do with discernment. They had learned how to discern false teachings in others but failed to discern the greater issue of how their “first love” was slipping away from them. Remember that in Matthew 24 Jesus warned that in the Last Days many hearts would grow cold? That’s the problem here—yet they weren’t even aware of what they had lost. Hence, the promise is given that if they (we) would overcome their “cold love” for Him, Jesus would give them an ability to feast on His presence—He is the Tree of Life! This would turn the tables on the times so that even in the midst of their enemies, they would be living as if they were already in the paradise of God.[14]

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11 MKJV

The believers in Smyrna suffered through both poverty and persecution, a double distress which will soon be coming upon most of the Church worldwide as economies collapse and antichristian sentiment continues to rise. Jesus’ words informed them (us) that soon many of them would be thrown in prison and that some would die. He wanted them to know, however, that both the number of people most seriously afflicted and the duration of the trial was limited. His word to them was to hold out, to “be faithful unto death.” For those who conquered their fears with faith, He promised that they would not be harmed “by the second death.” The first death is physical death at the end of life in this world. The second death is the lake of fire. It has been well said that the brave die but once; the coward a thousand times.[15] May we use our faith to cast out all fear of death.[16]

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give to him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he who receives it. Revelation 2:17 MKJV

At Pergamum, the believers endured the stultifying oppression of living where Satan sat enthroned, exercising authority and control over the entire region of Asia Minor. They were evidently able to withstand the temptation to join the local population’s devotion to idolatry, but they were falling prey to sexual temptation which was also running rampant. Take heed: It is one thing to recognize and reject the mark of the beast, another to see that the mark of the Whore of Babylon is sexual immorality.[17] Both must be stoutly resisted! Already in our day this infernal temptation has spread throughout the church and the world in ways undreamed of in the past. For those who consistently defeat this temptation, Jesus promises that, rather than feeding on what is impure, He will give them “hidden mana” to sustain them. Our hearts were meant for better things than sexual lust.

But that which you have, hold fast until I come. And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father. Revelation 2:25-27

Believers in Thyatira in some ways faced similar temptations to those in Pergamum, especially false teachings and sexual temptation. The main difference is that the focus here is not on the pull of the pagan world surrounding the church, but on the penetration of the church by someone bringing in paganism from the inside. What’s worse, the woman Jezebel aspired to spiritual leadership, calling herself a prophet and gaining a devoted following. Even worse than this in Jesus’ eyes is that the believers “tolerated” her. Sound familiar? Here as in all the letters, Jesus calls for repentance as the way out. Indeed, it is our only way of escape if we have been captured by any sin—whether of thought, word, or deed. The one who overcomes in this situation will be given “authority over the nations.” In other words, if we can stand faithfully under His authority where He has placed us, our realm of authority can be extended.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes, this one will be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5 MKJV

Believers in Sardis would have been shocked to receive Jesus’ stunning rebuke. They had a reputation for being alive in Christ, resplendent with good works to show for it. In Jesus’ eyes they were “dead.” They were living for Self, not for Him. They were doing Christianity their way, not His. His call to them is to “wake up” and get back into a living, intimate relationship with Him. He would not have to speak to them through John if they were listening to His Voice. We don’t do works for Him that we think are good. We work at listening to Him, so we can do what He wants us to do! If they would live this way, His promise is that He will clothe them in white garments (which are “the righteous deeds of the saints”).[18] He wants us to use the times that are coming to a good advantage. Let the pressure and the pain press you closer to Him—always.

Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast to that which you have, so that no one may take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. Revelation 3:11-12

The problem that the believers in Philadelphia suffered came by way of persecution from their “cousins” in the faith. Not pagans, but Jews, were harassing and slandering them. Our parallel is that in the Last Days, not only will secularists and atheists join the antichrist in waging war against the Church, so also will fallen away Christians and people of other faiths who should at least recognize in us a kindred belief in God.[19] This is maddening to experience, but it has the hidden benefit of stripping away any tendency to look to others for approval. The only way out is to “know that I love you” even when others don’t.[20] Jesus, therefore, promises that those who overcome by keeping their eyes on Him, He will make them pillars of the Church (“temple”) He is building.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne. Revelation 3:20-21 MKJV

The Laodicean Christians are caught in a compromised position. They are “neither cold nor hot.” They evidently tried to find a middle of the road path through all the troubles sweeping through their region. Surely, they know what the other churches have been up against. So, they’ve been keeping their light hidden under a bushel basket, afraid to let it shine for fear of persecution and equally afraid of letting it go out for fear of losing their salvation. It seemed to be working for it was giving them favor with the world. They were prosperous and popular. But in Jesus’ eyes they have nothing that hides their shameful nakedness. He hates it that they are so “lukewarm.” The call is to recover the zeal for Him that they let fall by the wayside. If they overcome their compromise with the world, they can be seated with Him again. If they allow Him to reign in them, He will allow them to reign with Him.

3. Martyrs for the Faith

The Greek word martus (Strong’s G3144) is frequently translated as martyr although it derives from its primary meaning of witness: Of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [generally]); by analogy a “martyr”: martyr, record, witness.

This second option is truly heroic. Jesus said that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for a friend.[21] Martyrs are those who value loyalty to Jesus greater than life itself. One hears from time to time of prophetically gifted believers who say they’ve already been shown by the Lord that they are called to be martyrs in the Last Days. Additionally, some stout-hearted believers say they have offered themselves if God so wills. Still others are preparing themselves and their children just in case the fateful moment comes their way. No doubt these are the wise ones. To see possible trouble coming and not prepare for it is foolish.[22]

This begs the question: How can one prepare? The simple truth is that no one will ever become an overcomer if they are not prepared to be a martyr first. That’s because, unless we overcome it, the fear of death will overcome us every time. The writer of Hebrews tells us emphatically that the devil uses the fear of death to hold the entire earth captive. He reminds us that Jesus came to break this power of the enemy and set captive humanity free of ever fearing death again.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

The way to prepare to be an overcomer is, therefore, the same as the way to prepare to be a martyr: Lose the fear of death! The best way to do this is to look your deepest fears about death and dying squarely in the face and then bring Jesus and the  gospel down hard until all unbelief is crushed and nothing but freedom from fear remains. Most people bury these fears rather than face them. That’s not God’s way. Dredge them up. Ask yourself, what are you really afraid of and then find some truth(s) in the Bible that sets you free from those fears. Repeat scriptures over your doubts and fears until you finally and fully believe them. The problem for most Christians isn’t if they believe the Bible is true. It’s whether they can believe deep down that each truth in the Bible is true for them. Make sure your deep heart witnesses to the truth of scripture for you and you’re well on your way to becoming a faithful witness to others.

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. Acts 22:20 MKJV

The first martyr in the New Testament is found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen’s brave witness and even braver death gave witness to the resurrected life of Christ. Surely his martyrdom ranks as one of the greatest acts of any of the apostles. That Paul makes mention of it shows us how significant the event was for him to witness. No doubt, one of the “goads” Jesus said he was wrestling against had to do with the way Stephen’s fearless witness in the face of death rattled his cage and pricked his conscience.[23] This alone should show us that what’s at stake is likely far more than our own faithfulness being tested and proved. The salvation of many souls may hang in the balance! Think of all those who were saved through Paul’s ministry, which may not have happened but for Stephen’s martyrdom taking place right in front of him.

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Revelation 2:12-13

Antipas is one of only a few named martyrs in the New Testament. What the Lord has to say about him is something we should all hope He will be able to say about us: my faithful witness. Notice that Antipas had not been sent up against a farm team. He had been thrust into the big leagues, to the very seat (throne) of Satan’s power on earth. We can be certain, then, that the spiritual power directed against Antipas would have been tremendous. Nevertheless, he held fast to the Name and did not deny the faith. Jesus used his brave example to encourage (“give courage to”) the other believers in Pergamum. Whether or not we will face the same level of implacable hatred and fierce opposition is a thing known only to the Lord. We can be sure, however, that our names will be forever known to Him as “faithful witnesses” if we stand firm when our time comes.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11

This is a difficult scene to view. Certainly, it is wonderful to see multitudes who managed (by grace and faith) to stay faithful under persecution. It is also comforting to see how tenderly they are cared for and how spotlessly “every one of them” is clothed. Nevertheless, there is a time element here that will likely cause us anguish, even as it causes them consternation: “How long?” Notice that they cry out, not one but all of them and that they cry with a “loud voice” not a soft one. They are not being insubordinate but are truly perplexed. How much longer before the Tribulation will come to an end? Perhaps they still have family members in harm's way. Perhaps their concern is for God’s honor as the supreme Judge whose duty it is to set everything right.

If the delay is bothering them and they are in heaven beyond the reach of pain, imagine how it will bother us. Just as we find it impossible to set dates regarding the Lord’s Return, so too, we will not be able to set a date for the persecution to end. One thing is certain. That longed-for end will not seem to come soon enough! Brace yourselves for this as best you can. It is all a part, a painfilled part, of learning to wait on God. Yet, for those who learn to wait, it is promised that they will rise to new heights as if on wings of eagles.[24]

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands… Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. " Revelation 7:9, 13-14

This scene takes place right before the seventh seal is opened. By this time, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse have ridden forth spreading war, chaos, famine, plagues and death. The Great Tribulation is raging like a floodtide all over the earth—claiming lives from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” Even so, there will be seven trumpet judgments still to come and there are seven bowls of wrath waiting to be outpoured. There simply is no end in sight. It is likely that the persecutions will continue right up to the blowing of the Last Trumpet and the Lord’s Return. This, too, is something we need to prepare our hearts to endure. Once it begins, only Jesus can bring it to an end.

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17

Twice in Revelation, we are told that God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”[25] No doubt we will all need Him to do that. If we have not experienced extreme hardships ourselves (which is unlikely), we will have mourned for those we loved who did. In Revelation 21 this ministry of the Lord to us will be for all who arrive safely in the New Jerusalem. In this passage, it is being done for those who arrived safely as martyrs of the Great Tribulation. Their faith and faithfulness did not keep them from dying, but it saved them to live eternally in heaven in highly favored nearness to their Lord. They are continually (“day and night”) before the throne of God with the Lamb in their midst. The way of the martyr leads to some of the highest honors that heaven bestows. We would all be wise to take the long view.

And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth… And when they complete their testimony, the beast coming up out of the abyss will make war against them and will overcome them and kill them. Revelation 11:3, 7

The most famous martyrs of the Last Days are the two witnesses whose story is told in Chapter 11. Without question, they were also fearless and powerful overcomers. They overcame everything the beast had to throw at them for almost three and a half years. That’s an incredible testimony to the power of faith in Jesus to overcome the world. Nevertheless, at the end of that appointed time, they met their death at the hands of the same beast that they had successfully resisted for so long. There are no guarantees about how this will go for any of us, except that Jesus will ultimately conquer and that we will be eternally grateful if He managed to keep us faithful in the meantime.

And I heard a great voice saying in Heaven, Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death. Revelation 12:10-11 MKJV

This passage about those who overcame the enemy would not be complete without pausing to consider that many overcame the evil one because “they did not love their soul until death.” That’s the Bible’s way of saying that they did not try to save their lives by denying the faith. They did not choose the love of Self over love of the Lord. These are martyrs whose willingness to lay their lives down for the sake of the gospel helped bring about the casting down of the Accuser and his dark kingdom. After all, it is the Accuser who whispers that God’s ways aren’t really worth the ultimate sacrifice and insinuates that, after all, we don’t have what it takes to stand up against him. Nevertheless, these overcomers took their stand by maintaining a rock-solid faith in “the Blood of the Lamb.” Their confident “testimony” of the grace that was saving them precipitated the enemy’s downfall at this specific time, just as it does every time we give a faith-filled witness.

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Revelation 13:7-10

Of the reign of the first beast, it is written that he will be “allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.” It will not help to fight back, not unless the Lord clearly directs us to do so. There is no way that anything written in this Book can be erased. It will all unfold exactly as Jesus prophesied to John and the other Last Days prophets. Settle it then, that “if anyone is to be slain with the sword with the sword must he be slain.” God alone knows who these will be. We will all find out but only when the time comes.

There is no avoiding this. Those who have been appointed for captivity will be taken captive and there is nothing to be done but accept it as Jesus, Peter and James, Paul and Silas and countless others did when their turn came. There may be a way to fight back, but it is just as likely that to fight back would be to fight against what God has appointed. How can you know? This would take a lot of prayer and a lot of learned guidance, but most of all it would take freedom from fear. The fearful already are misguided, if they imagine they can hear from the Lord while in a state of fear. Worse, fear itself is a spirit that loves to misguide us.[26] Remember, fear drives, but faith leads. Always discern the difference.

4. Apostates in the Last Days

The Greek word apostasia (Strong’s G4646) means defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): - falling away, forsake.

It is probably a safe bet that no one sets out to be an apostate. What Christians, on being awakened to new life through the faith vision of Jesus as their Savior, ever think to themselves, “You know, I’d really like to deny Him someday”? It is unthinkable! At least it is in the beginning of new life, before the walk turns in unexpected, painful, bitterly regretted, or heavily enticed directions. Jesus never betrays or abandons us. Yet, we are (evidently) so perverse that we betray and abandon Him. Mercifully, for most of us the Lord is able to overcome our faithlessness and draw us back to Himself.

Why can’t He do that with everyone? Isn’t He all-powerful? Yes, but just as He will not force anyone’s conversion, He will not force anyone to continue in the faith. What we can know for sure is that such a thing as falling away from the faith (apostasy) exists, because the Bible says it does and often warns against it. We also know that the penalty for abandoning the faith is extremely bad—as the following scriptures give witness.

All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:8-13

When Jesus launched into His famous teaching on the Last Days the first thing He said was “See that no one leads you astray.” Being led astray inevitably leads to falling away, unless it is checked in time. The Lord evidently wants us to know to watch out for deception as we watch and wait for signs of His Return. Deception, however, is very hard to spot. Oh, it can be easy to see what deceives some else. The trouble is that any deception worth it’s “D” rating is going to steal silently upon you if it has you in its sights.

What can be done? First of all, know the Word and know Jesus as fully and as faithfully as you possibly can. Do all that you can to put Him first, to listen in order to obey, and to cling to Him at all times.[27] If you are living at some lower level than this, you are already deceived. Why would you imagine that the Lord could be pleased with you or keep you safe if you are not living the way He requires of you?

That said, it will also help to watch for the things that are deceiving others. Notice that the falling away Christians will “betray one another and hate one another.” Anyone behaving in this manner is being led astray. Make sure you aren’t falling into hatred and fear. Those two toxic emotions are fueling the great apostasy. Also note that “the love of many will grow cold” which may indicate disappointment and loss of hope. Millions are captive to the false hope that Jesus will get us out of here before the antichrist takes over. They will be bitterly disappointed, making them prey to the apostasy.

Others may be overcome by grief as the increase of lawlessness robs them of loved ones or destroys their home or business. Still others may be swept up and carried away by the spirit of lawlessness, characterized by the Whore of Babylon and her overflowing cup of sexual immorality.[28] Watch out for all these pitfalls if you don’t want to be among those who fall away.

Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Just in case it seemed ambiguous in the words of Jesus, this time of falling away (or offense) is more clearly spoken of as apostasy by Paul. The Greek word he uses leaves absolutely no doubt that what is being described by him is a falling away from the faith—a literal apostasy. Sometimes this same word is translated as “rebellion” since the lawless one inspires rebellion. However, this part of the passage is not describing the followers of the antichrist but former followers of God and Jesus.

Why will believers fall away as the “son of perdition” is revealed? First, because he will be putting their faith to the test! Take the mark or else. Second, because as Jesus said, “the love of many will grow cold.” They will have lost their first love for the Lord and failed to cling to Him just when they needed Him the most.

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-10

There are already preachers out there who are saying that a believer can take the mark, repent of it later (after the threat has passed?), be forgiven and all will be well. That’s not what the scriptures say! Whatever you do, don’t take the mark! This passage and others make it clear that “anyone” who takes the mark “will” be subject to God’s wrath which will be poured “full strength” upon them. The (false) idea is that you can still worship Jesus in your heart and take the mark—it's only an outward sign. Jesus loves you, will understand the pressure you’re under, and has already paid the price of your disobedience with His blood.

This passage equates taking the mark with worshipping the beast. Period. To worship means to ascribe worth to, often taking the form of bowing as a sign of submission. The question is this: Is Jesus the all-powerful life-giver of the universe, the only One worth serving and worshipping? Or, is the beast? There is no middle ground. Alternatively, some would argue that since all sins have already been atoned for at the cross, why not this one? The short answer is because God in His Word says that it isn’t. Who wants to argue with God? In addition to this one, the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit isn’t covered by the atonement either.[29] And what about those sins that lead to death which John warns us even against praying to relieve?[30]

The bottom line is this. We have been warned all our Christian lives against taking the mark of the beast. The scriptures are absolutely clear. Don’t do it! It will be far better to die or starve to death than face what eternity has in store for those who try to save their lives by taking the mark.

Other Scriptures to Study

1. Overcomers

And I heard a great voice saying in Heaven, Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death. Revelation 12:10-11 MKJV

He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:7-8

2. Martyrs

And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelation 13:15-17

And I saw a sea which seemed like glass mixed with fire; and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, were in their places by the sea of glass, with God's instruments of music in their hands. Revelation 15:2 BBE

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. Revelation 17:3-6

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more… And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth." Revelation 18:21, 24

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

3. Apostates

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Revelation 14:11

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Revelation 16:1-2

Next Crucial Component

Israel and the Jews  It may come as a shock to some Christians who think that Israel has been supplanted by the Church, but the final outcome of the Last Days will be a glorious restoration of God’s first-chosen people. The Bible is filled with prophecies describing this still future destiny for the Jews and Jerusalem. Let us remember that Jesus Himself is a Jewish man and will be so forever. That is by His choice. So, let us watch over our Jewish brethren worldwide with prayer and great care as the Lord works through the terrible events of the Tribulation to break down the dividing walls separating His Jewish Bride from Himself.

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Endnotes

[1] Cambridge Dictionary defines speculation as “the act of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain.” It derives from the Latin word “speculari” which means “to look at, view, observe” and originally indicated “close observation and intelligent contemplation.” By the late 1500s it gained the disparaging sense it carries today of “mere conjecture.” See etymonline.com.

[2] Adam is the type; Jesus, the “second Adam” is the antitype: Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:14 ESV

[1] Christianity Today online

[2] Plures efficimur, quoties metimur a vobis; semen est sanguis christianorum. A more exact translation from Latin would be: “We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.” Apologeticus, 50, s. 13.               

[3] Adapted from text by Roy Stults from his unpublished Historical Perspectives on a Theology of Suffering, Persecution, and Martyrdom

[4] For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4

[5] Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 1 John 6:28-29

[6] "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:12-13

[7] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

[8] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

[9] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Revelation 14:11

[10] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5; So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

[11] So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

[12] For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15

[13] These will be only the outline of interpretation. It would take too much space to build the case. Also, these problems and promises are not the only ones given, nor are these the only way of interpreting them. As with all things Biblical, interpretive choices had to be made to keep from overflowing the page.

[14] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:4-6

[15] William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar: “A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”

[16] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

[17] Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk." Revelation 17:1-2

[18] Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Revelation 19:7-8

[19] Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:7-8

[20] Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

[21] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

[22] The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. Proverbs 22:3

[23] And all of us falling to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. Acts 26:14

[24] Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

[25] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

[26] For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

[27] I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:19-21

[28] The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." Revelation 17:4-5

[29] "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin." Mark 3:28-29

[30] If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 1 John 5:16