Turn your Bibles to Revelation chapter 20. We've been out of the book of Luke, our verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Luke for a while. Lord willing, returning to the Gospel of Luke next week, actually thinking about moving ahead just a little to Palm Sunday, which is Palm Sunday next Sunday, and to go to Luke chapter 19. And then on Easter Sunday, I'm going to be preaching out of Mark 16. Actually, amazing to me, I've never preached out of Mark 16 on Easter Sunday or on any Sunday in the history of the church in the 34 years, almost 34 years we've been together now. So we're gonna do that, then return to Luke 17 the week after. But today, we'll finish up about the kingdom of Christ, the millennium on the earth, looking at Revelation 20. We'll be looking at verses five through nine specifically, but we'll begin in verse one. Let's stand as we read God's word together, please. Revelation chapter 20, beginning in verse 1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed. After these things, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand, and 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 completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. The number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. You can be seated. Thank you. I'd like to begin this morning by doing something I can't remember doing in a long time, or if ever. on a Sunday, and that is preaching a message without an introduction. Now, I know that this is… I warned Bruce ahead of time today. I thought he might have a heart attack. He's been here for a long time, so I gave him due warning ahead of time. But because I want to finish our short study on the thousand-year Kingdom of Christ on the earth today in Revelation 20, I'm going to give you an outline of the message and jump right into the text. And here's the outline. Number one, the remaining people, verse five. Number two, the reigning people, verse six. Number three, the release of Satan, verse seven. Number four, the recruiting done by Satan, verse eight. And number five, the revolt of the nations, verse nine. And with that outline before us, look at verse five, please, where we'll start today by looking at our first point, the remaining people. It says, and let's go back to verse 4b, the last part of verse 4, and they, the tribulation martyrs, came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Now verse 5, the rest of the dead, the unsaved dead, did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Now the rest of the dead speaks of the unsaved dead. here in verse 5, and John will clarify who is raised in the first resurrection going back to verse 4. John will clarify this, for it might have been thought that there was a general resurrection for the saved and the unsaved at one time at the same time, but not so. For the rest of the dead, the unsaved dead will be resurrected to the resurrection of damnation and experience the second death, they are not a part of the first resurrection. For as we go back to verse 4, the resurrection of the martyred believers in the tribulation, looked at this last week, completes what is called the first resurrection or the resurrection of the just. But the rest of the dead, the unbelieving dead from all ages, Old Testament, New Testament, and Tribulation, will be resurrected in verses 11 through 15 of this chapter, Revelation chapter 20, where their souls are brought up from Hades, hell, and their bodies are resurrected, and they will be judged and cast into eternal hell, the lake of fire. Look down to verse 13 with me, if you would please, in Revelation chapter 20. Verse 13 says, and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, unsaved people, bodies, resurrected, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, souls, and they were judged, every one of them, according to their deeds. 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. Now when will the resurrection of the unjust, the unsaved, take place? According to verse 5 here. So we go back to Revelation chapter 20 verse 5. It says when the thousand years are completed. It will be a second resurrection, the resurrection of the unsaved beyond the first resurrection of the saved, the righteous. At the end of verse 5, John goes back and talks about the first resurrection, the resurrection of the just, talked about in verse 4, and we'll see also as we come to verse 6. So the fact that the saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years is now explained at the end of verse 5 in one brief statement. This is the first resurrection. And that a resurrection is called the first implies one to follow. And what follows? The resurrection of the unsaved, found here in Revelation 20, verses 11 through 15. Just as the second death implies a first death. And the first death is what? Physical death. That takes place at different times for different people, not at all at one time. It's appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment. But the second death takes place for all unsaved people, which is eternal death, separated from God in the lake of fire forever. Now, this first resurrection is for all believers, and is a result of Christ's resurrection, which we'll celebrate Resurrection Sunday two weeks from today. For 1 Corinthians 15.20 says, but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits. of them that have slept, those that have died. Now after Christ's resurrection, we see saints rise in stages. Christ is the first fruits. He is the first one. Some immediately rose from the dead after Christ's resurrection in Matthew 27 and 52 and 53. A limited number of believers, they come actually out of the tombs and they appear on the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Now next, we find at the rapture of the church, dead saints rise first and then the living follow, in 1 Thessalonians 4, 13 through 18. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of Christ shall be blown, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. And then at Christ's second coming to the earth, Revelation 19, it appears the tribulation saints will rise. So the first resurrection is a resurrection of life, called that in John 5.29, called the resurrection of the righteous in Luke 14.14 and in Acts 24.15, and a better resurrection Hebrews 11, 35. So the first resurrection is not a one-time event, but the resurrection of the righteous at designated times in stages, whereas the second resurrection is in order. So righteous ones first, and then the second resurrection, the unrighteous, follows in Revelation 20 verses 11 through 15. To distinguish this is the first. resurrection, speaking of the resurrection of the saved. Now the blessing of participating in the first resurrection is brought forth in verse 6, as believers will reign with Christ. So look at verse 6 please, where we'll see our second point today, the reigning people. And hopefully this will become clear as we move through the text. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection. the resurrection of the just, the resurrection of the righteous. Over these, the second death has no power. The second death has no power over believers. We will not experience the second death. But they, these ones who participate in the first resurrection, will be priests of God and of Christ and will do what? Reign with Him for a thousand years. Now here we're introduced to the fifth of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. A beatitude or blessed, meaning how happy. And the people who are involved in the first resurrection, notice, are happy and holy. They are blessed and holy. And blessed or blessed tells of their condition. And holy speaks of their position in Christ. They have been made holy, set apart by Christ, set apart by his grace for such a blessing. And beloved for all true believers, the first resurrection, a resurrection to life and receiving a glorified body like Christ means we will never ever be condemned or experience the second death, which is judgment in the lake of fire for the unsaved. Romans 8.1 says, for those that are in Christ, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. We can never be condemned once we are in Christ. That's for all believers of all time. And brothers and sisters, the second death has no power over us, no hold, no influence, no right, no grip over us. And the second death, which implies a first death, which again is physical, but the second death defined in Revelation 20.14, I might add also Revelation 21.8, as the lake of fire, eternal hell will not be our lot, it will not be our destiny. And true, genuine, godly happiness. comes from the truth that no true child of God will ever face God's eternal judgment and wrath. We have been rescued from God's wrath. That's wonderful. Romans 5, 9, much more than being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him, Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5, 9 says, For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. And here I can ask the question, can there be any blessing for a Christian as great as this? that we will not go to the lake of fire, that we will not be judged for our sins, that we will not be damned in hell. I mean, you talk about a blessing. This is a blessing. This is a beatitude here. Now, some might point out there might be one more blessing that might be greater. For at the end of verse six, it says that believers will be priests of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years. Meaning resurrected saints are involved with the administration of the kingdom and will act in a mediatorial capacity as priests of God and Christ, it says here. And believers are already a royal priesthood according to 1 Peter 2.9, and will serve in some capacity as Christ's priests in the millennium in the thousand-year rule of Christ on the earth. But not only as priests, but we will reign with Christ. for a thousand years. So in a sense, because of the grace of Christ, we will be royal priests one day. We will judge with Him, according to 1 Corinthians 6. And then at the end of verse 6, the period of the Millennial Kingdom is restated as a thousand years. for the fifth time in this text. We'll see a total of six as we come to six according to verse seven. Six times in seven verses, that phrase, that number is used 1,000 years. And we know from Scripture that God's physical kingdom is eternal and the millennial kingdom issues into, merges into, blends into the eternal state in Revelation 21 and 22. where we go from the present earth, where the curse is reversed during the kingdom, to a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22. As the earth is destroyed, and we looked at this last week in 2 Peter 3, 10 through 13, after the millennium, judged by fire, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem. So in fact, we will reign forever with Christ. For Revelation 22 5 says in the New Jerusalem, there will no longer be any night and they will not have need of the light or a lamp nor the light of the sun because the Lord God will illumine them and they will reign forever and ever. And as we like to say, beloved, the best is yet to come. The future is as bright as the promises of God. It's going to be grand and glorious both in the kingdom and in the eternal kingdom in Revelation 21 and 22 with a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem. But what else is left to come is our third point today, the release of Satan. Look at verse 7 with me in the context of Revelation 20. When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison. Now, when will Satan be released? Clearly, the answer is when the 1,000 years are completed at the end of the millennium. Now, note that the Greek verb translated completed is used three times in Revelation 20. It's used in Revelation 23, verse 3, where it says, and he threw him, Satan, into the abyss. and shut it and sealed it over him. We looked at this last week. So that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were what? Completed. After these things, he must be released for a short time. And then it's used in Revelation chapter 20, verse 5, where it says, the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. And that is used here in Revelation chapter 20 verse 7, translated, completed in the New American Standard, expired in the King James and New King James version, ended in the ESV, and over in the NIV, speaking of the 1984 NIV. And this verb in the Greek carries the idea of reaching a goal, or being brought to a goal, or an end. In other words, when something is finished, And here the goal that God has planned for the millennial age has been reached. And what will happen? The final test of man is about to begin. And for that to happen, Satan will be released from his prison, which is called the abyss in verse three of this chapter. Literally the pit of the abyss, the shaft of the abyss, a place where in the past fallen angels demons, evil spirits have been kept captive. And Satan will be released from his imprisonment when God sees fit, which is at the end of the 1,000 years. So he doesn't escape. In other words, Satan doesn't find a trap door and he sneaks out. He is released. He is loosed here. And you know what? Practically, This verse conveys God's continual control over Satan. For he is released from his prison only, only, only when God sees fit. And in application, repeatedly, in the book of Revelation, we see God's sovereignty. God is on the throne. He is in control. He is orchestrating everything. And that repetitious truth, a reoccurring theme in scripture, is there for God's glory, His sovereignty, and for our peace. Peace with all the uncertainties of life, from our economy, to our health, to our future, and our family's future. And this great truth is our rock, beloved. It is our security. It is our peace. It is our rest. I've often said if I didn't believe in the sovereignty of God, I would go nuts. If I had to wring my hands around and think what might happen, but what will happen, I can rest in because God is on the throne. And continually in the book of Revelation, we see God is on the throne. God is on the throne. And that's been a besetting sin of mine over the years, worry. And when I worry, I act like God is dead. He's not alive. He's not in control. He's ruling. I'm living like there's no God. And that's the way you're living when you worry, when you sin, when you worry. And the reality is, when is Satan released? When God determines. After the thousand years are completed. That's what God has ordained. And I am so comforted by that truth. And you know, sometimes we don't keep it in the forefront of our minds. You that battle with the sin of worry and anxiety. We have to keep it in front of our eyes, in front of ourselves all the time. You know, when something happens with your health, that you don't allow it to go places you shouldn't go, you have to think on things which are true in Philippians 4.8. You have to do that. And it might lead to something we don't want. But still, does that take God off the throne? No, God still is on the throne and we rest in that and we have peace through that as we cast our anxieties and our cares and our burdens and our worries upon him. He intercedes with peace, peace. The Lord does not want us to live in fear. To be handcuffed by fear and anxiety? The Lord wants us to rest in His sovereignty. And nothing calms the soul like trust in God's higher ways when the storms of life come. And the bottom drops out. And the trials are hot and seem unbearable. And the bottom line is if we are a true follower of Christ, whatever happens in our lives and trials is never an accident, or bad luck, an unfortunate event, or happens by chance. In fact, we need to eliminate those words from our vocabulary, like luck. There's no luck with a believer. There's God's providence. There's God's sovereignty. It doesn't happen by chance. It's not an unfortunate event. It's not an accident. God is always in control. He is always good, whether we think He is or not. In fact, what is good cannot be determined from our low, puny, low standards, our limited viewpoints. Puritan William Perkins said, and I quote, and this is really, if you think about this, this is rich. We must not think that God doeth a thing because it is good and right, but rather is the good thing and right, but rather is the thing good and right, I should say, because God willeth it and worketh it, because God does it. That's all he can do is what is right. He doesn't do what's right because it's right, he does it because that's what he does, and he can only do what is right, because he's God. He's holy, he's righteous, he's pure, he's without sin. He cannot do that, which is wrong. So whatever he does is always right, it's always good, whether we like it or not. You know, often we say, oh, the Lord is good. And a lot of times we use that in reference to when something good happens to us. You know, we've had a test, and in the back of our mind, we're thinking this, and it turns out that it's turned out good. We say, oh, God is good. Listen, he's good when it turns out bad, because he's always good. In fact, the psalmist would say in Psalm 107.1, oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good. He is good. That's who he is. He's good. He's a good God. And we have to rest in that. I was talking with a dear sister in Christ yesterday, and she's lost a loved one, and the whole idea about whether this parent was saved or unsaved. You know, we rest in, we rest in God's goodness. We rest that the God of all the earth is just, and good, and right. And we go to that, and we have peace in that. Because if we didn't have that, if we couldn't rest in that, and we would just rest in our will and what happens, and what happens by happenstance that way, or just circumstances that are out of control. No, the reality is God is still on the throne. It's under His control, His determination, His will. And you know what? In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 10, a part of the Lord's Prayer, you know what we pray? Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth. And it will be done on earth as it is in heaven one day, as the kingdom comes, as the kingdom comes. You know, there's sin on the earth today. Sin will not be reigning in the new kingdom, the kingdom on the earth. Why? Jesus Christ will be ruling in Jerusalem with a rod of iron as sovereign Lord God Almighty on the earth, on the earth. As we go back to Revelation 20 verse 7, Satan is released at the time God has willed, not when Satan decides, but when God decides, and God's good purposes will be accomplished. I want to reinforce that. It's as if God puts his sovereignty and control on display as a holy reminder over and over and over again in Scripture, and also in the book of Revelation. We forget quickly. We need to go back to that truth. throughout the Word of God. And you'll never tire in hearing about God's sovereignty and control if you're living this truth. For the comfort and peace you receive from it is a peace that passeth all understanding, and God is glorified through it. And concerning the devil, as Martin Luther said, the devil is God's devil, because God rules over him also. And God's devil is released, and God's good purpose is to bring about the final test of mankind, and to show for all time that man's heart is deceitful above all things, here in Revelation 20. And Satan will lead a final rebellion of sinners, and will organize a worldwide rebellion. And in doing that, he will recruit people through deceit for his cause. which will fulfill God's ultimate purpose and put God's righteousness and holiness and goodness and His glory on display look at verse 8 please where we'll see our fourth point today the recruiting and will come out to deceive the nations speaking of Satan as he is released in God's timing which are in the four corners of the earth Gog and Magog to gather together for the war the number of them like the sand of the seashore." Now Robert Thomas at this point in his commentary on Revelation 8 through 22 says, and I quote, Satan's incurable bent toward evil evidences itself in an immediate return to his efforts to deceive the nations." End quote. That's what Satan is, isn't he? He's a deceiver. He's a liar and the father of it. John Ritchie in his commentary says about the beginning of verse 8, having learned nothing from his thousand-year imprisonment, Satan sets out on his final attempt to rally men to his banner against God. End quote. Now what I want to get across is Satan is insanely passionate in his hatred of God and is driven by that hatred and his own ego to be worshipped. So he comes out of the abyss and his purpose and passion is to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth called here Gog and Magog. Now the question comes up at this point, who are the nations? And who actually can be deceived after the millennial rule of Christ? It's not people ruling with Christ and reigning with Christ. They can't be deceived. Those who take part in the first resurrection, believers can't be deceived. So who will be deceived? That's the question. After the rule of Christ. Well, as I mentioned last week, many unsaved children and descendants of those who entered the millennial kingdom in their physical bodies will love their sin and be rebels internally, but not externally. Christ is ruling in Jerusalem. They won't be able to be rebels externally, but they are internally because they're born as sinners, as we all are. In other words, people saved during the tribulation, and that are not martyred, and do not die from its judgments, will enter the kingdom bodily, bodily, in non-resurrected physical bodies. And these people cannot be deceived for they're God's elect, like the Old Testament saints, and the New Testament saints, and the Tribulation saints, but they go in bodily. They're saved, but they're not martyred. But they, the Tribulation saints, who survive the tribulation will have children that are born with sinful human natures as all human beings are born with. And they will be tested here at the end. Tested. And each successive generation throughout the thousand-year kingdom on earth who will be born will be made up of sinners in need of salvation. The offspring, the children of those who are saved in the tribulation that are not martyred. And although all will bow the knee outwardly to the King, who comes back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Revelation 19, outwardly will bow to the King who sits on the throne of David in the Davidic Covenant, the Lord Jesus, for He will rule with a rod of iron, but not all will bow the knee inwardly in the heart. And there will be many who are conforming outwardly to Christ's rule on earth, but inwardly will be hypocrites, just like today in the church, as there are many tares among the wheat. And as long as Satan is bound, the tares look like wheat. But when Satan is loosed, he organizes the rebels, the inward rebels, he organizes the revolt, he organizes the sinners who are not bowing the knee to Christ inwardly. They have to outwardly. And get this, the golden age and utopian conditions of the millennium will not change the sad reality of human depravity. People love darkness. People still love sin. And many unrepentant sinners will be alive at the end of the millennium. Children that are born during the millennium. For Satan to lead them in a worldwide rebellion. And it will be a huge rebellion, and worldwide, for Satan goes out to deceive, it says, the nations, plural, a multitude of people, groups in the world that are in the four corners of the earth. And the four corners of the earth in verse 8 makes reference to the four main points of the compass, north, south, east, and west, meaning from all over the globe, all over the world. And John gives these rebel nations the title of Gog and Magog. And Gog and Magog are names used in Ezekiel 38 and 39, which I referenced last week, and also Genesis chapter 10, verse 2. And in Genesis 10-2, Magog is the grandson of Noah. Magog is the grandson of Noah. And here he settles in the land known as Russia today. And Gog and Magog are talked about in Ezekiel 38 and 39 as enemies of Israel that will attack them in the tribulation. And it appears here in Revelation 20, verse 8, Gog and Magog did not refer to a specific location like Russia, but the four corners of the earth expression ties Gog and Magog to rebel nations throughout the earth, the four corners of the earth that are the enemies of God. And they come to attack Jerusalem, to gather there for the war, the final war, the war to end all wars at the end of the thousand-year rule of Christ on the earth. And Gog and Magog will be a formidable group. A large group of peoples, for the end of verse eight says, the number of them is like the sand of the seashore, which is an innumerable group, a vast, uncountable multitude. In other words, beyond counting. Now the question comes up here, how could there be so many people that are born during this time that would be on the earth? I mean, how can there be that many people, innumerable? Well, the curse is reversed in the millennium. And we go back to times like the Garden of Eden, before Adam and Eve sinned. So we have utopian ideal conditions, coupled with long lifespans of its inhabitants, which will lead to a huge population explosion at that time. In fact, let me pause here and just take a few minutes to reflect on some Old Testament prophecies which talk about this time of the millennium called the time of regeneration, the time of refreshing, the time of renewal. Acts 3.19. the kingdom on earth, for all conditions will be ideal, like the Garden of Eden. For example, in Isaiah 65, 20 through 23, it says, in verse 20, no longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, like we have today. The sadness, the heartbreak of seeing an infant die. Or an old man who does not live out his days, for the youth will die at the age of 100. And the one who does not reach the age of 100 will be thought accursed. In other words, this is very unusual. Verse 21, they will build houses and inhabit them. They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. So no plagues or famines or droughts, the earth will produce bountifully. Verse 22, they will not build and another inhabit. They will not plant and another eat. For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of my people and my chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. Verse 23, and they will not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord. The offspring by those who are blessed by the Lord and their descendants with them. Now, there are no children born in the New Jerusalem. This is not the eternal state. The eternal state is in Revelation 21 and 22. That's heaven. The New Jerusalem coming down as a bride adorned for her groom However, long life will prevail for those born in the kingdom. For if someone dies at 100, it's like a child dying in comparison, it says. And children are going to be born, and the earth will abundantly produce its fruit. Then in Isaiah 11, six through nine says, a beautiful picture, and the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy, a little boy will eat them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. They'll no longer be carnivorous, eating meat. The nursing child, a baby, will play by the hole of the cobra. And the weaned child, a toddler, will put his hand on the viper's den. This is during the kingdom. They will not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. For in all my holy kingdom, the earth, for in all my holy kingdom, the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. This is during the millennium, on the earth, not the new heaven and new earth. Now here we see that peace will rule on the earth as natural predators will no longer be enemies. In other words, you can take all the bars out of the zoos, the cages, take them away for a young little boy will be able to lead a young lion around during that time. Isn't this wonderful? There will be peace in creation. Even in the animal kingdom as the wolf dwells with the lamb, that would never happen right now. The lamb would be breakfast or lunch or dinner. And then in Zechariah 14, 9 through 11, it says, and the Lord will be king over all the earth, the earth. In that day, the Lord will be the only one, in his name, the only one. No Allah or Buddha or Confucius here, no pluralism in the millennium. Thanks be unto God for that. Verse 10, all the land will be changed into a plain from Geba, to Rimum, south of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin's gate as far as the place of the first gate to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king's wine presses. People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse. The curse is reversed, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. That's not happening right now. Jerusalem doesn't dwell in security. enemies all around Jerusalem. Now here we see that the Lord is king of all the earth, and there is no longer a curse, and Jerusalem will dwell in security in the kingdom. So the earth will thrive and produce its fruit and food. Peace will rule. Health will be great for the people that are born in the kingdom. The animal kingdom is at peace, and it will be the sequel to the Garden of Eden. And because of those conditions, there will be a huge population explosion as ideal conditions exist here. But sadly, many rebels born in the kingdom will surface at the end. as the great deceiver Satan is released. And he will pull together all the rebels, revealing the true character of the rebels, and Satan organizes the revolt against God. And we see that in verse 9, as a revolt under Satan's leadership takes place. So look at verse 9, please. We'll see our fifth and last point today, our last verse, the revolt. And they, these rebels, came up on the broad plain of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints in the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the forces of Satan advanced here, beloved, the forces of Satan advanced to the very heart of Christ's kingdom. For they will surround the capital city of the kingdom and of the earth, which is Jerusalem, the beloved city called here. For Satan rebels, rebels will come up on the broad plain of the earth. And remember all of this takes place on earth, not in heaven. It says the earth here in verse nine. Not in heaven, not the new heaven, not the new Jerusalem. But Satan's army marches across the breadth of the earth and surrounds the camp of God's people, the city he loves. And here the saints will be encamped around the beloved city, which is Jerusalem. Now earlier in the book of Revelation, Jerusalem has been called the holy city in Revelation 11-2, the great city in Revelation 11-8 and Revelation 16-19, and now it's called the beloved city, the city that God loves. And Jerusalem will be the city where Christ rules from, thus the capital city of the world. And so if Christ is there, it's the center of the world. And many saints, it says, will be in camp there, dwelling there, living there, visiting there, worshiping there. So strategically, it's the city and place to attack if you want to cause a lot of damage and supposedly knock off Christ. Which is ludicrous, it doesn't make sense to think they can pull that off. And people will say, well this doesn't make any sense at all. I mean, that's an argument for amillennialism. There's not gonna be a literal kingdom on the earth. Listen, sin never makes sense. Sin is never logical. Sin will lead you to do things you thought you could never do before. Because sin is deceitful. It's deceitful. As I've said it on other occasions, sin is not logical. It is emotional and leads to bad judgment, wrong decisions, delusional thinking. They're delusional to think that they can knock off Christ. Rebellion against God is never smart. It's never right. It's never good. It's never logical. But sin's deception and Satan's deception will lead armies to surround Jerusalem. It's crazy. It's nuts. And here will be the world's Waterloo. The city of Waterloo in history was a city where the defeat of Napoleon took place at Waterloo, Belgium, which now that word is used to represent any great disaster or fall. Well, Jerusalem will be Satan's Waterloo, and this will be the war to end all wars. In reality, like Armageddon in Revelation 19, when Jesus returns to the earth in Revelation 19, it's really not a war, but an execution. It's all over in a flash, before a shot is fired. For notice that in the simple, plain language, without elaboration and detail, it's all over. For the end of verse 9 says, fire came down from heaven and did what? Devour them. It's all over. And the Greek word translated devoured literally means to consume. Translated that way in the English Standard Version, ESV. This word has to do with utterly consuming something, to eat something up, to devour, to destroy. So it's all over. Satan's army will be physically killed and their souls will go into Hades awaiting their final sentencing at the great white throne in verses 11 through 15 of Revelation chapter 20, where they will be cast in the eternal hell, the lake of fire. But before that, Satan will be cast in the lake of fire. Here's when he will be bound forever. Verse 10, and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. Beloved, a rebellion will be no more after this. The fire of God comes down from heaven like at Sodom and Gomorrah. And here in Revelation 20, rebellion and sin will finally and totally be put away, preparing the way for a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem where only righteousness will dwell. In wrap-up, at this point in the book of Revelation, God is now about to wrap up human history. And in one sense, the Millennial Kingdom will sum up all that the Almighty has said about the human heart of man in the history of mankind. The false theory that man under a perfect environment will willingly do what's right and not sin is debunked. It's debunkified. Is that a word? If it isn't, it should be. For even in the ideal situation of the millennial kingdom of Christ, innumerable people immediately respond to the first temptation to rebel. Beloved, a perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart and a perfect civilization, as we see also in the Garden of Eden. For sin reaches to the core of mankind's being. It radically corrupts us. It touches the very root of our lives. Sin affects and infects our lives radically. Mankind is totally depraved in the sense that everything about our natures are in rebellion against God. So we desperately need a Savior, don't we? And thus we're directed to the cross of Christ, where Christ died to purchase sinners from their sin and make them alive from being dead in their trespasses and sin. For man's total depravity brings about total inability to respond without God's divine intervention, his intervention through regeneration and new birth, the call of God, the inward call. With that said, if you see the heinousness of your sin today, and that you cannot save yourself, and that Christ is the only Savior, and you're not worthy of God's great gift of salvation, then turn from your sin to Jesus Christ for his complete and full forgiveness. Repent and turn to Christ today, and he will save you from his holy wrath. He will save you from your sins. A promise from his word. But lastly, in application, for those in Christ today, I want to remind you and remind myself, we need to rest in His sovereignty, trust in His sovereignty, delight in His control of Satan and his demons and everything. Be comforted by His sovereignty. Have peace in His rule. For God's good and holy purposes are coming to pass and will be fulfilled. They're not out of control. God is still and always on the throne. I remind you again, a better day is coming. Christ will rule on the earth one day. And after that, the earth will be destroyed by fire. And there will be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Beloved, may your hope be in him today. And rest that he is with you, directing your life. And may you be excited in putting his glory on display by the way you live, even in the midst of trials. Let's pray together, please.