In Chapter 19 we saw the false prophet and the Antichrist get their due, and in this chapter, at long last, we will see the devil get his final justice!
First we see an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hands the key to the abyss, the place where demons are held while awaiting their final judgment.
He grabs the devil, throws him into the abyss and seals him in for a period of 1,000 years. Therefore, he is unable to cause havoc on earth during the millennial reign of Christ. However, John warns us that this is not the final chapter for Satan. He will be given once more chance to deceive humans before he is put away for good.
John then sees tribulation saints who had been martyred for not taking the mark of the beast. They were resurrected and given their glorified bodies and they along with the redeemed from both Old and New Testament eras will reign with Christ in His kingdom for 1000 years.
John calls this “the first resurrection” and notes that those dead who were unconverted were not part of this resurrection.
After the thousand years is up, Satan will be released from his prison to once again deceive the nations. Even though his first attempt at world wide war against Christ, namely the Battle of Armegeddon failed, he will try one last-ditch effort to take down the King of Kings.
Even after 1,000 years of having Christ reign on earth, Satan was still able to assemble an extensive army. They surrounded the saints, now centered in Jerusalem, and sought to destroy them.
Yet, just as their predecessors, this army was doomed to failure. As they stood there surrounding the saints fire came down from heaven and consumed them. Then Satan himself was finally given his just punishment. He was thrown into the lake of fire with his buddies, the false prophet and the AntiChrist, where they will suffer forever.
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The scene then changes to the throne room of God, in this instance, the court room. It is time for what is commonly known as the Great White Throne Judgment.
Jesus, holy and wise, sits on a great white throne. His presence is so overwhelming, neither heaven or earth can remain in it, but flee from it.
Then, John sees the dead, small and great, for there is no amount of money or fame or power that will get a sinner out of meeting his final judgment.
The books which hold every thought, word and deed of each sinner were opened along with the Book of Life, the book which includes the name of each sinner who has been saved by grace.
By these books, each unconverted sinner will be judged. No one is exempt. Those not found in the Book of Life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire to suffer forever along with the devil and his demons, the false prophet and the antichrist.
This is what the Bible calls the second death and it is eternal.
Final Thoughts
When I was a teenager, my home church held a special Sunday in which we enacted the Great White Throne Judgment. We planned and worked for weeks, hanging cotton stuffed clouds from the ceiling, covering platform chairs in white and gold linen, in order to turn our humble little sanctuary into the majestic throne room of heaven.
An usher in the church, clothed all in white, sat on the “throne” as Jesus. A friend and I, sat at either side of him, donned in our best angel attire. The huge Bible which normally adorned the communion table served as the Book of Life.
At the proper time, another friend playing the role of unconverted sinner, was brought to the front by two “guardian angels.”
It really was an impressive scene and one I will never forget. The moment I remember most was when our “Jesus” passed judgment on my friend, “the sinner”and his large booming voice announced, “I never knew you!”
As he pointed toward the exit, “the sinner” began to scream and frantically attempt to get away from his guards, but they just calmly, yet forcefully drug him to his final destination.
It was powerful, but the most important thing that happened that day took place after the drama had finished. So many people made decisions for the Lord that day, including my best friend who got assurance of her salvation and another good friend’s father who had his name written in the real Book of life.
However, after the real White Throne Judgment occurs, there will be no conversions, no decisions to turn back from sin and go the right way. That day, the sentence will be final for the still unconverted – eternity in hell.
Oh friend, if you have not made the decision to trust God with your life, do it before it’s too late.
For those of us who have, may we gain renewed courage and vigor to tell others about Christ this year. It truly is a decision that lasts forever.