Revelation and Revelation and Human RealityHuman Reality

Session 55Session 55A-level AmphitheaterA-level Amphitheater

LLUMCLLUMCFeb 19, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AMFeb 19, 2011, 10:30-11:30 AM

Before and After Before and After ‘the Millennium’‘the Millennium’

BEFOREBEFORE

Satan boundSatan bound First First

resurrectionresurrection

AFTERAFTER Satan releasedSatan released Second Second

resurrectionresurrection

‘1000 YEARS’

SummarySummary

Second coming Second coming beforebefore the 1000 years the 1000 years Earth desolate Earth desolate duringduring the 1000 yearsthe 1000 years ‘‘New earth’ New earth’ afterafter the 1000 yearsthe 1000 years

The Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium

EternitySecond Coming

of Christ

In Search of the Logic In Search of the Logic for Satan’s Releasefor Satan’s Release

If forceful action can be If forceful action can be taken, why was it not taken, why was it not done earlier?done earlier?

Why Why mustmust Satan be Satan be released?released?

After the Thousand YearsAfter the Thousand Years Rev 20:7-9a When the thousand years are Rev 20:7-9a When the thousand years are

ended, Satan will be released from his ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the prison and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea. They marched up over sands of the sea. They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved the camp of the saints and the beloved city. city.

Satan’s Release and Satan’s Release and the Second Resurrectionthe Second Resurrection

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

After the Thousand YearsAfter the Thousand Years Satan will be released from his prison Satan will be released from his prison Satan will deceive the nationsSatan will deceive the nations Satan will gather the nations for battleSatan will gather the nations for battle Gog and Magog echo the eschatological battle Gog and Magog echo the eschatological battle

in Ezekiel (Ezek 38 + 39)in Ezekiel (Ezek 38 + 39) They are many – as numerous as the sands of They are many – as numerous as the sands of

the sea. the sea. They are confident – marching up over the They are confident – marching up over the

breadth of the earth and surrounding the breadth of the earth and surrounding the camp of the saints and the beloved city. camp of the saints and the beloved city.

End of the Cosmic End of the Cosmic ConflictConflict BEGINNINGBEGINNING

12:712:7 And And warwar broke out in heaven; Michael and broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels his angels had to warhad to war against the dragon. against the dragon.

BEGINNING OF THE ENDBEGINNING OF THE END

12:1712:17 Then the dragon … went off to Then the dragon … went off to make warmake war on the remnant of her seed…on the remnant of her seed…

THE ENDTHE END 20:820:8 Satan will “gather them Satan will “gather them for warfor war””

The Re-ReaderThe Re-Readerand ‘the Beloved City’and ‘the Beloved City’

““And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2).(21:2).

““They marched up over the breadth of the They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city” (20:9).and the beloved city” (20:9).

““And the wine press was trodden outside the And the wine press was trodden outside the city” (14:20).city” (14:20).

OT Background - 1OT Background - 1 Ezek 38:14-16 Therefore, mortal, prophesy, and Ezek 38:14-16 Therefore, mortal, prophesy, and

say to Gog: Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day say to Gog: Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will when my people Israel are living securely, you will rouse yourself and come from your place out of the rouse yourself and come from your place out of the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army; you will come up against my horde, a mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the earth. In the people Israel, like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, so that latter days I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me, when through you, O the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I display my holiness before their eyes. Gog, I display my holiness before their eyes.

OT Background - 2OT Background - 2 Ezekiel 38:18-20 On that day, when Gog comes Ezekiel 38:18-20 On that day, when Gog comes

against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my wrath shall be aroused. For in my jealousy and in wrath shall be aroused. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare: On that day there shall my blazing wrath I declare: On that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; the fish of be a great shaking in the land of Israel; the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the animals of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the the field, and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all human beings that are on the face ground, and all human beings that are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence, and the of the earth, shall quake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground.

OT Background - 3OT Background - 3

NRS NRS Ezekiel 38:21 I will summon the Ezekiel 38:21 I will summon the sword against Gog in all my mountains, sword against Gog in all my mountains, says the Lord GOD; the swords of all says the Lord GOD; the swords of all will be against their comrades. will be against their comrades.

TimeoutTimeout: What is happening in the : What is happening in the ranks of Gog?ranks of Gog?

OT Background - 4OT Background - 4 Ezekiel 38:22-23 With pestilence and Ezekiel 38:22-23 With pestilence and

bloodshed I will enter into judgment with bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will pour down torrential rains him; and I will pour down torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur, upon him and hailstones, fire and sulfur, upon him and his troops and the many peoples that and his troops and the many peoples that are with him. So I will display my greatness are with him. So I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. know that I am the LORD.

Cosmic Conflict OverCosmic Conflict Over

Rev 20:9b And fire came down from Rev 20:9b And fire came down from heaven and consumed them. heaven and consumed them.

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

QuestionQuestion

How does Satan come to an end [and How does Satan come to an end [and why we should ask the question]?why we should ask the question]?

Is Satan destroyed by fire from without?Is Satan destroyed by fire from without?

Destruction in the Destruction in the Trumpet SequenceTrumpet Sequence

AGENTAGENT:: “star that had fallen from heaven “star that had fallen from heaven to earth” (9:1), to earth” (9:1),

““the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon” (9:11)called Apollyon” (9:11)

ACTIONACTION: “: “fire and smoke and sulfur” fire and smoke and sulfur” (9:17-18), (9:17-18),

Destruction in the Destruction in the Bowl SequenceBowl Sequence

““And the ten horns that you saw, And the ten horns that you saw, they and they and the beastthe beast will hate the whore; will hate the whore; theythey will will make her desolate and naked; make her desolate and naked; theythey will will devour her flesh and burn her up with fire” devour her flesh and burn her up with fire” (17:16).(17:16).

Destruction in Destruction in the OT Antecedentthe OT Antecedent

““I will summon the sword against Gog in all I will summon the sword against Gog in all my mountains, says the Lord God; the my mountains, says the Lord God; the swords of all will be against their comrades” swords of all will be against their comrades” (Ezek 38:21).(Ezek 38:21). Sverre Sverre Bøe, Bøe, Gog and Magog: Ezekiel 38-39 Gog and Magog: Ezekiel 38-39 as pre-as pre-text for Revelation 19,17-21 and 20,7-text for Revelation 19,17-21 and 20,7- 1010 (WUNT 2.135; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, (WUNT 2.135; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001), 115.2001), 115.

Destruction Coming Destruction Coming to the Covering Cherto the Covering Cherubub ““I made fire come out I made fire come out from within youfrom within you, , itit

consumed you” (Ezek 28:18). consumed you” (Ezek 28:18). S. Fisch: “the evil in the midst of Tyre will be S. Fisch: “the evil in the midst of Tyre will be

the flame which reduces her to a heap of the flame which reduces her to a heap of burnt ruins”burnt ruins” (Ezekiel, 193).

Moshe Greenberg: “fire from your midst” Moshe Greenberg: “fire from your midst” signifies “evil causing its own destruction.”signifies “evil causing its own destruction.”

((Ezekiel 21-37Ezekiel 21-37, 587). , 587).

Destruction in Destruction in 1 Enoch1 Enoch In those days, the father will be beaten together with In those days, the father will be beaten together with

his sons, in one place; and brothers shall fall together his sons, in one place; and brothers shall fall together with their friends, in death, until a stream shall flow with their friends, in death, until a stream shall flow with their blood. For a man shall not be able to with their blood. For a man shall not be able to withhold his hands from his sons nor from (his) sons’ withhold his hands from his sons nor from (his) sons’ sons in order to kill them. Nor is it possible for the sons in order to kill them. Nor is it possible for the sinner to withhold his hands from his honoured sinner to withhold his hands from his honoured brother. From dawn until the sun sets, they shall slay brother. From dawn until the sun sets, they shall slay each other. The horse shall walk through the blood each other. The horse shall walk through the blood of sinners up to his chest; and the chariot shall sink of sinners up to his chest; and the chariot shall sink down up to its top (down up to its top (1 Enoch1 Enoch 100:3). 100:3).

Destruction Destruction Outside the CityOutside the City

““If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; the temple of my God; you will never go out you will never go out of itof it. I will write on you the name of my . I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven” (3:12).my God out of heaven” (3:12).

Destruction Destruction according to Origen according to Origen

““Scripture indicates that every sinner Scripture indicates that every sinner kindles for himself the flame of his own fire, kindles for himself the flame of his own fire, and is not plunged into a fire which has and is not plunged into a fire which has been previously kindled by someone else been previously kindled by someone else or which existed before him.” or which existed before him.”

Origen, Origen, First PrinciplesFirst Principles 2.20.4 (trans. G. W. 2.20.4 (trans. G. W. Butterworth; Butterworth; London: SPCK, 1936). London: SPCK, 1936).

After the Thousand YearsAfter the Thousand Years

Rev 20:9 They marched up over the Rev 20:9 They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. camp of the saints and the beloved city.

Up They March - 1Up They March - 1 Up they march, guided to their chosen Up they march, guided to their chosen

destination by the newly liberated leader.destination by the newly liberated leader. Up they march, striding majestically “over Up they march, striding majestically “over

the breadth of the earth” until the forces the breadth of the earth” until the forces surround “the camp of the saints and the surround “the camp of the saints and the beloved city” (20:9). beloved city” (20:9).

Up they march, “as numerous as the sands Up they march, “as numerous as the sands of the sea.”of the sea.”

Up They March - 2Up They March - 2

Up they march, the body language of the Up they march, the body language of the marchers exuding confidence that the city marchers exuding confidence that the city and its inhabitants have no way of escape and its inhabitants have no way of escape (20:8, 9). (20:8, 9).

Up they march, heading brazenly in the Up they march, heading brazenly in the direction of the unnamable direction of the unnamable ḥašmal ḥašmal of of Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek 1:4), the fiery center Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek 1:4), the fiery center of the divine presence.of the divine presence.

Up They March - 3Up They March - 3

Up they march, heading witlessly toward Up they march, heading witlessly toward “the holy mountain of God” and “the stones “the holy mountain of God” and “the stones of fire.” of fire.”

Up they march, toward an emanation of Up they march, toward an emanation of glory so intense that God in the beginning glory so intense that God in the beginning appointed an “anointed cherub who covers” appointed an “anointed cherub who covers” in order to cushion the dazzling impact of in order to cushion the dazzling impact of the unveiled glory (Ezek 28:14, NASB). the unveiled glory (Ezek 28:14, NASB).

Up They March - 4Up They March - 4

Up they march, advancing under the spell Up they march, advancing under the spell of the fallen cherub toward the One whose of the fallen cherub toward the One whose unveiled face no mortal can see and live unveiled face no mortal can see and live (Ex 33:20; Rev cf. 22:4). (Ex 33:20; Rev cf. 22:4).

At that point, says the Bible, ……..(20:9). At that point, says the Bible, ……..(20:9).

In Search for the Logic In Search for the Logic for Satan’s Releasefor Satan’s Release

When the voice of “the ancient serpent” is heard When the voice of “the ancient serpent” is heard in Genesis, it charges deprivation of freedom as in Genesis, it charges deprivation of freedom as the fundamental characteristic of the divine the fundamental characteristic of the divine government (Gen 3:1).government (Gen 3:1).

It is the logic of freedom that leads to Satan’s It is the logic of freedom that leads to Satan’s release, and it is within the logic of freedom, release, and it is within the logic of freedom, precisely the value said to be lacking in the divine precisely the value said to be lacking in the divine character, that Satan proceeds to work his own character, that Satan proceeds to work his own undoing (20:7-9). undoing (20:7-9). Tonstad, Tonstad, Saving God’s ReputationSaving God’s Reputation, , 155.155.

Further ReadingFurther Reading

J. Webb Mealy, J. Webb Mealy, After the Thousand YearsAfter the Thousand Years. . Resurrection and Judgment in Revelation Resurrection and Judgment in Revelation 2020 (JSNT Sup 70; Sheffield: JSOT Press, (JSNT Sup 70; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1992). 1992).