B GOD REIGNS OVER ALL.

1. THE MILLENNIUM. Rev.20v4-10.

It is very significant that God spends sixteen chapters, from Rev.4v1 to 20v3., prophetically reviewing in detail the last few years of this age, and then passes over a thousand years in six verses. Rev.20v4-10. The reasons for this are as follows.

1. God gives guidance for dark places, because we are going to be in them. 2Pet.1v19.
God steadfastly demands that we take note of the prophetic facts that He has revealed in great detail in Rev.4 to 19., for they are essential for our spiritual survival in the last dark years of this age. These facts prove beyond doubt that Christian believers are going to be on this earth during these dark days. God will personally tells us His plans for the Millennium when it starts.

2. The Old Testament speaks a lot about the Millennium, even though the actual period of 1,000 years is not mentioned. Is.11v1-9. 25v6-8. 65v20-23. Hos.2v18. Zech.9v10. 14v9. Dan.7v13,14. etc. We are told in Rev.20v4-7., that Christ's Millennial kingdom will last for 1,000 years, and who dare change and challenge this clear statement from God’s Word. Jesus said, during His earthly ministry, that He will set up His Millennial kingdom immediately after Antichrist’s evil career. Mt.13v36-43. 24v27-31.

THE REIGNING SAINTS. Rev.20v4-6.

1. The saints reign, rule and judge with their Lord.

The murdered saints had been beheaded, the perfect passive participle of “pelekizo”, “to cut off with an axe, from “pelekus” an axe, which was the instrument for execution in republican Rome, until it was replaced by the sword), it only occurs here in the New Testament. These martyrs for the witness of Jesus are previously mentioned in Rev.6v9-11. 11v7,8. 12v11,17. 13v7,15. 14v13. 15v2. 16v5. 18v24. and 19v2,10.. Most of Christ's apostles died a martyrs death, and He promised them that they would sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Lk.22v28-30. However, one, Judas, lost not only this promise, but his soul as well, all the promises of God have a definite conditional “if” attached to them. God desires to save all mankind, but He cannot save those who will not fulfil His conditions. 2Pet.3v9. Mt.23v37-39. God wanted all the Israelites who left Egypt to enter Canaan, but of those over twenty years of age, only Caleb and Joshua received the promise. Ex.15v13-17. God wants all Christians to rule with Christ, but we can fall short of the grace of God and fail to receive this promise.1Cor.15v2. 2Cor.6v1. Gal.5v18. 2Tim.2v12. Heb.3v6,14,15. 6v9-12. 10v32-36. 12v7,15.

In 1Cor.6v2,3., Paul writes that the saints will judge the world and angels, however, Rev.2v26,27. and 3v21., inform us that it is the overcoming Christian who will have the privilege of reigning with Christ. In Rev.20v4. we see the saints who suffered at the hands of Antichrist are included in the reigning saints, they suffered for Christ and so they reign with Him. 2Tim.2v12. 3v12. Rom.8v17. 1Pet3v14. The grim past seems so trivial and light compared with the glory that it is now revealed in them. 2Cor.4v17. Rom.8v18. 1Pet.4v13. 5v1. Here the false standards and riches of earth are gone for ever, and they that loved them with them. Here we see the true riches that will never end, and see how abundantly faith and faithfulness are rewarded by our heavenly Father. These saints are said to be “blessed and holy,” “makarios kai hagios,” here “hagios” is added to the usual “makarios”. This is the fifth of seven beatitudes in Revelation, Rev.1v3. 14v13. 16v15. 19v9. 20v6. 22v7,14.

2. Are all saints raised from the dead at the first resurrection?

Some say that Rev.20v6., teaches that only the most holy Christians are going to be raised from the dead at the first resurrection, and that other Christians who have not reached the same standard of holiness will have to wait another 1,000 years for their resurrection. This doctrine is shown to be incorrect by the following facts.

a. All believers, including the Corinthians, are called saints ("holy ones"), because of their faith in, and love for, Jesus. 1Cor.1v2. 2Cor.1v1. Eph.1v1. Phil.1v1. Col.1v2. Old Testament believers are also called saints. The word for holy in Rev.20v6., is “hagios,” which signifies being separated from common usage, and being devoted, dedicated and consecrated to God. The fact that a person believes in Jesus separates them from the world to God, and this will, or should, result in a life of increasing devotion to God, and purity of life. All believers are holy in the sense that they love, and are devoted to Jesus.

b. The Scriptures state that all believers will be resurrected on the last day, at the last trumpet. Jn.6v39,40,44,54. 11v24. 12v28. 1Cor.15v51-53. Paul says that we all must appear at the judgement seat of Christ, so we should labour to make our lives acceptable to Christ, so that we might receive a reward. 2Cor.5v1-12. In 1Cor.3v10-15., Paul states that it is possible for us to have no real works of any value to offer Christ, and as a result to be saved by the narrowest means, as though we were snatched from the flames. The faith that we have is very precious to God, but we need to add other Christian virtues to our faith, if we are to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God. 2Pet.2v4-12. 1Pet.1v3-9. 1Jn.2v28. 2Jn.v8.

c. What is the standing of the people in Mt.22v11-14. 25v24-30. 7v15-23. 24v48-51. and Lk.12v45-48.? The words “I never knew you,” and “cut him in sunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers,” demand thoughtful consideration. Without doubt, Mt.7v15-23., is a warning against false prophets, but the other Scriptures could speak of apostate Christians. See Ezek.18v24.. In Lk.12v36,37,45-48., there are four kinds of people, the watchful Christian, v36,37.; the apostate Christian, v45,46.; the wilfully disobedient Christian, v47.; and lastly the Christian who does not do God's will, but who has limited light, v48. God takes into account the light that a person has received. God makes a definite distinction between Christians who are ignorant, disobedient, or backslidden, and apostate Christians who have denied the faith. Jude.v4.

3. Jesus reigns as King and Messiah from Jerusalem in the Millennium.

Jesus reigns from Jerusalem, and it becomes the centre of the world, and the blessing God wanted it to be. The faithful Old Testament saints enter into their inheritance at the first resurrection, at the start of the Millennium. Ezek.37v11-14. Some of these saints looked for a heavenly city, but in the main, we can say that the Israelites receive an earthly inheritance, and the Church receives a heavenly inheritance. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the Millennium with great joy and they dwell at great length on the glory of that kingdom. Our present age of grace differs greatly from the Millennial age. In this age God usually postpones judgement on sin until the day of judgement, whereas during the Millennium people who attempt to sin and injure others, will be immediately executed. Christ and His brethren will rule with both great love and a rod of iron, and their fair and stern justice will nip evil in the bud. Ps.2v6-9. Zech.14v16-19. 13v3. Rev.2v26,27. This is kind of rule is absolutely necessary, for many people are allowed into the Millennium, who have not had a Christian experience. They are the sheep of Mt.25v31-45., the members of the Gentile nations who helped Christians in the dark days of the great tribulation, when it was extremely dangerous to do so. Their aid and attitude to “the least of these my brethren,” that is, to Christians, is taken as their attitude to Christ, so they are allowed into the Millennial kingdom on probation. Mt.25v40. So many, who have not had a deep change of heart, are allowed into the Millennial kingdom. Some of these people, or some of their children, hate the enforced morality of the Millennium, even though it produces a wonderfully blessed, prosperous and happy earth. These unrighteous people suppress their anger at being made to live righteous lives, because of fear of the consequences, because anyone who practises evil is immediately killed, and so many fear to sin, even though they are wicked at heart. Is.65v20. Zech.13v2,3.

During the Millennium, therefore, many people act and look much better than they really are. The sons of God have revealed to them all crimes, even while they are being conceived in the minds of the potential criminals, and so with such a perfect police force no one can escape from being caught in the act of crime. Righteousness is also enforced at a home level, no ill treatment of wives and children will be tolerated. God actively and vigorously defends the innocent against the bully and merciless. God’s intervention against wickedness will be an established fact, and so the wicked will be afraid to sin, and will feel compelled to live holy lives for centuries, for they know that if they try to injure anyone they will be executed. Is.65v20. Ps.146v6-10. Longevity of life is restored, and people who are 100 years old are looked upon as children. Every mouth will be stopped on judgement day. Rom.3v19. God proves that even He cannot force or inspire the wicked to be righteous, even though He gives them everything that their heart desires, and they live in a perfect environment, and there are no powers of darkness to corrupt them.

4. God uses Satan to expose the hearts of the nations, Satan's final destruction.

At the end of the Millennium God allows Satan to come “out of his prison,” the abyss of Rev.20v2,3., in order to expose the evil in people's hearts, and to separate the righteous from the wicked. Satan goes to those who have resented being forced to live outwardly righteous lives, and deceives them into thinking that it is safe to express their wickedness and hatred of God. Centuries of suppressed resentment and anger burst out, and they gather together and encircle “the beloved city” of God, to destroy it and kill its godly inhabitants; then fire comes down out of heaven and devours these evil people, and they and Satan go into eternal confinement. This is the final battle with Satan and evil. God allows the Devil his freedom in order to winnow the wheat from the chaff, after this rebellion he is put into the lake of fire after, as no further use can be made of his wickedness.

Satan does not repent of his evil, or cry for mercy after being imprisoned in the Abyss for 1,000 years; for immediately after his release, he leads a rebellion against God. Imprisonment in the Abyss, and the prospect of being in Hell for ever, only make the wicked more determined to sin, and fills them with an eternal hatred of God and righteousness. Like all unreconcilables, they refuse to accept the mercy of God by repentance and faith. In Rom.2v9., “Tribulation and anguish,” is “thlipsis kai stenochoria,” the noun “thlipsis,” pressure, is from the verb “thlibo,” to crush, press, as a person in a crowd. The noun “stenochoria,” is from “stenos,” narrow, and “chora,” space, so Rom.2v9. means, “pressure and confined space.” These words describe the limitation of action that confinement in Hell brings on the wicked, they will no longer be free to corrupt or injure anyone.

God’s wisdom is unsearchable, He is going to stop every criticism of Him, by proving by history, that however men and angels are ruled, happiness is impossible unless everybody lives in harmony and love together. Rom.3v19. God will prove by a complete record of the histories of men and angels, that love must be the motivating principle of community life, or happiness becomes impossible. God will prove that He has done His utmost to save all, and that any failure arises out of the unrepentant wickedness of those who are lost. In the Millennium God tries to force men to live righteous lives by His rule with a rod of iron, but it is all to no avail, even His loving and righteous rule fails to win a “number as the sand of the sea.”

All the ages, from the creation of the angels to the great white throne, have been what we might call probationary and preparatory ages, for the ages of ages. These ages have been the testing ground for angels and men. God has to make sure that there will be no failures in the eternal kingdom, so, “Nothing that defiles will enter,” into that kingdom, only those who love God and righteousness, and hate evil will be allowed in. Rev.21v27. Even as the wicked have made their final and irrevocable choice for sin, those who enter the eternal kingdom of God will have made their final and irrevocable choice for God and righteousness. Communication in the eternal kingdom of God will be on the level of interchange of thought, and so it would be impossible to live happily with people who were all the time thinking how they could kill you. It is impossible for the righteous and wicked to continue to live together permanently, rebellion breaks out in the end, just as it did in Heaven when Satan and his angels rejected and opposed God’s way of love. You can only live happily with people who you can unreservedly trust.

5. Gog and Magog.

The use of the words Gog and Magog in Rev.20v8., show that there is some connection with Ezek.38 and 39.. Certainly some of that prophecy cannot refer to the great tribulation, but it appears in some places to have a double fulfilment. Ezek.38v8,11,14. 39v9-15. It is possible that the nations that were involved in the destruction of Jerusalem at the end of the great tribulation, and led in the persecution of the people of God, will lead in the rebellion against the beloved Millennial city of Jerusalem. Gog and Magog are mentioned in Gen.10v2. 1Chron.1v5. 5v4. Ezek.38 and 39. It is very doubtful if there is any connection between Rosh and Russia, Meshech and Moscow, Tubal and Tobolsk, and Gomer and Germany. The connection seems to be based on similarity of sound. G.H. Lang makes an interesting examination of this in his “Histories and Prophecies of Daniel,” page 201 to 218. We will just quote two sentences. “In Ezekiel's day the tribes named were in and around Armenia and Asia Minor, and there seems no evidence that they became the ancestors of the Russians or Germans. The “uttermost parts of the north,” known to the dwellers in the Middle East, were Armenia and the Caucasus.”

C. THE SECOND RESURRECTION AND THE LAST JUDGEMENT. Rev.20v11-15.

This resurrection is said to be, “the resurrection of damnation,” the word for “damnation” is “krisis,” which means a separating, selection, decision or judgement, and it is used to speak of accusation, condemnation, damnation and judgement. Jn.5v29. There are two things decided at this resurrection and judgement. Can a person be allowed into God's kingdom? And if their name is written in the book of life, and they are saved, what place can they have in God's kingdom? This has been called “The Great Assize,” and all the courts of men pale into insignificance in comparison with the majesty of this court. We read that Jesus is now “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb.1v3. 8v1. The Father and Son also rule together as one in the eternal kingdom, it is the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev.22v1,3-5. 3v21. 5v6. 7v17. Jn.5v22. The judgement thrones of Pharaohs, Caesars, Kings and Emperors, are nothing compared with the throne of God, indeed, they will be there to be judged by the Almighty, and with a justice and righteousness infinitely superior to their own.

The people come up for judgement before “A Great White Throne,” here “megan,” great, is added to the throne mentioned in Rev.4v4. and 20v4., probably to emphasise the absolute purity and justice of this supreme court of Heaven and its judge. This judgement is mentioned in a striking manner in Dan.7v9-14.. See Ps.97v1-6. Rom.14v10-12. 2Co 5v10. The awesome majesty of God is such that we read that the earth and the heaven flee away from His face. Nothing could be more awe-inspiring than the scenes of this great day of judgement, God’s justice makes demons tremble in fear. James.2v19.

THE BOOK OF WORKS. Rev.20v12,13. See Job.13v26. 19v23. Ps.56v8. Is.65v6. Dan.7v10. Mal.3v16.

There is a complete record of everyone's life in these books of works. In the Scriptures God has recorded the sins of His saints, even after they have repented of them, but the glorious thing is they are no longer held against them, because of the blood of Christ. God has got to have an open judgement, so that justice may be seen to be done by all. On this great day the facts will be disclosed to show just what a person is like, for what you do shows what you are like, what you love shows where your treasure is. We are saved by grace, but judged according to our works. Rev.22v12. Every sin, every secret thought, every word and action, good or bad are recorded, and judged accordingly. Mt.12v36,37. Rom.2v16. Lk.12v2. Jn.12v48. God will disclose all His dealings with His creation, the vast picture of His wonderful grace and His untold millions of strivings and pleadings with the souls of men and angels. Perfect justice will be done, and seen to be done. Let us prepare for this great day.

God has kept a complete record of the lives of every human being in the books of works. Men are going to be judged and sentenced upon written and video evidence. We are saved by grace, but the final test is the fruit of the tree. Mt.7v16-20. 10v41,42. Jn.15v1-6. “God is no respecter of persons,” all men, both saved and unsaved, will be judged according to their works and deeds. Acts.10v34,35. Mt.16v27. Rom.2v1-12. 14v10-12. 1Cor.3v10-16. 2Cor 5v8-11. 1Pet.1v17. Rev 2v23. 22v12. Those who fail the test of lives lived in love are cast into the lake of fire with the Antichrist, the False prophet, and Satan and his angels. 1Jn.3v14,15. 4v7,8. Rev.19v10. 20v10. Death, “the last enemy,” and Hades are cast into the lake of fire, they have no more terrors for the inhabitants of God's kingdom, death has been destroyed by God. Rev.21v4. 1Cor.15v26,54-58. Hos.13v14. The second death is identified with the lake of fire. Rev.21v8. 2v11. 20v6.

THE BOOK OF LIFE. Rev.20v12,15.

The book of life, “te biblo tes zoes,” has already been mentioned in Rev.3v5. 13v8. 17v8., and Jesus refers to it in Lk.10v20., when He told the 70 evangelists to rejoice because their names were “written in Heaven,” and Paul in Heb.12v23., speaks of “the church of the first born enrolled in Heaven.” Some say that the book of life contains the names of those who live upon the new earth, whereas the Lamb's book of life contains the names of those who will live in Heaven, however, there does not seem to be any Scriptural evidence for this. It is true that some will have an earthly inheritance while others will have a heavenly inheritance. It is also true that a name can be blotted out of the book of life through sin and apostasy, we need to remember the words of John Bunyan, “there is a way to hell, even from the gates of the eternal city.” Lk.10v20. Ezek.18v24. Rev.3v5. 2Pet.2v1,19-21. The following references will be found a help in considering the book of life. Exod.32v32,33. Ps.69v28. 87v6. 139v16. Jer.17v13. Dan.12v1. Lk.10v20. Phil.4v3. Rev.3v5. 13v8. 17v8. 20v12,15. 21v27. 22v19.

HADES AND HELL.

We have seen before, in the notes on Rev.1v18. and 14v9-13., the difference between Hades and the eternal Hell, however, we will briefly consider them again. The Greek “Hades,” or the Hebrew “Sheol,” is the place where both Old Testament sinners and saints went to on their death, and indeed, the sinner still goes there. This is not a enjoyable place, so the Old Testament saints spent all their lives in fear of death. 1Sam.2v9. Ps.31v17. Eccles.12v7. Job.10v21,22. 19v25-27. Lk.16v22,23. Heb.2v15. When Jesus came, the whole position was changed, He brought life and immortality to life through the Gospel, and said that believers in Him would never die, and the gates of Hades would not prevail against the Church. 2Tim.1v10. Jn.11v21-26. Mt.16v18.

Christians lose their body at death, but unlike the Old Testament saints, they keep their spirit. Eccl.12v7. Jn.11v25,26. At death we go into bliss of Heaven, we lose our body, but our souls and spirits, “are present with the Lord,” our bodies being later raised at the resurrection. Jn.6v39,40,44,50-54. Lk.23v43. Acts.7v55-60. Phil.1v21-23. 3v20,21. Heb.12v22-24. Rev.6v9-11. 14v13. 16v7. In Eph.4v8., Paul rejoices in one of Christ’s greatest victories, the release of the Old Testament saints from Hades after His death and resurrection. See Mt.27v50-54. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades, so He released from captivity those who He had died to save. Rev.1v18. In Eph.4v8., “He led a multitude of captives,” Paul is speaking of the triumphal procession of Jesus and his Old Testament saints from Hades to Heaven.

Every sinner that dies goes to Hades, the temporary abode of the dead, to await resurrection and judgement at the Great White Throne. Those who teach that the wicked now go to the lake of fire at death, are quite wrong, no one has as yet gone to Gehenna, the final abode of the wicked. Antichrist and his followers will be the first people who will be cast into the lake of fire, at the return of Jesus. Mt.25v31,41. Rev.14v10,11. 19v20. Those in Gehenna have determined to sin eternally, so their confinement has eternal consequences.

In the first Christian literature outside of the New Testament, from the death of John onwards, we find a prominent place given to the Lord's visit to Hades. Irenaeus of Lyons in France, a disciple of Polycarp the disciple of John, Clement of Alexander, Origen, Tertullian, and Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, and others, believed that Christ preached the Gospel to the prisoners in Hades, and those who received His words had remission of sins. Even Augustine accepted and believed this in the earlier part of his ministry. The infidel Celsus was speaking with Origen and ridiculed this widespread belief of the Church, he said, “I suppose Christ, when He failed to persuade the living, went down to Hades to persuade those who live there?” Origen answered him, “Whether it please Celsus or no, we of the Church assert that the soul of our Lord, stripped of its body, did there hold converse with other souls, that were in like manner stripped, that He might there convert those who were capable of instruction, or were otherwise in ways known to Him fit for it.” Origen c. Celsum, 2.43.

THE SECOND DEATH. Rev.20v14. 2v11.

The Scriptures call the casting into the lake of fire, “the second death,” because the wicked who are raised from the dead at the second resurrection, will die and lose their body for the second time, when they are put in the lake of fire. The first death of a person is the result of Adam's sin, which deprived mankind of the tree of life, the second death is the result of a person’s own unrepentant sin. The bodies of the wicked are not gradually roasted and tortured by the flame, they are killed in a twinkling of an eye. This fire must be quite different from an earthly kind of fire, for it was prepared for the Devil and his angels, and it will destroy spiritual bodies as well as human bodies. Mt.25v41. It must be remembered that since people have lost their bodies in Hell, they will not have the physical desire for food and drink, and the other requirements of the body, though they will still desire these experiences and their other evil desires.

The second death does not imply annihilation of the soul.

The second death does not imply extinction of being any more than the first death does. Death is the separation of the soul from the body and spirit. The Greek words “apollumi” and “apoleia,” which are translated as destroy, destruction, perdition, perish, waste, and lose, do not necessarily mean that the substance of the thing, or the person, is disintegrated into nothingness, but that they are of no more value for their original design or purpose. It can speak of ruin as well as destruction; and loss, not of being, but of well-being. This is made clear by its use, it is used to speak of broken wineskins, Mt.9v17. Lk.5v37.; the waste of ointment, Mt.26v8. Mk.14v4.; of money, Acts.8v20.; of lost sheep, Lk.15v4,6.; the lost son, Lk.15v24.; perishing food, Jn.6v27.; even of gold, 1Pet.1v7.; and of persons, showing their spiritual ruin and destruction. Mt.7v13. 10v28. Lk.13v3,5. Jn.3v16. 10v28. 17v12. Rom.2v12. 1Cor.15v18. 2Cor.2v15. 4v3. 2Thes.2v3,10. James.4v12.

Putting people in the lake of fire certainly does not immediately annihilate a soul or spirit, for the False Prophet and the Beast are still in the lake of fire 1,000 years after they are first put in. Rev.19v3,20. 20v10. 14v10. The words in Rev.20v10., “they shall be tested (“basanizo”) day and night for ever and ever,” imply not only existence, but consciousness as well.

Jesus uses “Gehenna” to describe the lake of fire, it is derived from a place in the valley of Hinnom, where rubbish, and the dead bodies of animals and criminals were burned. Christ looks upon Hell as the place where polluted souls and spirits are confined, and their bodies are taken away from them, in order to preserve the happiness of all the redeemed creation. “Gehenna” occurs in Mt.5v22,29,30. 10v28. 18v9. 23v15,33. Lk.12v5. Mk.9v43,45,47. and James.3v6.. See Dan.7v11. God’s judgement on the unrepentant wicked is not strange, unreasonable, or mysterious, it is common sense, and common law.

N. B. The words “for ever and ever,” are a translation of a Greek phrase that is also used to speak of the life of Christ and the throne of God. Ps.45v6. with Heb.1v8. So Hell, it seems, endures as long as the throne of God. Traditionalists state that God will sustain the soul of the wicked for ever in Hell, the Conditional Immortality viewpoint states that God will after a period of time allow those in Hell to cease to exist. Both viewpoints have been believed by good and godly Christians.

There could not be a greater contrast between the characters and end of the two groups in Rev.21v3-8., the characters and end of the righteous, and the characters and end of the wicked. We read of eight evil qualities of character that send people to Hell.

1. "The fearful." The adjective “deilos,” the cowardly, it only occurs in the New Testament here in Rev.21v8., Mt.8v26., and Mk.4v40. Fear destroys faith, and lack of courage in following the truth destroys character, and result in people going to Hell.

2. "Unbelieving." “Apistois,” means without faith, untrustworthy. This is in sharp contrast with the supreme victorious faith of Jesus, “the Pioneer, “ton archegon,” and Perfecter, “teleioten,” of faith,” Heb.12v2. Unbelief is often produced by cowardice.

3. "Abominable." Is “ebdelugmenois,” the perfect passive participle of “bdelusso”, only here and Rom.2v22., in the New Testament. The perfect shows a permanent state of loathsome and foul evil. Rev.21v27. Titus.1v16.

4. "Murderers." “Phoneusin.” Mk.7v21. Rom.1v29. Rev.9v21.

5. "Fornicators." “Pornois,” which refers to all kinds of immorality, sexual impurity and perversion, a common evil. Worldlings treat the God's warnings against immorality with derision, but it ruins the personality, and sends it to Hell. .1Cor.6v9-11.

6. "Sorcerers." “Pharmakois,” in the New Testament. only here and Rev.22v15., it speaks of idolatry and magic, and the use of drugs in occult practices. Rev.9v21.

7. "Idolaters." “Eidololatrais.” Idolatry has always had a powerful grip on men's lives. This is because idolatry and other occult practices, have always included gross sensuality and immorality. 1Cor.5v9-11. 10v7. Eph.5v5. Rev.22v15.

8. "All liars." “Pasi tois pseudesin,” this is repeated in Rev.22v15. See Rev.2v2. 3v9. 14v5. 21v8,27. 22v15.

The cowardly and unbelieving head the list of the lost, these are those who don't want faith because of its consequences. Christians do not have this spirit of fear given to them, 2Tim.1v7., some naturally timid Christians have shown great courage under vicious persecution. Please note, sorcery is included among the soul-damning sins of murder, sexual impurity, idolatry, lying and unbelief. Nothing that defiles will enter and spoil the happiness of Heaven, those who work abomination and make lies will be in Hell, there will be no accursed thing to spoil the happiness of Heaven. Rev.21v8,26,27. 22v3. The Greek for “curse” in Rev.22v3. is “katathema,” which means, “accursed thing.”

D. THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE AGES OF AGES. Rev.21v1 - 22v21.

1. The superiority, beauty and freshness of the new creation over the old creation.

a. The creation is new and better, and filled with love. "All things new." Rev.21v5.

The word “kainen,” “new,” which is used in, “a new Heaven and new earth,” “the holy city, new Jerusalem,” and “all things new,” is used in the same sense that it is used to describe the “new covenant,” “diathekon kainen,” in Heb.8v6,13. 9v15. and 12v24.. “Kainen,” speaks of something which is not only new, but also something which is fresh, and better. The first Heaven and the first earth are said to have “passed away,” “apelthan,” the aorist active indicative of “apechomai,” to go away, to pass away, to depart; the remaking of the new Heaven and earth could be either by renovation, or recreation, or by both.

The new Jerusalem becomes in truth the Holy City, a name which the old Jerusalem, which was destroyed in A.D. 70, often did not deserve. Mt.4v5. 27v53. Gal.4v25,26. The eternal beauty of compassionate love, which is the nature of true holiness, is manifested in full in this holy city of God. The atmosphere of this city is pure and perfect love and fellowship. Anyone that would defile and pollute God’s Holy City, and beautiful kingdom, will be excluded from it. Rev.21v22-27. This heavenly Jerusalem is our real home. Heb.2v22-24. It is the abode of the bride of Christ.. Rev.3v12. 21v10. We read in Rev.19v7., that the bride had prepared and made herself ready, and in Rev.21v2., that the city, where the bride will live, had been prepared, “as a bride for her husband.” This is the fulfilment of our Lord's words in Jn.14v2., “I go to prepare a place for you.” However, this does not just speak of the place where we will live, it speaks even more of how the hearts of the heavenly citizens are being prepared for us.

In Rev.21v5., God the Father addresses, not just John, but the entire kingdoms of the blessed in earth and Heaven, “Behold, I make all things new,” “Idou kaina poio panta.” In Is.65v17., we read that there is a recreation of the earth and Heaven at Christ's second coming; here 1000 years later, God again recreates the earth and Heaven. Is.66v22. Ps.102v25-27. John is instructed to write (“grapson” as in Rev.1v11. 2v1,8,12,18. 3v1,7,14. 14v13.), for these words are “true and faithful,” “alethinoi kai pistoi.” Both adjectives are repeated in Rev.22v6. in the reversed order, “faithful and true,” “pistoi kai alethinoi,” and both adjectives are used to describe Jesus in Rev.3v14. and 19v11.. These prophecies are reliable and genuine, they are not fantasies. The indescribable glory and beauty of the kingdom of the King of love staggers the mind and defies the imagination. In God’s wonderful kingdom of love, there will be continual variety, progression, and development, and through God’s grace we will for ever enjoy a life of glorious fellowship and service. The glory of God’s kingdom in the ages of ages, is at this present time, quite beyond our comprehension, but if our present veiled experience of God’s kingdom is so glorious, what must the experience of that kingdom be like? There is no end to the riches of His grace, the greatness of His mind, and His wonderful plans for us.

b. The sea is no more, it is replaced by beautiful countryside and scenery, and the water of life. Rev.21v1.

Many people are sad when they read that there will be no sea, and some are unwilling to accept this plain statement , and they think that when it says there will be no more sea, that it is referring to the old sea, and that the sea may be changed like the earth and Heaven. However, a spiritual creation does not need a sea. The sea is no more, because the new vegetation is based upon more enduring spiritual elements, and derives its life from the being and life of God. The water and organic based vegetation and life has passed away, because they could no more stand the powers and energies of the kingdom of God, than the body of Moses could when he asked to see the face of God. Ex.33v20. The world will be even more beautiful and colourful with this spiritual material based creation. All will be new, fresh and better. The whole creation changes from a water based creation to a spiritual substance based creation; the trees and grass etc., are a spiritual creation that live off the presence of God. 1Cor.15v38-54. The changes will be exquisite, and transcendently more beautiful and beneficial than anything either we or even angels experience at present. There is water, but it is the water of life, a river proceeding from the throne, the like of which has never been seen by mankind on earth. Rev.22v1-3. This water of life flows from the being of God, it is as clear as a crystal, and cannot be contaminated by impurities like our present water. It is full of God's love, life and beauty, it is probably not constrained by the forces of gravity, and the invitation is given to all who are thirsty to come and drink of its freely flowing waters. Rev.22v17. This living water is far superior to the present seas and lakes which have been badly polluted by mankind. The present world has its temperature regulated by water within fairly narrow limits, the absence of water shows that the present constraints of temperature on the people and environment, no longer apply to the new creation.

No more tears or crying.

In Rev.21v4., at the start of the ages of ages at the end of the Millennium, God repeats again the promise of Rev.7v17., which He made 1,000 years earlier, at the end of the great tribulation, that He will “wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Isa.25v7-9. All the causes of tears have been removed by God, death, mourning, crying, wailing, and pain are all gone. “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Is.32v17.

In Rev.21v6., “It is done,” is better translated, “they have come to pass,” “gegonan,” the perfect active indicative of “ginomai,” to become, to take place, to come to pass. The perfect shows that God's promises and plans have not only been fulfilled and completed, but that their results also continue into the future. God repeats, as in 1v8., “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” and adds, “the Beginning and the End,” “he arche kai to telos,” this whole description is used of Jesus in Rev.22v13.. Jesus is called “he arche,” the first cause, in Col.1v18. and Rev.3v14.,” while here the Father is the First Cause, and the End, as in Rom.11v36. and Eph.4v6. See Is.44v6. 48v12. God is the most generous benevolent Giver. James.1v5,17. He gives the water of Life. Rev.7v17. 22v1,17. see Isa.55v1.. “Freely,” “dorean,” see Mt.10v8. Jn.4v10. Rom.3v24. Acts.8v20. Rev.22v17.

In Rev.21v7., our Lord adds another promise to those given to overcomers at the close of each of the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3. Those who overcome shall inherit all things and will have the Father as his God and be a son of God. A better promise than that given to Abraham, Gen.17v7., Solomon, 2Sam.7v14., and David.. Ps.89v26,27. Rev.21v3,4.

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