You Can Understand Bible Prophecy:(Continue) Satan released for a short time Also, the apostle John in Revelation describes his vision of the transition to Christ’s reign in which he saw that an angel “seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil, or Satan, and chained him up … till the thousand years were ended.” However, this is not the end of Satan’s role in human affairs, because “after that he must be let loose for a little while” (Revelation 20:2-3,).Notice what happens at the end of the Millennium: “When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be let loose from his prison, and he will come out to seduce the nations in the four quarters of the earth. He will muster them for war, the hosts of Gog and Magog, countless as the sands of the sea. They marched up over the breadth of the land and laid siege to the camp of God’s people and the city He loves. But fire came down on them from heaven and consumed them. Their seducer, the Devil, was flung into the lake of fire and sulfur …” (verses 7-10, ).Why would God release Satan to again seduce people after the wonderful 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ? Though no specific explanation is given, a logical reason for this turn of events seems evident. During the Millennium people will have the choice of only one way of life—the way Christ teaches them. Many generations will grow up without ever being exposed to any other way of life. From the beginning, however, God has always allowed people to choose between good and evil (Deuteronomy 30:19). It would be a mistake to believe that no one born during the Millennium would ever choose the ways of Satan if the opportunity were available. We can see from the events described in Revelation 20 that God will make that choice available to many people who will live during that 1,000-year era. It is also reasonable to believe that some of them will respond to Satan’s intrigue and choose his selfish, rebellious ways over the cooperative and loving ways of God. Sufficient numbers of people will make this choice to form a sizable army. “They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9, NIV). God has always tested His people to see what is in their hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Hebrews 11:17). We should not assume that those living during the Millennium will be treated differently. This will be a test that at least some of them will have to face. No doubt all who live during that 1,000 years will have the opportunity to see whether they will be faithful to God and His ways. The only example revealed to us, however, is that God will release Satan for a time. Once this test is over, Satan will never again be allowed to deceive anyone. The general resurrection of the dead Now the greatest judgment of all must begin. As we read earlier, at Jesus Christ’s return only His faithful saints will be resurrected. Prophecy reveals that “the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5). Another resurrection will take place after the Millennium! The enormity of this event is difficult to convey, and its significance is hard to imagine. What is to happen to the unsaved billions of people who have ever lived? What is this time of judgment all about? Now is the time for all other people—all those who lived from Adam’s time up to the generation living into the Millennium at Christ’s return— to learn the truth of God and enjoy the same opportunity for salvation given to those whom God called during the Millennium. They will all be raised from the dead with a marvelous opportunity to know God Amen
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 01:51:47 +0000
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