The Resplendent City -Precious Building Materials

Precious Building Materials

John continues his description:  "Now the structure of its was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass.  The foundations of the city's wall were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. Also, the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl.  And the broad way of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass." -Revelation 21:18-21.

The city's construction is truly resplendent.  Instead of mundane, earthly building materials like clay or stone, we read of jasper, refined gold, and "every sort of  precious building materials!  Nothing could be more magnificent.  the ancient ark of the covenant was overlaid with pure gold, and in the Bible this element often represents things that are good and valuable.  (Exodus 25:11; Proverbs 21:11; Isaiah 60:6, 17)  But the entire New Jerusalem, and even it broad way, are constructed of "pure gold like clear glass," portraying a beauty and intrinsic value that stagger the imagination.

No human smelter could produce gold of such purity.  But Jehovah is the Master of Refiner.  He sits "as a refiner and cleanser of silver," and he refines the individual, faithful members of spiritual Israel "like gold and like silver,"  removing from them all impurities.  Only individuals who have truly been refined and cleansed will finally make up New Jerusalem, and in this way Jehovah builds the city with living building materials that are aglow with the highest excellence of spiritual purity. -Malachi 3:3, 4. 

Even the city's foundations are beautiful, being adorned with 12 precious gems.  This calls to mind the ancient Jewish high priest, who on ceremonial days wore and ephod studded with 12 different precious stones somewhat similar to the ones described here.  (Exodus 28:15-21) Surely this is no coincidence!  Rather, it emphasizes the priestly function of New Jerusalem, of which Jesus the great High Priest, is the "lamp."  (Revelation 20:6; 21:23; Hebrews 8:1) Also, it is through New Jerusalem that the benefits of Jesus' high-priestly ministry are channeled  to mankind.  (Revelation 22:1, 2)  The city's 12 gates, each being a pearl of great beauty, call to mind Jesus' illustration that likened the Kingdom  to a pearl of high value.  All who enter through those gates will have shown true appreciation for spiritual values. -Matthew 13:45, 46; compare Job 28:12, 17, 18. 

Next time: The Resplendent City - A City of Light

From the Book of Revelation

The Resplendent City -Measuring the City

Measuring the City

John continues his account:  "Now the one who was speaking with me was holding as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city and its gates and it wall.  And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth.  And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth and height are equal. Also, he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to a man's measure, at the same time an angel's." (Revelation 21:15-17) When the temple sanctuary was measured, this guaranteed the fulfillment of Jehovah's purposes with regard to it.  (Revelation 11:1) Now, the angel's measuring New Jerusalem shows how unchangeable Jehovah's purposes are with regard to this glorious city.

What a remarkable city this is!  A perfect cube 12,000 furlongs (about 1,380 miles) in perimeter, surrounded by a wall 144 cubits, or 210 feet in height.  No literal city could ever have such measurements.  It would cover a territory about 14 times as large as modern Israel, and it would tower almost 350 miles into outer space!  Revelation was given in sings. So, what do these measurements tell us about heavenly New Jerusalem?

The 144-cubit-hill walls remind us that the city is made up of 144,000 spiritually adopted sons of Good. The figure 12 that appears in the 12,000-furlong measurement of the city-with the length, breadth, and height being equal-is used figuratively in organizational settings in Bible prophecy.  Hence, New Jerusalem is a superbly designed organizational arrangement for accomplishing God eternal purpose.  New Jerusalem, together with the King Jesus Christ, is Jehovah's Kingdom organization.  Then there is the shape of the city: a perfect cube.  In Solomon's temple, the Most Holy, containing a symbolic representation of Jehovah's presence, was a perfect cube.  (1 Kings 6:19, 20) How fitting, then, that New Jerusalem, illuminated by the glory of Jehovah himself, is seen as a perfect, large-scale cube!  All its measurements are perfectly balanced. It is a city with out irregularities or defects. -Revelation 21:22) 

Next time: The Resplendent City -Precious Building Materials

From the Book of Revelation

The Resplendent City

AN ANGEL had taken John into a wilderness to show him Babylon the Great.  Now one of the same angelic group  conducts John to a lofty mountain.  What a contrast he sees!   Here is no unclean, immoral city like the Babylonish harlot, but New Jerusalem -pure, spiritual, holy-and it is descending from heaven itself. -Revelation 17:1, 5.

Even earthly Jerusalem never had a glory such as this.  John tells us:  "And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were full of the seven last plagues, and he spoke with me and said:  'Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.'  So he carried me away in the power of the spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and having the glory of God."  (Revelation 21:9-11a)   From the vantage point of that towering mountain, John surveys  the beauteous city in all its lovely detail.  Men of faith have been in eager expectation of its coming ever since mankind's fall into sin and death.  At last it is here!  (Romans 8:19; 1 Corinthians  15:22, 23; Hebrews 11:39, 40)  It is the magnificent spiritual city, compose of 144,000 loyal integrity keepers, resplendent in its holiness and reflecting the very glory of Jehovah.  Here is the grand Revelation climax!

New Jerusalem is breathtaking in its beauty:  "Its radiance was like most precious stone, as a jasper stone shining crystal-clear.  It had a great and lofty wall and had twelve gates, and at the gates, twelve angels, and names were inscribed which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.  On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.  The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names  of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."  (Revelation 21:11b-14)  How fitting that the first impression John records is of glowing brightness!  Radiant as a new bride, New Jerusalem makes a fitting consort for Christ.  It positively glows, as is proper for a creation of "the Father of the celestial lights." -James 1:17.

On its 12 gates, there are inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.  Therefore, this symbolic city is made up of the 144,000, who were sealed "out of every tribe of the sons of Israel."  (Revelation 7:4-8)  In harmony with this, the foundation stones have on them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.  Yes, New Jerusalem is not the fleshly nation of Israel founded on the 12 sons of Jacob. It is the spiritual Israel, founded on "the apostles and  prophets." -Ephesians 2:20. 

The symbolic city has a huge wall.  In ancient times, city walls were built for security to keep out enemies.  New Jerusalem's "great and lofty wall" shows that she is spiritually secure.  No enemy of righteousness, no one unclean or dishonest, will ever be able to gain entrance.  (Revelation 21:27)  But for those allowed in, entering this beauteous city is like entering Paradise.  ( Revelation 2:7)  After Adam's expulsion , cherubs were posted in front of the original Paradise to keep out  unclean humans.  (Genesis 3:24)  Similarly, angels are posted at each entrance of the holy city Jerusalem to ensure the spiritual security of the city.  Indeed, throughout the last days, angels  have been guarding the congregation of anointed Christians, which becomes New Jerusalem, from Babylonish contamination. -Matthew 13:41. 

Next time: The Resplendent City - Measuring the City

From the Book of Revelation

A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering

The Ones Conquering

Those who drink of that refreshing "water" must also conquer, as Jehovah goes on to say: "Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I shall be his God and he will be my son."  (Revelation 21:7) This promise is similar to the promises found in the messages to the seven congregations, hence, these words must apply in the first place to anointed disciples.  (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21) Christ's spiritual brothers throughout the ages have eagerly anticipated the privilege of being part of the New Jerusalem.  If they conquer, as Jesus conquered, their hopes will be realized. - John 16:33.

The great crowd out of all nations also look to this promise.  They too must  conquer, loyally serving God until they come out of the great tribulation.  Then they will enter into their earthly inheritance, 'the kingdom prepared for them from the founding of the world.' (Matthew 25:34)  These and others of the Lord's earthly sheep; who pass the test at the end of the thousand years are called "holy ones."   (Revelation 20:9) They will enjoy a sacred and filial relationship with their Creator, Jehovah God, as members of his universal organization. -Isaiah 66:22; John 20:31; Romans 8:21.

With this grand prospect in view, how important it is that Jehovah's Witnesses now remain clean from the defiling things of Satan's world!  We need to be strong, resolute, and determined that the Devil will never drag us down into the company that Jehovah himself here describes:  "But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their position will be in the lake that burns with  fire and sulfur. This means the second death."  (Revelation 21:8) Yes, the would-be inheritor has to avoid the practices that have befouled this old system of things.  He has to conquer by remaining faithful in the face of all pressures and temptations. -Romans 8:35-39. 

Christendom, though she claims to be the bride of Christ, is characterized by the disgusting  practices that John here describes.  So she goes down to eternal destruction with the rest of Babylon the Great.  (Revelation 18:8, 21)  Likewise, any of the anointed or of the great crowd who take up the practice of such evildoing, or start encouraging it, face everlasting destruction.  If they persist  in these actions, they will not inherit the promises.  And in the new earth, any who try to introduce such practices will be destroyed  speedily, going into the second death without hope of a resurrection. -Isaiah 65:20. 

Next time: The Resplendent City

From the Book of Revelation

A New Heaven and a New Earth - "Water" for the Thirsty Ones

"Water" for the Thirsty Ones

 It is Jehovah himself who declares:  "To anyone thirsting I will give from the fountain of the water of life free." (Revelation 21:6b) To quench that thirst, a person has to be conscious of his spiritual need and be willing  to accept "the water" that Jehovah provides.  (Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 5:3)  What "water"?  Jesus himself answered  that question when  witnessing to a woman beside a well in Samaria.  He told her:   "Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that  I will give him will become in him a fountain of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life."  That "fountain of the water of life" flows  from God through Christ as his provision for restoring mankind to perfection of life.  Like the Samaritan woman, how eager we should be to drink deep from that fountain!  And like that woman, how ready we should be to drop mundane interests in favor of telling others the good news! -John 4:14, 15, 28, 29.

Next time: "Water" for the Thirsty Ones - The Ones Conquering

From the Book of Revelation

A New Heaven and a New Earth- Concluson

Conclusion of A New Heaven and a New Earth

John goes on to say:  "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.  The former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) Once again, we are reminded of earlier inspired promises.  Isaiah also looked forward  to the time when death and mourning would be no more and grief would be replaced  by exultation. (Isaiah 25:28; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19)  John now confirms that these promises have a wonderful  fulfillment during the thousand-year Judgment Day.  First the  great crowd will enjoy the blessings.  "The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne," continuing to shepherd them, "will guide them to fountains of waters of life.  And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:9, 17) But eventually all those who are resurrected and exercise faith in Jehovah's provisions will be there with them, enjoying paradise that is both spiritual and physical.

"At that time," says Isaiah, "the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped."  Yes, "at that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness."  (Isaiah 35:5, 6)  At that time, too, "they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and  they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.  They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.  For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full."  (Isaiah 65:21, 22) So they will not be uprooted from the earth.

What magnificent foregleams fill our minds as we meditate on these promises!  Wondrous provisions are in store for faithful mankind under heaven's loving government.  Are such promises too good to be true? Are they just the dreams of an old man exiled on the island of Patmos?  Jehovah himself answers:   "And the One seated on the throne said:  'Look! I am making all things new.' Also, he says: 'Write, because these words are faithful and true." And he said to me: 'They have come to pass! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.' " -Revelation 21:5, 6a. 

It is as though Jehovah himself were signing for faithful mankind a guarantee, or title deed , to these future blessings.  Who would dare question such a Guarantor?  Why, so certain are these promises of Jehovah that he speaks as though they were already fulfilled:  "They have come to pass!"  Is not Jehovah "the Alpha and the Omega . . ., the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty"?  (Revelation 1:8)  Indeed he is! He himself declares: "I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God."  (Isaiah 44:6)  As such, he can inspire prophecies and fulfill them in every detail.  How faith strengthening!  So he promises: "I am making all things new'!  Rather than questioning whether these marvels will really happen, surely we should be wondering:  'What do I personally have to do to inherit such blessings?'

Next time: A New Heaven and a New Earth - "Water" for the Thirsty Ones

From the Book of Revelation

A New Heaven and a New Earth

THIS glorious vision continues to unfold as the angel takes John back to the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign.  What does he describe?  "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth  had passed away, and the sea is no more." (Revelation 21:1) A captivating panorama comes to view! 

Hundreds of years before John's day, Jehovah had said to Isaiah:  "For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart."  (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22)  This prophecy was initially fulfilled when faithful Jews returned  to Jerusalem in 537 B.C.E.  After their 70-year exile in Babylon.  In that  restoration, they formed a cleansed society, "a new earth," under  a new governmental system, " new heavens."  The apostle Peter, however, pointed to a further application of the prophecy saying: "But there are new heavens and a new earth that  we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell."  (2 Peter 3:13)  john now shows that this promise is fulfilled during the Lord's day.  "The former heaven and the former earth,"  Satan's organized  system of things with its governmental structure influenced by Satan and his demons, will pass away.  The turbulent "sea" of wicked, rebellious mankind will cease to exist.  In its place will be "a new heaven and a new earth" -A new earthly society under a new government, God's Kingdom. -Compare Revelation 20:11.

John continues:  "I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."  (Revelation 21:2)  New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, made up of the anointed Christians who remain faithful to death and who are raised to become kings and priests with the glorified Jesus.  (Revelation 3:12; 20:6)  Just as earthly Jerusalem become the seat of government in ancient Israel, the magnificent New Jerusalem and her Bridegroom make up the government of the new system of things. This is the new  heaven.  The 'bride comes down out of heaven," not literally, but in the sense of directing attention to the earth.  The Lamb's bride is to be his loyal help meet in operating  a righteous government over all mankind. A blessing indeed for the new earth!

John tells us further:  "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say:  'Look!  The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples.  And God himself will be with them.' " (Revelation 21:3)  When Jehovah made the Law covenant with the then new nation of Israel, he promised:  "I shall certainly put my tabernacle in the midst of  you, and my soul will not abhor you. And I shall indeed walk in the midst of you and prove myself  your God, and you, on your part, will prove yourselves my people."  (Leviticus 26:11, 12)  Now Jehovah is making a similar to faithful humans.  During the thousand-year  Judgment Day, they will become a very special people to him. 

During the Millennial Reign, Jehovah will "reside" among mankind in a temporary arrangement, he being represented by his royal Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of the Thousand Year Reign, however, when Jesus hands the Kingdom over to his Father, no royal representative or intercessor will be needed.  Jehovah will reside spiritually with "his peoples" in a permanent and direct way.  (Compare John 4:23, 24) What a lofty privilege for restored humanity!

Next time: Conclusion of A New Heaven and a New Earth

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome! - The End of Death and Hades

The End of Death and Hades

Next, John describes something truly wonderful:  "And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire.  This means the second death, the lake of fire.  Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire."  (Revelation 20:14, 15)  By the end of the millennial Judgment Day, "death and Hades" are completely removed.  Why does this involve a thousand years?  Hades, the common grave of all mankind, is emptied when the last one in God's memory is resurrected. But as longs as any humans are tainted by inherited sin,  Adamic death is still with them.  All those resurrected on earth, as well  as the great crowd that survives Armageddon, will need to obey what is written in the scrolls until Jesus' ransom merit has been applied in fully  removing sickness, old age, and other inherited disabilities.  The Adamic  death, along with Hades, is "hurled into the lake of fire."  They will be gone forever! 

Thus, the program that the apostle Paul describes in his letter to the Corinthians will come to completion:  "For [Jesus] must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, [Adamic] death is to be brought to nothing."  What happens next?  "When all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him."  In other words, Jesus "hands over the kingdom to his God and Father."  (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)  Yes, Jesus, having conquered Adamic death through the merit of his ransom sacrifice, will hand over a perfected human family to his Father, Jehovah. It is evidently at this point, at the end of the thousand years that Satan is released and the final test takes place to determine whose names  will remain  permanently recorded  in the scroll of life.  "Exert yourselves  vigorously" so that your name  may be among them! -Luke 13:24; Revelation 20:5.

Next time: A New Heaven and a New Earth

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outdcome! - Opening Other Scrolls

Opening Other Scrolls

How must these resurrected ones demonstrate their obedience?  Jesus himself pointed to the two great commandments, saying: "The first is, 'Hear O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.' The second is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' " (Mark 12:29-31)  There are also Jehovah's well-established principles that they must follow, such as to repudiate stealing, lying, murdering, and immorality. -1 Timothy 1:8-11; Revelation 21:8.

However, John has just mentioned other scrolls that will be opened during the Millennial Reign.  (Revelation 20:12)  What will these be?  At times, Jehovah has given specific  instructions for particular situations.  For example, in Moses' day he provided a detailed  series of laws that meant life for the Israelites if they obeyed.  (Deuteronomy 4:40; 32:45-47)  During the first century, new instruction were given to help faithful ones to  follow Jehovah's principles under the Christian system of things.  (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 13:34; 15:9, 10)  Now John reports that the dead are to be 'judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds."  Evidently, then, the opening of these scrolls will publish Jehovah's detailed requirements for mankind during the thousand years.  By applying in their lives the regulations and commandments of those scrolls, obedient humans will be able to lengthen their days, attaining finally to everlasting life.

What an extensive  campaign of theocratic education will be needed! In 1987 Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide were conducting on the  average, 3,005,048 Bible studies in various locations.  But during the resurrection, countless millions of studies, based on the Bible and the new scrolls, will no doubt be conducted!  All of God's people will need to become teachers and to exert themselves. Resurrected ones, as they progress, will no doubt share in this vast teaching program.  Likely, the resurrection will proceed in such a way that that those who are alive may have the joy of welcoming and instructing  former family members and acquaintances, who, in their turn, may welcome and instruct others.  (Compare 1 Corinthians 15:19-28, 58)  The more than three million witnesses of Jehovah who are active in spreading the truth today are laying a good foundation for the privileges they hope to have during the resurrection. -Isaiah 50:4; 54:13.

With regard to the earthly resurrection, Jesus said that 'those who did good things come out to a resurrection of life, those who practiced  vile things to a resurrection of judgment.'  Here "life" and "judgment" contrast with each other, showing that those  resurrected ones who "practiced vile things" after being instructed  in the inspired Scriptures and scrolls are judged to be unworthy of life.  Their names will not be written in the scroll , or book, of life.  (John 5:29)  This would also be true of any who previously followed a faithful course but who, for some reason, turn aside  during the Thousand Year Reign.  Names can be erased.  (Exodus 32:32,33) On the other hand, those who obediently follow the things written in the scrolls will keep their names on the written record, the scroll of life, and continue living.  For them, the resurrection will have proved to be one "of life."

Next time: God's Day of Judgment - Its Joyful Outcome -The End of Death and Hades

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment-Its Joyful Outcome! -The Scroll of Life

The Scroll of Life

John speaks of "the scroll of life."  This is a record of those in line to receive everlasting life from Jehovah.  The names of the anointed brothers of Jesus, of the great crowd, and of faithful men of old, such as Moses, have been recorded in this scroll.  (Exodus 32:32, 33; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 3:5)  As yet, none of the "unrighteous" resurrected ones have their names in the scroll of life.  So the scroll of life will be opened during the Thousand Year Reign to permit the writing of the names of others that come to qualify.  Those whose names do not get written in the scroll, or book, of life are hurled into the lake of fire." -Revelation 20:15; Compare Hebrews 3:19.

What, then, will determine whether a person gets his name written in the opened scroll of life at that time?  The key factor will be the same as at was in the days of Adam and Eve: obedience to Jehovah. As the apostle John wrote to beloved fellow Christians: "The world is passing away and so is its desire, but that does the will of God remains forever."   (1 John 2:4-7,  17)  In the matter of obedience, Jehovah's appointed Judge set the example:  "Although [Jesus] was a Son, He learned obedience from the things he suffered; and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him." -Hebrews 5:8, 9.

Next time: God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome! -Opening Other Scrolls

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome! - Who Are Raised and Judged?

Who Are Raised and Judged?

John adds:  "But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life.  And the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds." (Revelation 20:12b, 13)  A breathtaking spectacle indeed!  'The sea, death, and Hades' each plays a part, but note that  these terms are not mutually exclusive.  Jonah, when in the belly of a fish and therefore in the midst of the sea, spoke of himself as being in Sheol, or Hades.  (Jonah 2:2) If a person is held in the grip of Adamic death, then likely he is also in Hades.  These prophetic words give strong assurance that no one will be overlooked.

There are, of course, an unknown number who will not be resurrected.  Among these would be the unrepentant scribes and Pharisees who rejected Jesus and the apostles, the religious "man of lawlessness," and anointed Christians "who have fallen away."  (2 Thessalonians 2:3; Hebrews 6:4-6; Matthew 23:29-33) Jesus also spoke of goat like people at the world's end who go into "the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels,"  namely, "everlasting cutting-off.  (Matthew 25:41, 46) No resurrection for these!

On the other hand, some will be specially favored in the resurrection.  The apostle Paul indicated this when he said:  "I have hope toward God . . . that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."  (Acts 24:5)  With regard   to the earthly resurrection, "the righteous" will include faithful men and women of old-Abraham, Rahab, and many others-who were declared righteous as to friendship with God.  (James 2:21, 23, 25)  In this same group will be those righteous other sheep who died faithful to Jehovah in modern times.  Likely, all such integrity keepers will be resurrected early in Jesus' Millennial Reign.  (Job 14:13-15; 27:5; Daniel 12:13; Hebrews 11:35, 39, 40)  No doubt many of these resurrected righteous ones will be assigned special privileges  in overseeing the tremendous work of restoration in Paradise.  Psalm 45:16; compare Isaiah 32:1, 16-18; 61:5; 65:21-23.

Who, though, are "the unrighteous" mentioned at Acts 24:15?  These would include the great masses of mankind who have died throughout history, particularly those who lived in 'times of ignorance.'  (Acts 17:30)  These, because of where they were born or when they lived, had no opportunity to learn obedience to Jehovah's will.  Additionally, there  may be some who did hear the message of salvation but who did not respond fully at that time or who died before they had progressed to dedication and baptism.  In the resurrection such ones will have to make further adjustments in their thinking and life course if they are going to benefit from this opportunity for gaining everlasting life.

Next time: God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome! - The Scroll of Life

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment - Its Joyful Outcome! - The Thousand-Year Judgment Day

The Thousand - Year Judgment Day

Who are left to be judged after the old earth and the old heaven flee away?  Not the anointed remnant of the 144,000, for these have already been judged and sealed.  Those still alive on earth after Armageddon must shortly thereafter die and receive their heavenly reward by resurrection.  (1 Peter 4:17; Revelation 7:2-4) However, the millions of the great crowd who have now come  out of the great tribulation stand conspicuously "before the throne."  These have already been counted righteous for survival because of their faith in Jesus' shed blood, but their judging must continue through the thousand years as Jesus keeps on guiding them to "fountains of waters of life."  Then, having been restored to human perfection and thereafter tested, they will be declared righteous  in the fullest sense.  (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 17)  Children who survive the great tribulation and any children born to the great crowd during the Millennium will similarly need to be judged during the thousand years. -Compare Genesis 1:28;9:7; 1 Corinthians 7:14.

 John, however, observes a throng far more numerous than the surviving great crowd.  It will number into the thousands of millions! "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened."  (Revelation 20:12a) "The great and the small" embraces the prominent as well as the less prominent ones of humans that have lived and died on this earth during the past 6,000 years.  In the Gospel that the apostle John wrote shortly after Revelation, Jesus said of the Father:  "He has given him [Jesus] authority to d0 judging, because Son of man he is.  Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."  (John 5:27-29)  What a stupendous project-the undoing of the deaths and burials throughout all history!  No doubt those countless millions in God's memory will be brought forth gradually so that the great crowd-so few by comparison-will be able to handle  problems that may arise because resurrected ones may tend at first to follow their old life-style, with its fleshly weaknesses and attitudes.

Next time: God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome! - Who are Raised and Judged?

From the Book of Revelation

God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome!

God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome!

AS HUMANS, we were created to live forever.  If Adam and Eve obeyed God's commands, they would never have died.  (Genesis 1:28; 2:8, 16, 17;  Ecclesiastes 3:10, 11)  But when they sinned, they lost perfection and life both for themselves and for their offspring, and came to reign over mankind as a relentless enemy.  (Romans 5:12, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:26)  Nevertheless, God's purpose to have perfect humans live forever on a paradise earth, did not change.  Out of his great love for mankind, he sent  to earth his only - begotten Son, Jesus who gave  his perfect human life as a ransom for "many" of Adam's offspring.  (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16)  Jesus can now use this legal merit of his sacrifice to restore believing humans to live in perfection on a paradise earth.  (1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2) What grand reason for mankind to "be joyful and rejoice.! -Isaiah 25:8, 9.

With Satan confined in the abyss, Jesus' glorious  Thousand Year Reign begins.  It is now the "day" in which God "purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed."  (Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 3:8)  John declares:  "And I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it.  From before him the earth and the heavens fled away, and no place was found for them."  (Revelation 20:11)  What is this "great white throne"?  It can be non other than the judgment seat of "God the judge of all."  (Hebrews 12:23) Now he will judge mankind as to who will benefit from Jesus' sacrifice. -Mark 10:45.

God's throne is "great," emphasizing Jehovah's grandeur as Sovereign Lord, and it is "white," calling attention to his flawless righteousness. He is the ultimate  Judge of mankind.  (Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 33:22; 51:5, 8)   He has, however,  delegated the work of judging to Jesus Christ:  "The Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son."  (John  5:22)  With Jesus are his 144,000 associates to whom the "power of judging was given . . .for a thousand years."  (Revelation 20:4)  Even so, it is Jehovah's standards that decide what will happen to each individual during Judgment Day.

How is it that "the earth and the heaven fled away"?  This is the same heaven that departed as a scroll at the opening of the sixth seal-the human ruling powers  that are "stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men.  (Revelation 6:14; 2 Peter 3:7) The earth is the organized system of things that exists under this ruler ship.  (Revelation 8:7)  The destruction of the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, along with those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image, marks the fleeing away of this heaven and earth.  (Revelation 19:19-21)  Judgment having been executed on Satan's earth and heaven, the Great Judge decrees another Day of Judgment.

Next time: God's Day of Judgment-Its Joyful Outcome - The Thousand - Year Judgment Day

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head - Tormented Day and Night Forever

Tormented Day and Night Forever

Referring to the Devil as well as the wild beast and the false prophet, John now tells us:  "And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."  (Revelation 20:10b) What could this mean?  As mentioned already, it is not logical to say that symbols, such as the wild beast and the false prophet, as well as death and Hades, could suffer torture in a literal way.  Hence, we have no reason to believe that Satan will be suffering for all eternity.  He is to be annihilated.

The Greek word used here for "torment," ba-sa-ni'zo means primarily "to test (metals) by the touchstone."  "To question by applying torture" is a second meaning.  (The New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the  New Testament) In the context, the use of this Greek word indicates that what happens to Satan will serve, for all eternity, as a touchstone on the issue of the rightness and righteousness of Jehovah's rule.  That issue of sovereign ruler ship will have been settled once and for all time.  Never again will a challenge to Jehovah's sovereignty need to be tested over an extended period of time in order to be proved wrong. -Compare Psalm 92:1, 15.

Additionally, the related word ba-sa-ni-stes,'  "tormentor," is used in the Bible to mean "jailer."  (Matthew 18:34, Kingdom Interlinear) in harmony with this, Satan will be imprisoned in the lake of fire forever; he will never be released.  Finally, in the Greek Septuagint, which was well known to John, the related word ba'sa-nos is used to refer to humiliation that leads to death.  (Ezekiel 32:24, 30) This helps us to see that the punishment that Satan undergoes is a humiliating, everlasting death in the lake of fire and sulfur.  His works die with him. -1 John 3:8.

Again, the demons are not mentioned in this verse.  Will they be released with Satan at the end of a thousand years and then undergo the punishment of everlasting death along with him?  The evidence answers yes.  In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus  said that the goats would go off "into the everlasting  fire prepared for the Devil and his angels."  (Matthew 25:41) The expression "everlasting fire" must refer to  the lake of fire and sulfur where Satan is to be hurled.  the Devil's angels were cast out of heaven with him.  Evidently, they went into the abyss with him at the beginning of  the Thousand Year Reign. Consistently, then, they will also be destroyed with him in the lade of fire and sulfur. -Matthew 8:29.

In this way, the final detail of the prophecy recorded at Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled.  When Satan is hurled into the lake of fire, he will become as dead as a snake the head of which has been ground under an iron heel.  He and his demons will be gone forever.  There is no further mention of them in the book of Revelation.  Now, having prophetically disposed of these, Jehovah's spirit draws attention to a matter of pressing interest to those who cherish and earthly hope: What will result to humankind  from the heavenly reign of the "King of kings" and those  called and chosen and faithful with him"?  (Revelation 17:14) To answer, John brings us back once again to the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign.

Next time: God's Day of Judgment -Its Joyful Outcome!

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head -The Lake of Fire and Sulfur

The Lake of Fire and Sulfur

Will this final effort by Satan succeed? Certainly not-no more than the attack that Gog of Magog is due to make on spiritual Israel in our day will succeed!  (Ezekiel 38:18-23)  John vividly describes the outcome:  "But fire came down out of heaven and devoured them.  And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were."  (Revelation 20:9b-10a)  Rather than being merely abyssed, this time Satan, the original Serpent, will actually be crushed out of existence, pulverized, completely annihilated as if by fire.

We have already noted that "the lake of fire and sulfur" could not be a literal place of torment.  (Revelation 19:20) If Satan were to suffer excruciating torture there for all eternity, Jehovah would have to preserve him alive.  Yet, life is a gift,  not a punishment.  Death is the punishment for sin, and according to the Bible, dead creatures feel no pain.  (Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)  Moreover, we read later that death itself, along with hades, is cast into this same lake of fire and sulfur. Surely, death and Hades cannot suffer pain! -Revelation 20:14.

All of this reinforced the view that the lake of fire and sulfur  is symbolic.  Further, the mention of fire and sulfur calls to mind the fate of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by God because of their gross wickedness.  When their time came,  "Jehovah made it rain  sulfur and fire from Jehovah, from the heavens, upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah."    (Genesis 19:24)  What befell the two cities is called "the judicial punishment of everlasting fire."  (Jude 7) Yet, those two cities did not suffer everlasting torment.  Rather, they were blotted out, obliterated for all time, along with their depraved inhabitants.  Those cities do not exist today, and no one can say for sure where they were located. 

In harmony with this, the Bible itself explains the meaning of the lake of fire and sulfur:  "This means the second death, the lake of fire."  (Revelation 20:14) It is clearly the same as the Gehenna  that Jesus spoke of, a place where  the wicked remain destroyed, not tortured forever.  (Matthew 10:28)  It is complete, utter destruction without hope of a resurrection.  Thus, while there are keys for death, Hades, and the abyss, there is no mention of a key for opening the lake of fire and sulfur.  (Revelation 1:18; 20:21)  It will never release its captives. -Compare Mark 9:43-47.

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head -Tormented Day and Night Forever

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head -Conclusion of The Final Test

Conclusion of The Final Test

The Bible calls these rebels "nations in the four corners of the earth."  This does not mean that mankind will have been divided once again into mutually exclusive national entities.  It merely indicates  that these will separate themselves from Jehovah's righteous, loyal ones and manifest the same bad spirit that the nations show today.  They will "think up and injurious scheme," as did the Gog of Magog in Ezekiel's prophecy, with a goal of destroying theocratic government on earth.  (Ezekiel 38:3, 10-12)  Hence they are called "Gog  and Magog."

The number of those who join Satan in his revolt will be "as the sand of the sea."  How many is that?  There is no foreordained number.  (Compare Joshua 11:4; Judges 7:12)  The final total number of rebels will depend on how each individual reacts to Satan's deceptive wiles.  Doubtless, though, there will be  a considerable number, since they will feel strong enough to overcome "the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city."

"The beloved city" must be the city that is spoken of by the glorified Jesus Christ to his followers in Revelation 3:12  and that he calls "the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which descends out of heaven  from  my God."  Since this is a heavenly organization, how could those earthly forces 'encircle' it?  In that they encircle "the camp of the holy ones."  A camp is outside  a city; therefore, "the camp of the holy ones" must represent those on earth outside the heavenly  location of New Jerusalem who loyally support Jehovah's governmental arrangement.  When the rebels under Satan attack those faithful ones, the Lord Jesus regards it as an assault on him.  (Matthew 25:40, 45)   "Those nations" will try to wipe out all  that the heavenly New Jerusalem has accomplished in making the earth a paradise.  So in attacking "the camp of the holy ones," they are also attacking "the beloved city." 

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Lake of Fire and Sulfur

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Final Test

The Final Test

By the end of the Thousand Year Reign, all earth will have come to resemble the original Eden.  It will be a veritable paradise.  Perfect mankind will no longer need a high priest to intercede for it before God, since all traces of Adamic sin will have been removed and the last enemy, death,  brought to nothing.  Christ's Kingdom will have achieved God's purpose to create one world with one government.  At this point, Jesus' hands over the kingdom to his God and Father." -1 Corinthians 15:22-26; Romans 15:12.

It is now time for a final test.  Will that perfected world of mankind, in contrast with the first humans in Eden, stand firm in its integrity?  John tells us what happens: "Now as soon as the thousand years have been ended, Satan will be let loose out of his prison, and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war.  The number of these  is as the sand of the sea.  And they advanced over the breadth of the earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city." -Revelation 20:7-9a.

How will Satan's last effort fare?  He deceives "those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog," and leads them to "the war."  Who could possibly side with Satan after a thousand years of joyful, up building theocratic rule?   Well, do not forget that Satan was able to mislead  the perfect Adam and Eve while they were enjoying life in the Paradise of Eden. And he was able to lead astray heavenly angels who had seen the bad results of the original rebellion.  (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)  So we should not be surprised that some perfect humans will be enticed to follow Satan even after a delightful thousand years of rule by God's Kingdom.

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head -Conclusion of The Final Test

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head -The First Resurrection

The First Resurrection

Returning to those who "came to life and ruled as kings with Christ,"  John writes:  "This is the first resurrection."  (Revelation 20:5b)   How is it first?  It is "the first resurrection" as to time, for the ones who experience it are " first fruits" to God and to the Lamb."   (Revelation 14:4)  It is also first importance, since those who share in it become co-rulers with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom and judge the rest of mankind.  Finally, it is the first in quality.  Apart from Jesus Christ himself, those raised in the first resurrection are the only creatures spoken of in the Bible as receiving immortality. - 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1 Timothy 6:16.

What a blessed prospect for these anointed ones!  As John declares: "Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection.; over these the second death has no authority."  (Revelation 20:6a)  As Jesus promised the Christians in Smyrna, these conquerors that share in "the first resurrection" will be in no danger of harm by "the second death," which means annihilation, destruction without hope of resurrection.  (Revelation 2:11; 20:14)  The second death has  "no authority" over such conquerors, for they will have put on corruption and immortality. -1 Corinthians 15:53.

How different from earth's kings during Satan's tenure of authority!   These have ruled at most for a mere 50 or 60 years, and the great majority for just a few years.  Many of them have oppressed mankind.  In any case, how could the nations benefit permanently under ever-changing rulers with ever-changing policies?  In contrast, John says of earth's new rulers:  "But they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for a thousand years."  (Revelation 20:6b)   With Jesus, they will form the sole government for a thousand years.  Their priestly service, in applying the merit of Jesus' perfect human sacrifice, will life obedient humans to spiritual, moral, and physical perfection.  Their kingly service  will result in building a global human society that reflects Jehovah's righteousness and holiness.  As judges for a thousand  years, they, with Jesus, will lovingly  guide responsive humans toward the goal of everlasting life. -John 3:16. 

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head -The Final Test

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head -The Rest of the Dead

The Rest of the Dead

Whom, though, will these kings judge if, as the apostle John here inserts,  "(the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended?"?  (Revelation 20:5a) Again, the expression "come to life" has to be understood according to context.  This expression can have varying meanings in varying circumstances.  For example, Paul said of his anointed fellow Christian:  "It is you God made alive though you were dead in your trespasses and sins."  (Ephesians 2:1) Yes, spirit-anointed Christians were "made alive," even in the first century, being declared righteous on the basis of their faith in Jesus' sacrifice. -Romans 3:23, 24.

Similarly, pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah were declared righteous as to friendship with God; and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were spoken of as "living" even thought they were physically dead.  (Matthew 22:31, 32;  James 2:21, 23)  However, they are  and all others who are resurrected, as well as the great crowd of faithful other sheep who survive Armageddon and any children that may be born to these in the new world, must yet be raised to human perfection.  This will be accomplished  by Christ and his associate kings and priests during the thousand-year Judgment day, on the basis of Jesus' ransom sacrifice.  By the end of that Day, "the rest of the dead" will have "come to life" in the sense that they will be perfect humans.  As we shall see, they must then pass a final test, but they will face that test as perfected humans.  When they pass the test, God will declare them worthy of living forever, righteous in the fullest sense.  They will experience the complete fulfillment of the promise: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth and they will reside forever upon it."  (Psalm 37:29)  What a delightful future is in store for obedient mankind!

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head - The First Resurrection

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head - Judges for a Thousand Years

Judges for a Thousand Years

After the thousand years, Satan is released from the abyss for a short while.  Why? Before giving the answer, John brings our attention back to the beginning of that  time period. We read: "And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them."  (Revelation 20:4a) Who are these ones sitting on thrones and ruling in the heavens with the glorified Jesus?

They are "the holy ones" that Daniel described as ruling in the Kingdom with the One "like a son of man."  (Daniel 7:13, 14, 18)  They are the same as the 24 elders who sit on heavenly thrones in the  very presence of Jehovah.  (Revelation 4:4)  They include the 12 apostles, to whom Jesus gave the promise: "In the re-creation , when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  (Matthew 19:28)   They also include Paul, as well as the  Corinthian Christians who remained faithful.  (1 Corinthians 4:8l 6:2, 3) They would include, too, members of the congregation of Laodicea who conquered. -Revelation 3:21.

Thrones - 144,000 of them -are prepared for these anointed conquerors who are "bought from among mankind as first fruits to God  and to the Lamb."  (Revelation 14:1, 4) Yes, continues John, "I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast not its image and who had not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand."  (Revelation 20:4b)  Among those kings, then, are the appointed Christian martyrs who earlier, at the opening of the fifth seal, asked Jehovah how much longer he would want to avenge their blood. At that time, they were given a white  robe and told to wait a little longer.  But now they have been avenged through the devastating of Babylon the Great, the destruction of the nations by the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the abyssing of Satan. -Revelation 6:9-11; 17:16; 19:15, 16. 

Were all these 144,000 royal judges physically "executed with the ax"?  Likely, relatively few of them were in a literal sense.  This expression, though, doubtless is intended to embrace all those anointed Christians who endure  martyrdom in one way or another.  (Matthew 10:22, 28) Certainly, Satan would like to have executed all of them with an ax, but, in fact, not all of Jesus' anointed brothers die as martyrs.  Many of them die of disease or old age.  Such ones, however, also belong to the group John now sees.  The death of all of them is, in a sense, sacrificial.  (Romans 6:3-5) Additionally, none of them were part of the world.  Hence, all of them have been hated by the world and, in effect, become dead in its eyes.  (John 15:19; 1 Corinthians 4:13)  None of them worshiped the wild beast or its image, and when they died, non of them carried the mark of the beast.  All of them died as conquerors. -1 John 5:4; Revelation 2:7; 3:12; 12:11.

Now these conquerors live again!  John reports:  "And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years."  (Revelation 20:4c)  Does this mean that these judges are not resurrected until after the destruction of the nations and the abyssing of Satan and his demons?  No.  Most of them are already very much alive, since they rode with Jesus against the nations at Armageddon.  (Revelation 2:26, 27, 19:14)  Indeed, Paul indicated that their resurrection commences soon after the beginning of Jesus' presence in 1914 and that some are resurrected before others.  ( 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)  Therefore, their coming to life occurs over a period of time as they individually receive the gift of immortal life in the heavens. - 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Peter 3:11-14. 

Their reigning and judging will be for a  thousand years.  Is this a literal thousand years, or should we view it symbolically as being an undefined, long period of time?  "Thousands" may mean a large, indefinite number, as at 1 Samuel 21:11.  But here, the "thousand" is literal, since it appears three times in Revelation 20:5-7 as "the thousand years."  Paul called this time of judgment "a day" when he stated "he [God] has set a day in  which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness."  (Acts 17:31)  Since Peter tells us that one day with Jehovah is as a thousand years, it is appropriate   that this Day of Judgment  be a literal thousand years. -2 Peter 3:8.

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Rest of the Dead

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head -Satan Abyssed

Satan Abyssed

What, then, is in store for Satan himself and his demons?  John tells us:  "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.  And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations  anymore until the thousand years were ended.  After these things he must be let loose for a little while." -Revelation 20:1-3.

Who is this angel? He must have tremendous power to be able to dispose of Jehovah's archenemy.  He has "the key of the abyss and a great chain."   Does this not remind us of an earlier vision?  Why, yes, the king over the locusts is called "the angel of the abyss"!  (Revelation 9:11) So here we again observe Jehovah's chief Vindicator, the glorified Jesus Christ in action.  This archangel that cast Satan out of heaven, that judged Babylon the Great, and that disposed of "the kings of the earth and their armies"  at Armageddon would surely not step aside to let a lesser angel deliver the masterstroke in abyssing Satan! -Revelation 12:7-9; 18:1, 2; 19:11-21.

When the great fiery-colored dragon was hurled down from heaven he was spoken of as "the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, "who is misleading the entire inhabitant earth."  (Revelation 12:3, 9) Now, at the point of being seized and abyssed, he is described again in full as "the dragon, the original serpent, who is  the Devil and Satan."  This infamous devourer, deceiver, slanderer, and oppose is chained and hurled "into the abyss,"  which is closed and sealed off tightly, "that he might not mislead the nations anymore."  This abyssing of Satan is for a thousand years, during which time his influence on mankind , will be no more than that of a prisoner in a deep dungeon.  The angel of the abyss removes Satan completely from any contact with the Kingdom of righteousness.  What a relief for mankind!

What happens to the demons?   they too have been  "reserved for judgment."  (2 Peter 2:4)   Satan is called "Beelzebub the ruler of the demons."  (Luke 11:15, 18; Matthew 10:25)  In view of their longtime collaboration with Satan,  should nto the same judgment be meted out to them?  The abyss has long been an object of  fear to those demons; on one occasion when Jesus confronted them, they "kept entreating him not to order them to go away into the abyss."  (Luke 8:31)  But when Satan is abyssed, his angels will surely be hurled into the abyss with him.  (Compare Isaiah 24:21, 22)  After the abyssing of Satan and his demons, the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ can begin. 

Will Satan and his demons be active while in the abyss?  Well, remember the scarlet-colored, seven-headed wild beast that "was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend  out of the abyss."  (Revelation 17:8)  While in the abyss, it 'was not.' It was non functioning, immobilized, to all intents and purposes dead.  Likewise, speaking of Jesus, the apostle Paul said:  "Who will descend into the abyss?'  that is, to bring Christ up from the dead."  (Romans 10:7)  while in that abyss, Jesus was dead.  it is reasonable  to conclude, then,  that Satan and his demons will be in a state of deathlike inactivity for the thousand years of their abyssing.  What good tidings for lovers of righteousness!

Next time:  Crushing the Serpent's Head -Judges for a Thousand Years

From the Book of Revelation

Crushing the Serpent's Head

Crushing the Serpent's Head

DO YOU recall the first Bible prophecy?  It was uttered by Jehovah God when he said to the serpent:  "I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel."  (Genesis 3:15) Now the fulfillment of that prophecy comes to its climax!  We have traced the history of Satan's warning against Jehovah's heavenly womanlike organization.  (Revelation 12:1, 9) The Serpent's earthly seed, with its religion, politics, and big business, has heaped  cruel persecution on the woman's seed, Jesus Christ and his 144,000 anointed followers, here on earth.  (John 8:37, 44; Galatians 3:16, 29) Satan inflicted an agonizing death on Jesus.  But this proved to be like a heel wound, for God resurrected his faithful Son on the third day. -Acts 10:38-40.

What about the Serpent and his seed?  About 56 C.E. the apostle Paul wrote a long letter to the Christians in Rome.  In concluding it, he encouraged them by saying:  "For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."  (Romans 16:20) This is more than a superficial bruising . Satan is to be  crushed!  Paul here used a Greek word syn-tri'bo, that means to bruise  into a jelly like state, to trample down, to destroy utterly by crushing.  As for the human seed of the Serpent, this is due for a real plaguing in the Lord's day, climaxing at the great tribulation in the complete crushing of Babylon the Great and the political system of the world, together with their financial  and military henchmen.  (Revelation, chapters 18 and 19) Thus Jehovah brings to a climax the enmity between the two seeds. The Seed of God's woman triumphs over the earthly see of Satan, and that seed is no more!

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head - Satan Abyssed

From the Book of Revelation

The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -Conclusion of The Great Evening Meal of God

Conclusion of The Great Evening Meal of God

 After the pouring out of the sixth bowl of Jehovah's wrath, John reported that "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" were gathered by demonic propaganda to "the battle of that great day of God Almighty."  This is fought at Armageddon-not a literal location, but the global situation that calls for the execution of Jehovah's judgment.  (Revelation 16:12,14, 16, King James Version)  Now John sees the battle lines. There, ranged against God, are all "the kings of the earth and their armies."  They have stubbornly refused to submit themselves to Jehovah's King.  He gave them fair warning in the inspired message:  "Kiss the son, that [Jehovah] may not be incensed and you may not perish from the way."  Not having submitted to Christ's rule, they must die. -Psalm 2:12.

The seven-headed, ten-horned wild beast out of the sea, representing Satan's political organization, is tumbled into oblivion, and along with it goes the false prophet, the seven world power.  (Revelation 13:1, 11-13; 16:13)  While still "alive," or still functioning in their united opposition to God's people on earth, they are cast into "the lake of fire."  Is this a literal lake of fire? No,  not anymore than the wild beast and the false prophet are literal animals.  Rather, it is a symbol of complete and final destruction, a place of no return.  Here is where, later, death and Hades, as well as the Devil himself, will be hurled.  (Revelation 20:10, 14)  It is certainly not an inferno of eternal torture for the wicked, since the very idea of such a place is detestable to Jehovah. -Jeremiah 19:5; 32:35; 1 John 4:8, 16.

All others who were not directly part of government but who were nevertheless an irreformable  part of  this corrupt world of mankind are likewise "killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse."  Jesus will pronounce them deserving of death.  Since in their case the lake of fire  is not mentioned, are we to expect that they will have a resurrection?  Nowhere are we told that those executed by Jehovah's Judge at that time are to be resurrected.  As Jesus himself stated, all those who are not "sheep"  go off into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels,"  That is, "into everlasting cutting-0ff."  (Matthew 25:33, 41, 46) This climaxes "the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men." -2 Peter 3:7; Nahum 1:2, 7-9; Malachi 4:1.

In this way, all of Satan's earthly organization comes to an end.  The "former heaven" of political ruler ship has passed away.  The "earth," the seemingly permanent system that Satan has built up over the centuries , is now utterly destroyed.  The "sea," the mass of wicked humanity opposed to Jehovah, is no more.  (Revelation 21:1; 2 Peter 3:10) What, though, does Jehovah have in store for Satan himself? John goes on to tell us.

Next time: Crushing the Serpent's Head

From the Book of Revelation

The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon - The Great Evening Meal of God

The Great Evening Meal of God

In Ezekiel's vision, after the destruction of Gog's crowd, the birds and the wild animals are invited to a feast!  They rid the landscape of carcasses by eating the dead bodies of Jehovah's enemies.  (Ezekiel 39:11, 17-20)  John's next words bring that earlier prophecy vividly to mind:  "I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: 'Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God, that you  may eat the fleshy parts of kings and the fleshy parts of military commanders and the fleshy parts of strong men and the fleshy parts of horses and of those seated upon them, and the fleshy parts of all, of freemen as well as of slaves an of small ones and great.' " -Revelation1 19:17, 18.

The angel is "standing in the sun," a commanding position for attracting the attention of the birds.  He invites them to be ready to gorge themselves on the flesh of those about to be slain by the Warrior-King and his heavenly armies.  The fact that the dead are to be left on the surface of the ground indicates that they will die in public shame.  Like Jezebel of old, they will not have an honorable burial.  (2 Kings 9:36, 37) The list of those whose corpses would be left lying there shows the range of the destruction: kings, military commanders, strong men, freemen and slaves.  No exceptions.  Every last trace of this rebellious world  in opposition to Jehovah will be eliminated.  After this, there will no more be a restless sea of confused humans.  (Revelation 21:1)  This is  "the great evening meal of God," who invites the birds to share therein.

John summarizes the course of the final war:  "And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front  of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur. But the rest were killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth.  And all the birds were filled from the fleshy parts of them." -Revelation 19:19-21.

Next time: The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -Conclusion of The Great Evening Meal of God

From the Book of Revelation

The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon - Conclusion of To the Final Battle!

Conclusion of To the Final Battle!

This mighty Warrior-King appears again in the next scene of the vision:  "He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty." (Revelation 19:15b) In a previous vision, John had already seen the treading of the "winepress of the anger of God." (Revelation 14:18-20)  Isaiah also describes  an executional winepress, and other prophets tell  how calamitous the day of God's anger will be for all the nations. -Isaiah 24:1-6 ; 63:1-4; Jeremiah 25:30-33; Daniel 2:44; Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah  14:3, 12, 13; Revelation 6:15-17.

 The prophet Joel associates a winepress with Jehovah's coming to "judge all the nations round about." And it is Jehovah who issues the command, no doubt to His associate Judge, Jesus and his heavenly armies: "Thrust in a sickly, for harvest has grown ripe.  Come, descend, for the winepress that has become full.  The press was actually overflow; for their badness has become abundant. Crowds, crowds are in the low plain of the decision, for the day of Jehovah is near in the low plain of the decision. Sun and moon themselves will certainly become dark, and the very stars will actually withdraw their brightness. And out of Zion Jehovah himself will roar, and out of Jerusalem he will give forth his voice. And heaven and earth certainly will rock; but Jehovah will be a refuge for his people, and a fortress for the sons of Israel.  And you people will have to know that I am Jehovah your God." -Joel 3:12-17.

That will be a day of doom, indeed, for disobedient nations and humans but a day of relief for all who have made Jehovah and his Warrior-King his refuge!  (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)  The judgment that started with the house of God in 1918 will have run through to its climax, answering the question at 1 Peter 4:17:  "What will the end be of those who are not obedient to the good news of God?"  The glorious Victor will have trodden the winepress to a finish, demonstrating that he is the exalted One of whom John says: "And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."  (Revelation 19:16)  He has proved to be far, far mightier than any earthly ruler, any human king or lord.  His dignity and splendor are transcendent.  He has ridden "in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness" and has triumphed for all time!  (Psalm 45:4)  Upon his blood-sprinkled garments is written the name bestowed on him by the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, whose Vindicator he is!

Next time: The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon - The Great Evening Meal of God

From the Book of Revelation

The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -To the Final Battle!

To the Final Battle!

By what authority does Jesus complete his conquest?  John informs us: "And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and  he will shepherd them with a rod of iron."  (Revelation 19:15a) That "sharp long sword" represents Jesus' God-given authority to issue orders for the execution of all who refuse to support God's Kingdom.  (Revelation 1:16; 2:16)  This vivid symbolism parallels Isaiah's  words: "He [Jehovah] proceeded to make my mouth like a sharp sword.  In the shadow of his hand he has hidden me.  And he gradually made me a polished arrow."  ( Isaiah 49:2)  Here Isaiah foreshadowed Jesus, who proclaims God's judgments and executes them, as with an unerring arrow.

At this point in time, Jesus will already have acted in fulfillment of Paul's written words: "Then, indeed,  the lawless 0ne  will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by  the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence."  Yes, Jesus' presence  (Greek, pa-rou-si' a) has been demonstrated from 1914 onward by the exposing and judging of the man of lawlessness, the clergy of Christendom.  That presence will be strikingly  manifested when the ten horns of the scarlet-colored wild beast execute that judgment and ravage Christendom along with the rest of Babylon the Great.  (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 8) That will be the start of the great tribulation!  After that, Jesus turns his attention  to what remains of Satan's organization  in line with the prophecy: "He must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death." -Isaiah 11:4.

The Warrior-King, as Jehovah's appointee, will make a distinction between those who will survive and those who will die.  Jehovah, speaking prophetically to this Son of God, says: "You will break them [earth's rulers] with an iron scepter, as though a potter's vessel you will dash them to pieces." And Jeremiah addresses such corrupt government leaders and their lackeys, saying:  "Howl, you shepherds, and cry out! And wallow about, you majestic ones of the flock, because your days of slaughtering and for your scatterings have been fulfilled, and you must fall like a desirable vessel!" However, desirable those rulers may have appeared to a wicked world, one blow from the Kings' iron scepter will shatter them, as if smashing an attractive vessel.  It will be just as David prophesied concerning the Lord Jesus:  "The rod of your strength Jehovah will send  out of Zion saying: 'Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.'  Jehovah at your right hand will certainly break kings to pieces on the day of his anger.  He will execute judgment among the nations; he will cause a fullness of dead bodies." -Psalm 2:9, 12; 83:17, 18; 110:1, 2, 5, 6; Jeremiah 25:34.

Next time: The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -Conclusion of To the Final Battle!

From the Book of Revelation

The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -Jesus' Fellow Warriors

Jesus' Fellow Warriors

Jesus is not alone in fighting this battle. John tells us:  "Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen." (Revelation 19:14)  The fact that the horses are "white" denotes righteous warfare.  "Fine linen" is appropriate for the King's horsemen, and its glistening, clean whiteness  indicates a pure, righteous standing before Jehovah.  Who, then, make up these "armies"?  Doubtless, they include the holy angels.  It was early in the Lord's day that Michael and his angels  hurled Satan and his demons out of heaven.  (Revelation 12:7-9)  Further, "all the angels" now attend upon Jesus as he sits on his glorious throne and proceeds to judge the nations and people of earth.  (Matthew 25:31, 32)  Surely, in  the decisive war, when God's judgments are executed to a finality, Jesus will again be accompanied by his angels.

others  too will be involve.  When sending his message to the congregation in Thyatira, Jesus promised:  "To him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations, and he shall shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels the same as I have received from my Father."  (Revelation 2:26, 27) Without a doubt, when the time comes, those of Christ's brothers already in heaven will have a part in shepherding people and nations with that iron rod.

What, though, of God's servants here one earth?  The John class will have no active part in the fighting at Armageddon; neither will its loyal companions, those peoples out of all nations who have been streaming to Jehovah's spiritual house of worship.  These peaceable humans have already beaten swords into plowshares.  (Isaiah 2:2-4)  Yet, they are very much involve! As we have already noted, it is Jehovah's seemingly defenseless people that are viciously attacked by Gog and all his crowd.  That is the signal for Jehovah's Warrior-King, supported by the armies in heaven, to start fighting a war of extermination against those nations.  (Ezekiel 39:6, 7, 11; compare Daniel 11:44-12:1) As spectators, God's people on earth will be most interested. Armageddon will mean their salvation, and they will live for eternity as having been eyewitnesses of Jehovah's great war of vindication. 

Does this mean that Jehovah's Witnesses are against all governments?  Far from it!  They obey the apostle Paul's counsel: "Let every soul be in subjection  to the superior authorities." They realize  that as long as the present system lasts, those  "superior authorities " exists by God's permission for maintaining a measure of order in human society.  (except Jehovah does not like it that our government are deceitful, corrupt, lying people and he will punish them when the time comes.)  Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses pay their taxes, obey the laws, respect traffic ordinances, comply with registration, and so forth.  (Romans  13:1, 6, 7)  Further they follow Bible principles in being truthful and honest; showing love of neighbor, building a strong moral family unit; and training their children to be exemplary citizens.  In this way they pay back not only "Caesar's  things to Caesar, but God's things to God."  (Luke 20:25; 1 Peter 2:13-17)  Since God's Word shows that the governmental powers of this world are temporary, Jehovah's Witnesses prepare now for the fuller life, the real life, soon to be enjoyed under Christ's Kingdom rule.  (1 Timothy 6:17-19)  Though they will have no part in overturning the powers of this world, the Witnesses experience reverential awe at what God's inspired Word, the Holy Bible, says regarding the judgment Jehovah is about to executed at Armageddon. -Isaiah 26:20, 21; Hebrews 12:28, 29.

Next time: The Warrior-King Triumphs at Armageddon -To  the Final Battle!

From the Book of Revelation