Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City - Measuring the City - Conclusion

 The 144-cubit-high walls remind us that the city is made up; of 144,000 spiritually adopted sons of God. 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 superbly designated organizational arrangement for accomplishing God's 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 without irregularities or defects. - REVELATION 21:22. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent 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 its wall. And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as it 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 an angel's." (Revelation 21:13-17) 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 this glorious city.

What a remarkable city this is! A perfect cube 12,000 furlongs (about 1, 380 miles) in perimeter to, surrounded by a wall 144 cubits or 210 feet, in height. No literal city could 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 signs. So what do these measurements tell us about heavenly New Jerusalem? 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City

 On its 12 gates, there are inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Therefore, this symbolic city is made up of 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 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 uncleans humans. (Genesis 3:24) Similarly, angels are posted at each entrance of the holy city Jerusalem to ensure spiritual security of the city. Indeed, throughout the last days, of anointed Christians, which becomes New Jerusalem, from Babylonish contamination. - MATTHEW 13:41. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City

 New Jerusalem is breathtaking in its beauty: "Its radiance was like most precious stone, as japer stone shining like 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 of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israe. 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 gates of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve tribes 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/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 spirit, 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 again: "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 anticipation 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 spiritual city, composed of the 144,000 loyal integrity keepers, resplendent in its holiness and reflecting the very glory of Jehovah. Here is the grand Revelation climax! 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Conclusion

 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.(Revelation18:8, 21) Likewise, any of the anointed 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 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. 

Outstanding as conquerors are the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and his bride of 144,000, New Jerusalem. How fitting, then, that Revelation should be brought to a sublime climax by a final transcendent view of New Jerusalem! John now describes one last vision. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Continue

 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 fornications, and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion 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. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering

 Those who are drink of the 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 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.

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth -"Water" for the Thirsty Ones

 It is Jehovah himself who declares :"To anyone thirsting I will will give from the fountain of the water of life free." (Revelation 216b) 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 Samari. He told her "Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will get thirsty at all, but the water I will give him will become a fountain of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life." That fountain of 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 other the good news! -JOHN 4:14, 15, 28, 29. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 It is as though Jehovah himself were signing for faithful mankind a guarantee, or title deed, to these future blessings. Who would dare to question such a Guarantor?  Why so certain are these promises of Jehovah that he speaks as if they were already fulfilled: "They have 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: "Look! I am making all things new"!  Rather than questioning whether these marvels will really happen, surely we should be wondering: 'What do I have to do to inherit such blessings?' 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 "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 lamb 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 John goes 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 any more. 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 25:8; 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 ever 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 a paradise that is both spiritual and physical. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a 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 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 promise 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 42:23, 24) What a lofty privilege for restored humanity! 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 John continues: "And I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelations 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 became the seat of government in ancient Israel, the magnificent New Jerusalem and her Bridegroom make u[ 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 helpmeet in operating a righteous government over all mankind. A blessing indeed for the new earth!

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Chapter Forty-Two/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, the sea in 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 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 the 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"- a new earthly society under a new government, God's Kingdom. - Compare REVELATION 20:11. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome -The End of Death and Hades - Concusion

 Thus, the program that the apostle Paul describe3s in his letter to the Corinthians will come to completion: "For [Jesus] must rule as king until God has put all his 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, 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 the 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 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! - LUKE13:24; REVELATION 20:5. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - 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." (Revelation20:14, 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 long as humans are tainted by inherited sin, Adamic 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. Then Adamic death, along with Hades, is "hurled into the lake of fire." They will be gone forever!

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Chapter Fort-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - Opening Other Scrolls - Conclusion

 With regard to the earthly resurrection, Jesus said that 'those who did good things come out to resurrection of life, those who practice 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 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." 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment -It's Joyful Outcome - Opening Other Scrolls - Continue

 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 million of studies based on the Bible and the new scrolls, will no doubt be conducted! All of God's people will need to be God's 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 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 Jehovha 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - 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 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 TIMOTHY1:8-11; 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 instructions 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 or 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Justice - It's Joyful Outcome -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 a 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 name of others that come to qualify. Those whose names do not get written 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 it 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 an 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment - It's Joyful Outcome - Who Are Raised and Judged? -Conclusion

 Whom, 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - Who Are Raised and Judged -Continue-

 On the other hand, some will be specially favored in the resurrection. The apostle Paul indicate 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 24:15) With regard to the earthly resurrection, "the righteous" will include faithful men and women of old-Abraham, Rahab, and many other - 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.

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Judgment Day -It's Joyful Outcome - Who Are Raised and Judged?

 Jon 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 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 play a part, but note that those terms are not mutually exclusive. Jonah, when in the belly of a fish and therefore in the mist of the sea, spoke of himself as being in Sheol, or Hades. (Jona 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 on 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 goatlike 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! 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment -It's Joyful Outcome - The Thousand-Year Judgment Day - Conclusion

 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 do 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 ablet 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome

 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 his rulership. (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 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 Juge decrees another Day of Judgment. 

Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome -The Thousand-Year Judgment Day

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome

 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 white throne and the one seated on it. From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them." (Revelation 20:11) What is this great white throne"? It can me none 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' ransom 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment -It's Final Outcome

 AS HUMANS, we were created to live forever if Adam and Eve had 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 their offspring, and death 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 is only-begotten Son, Jesus who gave his perfect 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 life 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. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - Torment Day and Night Forever - Conclusion

 In this way the final detail of that prophecy recorded at Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled. When Satan is hurled into the lake of fire, he will become as dead as s 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 an 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'? (Revelation17:14) To answer, John brings us back once again to the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - Tormented Day and Night Forever - Continue

 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 him 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 the 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 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, the, they will also be destroyed with him in the lake of fire and sulfur. -MATTHEW 8:29. 

Next time: Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpents' Head - Tortured Day and Night Forever - Conclusion

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - 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 touchtone." 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 touchtone on the issue of rightness and righteousness of Jehovah's rule. That issue of Sovereign rulership 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. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Lake of Fire and Sulfur - Conclusion

 All of this reinforces 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." (Jude7) 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, this is no mention of a key for opening the lake of fire and sulfur. (Revelation 1:18; 20:1) It will never release its captives. - Compare MARK 9:43-47. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - 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 describe 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 merely being 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 f0r all eternity, Jehovah would not have to preserve him alive. Yes, life is 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 that later that death itself, along with Hades cannot suffer pain! - REVELATION 20:14. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Final Test Conclusion

 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 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 at 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 the holy ones, the Lord Jesus regards it as an assault on him. (Matthew25:40, 45) "Those nations" will try to wipe out all that the heavenly Jerusalem has accomplished in making earth a paradise. So, in attacking "the camp of the holy ones," they are also attacking "the beloved city." 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Final Test - Continue

 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, upbuilding theocratic rule? Well, do not forget that Satan was ablet o 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. 

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 "think up an injurious scheme," as did the Gog and 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." 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The Final Test

 By the end of the Thousand Year Reign, all earth will have come to resemble the original Eden. It will be veritable paradise. Perfect mankind will no longer need a high priest to intercede 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The First Resurrection - Conclusion

 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 a 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 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 lift 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. 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - The First Resurrection

 Returning now to those who "came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ," John writes: "This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:5b) How is it the first? It is "the first resurrection " as to time, for the ones who experience it are a "firstfruits to God and to importance, since those who share in it become corulers with Jesush in his heavenly Kingdom and judge the rest of mankind. Finally, it is in quality. Apart from Jesus Christ himself, those raise in the first resurrection are the only creatures spoken of in the Bible as receiving immorality. - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:53; 1 TIMOTH 6:16.

What blessed prospect fir 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 a resurrection. (Revelation 2:11; 20:14) The second death has "no authority" over such conquerors, for they will have to put on incorruption and immorality. - 1 CORINTHIANS  15:53.

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - 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 back 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 meaning in varying circumstances. For example, Paul said of his anointed fellow Christians: "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 at to a friendship with God; and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were spoken of as "living" even though they were physically dead. (Matthew 22:31, 32; James 2:21, 23) However, they and all others who are resurrected, as well as the great crowd of faithful other sheep who survive Armageddon and any children that may been 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 test, but they will face that test as perfect humans. As we shall see, they must then pass a final test, but they will face that test as perfect 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! 

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Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - Judges for a Thousand Years - Conclusion

 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 a gift of immoral life in the heavens. - 2 THESSALONIANS1:7; 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, undefined number, as at 1 Samuel 21:11. But here the "thousands " 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." (Acts17:31) Since Peter tell us that one day with Jehovah is a thousand years, it is appropriate that this day of Judgment be a literal thousand years." - 2 PETER 3:8. 

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