By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
LESSON NOTES:
I.
THE STRIFE IS O’ER THE BATTLE DONE. Jesus has come back to Earth along with His armies.
Nations that arose against He and His people have been defeated. The Antichrist
and the False Prophet are burning in the Lake of Fire forever. This brings to
mind an old hymn of the Church:
The
Strife Is O’er, the Battle Done[1]
o
Refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2.
The strife is o’er, the
battle done;
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun:
Alleluia!
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun:
Alleluia!
3.
The pow’rs of death have
done their worst;
But Christ their legions has dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst:
Alleluia!
But Christ their legions has dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst:
Alleluia!
4.
The three sad days are
quickly sped;
He rises glorious from the dead;
All glory to our risen Head:
Alleluia!
He rises glorious from the dead;
All glory to our risen Head:
Alleluia!
5.
He closed the yawning gates
of hell;
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise His triumphs tell:
Alleluia!
The bars from heav’n’s high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise His triumphs tell:
Alleluia!
6.
Lord, by the stripes which
wounded You,
In us You’ve won the vict’ry too,
That we may live, and sing to You:
Alleluia!
In us You’ve won the vict’ry too,
That we may live, and sing to You:
Alleluia!
o
Refrain 5:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
II.
SATAN BOUND 1,000 YEARS. Satan is not cast into Hell. He is cast into the
Bottomless pit. He is shut up in the pit for 1,000 years.
Revelation 20:1-3 1And I saw an angel coming down out
of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He
seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked
and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until
the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short
time.
A.
Satan’s reign of terror is over for all eternity! Being the prince of darkness that he is, even after being
loosed he still sets about to deceive people. What is even more intriguing is
that with Christ in His glory reigning on the Earth, you STILL have people that
are tricked by the Devil’s deception and yet try to war against God’s people. They
are executed and Satan himself is bound forever in torment in the Lake of Fire
and Brimstone!
Revelation 20:7-10 7When the thousand years are over,
Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive
the nations in the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog-and to gather them
for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They
marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's
people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And
the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where
the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and
night for ever and ever.
III.
JESUS CHRIST REIGNS ON EARTH 1,000 YEARS.
Revelation 20:4-6 4I saw thrones on which were seated
those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who
had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the
word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received
its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with
Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life
until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed
and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no
power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign
with him for a thousand years.
A.
JESUS REIGNS IN A PHYSICAL KINGDOM.
1.
UP TO THIS POINT THE KINGDOM HAS BEEN SPIRITUAL.
Luke
17:20-21 20And when he was demanded
of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and
said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither
shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is
within you.
Romans
14:17 17For the kingdom of God is
not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the
Holy Spirit,
2.
AT THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST; IT WILL BE A PHYSICAL
KINGDOM ON EARTH.
1 Kings 2:33
"So shall their
blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever;
but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne, may there be
peace from the LORD forever."
1 Kings 2:45
"But King
Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before
the LORD forever."
Psalm 89:29
"So I will
establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven.
Psalm 89:36
"His descendants
shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me.
Ezekiel 37:25
"They will live
on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and
they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons' sons, forever; and
David My servant will be their prince forever.
2 Samuel 7:13
"He shall build
a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
2 Samuel 7:16
"Your house and
your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established
forever."'"
1 Chronicles 22:10
'He shall build a
house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'
1 Chronicles 28:7
'I will establish his
kingdom forever if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as
is done now.'
Luke 1:32 32He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The LORD God will
give him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:33 33and
he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."
Isaiah 9:6-7 6For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the greatness of his government and
peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his
kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that
time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Luke 23:42 42Then
he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Acts 1:6-7 6Then
they gathered around him and asked him, "LORD, are you at this time going
to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It
is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority.
Mark 10:35-40 35Then
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they
said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36"What
do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37They replied,
"Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your
glory." 38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus
said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am
baptized with?" 39"We can," they answered. Jesus said
to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism
I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me
to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
Jeremiah 33:17 17For
this is what the LORD says: 'David will
never fail to have a
man to sit on the throne of Israel,
2 Samuel 7:11-13 11and
have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will
also give you rest from all your enemies. "'The LORD declares to you that
the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12When your days
are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to
succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He
is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne
of his kingdom forever.
B.
THE SAINTS REIGN WITH JESUS. In eternity we will be doing much more than, “walking
around Heaven all day,” or, “talking about the world that we’ve just come
through,” or “telling God how you treated me, since I’ve laid my burden down.”
We shall rule, judge and reign with Christ.
Daniel 7:27.
Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him."
Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him."
1 Corinthians 6:1-3.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
2 Timothy 2:12.
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
Revelation 5:10.
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.'
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.'
C.
TRIBULATION CITIZENS JUDGED. The righteous and unrighteous will be judged. Even though
there is tremendous wickedness during the Tribulation; some people will really
try to look out for God’s people.
Matthew 25:31-46 New International Version (NIV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels
with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he
will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats. 33 He will put
the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world. 35 For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When
did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one
of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you
who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. 42 For I
was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger
and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was
sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help
you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one
of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous
to eternal life.”
D.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN OF JESUS
CHRIST.
1.
Long life.
Isaiah 65:17-24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed.
21 “They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 “They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands.
23 “They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them.
And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed.
21 “They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 “They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands.
23 “They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them.
24 It
will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while
they are still speaking, I will hear.
2.
No violence.
Isaiah 11:1-9 New
International Version (NIV)
11 A shoot will come up from the
stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his
eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
IV.
THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.
Revelation 20:11-15 11Then I saw a great white throne
and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,
and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and
small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened,
which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done
as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in
it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was
judged according to what they had done. 14Then death and Hades were
thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15Anyone
whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake
of fire.
A.
DIFFERENCE FROM THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the saints are saved and
“made it,” but their works are judged (that is their ministry and service to
God). While they are saved, there is the possibility that their works might be
burned up. Saints belong to God. Thus, we must give an account of every deed
done in our body.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 10By the grace God has given me, I
laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But
each one should build with care. 11For no one can lay any foundation
other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone
builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or
straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day
will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test
the quality of each person's work. 14If what has been built
survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up,
the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one
escaping through the flames.
James 3:1 1Not many of you should become
teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be
judged more strictly.
Hebrews 13:17 17Have confidence in your leaders
and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who
must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no benefit to you.
1 Peter 5:1-4 1To the elders among you, I appeal
as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in
the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under
your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are
willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to
serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you
will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 Corinthians 5:10 10For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the
things done while in the body,
whether good or bad.
B.
HOWEVER, THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT IS WHAT IS KNOWN
POPULARLY “JUDGMENT DAY.” Here the masses are
judged for every deed done in their body. This will determine the amount of
punishment received. Many will be cast into the Lake of Fire And Brimstone,
because their names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life (remember, there
are many that get saved during the Tribulation; they would be a part of this
Judgment, their names are written in the Book of Life).
Matthew 10:15
"Truly I say to
you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of
judgment than for that city.
Matthew 11:22
"Nevertheless I
say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment
than for you.
Matthew 12:36
"But I tell you
that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for
it in the day of judgment.
2 Peter 2:9
then the Lord knows
how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under
punishment for the day of judgment,
2 Peter 3:7
But by His word the
present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of
judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
1 John 4:17
By this, love is
perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;
because as He is, so also are we in this world.
Acts 17:31
because He has fixed
a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He
has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the
dead."
Romans 2:16
on the day when,
according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
Ezekiel 7:12
'The time has come,
the day has arrived Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn; for wrath
is against all their multitude.
Jeremiah 23:12
"Therefore their
way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the
gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of
their punishment," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 63:4
"For the day of
vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come.
Isaiah 2:12
For the LORD of hosts
will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty And
against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased.
Isaiah 34:8
For the LORD has a
day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
Luke 21:22
because these are
days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.
C.
THE WICKED WILL BE RESURRECTED JUST LIKE THE RIGHTEOUS. Notice in Revelation 20:11-15 the wicked dead rise,
just as the righteous dead have arisen. Everyone will rise. Some to life and
some to eternal damnation.
Daniel 12:2 Contemporary English Version. Many of those who lie dead in the ground will rise
from death. Some of them will be given eternal life, and others will receive
nothing but eternal shame and disgrace.
D.
THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH. After Jesus puts down all rebellion against God (during
the 1,000 Year Reign), Death will burn in the Lake for all eternity. Jesus will
hand over all dominion to the Father. This may sound confusing to some; but it
basically means that the plan of redemption has come to a close. Those who are
saved are saved. Those who are damned are damned. This entire episode in the
history of humanity (that is: creation, innocence, fall, sin, redemption) has
all come to a close.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 New International Version (NIV)
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a
man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all
will be made alive. 23 But
each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who
belong to him. 24 Then the
end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he
has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For
he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his
feet.”Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear
that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son
himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that
God may be all in all.
E.
WILL THE RIGHTEOUS BURN FOR ETERNITY OR BE ANNIHILATED?
1.
Some verses seem to indicate that the wicked will be
annihilated or destroyed.
Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.
Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2.
However, the following verses speak of eternal
punishment.
Daniel 12:2 Contemporary English Version. Many of those who lie dead in the ground will rise
from death. Some of them will be given eternal life, and others will receive
nothing but eternal shame and disgrace.
Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the
furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived
them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the
false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
V.
CONCLUSION. Jesus is coming back.
Don’t get left behind! Receive Christ today as Lord and Savior.
A.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION FOR YOU TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST; THE
SON OF THE LIVING GOD.[2] As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray
this simple prayer:
"Father,
I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I
promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my
sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from
the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You,
Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live
for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/The_Strife_Is_Oer_the_Battle_Done/. (Accessed, April 6, 2020).
[2] http:www.joycemeyer.orgOurMinistriesEverydayAnswersHow+to+Become+a+Christian. (Accessed, March 2, 2011).
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