A millennium is a 1000-year period of time. Between the Second Coming of Jesus which will end this evil age and the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth, that time of universal peace on earth will be sandwiched in. It will be the same terrestrial globe we are now living on before it is renovated, but it will not be in the same condition as now; for the curse will be lifted. Which means there will be no sickness, poverty, pain or untimely death during that time—for those who do not rebel. But, the fact that we resurrected saints under Christ will rule with a “rod of iron” those survivors of the Battle of Armageddon implies that some during that thousand-year slice of eternity will not right-up-front willingly fit in with the absolute rule of that Total Theocracy—God rule.

There will be no appeals courts for offenders. Instant justice! Obviously, many will not like that, although that will be a time of universal peace. No one will have to fear walking in the dark at night, for no theft, rape or murder will be allowed. Yet, obviously forgetting all the many blessings provided during that time period, when given the opportunity, multitudes will join that newly-released devil (who will himself be enraged over his 1000 year confinement, being unable during that dark time to tempt angels or human beings), enlisting in his rebel army to help him make one final attempt to overthrow the very Creator of the universe. (Not smart!)     

There will be no swords brandished in that final battle, for fire coming down from the very God they will be rebelling against will devour them all (Revelation 20:9). This verse implies that that great battle will not last very long. How long it will take Satan to gather the multitudes around Jerusalem is not mentioned. But, it will not take long for God to defeat Satan’s purpose, and to demonstrate to those rebels the utter stupidity of their decision to follow God’s enemy. Their freedom from God-rule will be very short-lived. (Again, not smart on their part.)     The multitudes of Millennial residents who participate in that final rebellion will obviously make some most unwise decisions. For a little while, through the devil’s deceptions, it will seem like they are finally going to be in control of their own destiny. But a point I want to make here is that human nature is the same today. Many in the modern world continue to make choices that make no sense in light of Bible Truth. And we will all have to face that truth sooner or later!     A final Bible Truth I want to get across in today’s end-time lesson is that, in chapter 20 of Revelation, there is no trial for the devil. In verses eleven through 15, we read about the Great White Throne judgment of the resurrected sinners. Yes, the wicked will have resurrected bodies too, which will be tormented in the Lake of Fire, but will not be consumed. Suffering eternally! But, we find no trial or tribunal for the devil. John 12:31 and 16:11 tell us plainly that, the ruler of this age WAS judged and cast out. That happened through the cross-event.

(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Revelation 19:13 tells us that White-Horse-Rider was clothed with a robe dipped in blood. That was not His blood, but the blood of all those slain with that double-edged sword coming out of His mouth (verse 15). Christ’s blood has already been deposited on the altar of the heavenly Holy of Holies (Hebrews 9:12). Isaiah 63:3 prophesied that very event and identifies the blood that will stain Christ’s robe in that battle.      In the same verse, the White-Horse-Rider is identified as the Word of God. Our Lord was known as the Word of God before He became flesh (John 1:1, 14, 1 John 5:7), and maintains that same title in Revelation. Christ’s manhood did not alter his Godhood.    

Revelation 19:14 reveals that Christ will not be alone in the battle of Armageddon. He will be accompanied by all of us resurrected saints. And we will also be riding white horses—but obviously not flesh-and-blood horses. But something I never noticed until preparing this lesson; our garments will be white and clean linen robes. They will not be stained with blood. Nothing is said about us carrying any weaponry. We will simply come along for the ride and to view God’s judgments upon rebellious mankind and the devil. We resurrected saints will surely see that one angel put a chain on the devil and throw him into the Abyss (Revelation 20:1-2). Many have been awaiting that day!     The same verse that tells about that mouth-sword also says the Lord will rule them with a rod of iron. That verse must be referring to not only Christ’s victory in the battle of Armageddon but also to His iron-rule during the Millennium. The word rule implies that those ruled over will be living, not dead, as the multitudes will be at Armageddon. But verse 15 does refer primarily to the battle of Armageddon and likens it to treading grapes in a winepress—grape juice representing the blood coming from the multitudes. John described it as the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God! And, Jesus Christ will be the Authorized Dispenser of that divine wrath upon the rebels—For on His robe and on His thigh was written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.     The gory details of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21: An angel standing in the sun cried out with a loud voice, inviting the birds of heaven to come to the feast which God Himself had prepared for them. The angel called it the supper of the Great God; saying the birds could eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men (the warriors), and horses. From other Scripture passages, we know that every nation will be represented in that battle of Armageddon. That statue Nebuchadnezzar saw represented every nationality of the human race, from Daniel’s day to the end of this age. Isaiah 66:18 says God will gather all nations to see His glory—His defeat of rebellious mankind. Many have asked if the United States will be involved in Armageddon, and, if so, which side will they be on. ALL nations will definitely take part in that great battle, but not every citizen of every nation will be involved. Remember that many people will be beheaded because they refuse to take the mark of the beast—Antichrist. Therefore, they surely will not go to war to fight his cause. They will have already given their lives for Christ’s cause.     Also remember that man has an agenda, the devil has an agenda, and Deity has an agenda. Outwardly, the Antichrist and his armies will attempt to annihilate Israel once and for all. But in reality, Satan, the beast, and his armies will be attempting to defeat Christ Himself (Revelation 19:19). The next verse fills us in on the outcome.
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Dozens of times in the Book of Ezekiel God said, “Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Those statements almost always pointed to some divine activity concerning last days events. When I have My final say, God was saying, then you will know that those things I promised throughout history have certainly come to pass. That will be true for both those who are living during the Tribulation and for those who have died and gone on to their wanted or unwanted reward. So the book of Revelation is NOT a publication of mysterious, symbolic gobbledy-gook, but rather a Holy-Spirit-inspired record before it happens of what is going to happen at the end of the present age. There are symbols in Revelation, but they are all explained either in the book of Revelation itself, or in the prophecies of some other Bible book. The very term revelation means to make known!

     What has God been making known all along through His Word? For one thing, man in his fallen state, is not on an upward path, getting better and better as time goes on, but instead is on a downward path toward hell. And even before death, more and more earthlings are experiencing hell-like conditions around the world. One reason so many immigrants are fleeing their home country and seeking more palatable conditions here in this country—USA. You see, one cannot adequately talk Bible things without getting into political things. Impossible! The devil is the ultimate culprit behind both the world system and the religious system—both those ungodly religions around this planet, and what men have turned genuine Bible-Christianity into. The book of Revelation exposes the religious system, as well as the Antichrist system. Moreover, those ten kings under the Antichrist will actually turn on the very religious system which helped put them in power and will destroy it. Refer to Revelation 17:15-18. And that proves that religion is merely a tool Satan uses to further his agenda of stealing, killing, and destroying. That woman riding the beast is how God sees that religious monster. And as for those kings turning on the woman (the overall religious system of this fallen world), John said that God Himself will turn her over to those ten kings and their kingdom so that God’s plan will be accomplished. As I said in a previous article, although Satan and the Antichrist will think that they are in control, planning to wipe Israel off the map, God Himself will prove that His plan will prevail. There is no wisdom, or understanding, or counsel that can prevail against the Lord—Proverbs 21:30. God’s words will prevail over all others.     History, including prophesied history—history which has not yet been fulfilled—will prove that God is demonstrating to fallen man that HIS STORY is going downhill. Man, outside of God, cannot succeed, let alone prevail. Existence without God is both empty and futile. And even if a man apparently succeeds in this life—apparently without God and even contrary to God—what will it profit him in the long run? “What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and [in the process] loses his own soul (Mark 8:36)?” The Antichrist will obviously be deceived by the devil into thinking that he will prevail over God and His prophecies, but will actually fulfill them. Praise God! In light of these Bible Truths, let everyone get aligned with the redemption side of God’s Word.
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Is God in control? Is the devil in control? Or, are human beings in control? Looking at history and current events, it is difficult to tell. (I have not abandoned the subject of that last-days event.) The primary reason such confusion abounds in the world today is that most people do not understand the Bible truth that God has a part in both history and current events, the devil has a part, and man has a part.

Those parts getting mixed up causes the confusion. The Bible helps us get a grasp on what is going on in this world. I also need to say that history used to be current events. Current events are history in the making. Let us look at what the Bible says about what part each of the characters plays in the development of history. God’s Word accurately answers a lot of questions, and dispels a lot of confusion about a lot of things. God does not lie about anything!     One of the first questions to be answered is: Why do the devil and man have a part in working out history? Primarily because God, our Creator, gave His moral creatures a free will. God did not create the devil. He created angels, and gave them the freedom to chose. And one of His chief angels, Lucifer, used that freedom to rebel against God, and become God’s adversary—Satan, and the devil. God also created man with a free will, and gave him dominion over the earth and all that is in it. Free will, Lucifer’s fall and man’s dominion opened the door for some interesting history to unfold. Man had to be tested for loyalty, so God permitted man to be exposed to the Adversary—Satan.     Satan is only an angel—a created being. His attempt to be like the Most High God reveals his self-deception. No creature can be the Creator! So, himself having failed in that endeavor, the devil come to the Garden of Eden and slyly sold Eve (and Adam) on the same idea—that they could be like the Most High God. Self-deception endeavours to spread that same deception to other beings. Lucifer, having gotten himself into eternal trouble with the Creator through his rebellion, he knew that Adam and Eve would also endanger themselves by disobeying God. Thus began the human history tragedy.     Now, Deity does not take back what He has freely given; but His promises are given with conditions attached. He also tacks onto those freedoms some strict warnings. He told Adam and Eve what would happen if they disobeyed, and it happened just like He said it would. Surely, the angels were given some warnings regarding rebellion as well.      God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). That does not mean that He has planned everything that happens (as John Calvin taught). It just means that He is very smart. God knows how His creation operates because He designed creation. Thus He knows what will result from certain actions. He knows how gravity works because He created gravity. So, even though God did not plan for people to fall and get hurt, He knows that people will get hurt if they fall. Satan tried to trip up the Lord on that issue in those temptations in the wilderness when he suggested Christ could jump off a cliff and not get hurt (Luke 4:9-12). Christ knew better, because He knew the Word of God.      God gave us creatures a lot of freedom, but He also has an overall plan for creation, and He will make everything eventually fit into that plan. Isaiah 46:11: “I have spoken it, and so I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it, and I also will do it.” Proverbs 16:4: “The Lord has made all things for Himself; even the wicked for the day of doom.”Made, not created. Big difference! Next time I will present the Bible explanation.  (Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

Human beings have been from the beginning representatives of the Creator. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:26).” And that dominion extended even into outer space. Read Psalms 8:3-8. Angels, who were created long before man came on the scene, were made to be God’s servants.