“No one will enter the New World Order unless he or she will make a pledge to worship Lucifer. No one will enter the New Age unless he will take a Luciferian Initiation” (David Spangler, Director of Planetary Initiative, United Nations).
Previously, in this on-going chapter-by-chapter look at the book of Revelation, the subject of the battle of Armageddon seen in Revelation 19 was examined as given by John the Apostle and other prophets of the Bible. Here, we will continue our trek through the book of Revelation with the next chapter – chapter 20 and its documentation of the approaching fall of the evil one – Lucifer a.k.a. Satan.
Only fifteen verses are given over to a description of the seventh millennium. But the thoughts of such a time stagger the imagination. The Apostle Paul wrote …
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Most of the verses in Revelation 20 are taken up with God’s judgment of the wicked. They begin with an angel locking up the devil in the bottomless pit …
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1-3).
It is now time for God to deal with the great deceiver of mankind at this point in the timeline of God’s grand plan. During the just-concluded Tribulation Period, upwards to half of Earth’s population were killed as a result of the mind-bending judgments released upon the human race, much of it through the lifting of God’s protective hedge on the earth and carried out through man’s wicked intent on enslaving mankind and killing off those who would use up the planet’s natural resources. All of this fueled by the control that demonic entities wield over man and his governments (see the following highly recommended interview starting at the 18:29 time mark here). They had set out to solve the problem of an ever-expanding growth in population.
Their vast armies were convinced into thinking that they were serving a greater cause. The rulers that ruled over them were demonically duped, swayed and possessed with the notion that they could create their own self-styled utopia and repopulate the nations with a superior and more loyal race of slaves.
History is strewn with the countless bodies of the victims of misguided armies. Their goals were couched in measured words, framed with lofty phrases to engender loyalty and patriotic pride, while the real motives were classified top secret. The public has never been told some of the real reasons for history’s wars.
There is one mind behind history’s outbursts of inhumanity – the devil a.k.a. Lucifer/Satan himself. It is now time to deal with him. At the conclusion of Armageddon, we are told that he is incarcerated in the nether world – restrained from invading Earth for the next one-thousand years.
Satan’s Four Names
Just as four names were used to describe the glorious appearing of the Savior, four names are used here to describe Heaven’s infamous foe: “the Dragon, the Old Serpent, the Devil and Satan.”
The term “dragon” represents his political aspirations to control the governments of this world. He is the power behind the thrones of all despots. He delights in cloak and dagger intrigue, pitting one politician against another, one king against another, one race against another, one religion against another, etc., until he is in complete control. His goal is to put himself upon Earth’s throne in the form of the Antichrist.
His political prowess is designated as “dragon power.” But when Armageddon is over, and Earth’s armies are defeated, dragon power ceases to exist. When this evil entity returns at the close of the seventh millennium, the term “dragon” is not used. He can no longer influence kings. They are appointed by Christ himself. The dragon is no longer welcome in the halls of government. He can only return as Satan and the devil, as we shall see.
The second name for this evil entity is “the old serpent.” The term “old” reminds us that he was in Eden. He was the one who deceived Eve into partaking of the forbidden fruit. He is responsible for the fall of the entire human race. The term “serpent” is used to refer to his subtle and deceitful abilities. His influence upon the minds of humankind is notorious. Not only was he able to beguile the first couple in Paradise, he continues to stir rebellion among all groups, be they political or religious. Divide and conquer is his method of operation.
Joseph Seiss writes …
“It is as the serpent that he deceives souls, insinuates false doctrine, unbelief and presumption into the human heart, corrupts the purity of the Church and deludes human beings with a false and perverted widsom” (Apocalypse, page 144).
With his incarceration in the bottomless pit for the next thousand years, his ability to use his “serpent” power to deceive the good amongst human beings is ended. The saints are now beyond his ability to trick and tempt. The power of deception used to foment the final battle of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9) cannot infect those who have been saved. Only the unsaved will join this malignant wickedness after a thousand years of peace on Earth. When he returns to this planet, he is only seen as the “devil” and “Satan.”
The term “devil” refers to a slanderer and liar. With this aspect of his character, he told Eve that God didn’t really mean what he said. He suggested that Eve would not really die, but that she would become godlike, knowing good and evil. He lied to her and slandered God, implying that her Creator was somehow less than pure.
Jesus reminds us of his character, saying …
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).
It is with this characteristic that he returns to Earth at the close of the Kingdom Age and stirs up the unsaved wicked against Christ. He is the “devil.”
Finally, there is “Satan” (1 Chronicles 21:1), a term that refers to “an adversary and accuser.” It is a Hebrew word, transliterated into English. It is used 40 times throughout scripture, suggesting one who opposes, lies in wait, snares and brings down. Before Adam and Eve, he accused God. Before God, he accused Job. In Revelation 12:10, he is called, “the accuser of our brethren.”
It is in this capacity that he reappears at the close of the Kingdom Age to stir up all those who harbored rebellion against the Savior. For a thousand years, Christ reigns upon Earth, offering eternal life, but forcing no one to receive it against their own personal will. The invitation will be extended to them just like it is today, but not all will accept it. Those will be easy prey for Satan when he returns.
The Angel with the Key
Having read about the horrific slaughter on the battlefields of Armageddon, the consignment of the beast and false prophet to the Lake of Fire; and the feast of Earth’s fowls, we come now to the angel with the key to the bottomless pit.
Once again, we are not given the name of this angel, but many scholars assume that he is none other than Christ himself. It is possible that certain other angels, who provide specific tasks in the book of Revelation, are simply manifestations of Christ. Jesus wants to be known as the “Lamb.”
But, when it comes to the work of bringing judgment upon others, he assumes another identity. The Savior does not want to be identified with negative, though necessary, work. He would rather have us think of him in more positive terms while at the same time making it clearly abundant to us in scripture that the fate of the unsaved (those who have rejected him as the only door to Heaven) is not a pleasant one and will result in condemnation in the afterlife.
The Lamb opens the seven-sealed scroll and gives us an overview of the Tribulation Period. But the first order of judgment from Heaven comes when “another angel” takes live coals from the altar and casts them to the earth. This angel performs the task of the heavenly priesthood. Yet, we are shown a view of Christ standing at the Temple Menorah in chapter 1, dressed in the garments of the heavenly priesthood. Therefore, that “another angel” is likely an altered view of Christ.
In chapter 10, “another mighty angel” descends with an opened scroll in his hand. He stands as a conqueror claiming both land and sea. Earlier, this scroll was opened by the Lamb. Therefore, this “another mighty angel” is likely an altered view of Christ.
In chapter 18, “another angel” descends to oversee the destruction of Mystery Babylon. We are told, “the earth was lightened with his glory.” All previous biblical descriptions of glory lighting up the earth are ascribed to Deity, it is likely that this “another angel” is an altered view of Christ.
In the passage before us, the “angel” has “the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” Since Jesus tells John that he holds “the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18) we may assume that he has a key to the bottomless pit as well. In chapter 9, we are told that the key was given to Apollyon. However, after Apollyon’s defeat, it is possible that Christ retrieved the key for the purpose of incarcerating the devil with a thousand-year sentence in that same bottomless pit.
When Christ is first announced, he is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David.” However, when he appears, he is described as “a Lamb as it had been slain.” When he appears in Revelation 19, he is a great warrior upon a white horse making war with the armies of the world. But when he appears to incarcerate this fallen angel, he appears as an “angel.” His appearances seem to change to fit the occasion of his work.
Though the archangel Michael fought against the dragon in chapter 12, he was only able to drive him out of Heaven. Here, however, the dragon is chained in the abyss, a deed that calls for a far more powerful judgment than Michael is capable of carrying out.
We are told that the angel uses a great chain to bind the dragon and somehow confine him from this realm for the duration of the seventh millennium. It is no mere chain of iron or steel, but a special heavenly chain capable of binding the devil himself.
The Doctrine of Hell
This “bottomless pit” is written in the Greek text as abusson, meaning “abysss.” It is the same term used in Revelation 9:11; 11:7 and 17:8 to describe the ascent of the Antichrist. Apollyon is his name. He is the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit and goes into “perdition” (ἀπώλειαν).
This “bottomless pit” is a different place than the “lake of fire,” into which the beast and false prophet are cast.
A thousand years later, the devil will join them there, but at the onset of Christ’s kingdom, he is chained in the bottomless pit, a region separate from both “hades” and the “lake of fire.”
There are several compartments in the nether world that we should explore here. The term “hell” is of Hebrew origin, being the name הֵילֵ֣ל given to the devil in Isaiah 14:12, and translated into Latin as “Lucifer.” “Hell” is a term loosely used by the KJV translators when referring to the underworld. It became the English word for the Old Testament שְׁאוֺל sheol and the New Testament ᾅδῃ hades (Luke 16:23).
The translators of the KJV also used the term “hell” to describe the Greek term γέενναν Gehenna (Matthew 5:22;29). However, the Hebrew term for Gehenna is Tophat …
“For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it” (Isaiah 30:33).
“And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place” (Jeremiah 7:31-32).
The Greek term Gehenna, derived from the term “valley of the sons of Hinnom,” is used 12 times in the New Testament and refers to the “lake of fire” – the place of final punishment. It is said to be a separate region of the nether world, far below hades.
Another region separate from hades is a place called tartarus. The Apostle Peter refers to it in his second epistle …
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).
Although the KJV translators called this place “hell,” Peter used the Greek term ταρταρώσας – tartarus. It is a separate place from the other regions of the underworld.
The Old Testament Sheol and New Testament Hades are the same place. Jewish sages taught that there are two compartments to Sheol, a region of darkness and a region of light, with a great gulf fixed between them.
However, those in torment can see the saints in the region of light. The region of light is called “Paradise,” or the “bosom of Abraham.” Jesus lends authenticity to this teaching as he tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Both died and went to Sheol. The rich man was tormented in “Hell,” while Lazarus resided in comfort in the “bosom of Abraham.” Josephus explains this concept in his dissertation on Hades …
“Hades is a place … not regularly finished; a subterraneous region, wherein the light of this world does not shine … but there must be in it perpetual darkness. This region is allotted as a place of custody for souls, in which angels are appointed as guardians to them …
“In this region there is a certain place set apart, as a lake of unquenchable fire, where into we suppose no one hath hitherto been cast; but it is prepared for a day afore-determined by God, in which one righteous shall deservedly be passed upon all men; when the unjust … shall be adjudged to this everlasting punishment … while the just shall obtain an incorruptible and never-fading kingdom. These are now indeed confined in Hades, but not in the same place wherein the unjust are confined.
“For there is one descent into this region, at whose gate we believe there stands an archangel … but are just and guided to the right hand, and are led with hymns, sung by the angels appointed over that place, into a region of light, in which the just have dwelt from the beginning of the world; not constrained by necessity, but by ever enjoying the prospect of the good things they see, and rejoice in the expectation of those new enjoyments, which will be peculiar to every one of them and esteeming those things beyond what we have here; with whom there is no place of toil, no burning heat, no piercing cold, nor are any briers there; but the countenance of the fathers and of the just, which they see always smiles upon them, while they wait for that rest and eternal new life in heaven, which is to succeed this region. This place we call ‘The Bosom of Abraham.’
“But as to the unjust, they are dragged by force to the left hand by the angels allotted for punishment, no longer going with a good-will, but as prisoners driven by violence … [Author Note]: Many may remember the movie called “Ghost,” wherein two of the movie’s characters die and are dragged to Hell by terrifying spirit entities (see movie clip below). What Josephus speaks of regarding the unjust being dragged by force to the left hand by angels allotted for punishment may be well represented in the movie clip when it comes to what it may actually be like for the lost who die without Christ. Although a movie could never convey the true real-life horror the lost will experience and do it proper justice by falling short of its terrifying reality, the clip probably at least scratches the surface of what it will be like for the unsaved at the moment of death.
Now those angels that are set over these souls, drag them into the neighborhood of hell itself; who, when they are hard by it, continually hear the noise of it, and do not stand clear of the hot vapor itself; but when they have a nearer view of this spectacle, as of a terrible and exceeding great prospect of fire, they are struck with a fearful expectation of a future judgment, and in effect punished thereby; and not only so, but where they see the place of the fathers and of the just, even hereby are they punished; for a chaos deep and large is fixed between them; insomuch that a just man that hath compassion upon them cannot be admitted, nor can one that is unjust if he were bold enough to attempt it, pass over it (Flavius Josephus, Discourse Concerning Hades, paragraph 1-4).
The Hebrew term sheol is used 65 times in the Old Testament, but is translated “hell” 31 times, “grave” 31 times, and “the pit” 3 times. The Greek term hades is used 11 times in the New Testament and is meant to refer to sheol. Nowhere is it meant to be the final destiny of souls. Josephus notes that the two compartments of sheol are temporary until the wicked are cast into the “lake of fire” and the righteous are awarded an eternal kingdom.
God Is Not Done with Satan
For some reason, not entirely understood, God is not yet ready to dispose of Satan. We are told that the angel “… cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:3).
The devil is not finished with his evil work. He will return to Earth at the conclusion of the seventh millennium. He will foment rebellion among the unsaved. This is where it would be important to note that during the millennial reign of Christ, there will be some people who survive the Tribulation Period and will also have children during the reign of Christ who will still be in their mortal human flesh bodies. As such, they will still have a fallen nature and thus will be subject to Satan’s deception when he is loosed from his prison at the end of the millennium. They will have the opportunity to personally choose Christ of their own free will – or not. They will be subject to temptation – whereas those of us who were raptured and those who died in Christ down through the ages will have our new, glorified bodies that will not be subject to temptation and deception.
After fomenting rebellion among the unsaved, he will mount a vast army against this Christ-ruled utopia on Earth for a final time. Every Christ-rejecting person will be a part of his evil scheme, which will be observed later in this chapter.
Utopia At Last
Christ will usher in Heaven’s kingdom …
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).
Who are these resurrected saints? And why is this called the “first resurrection?” To learn the answers, let us first return to our discussion of sheol or hades. Though the unsaved wicked were imprisoned in a region of darkness, the righteous, from Adam to Christ, were allowed to live in a region of light, just across the vast chasm that separated these two areas of sheol.
This region of light was called, “Paradise” or “the bosom of Abraham.” It was the place for saints until the resurrection of Christ. All were there on the promise of the Abrahamic covenant – a covenant of grace that promised eternal life in a city “which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). This covenant was contingent upon the death of the Testator, namely Jehovah himself, who was to become the Messiah Jesus Christ. It was he who drew up the covenant and promised it through Abraham and his “seed” – the Messiah. In other words, the progeny of Abraham would produce the Messiah. This covenant was extended to Isaac, who gave it to Jacob. Jacob left it to Judah, from whom came David, and finally, Jesus.
Upon the death of Jesus, the eternal inheritance of the Abrahamic covenant became effective. The stain of sin upon the Old Testament saints was finally removed. Only then could they be transferred into Heaven to live in the presence of God. Therefore, when Jesus died, he was “quickened by the spirit … he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18-19). The Apostle Paul explains that when Christ ascended up on high, he led captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8). Therefore, today, having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, we go directly to Heaven when we die. Paul writes …
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:8).
We know that the Savior went to the “bosom of Abraham” upon his death because he told the repentant thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The “bosom of Abraham” was commonly known as “paradise.” Christ went there to vacate the place and take all of the Old Testament saints to Heaven.
The Order of Resurrections
When Christ arose on the third day …
“many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (Matthew 27:52-53).
Christ was the “firstfruits” of the resurrection, and with him, the Old Testament saints were resurrected. The Apostle Paul explains …
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:22-26).
All of these resurrections are a part of the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5). However, the resurrection that follows the Battle of Armageddon concerns only those who died as martyrs during the Tribulation Period. The saints of the New Testament era are not listed here. Therefore, we must have been resurrected (raptured) earlier (in Revelation 4:1) prior to the onset of the Tribulation.
We are not a part of the souls “under the altar” (Revelation 6:9). They are seen after the four horsemen ride forth with their deadly work. Nor are we a part of the great multitude from all nations as seen in chapter 7. John was told that the “great multitude” came out of the “great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14). These are those who will be resurrected (raptured) in Revelation 20.
The Old Testament saints, upon death, did not expect to enter into the presence of God. Instead, they were “gathered to their people” – a reunion with relatives in paradise:
“Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8).
“And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him” (Genesis 35:29).
“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people” (Genesis 49:33).
The saints of the Old Testament went to Paradise, but could not enter Heaven until Christ died and rose again. Nowhere in the Old Testament are we given any hope that those who died prior to the crucifixion of Christ enjoyed the presence of God or stood before his throne.
However, when John sees twenty-four elders seated around Heaven’s throne after Christ brought him (raptured him) to Heaven in Revelation 4:1, twelve of them representing the Old Testament saints (resurrected with Christ) and twelve of them representing New Testament saints (resurrected just prior to the onset of the Tribulation Period), it becomes clear that the New Testament saints joined the Old Testament saints in the glories of Heaven – all because of Christ’s death via crucifixion at Calvary.
Those described after that as “souls under the altar” (Revelation 6:9) are distinctly noted as being without resurrection bodies, meaning that the rest of us were already enjoying our state of resurrection with new glorified bodies.
No longer are the Old Testament saints in Paradise. No longer do they reside in the “bosom of Abraham.” They are now in Heaven, awaiting our arrival. When John arrives in Heaven (Revelation 4:1), he sees us there. He sees the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints represented by the twenty-four elders.
Once the “Lamb” takes the scroll and begins breaking the seals, John turns his attention toward an entirely new and different group of saints – those redeemed during the onset of the Tribulation Period. He sees the first group of “souls under the altar” at the breaking of the fifth seal, and the final group, “a great multitude of all nations which no man could number, of all nations” (Revelation 7:9), after the breaking of the sixth seal. He describes them as having the mark of the beast, and hears them sing the “song of Moses” (Revelation 15:2-3). These are the saints who are resurrected following the Battle of Armageddon. They are raised to join us in the kingdom. They are given positions in the priesthood. Then, all of us in the body of Christ who were raptured and those who died in Christ since the Church Age began will rule and reign with Christ for one-thousand years.
The Rod of Iron
In setting up his kingdom, we are reminded of the “rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15), with which he shall govern every resource, correct every fault, and lead all nations into paths of righteousness. This is not to be confused with the sword that proceeds out of his mouth. With his sword, Christ destroys the armies of the Antichrist, but with his “rod of iron,” he shall judge the nations. This concept appears in the second Psalm …
“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9).
This is repeated in his letter to Thyatira. Since this letter is the fourth of seven, we should note that this theme, like the fourth lamp of the menorah, is central to the Lord’s plan for establishing Utopia. In fact, he writes …
“… and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23).
In other words, all seven churches should understand his “rod of iron.” The letter continues …
“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:27).
Again, in the vision of Virgo’s birth to the raptured Church, we are told …
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” (Revelation 12:5).
Christ’s “rod of iron” seems to replace the historical “golden scepter” that most kings sported as the symbol of their kingly authority. There is no gold in this scepter, only iron, the symbol of an unbending authority. No sin, discretion or minor inflection of the rules will be tolerated in Heaven’s kingdom on Earth during that approaching millennial kingdom after the Tribulation is finished.
However, nowhere in these verses are we told that Christ wields this “rod of iron” for a thousand years, though he might do just that. We learn, rather, that he uses it as a means of judging the nations. It would seem to me that after the earth’s ecology and economy are restored, and the initial judgment is exacted from all nations, Christ would not need to continually break nations like pottery for the duration of the seventh millennium kingdom reign of Christ on Earth. At some point, and rather quickly, I think the world will reach true peace and contentment when the 1,000 year millennial reign starts.
Earth’s population will settle in to enjoying Heaven’s kingdom. The “rod of iron” may stand ready for use, but who would want to rebel against Heaven’s rule? The devil a.k.a. Lucifer/Satan will not be around to entice wickedness or lead mankind into rebellion – not until the end of the thousand years. Important to note is that it will not be possible to entice those who have their new glorified heavenly bodies i.e. those who were raptured, those who died in Christ from the beginning of the Church Age forward until the rapture and those before the cross. The sin nature will no longer be existent in those bodies. We are speaking here of those who will survive the Tribulation Period after being left behind when the rapture occurred and those offspring who were born to them – those still in, and will be born into fleshly corruptible bodies during the Millennial reign. But throughout the millennial reign of Christ, even those still in their fleshly bodies and those born into them will, by all estimations of the peace that scripture tells us will exist during that whole time, be tamed and somehow tampered down so that rebellion will not occur until after Satan is released once more to entice fleshly humankind during that time.
The only word that comes to mind for such a kingdom is “Utopia.” For the duration of the seventh millennium, there will be no war, no poverty, no hunger, no sickness, no earthquakes, no tornadoes, no hurricanes, no tidal waves, no disasters, no airplane crashes, no car wrecks, and, as far as we know, no death. Paradise will be restored.
Regarding death, scripture does seem to indicate that there will be death among those still in, and born into, fleshly bodies but it will be an unusual occurrence when it occurs apart from the natural order of newly Christ-instituted structure of life longevity. The Bible speaks of this very idea in Isaiah 65 when speaking of this period of utopian time …
“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. 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. 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.” (Isaiah 65:18-25).
Think about that one. If someone dies when they are one-hundred years old, they will still be thought of a being someone still “in their youth.” Paradise will indeed be restored. For those of us who will have our new glorified heavenly bodies will be given positions of ruler-ship in the earth provided we are rewarded with such at the Judgment Seat of Christ that occurs after the rapture. This reward will be predicated on the work that a believer did for the Kingdom of God in their lifetimes before they died or before the rapture occurred for those presently living.
There will be no wild animals and no poisonous reptiles or insects. All mankind will live in perfect harmony because the Creator (Jesus Christ) lives among them. Jesus Christ will personally give himself to governing the earth. He will devote his time to the care and advancement of all people.
We are told that the saints will become “priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (verse 6 of our current chapter of study – chapter 20 of Revelation). The key word is “priest.” Though we will have the honor and prestige due any level of governmental authority, we will delight in caring for all of the people in our district, and leading them in the glorification of Christ’s kingdom and Christ himself. The prophet Jeremiah describes that bodacious time …
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
As previously stated, two classes of people will live on Earth during this time: the remnant of the human family who survived the Tribulation Period and their eventual offspring still in their fleshly bodies; and the immortal heavenly class, which will be us – the body of believers who lived and died that received Christ from ages past since the Church Age began and even the saints from the Old Testament and those who were raptured into Heaven before the Tribulation Period of judgment started – raptured while still alive currently in the present hour. It is quite possible that angels will join us in ruling the earth. We could say that the immortals (we in the body of Christ with our glorified bodies) represent the ruling class, and the survivors of the Tribulation Period and their eventual offspring are those over whom we shall rule.
Peace will reign at last. There will be no warring factions, no crime, no murders, no thefts – demons will no longer tempt mankind. Human beings will not be the only transformed creature on the planet. There will be no wild animals. Isaiah writes …
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Earth will continue to produce seed-time and harvest, providing needed nourishment for humanity (for those who will be in their humanly fleshly bodies). Families will be formed. Marriage will be sacred. Procreation will continue and the population will increase. He who could feed five thousand with five loaves and two fish can feed an expanding population for the next thousand years.
Toward the end of the thousand years, a final war is fomented, in which the combatants are numbered as “the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:8), meaning that Earth’s population will reach exponential proportions. Therefore, it is quite possible that Christ will allow the populating and cultivating of other planets in our Solar system. Perhaps Christ will even allow inter-galactic travel. The entire universe was made for some reason, which we do not now understand.
Technological advancement will be phenomenal. Considering that the human race has advanced from the horse and buggy to automobiles, airplanes, rockets and an international space station in little over a century, imagine what could be possible during Heaven’s kingdom. Indeed …
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians: 2:9).
For those who have personally received Christ, an unimaginable paradise of peace, splendor and wonder awaits. It is easy to come to the conclusion that, for us in our glorified bodies, technology, even though unimaginably advanced, may be insignificant as we will have the ability to slip in and slip out to and from place to place with a mere thought or will, much like what Christ did when he was here on Earth. The extremely advance technology may be for those still in their human flesh. Only time will tell.
The Wonderful Rule of Christ
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
At his glorious appearing, we are told that Christ will “rule” the nations …
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
The Greek term used here is ποιμανεῖ [poimaino], meaning “to tend as a shepherd, feed, rule” from the root ποιμήν poimen, meaning “shepherd, pastor.” This concept is first set forth in the opening chapters of Matthew’s Gospel …
“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6).
In the concluding chapter of John’s Gospel, Christ emphasizes that very concept. He tells Peter first to: “feed (βόσκε) my lambs,” secondly, to: “feed (shepherd ποίμαινε) my sheep” and thirdly, to: “feed (βόσκε) my sheep” (John 21:16).
Following that Divine admonition, Peter used this same term in his first epistle …
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2).
The Apostle Paul also uses this term in his instruction to the elders of the church of Ephesus …
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
In the address to the Church at Thyatira, he said …
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27).
In these references, the term is used to express the rod of a loving and caring shepherd, rather than the sword of slaughter.
The Saints Shall Reign
Specific mention of the saints reigning with Christ is given in the Psalms …
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalm 149:5-9).
The Psalms are divided into five books, following the Mosaic design of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible penned by Moses). This particular psalm (149), located near the end of the fifth book (Deuteronomy), is actually the fourth of five concluding psalms. Therefore, it corresponds with the theme of Numbers – a perfect representation of what will happen at the close of Israel’s “wilderness experience” (as seen in Numbers), and the beginning of its kingdom age (as seen in Deuteronomy). There could be no better place to put these promises than right here in Psalm 149.
Daniel also promises a ruling class of saints …
“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:26-27).
Daniel gives details about the rise of the “little horn” and his infamous rule for three-and-a-half years. Yet, the chapter ends with setting the Messianic kingdom and putting the saints to work ruling over it.
Matthew, the Gospel dedicated to King Messiah, record’s the Savior’s promise to his Apostles that they will rule over Israel …
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, also taught that we will rule during the kingdom …
“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
The abilities we nurture and exhibit in this life will help determine our responsibilities in the Kingdom Age. Following his letter to Laodicea, Christ promised ruler-ship to the over-comer …
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).
We will not be relegated to sitting around on fleecy clouds, plunking on harps and eating ice cream and rolls of cotton candy by the bag all day (although there better be some pizza up there, or else I’m leading a revolt in Heaven myself). We will be actively involved in carrying out the will of the Savior in the everyday administration of Utopia. Therefore, let us learn to nurture our responsibilities and prove ourselves worthy of ruler-ship in the here and now. Why? Because after the rapture of the body of believers in our present age occurs, an event is going to happen in Heaven called the “Judgment Seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment will not be a judgment to determine whether or not a Christian gets to remain in Heaven or not. The fact that you are even there and were raptured is proof-positive that you are saved and secure. This will be a judgment to determine rewards based on how we served him down here – in the here and now. For example, did we do for the kingdom what we felt his nudging through the Holy Spirit for us to do?
I am of the belief, along with many others, that part of our reward of position in the coming kingdom will be predicated upon our motive or reason that we did what we did for Christ in this life. If our motive comes from a sense of self-glorification or anything other than Christ’s glory, we shall suffer loss, but we will still be saved …
“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:8-15).
The bottom line here is that we should serve the Lord with a pure motive. Our reward in the coming Kingdom depends upon it. The following is a list of rewards that will be given to the saved Christian on that day, which includes a reward and crown given to soul-winners. Rewards are spoken of in the New Testament under the figure of crowns, which will be gained or lost, according to our faithfulness or otherwise. These are:
- the incorruptible crown, for those who live a disciplined life (1 Corinthians 9:25);
- the crown of life, for those who patiently endure trials and testings (James 1:12);
- the crown of glory, for those who faithfully care for the flock (1 Peter 5:2-4);
- the crown of righteousness, for those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8);
- the crown of rejoicing, for all who are faithful soul-winners (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
Of course, if you are reading this and you are not saved, it really has nothing to do with you if you are on your way to condemnation because of refusing Christ as your personal Savior (see the section at the end of this article titled “THE RAPTURE AND YOUR ESCAPE FROM THE APPROACHING GREAT TRIBULATION JUDGMENT: YOUR ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.” These rewards are only given for those who have personally received Christ in this life and are on their way to Heaven already. But until one receives Christ, the above does not apply.
The Glory of Resurrection
There is more to resurrection than just being revived to enjoy the Kingdom Age. We are raised to never die again. The saints will not be raised as another twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus at Capernaum, or a Lazarus at Bethany, or a Tabitha at Joppa. We will live on throughout the cycles of eternity and enjoy a never-ending, ever-unfolding glory. The second death has no power over us as it will to those who have rejected and refused to receive Christ i.e. the “lost” …
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
Here is an altogether new and immortal entity introduced to the surviving population of Earth. We will replace the whole structure of Dragon power over mankind. At last, mankind will learn the truth about the past six-thousand years of dispensational human history.
There will be no more political cover-ups; no more back-room deals; no more bribes; no more lies; no more political oppression; no more enslavement; and no more thefts of the public treasury. What a breath of fresh air that will be.
We, the born-again body of Christ, will offer an honest rule to the inhabitants of Earth still in their mortal fleshly bodies that removes the mask of deceit and pretence. Credit will be faithfully allocated to whom credit is due. There will be no more cheating; no more fraud; no more corporate cooking of the books; no more yellow journalism; no more of our Illuminati-controlled politicians selling out our country to our enemies; no more Lucifer-worshipping Illuminati period.
If their is going to be television, literature, movies, artwork, science, etc. in the coming Kingdom, think of the impact that we [those of us who will be in our glorified and extremely advanced bodies] will have on those fields of endeavor for the human race. Science will acknowledge evolution as the hoax that it is. Only then can science make incredible strides in developing technologies.
Think of the impact that we, the glorified body of Christ, will have on society and civilization at that time: no more drug addicts, no more alcoholics, no more con artists, no more false claims, no more crime. Burglaries will cease. Homes and businesses will no longer need padlocks and surveillance systems.
If such a rule were attempted today, the population might rise up in arms with claims of religious oppression and, somehow, “racism.” But in that day, there will be no demon-led deception or temptation. All men and women will see the folly of evil. There will be no pretensions, no avarice. Society will become politically, morally, socially and economically transparent.
Is it possible that men and women will think of iniquity on their own, without the help or influence of demonic forces? Will men and women still in their fleshly bodies attempt to lie, cheat, steal, bribe, slander and oppress on their own? If so, they will try it only once! The immortals at City Hall [those of us in our resurrected and glorified bodies with no more sin nature] will probably descend upon them before they even have the opportunity to follow through! Enforcement will be welcomed. Society will not feel that Utopian rule is unjust or oppressive, but righteous and just for the first time in human history. Justice after the fact will not be necessary. No evil plan will come to fruition. All crime will be halted before it can leave the planning stage. Of course, all of this will be assuming that mankind will even have those inclinations up until the point that we know they will when Satan is released from his prison at the end of the 1,000 years to entice mankind [still in their fleshly bodies] one more time.
At last, mankind will actively seek to be good; to promote the well-being of others; and to be kind, honest and helpful. But one can easily imagine that God will, on some level, quell the sinful nature of human beings supernaturally during that time so that mankind will not really have to “attempt” being good and doing these “good” things. It will come more naturally than it does presently in this age. So, therefore, it will not be a case of God “making robots” out of human beings. The free will of human beings will still be present, but the evil nature tempered a bit perhaps.
It will be a marvelous opportunity for mortals. All will go well for almost a thousand years. The key word being “almost,” because then, Lucifer a.k.a. Satan will be released from his prison for one last sweep through the population. Every Christ rejector will be tempted to overthrow Utopia. After a thousand years of peace on Earth, good will toward men, unregenerate hearts will once again feel the insolent tug of impending rebellion. But that is a story for our next installment. Until then, if you have not personally, deliberately and will fully received Christ, you are in grave danger and your destiny after this life is not a pleasant one. In biblical terminology, you are in the unenviable position of being someone who is in the category of being “unsaved.” Instead, come and be a part of the coming Utopian kingdom of rulers who shall rule the Earth and, quite possibly, the Universe – with Christ at the head. Of these, Jesus said …
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:26-29).
So, to David Spangler, Director of the United Nations Planetary Initiative who brazenly stated from his own personal knowledge of the fact no one will be allowed to enter the New World Order unless he/she performs an act of worship to Lucifer – the future doesn’t belong to him. It belongs to us – those who are the purchased possession of Jesus Christ, the very God who created Lucifer. The same Lucifer that will end up in the Lake of Fire. Sorry dude, but you’re on the losing side. But, there is yet hope, even for those such as yourself. God takes no pleasure in the death [second death] of the wicked.
THE RAPTURE AND YOUR ESCAPE FROM THE APPROACHING GREAT TRIBULATION JUDGMENT: YOUR ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN
The demonstrably divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a coming horrendous seven-year Tribulation period of judgment upon Earth for all of mankind, no matter what your religion, belief or creed is, and even to those who don’t believe anything spiritual at all. We can now clearly see the signs of this approaching nightmare. However, as we’ve already seen, this same divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a dramatic escape from off the face of the earth before this horrendous time of judgment only to a certain category of people.
Put simply, an event is coming that will be so stupendous that it strains the mind to contemplate such an event happening. It is an event that will see millions upon millions of people across the globe suddenly disappear without warning. The millions of disappeared will have literally ascended into Heaven itself after instantaneously receiving a new glorified body fit for Heaven. A body that will be able to withstand the atmosphere and glory of Heaven. This event is known as the “Rapture.” But the promise of escape is only to those who are “born again” in Christ. This is why it is crucial to understand what Christ meant when he declared in no uncertain terms that only those who are “born again” in him will enter the Kingdom of God. For the explanation of this, keep reading below.
In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …
1. Agreeing –
A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are before accepting his salvation. The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife. Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation. The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself. The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Bible describes these three kinds of death:
- physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies).
- spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally …
- the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell. He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.
It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul. But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4). So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.
2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to suffer this fate because of your sin. Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you. Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin. Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him. Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God. Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort. Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you. The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26).
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you. You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope. You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised. This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers. Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it. Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.
The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.” It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The logical question you may be asking at this point is: “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?” The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God. To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals. God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms. In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …
“Dear Lord Jesus: I realize that I need you. I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin. But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness. I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf. I come to you and open my heart to you. I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child. I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be. I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved. I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer. The Bible makes clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart, God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).
Recommended Reading and Viewing:
BOMBSHELL: PFIZER WHISTLEBLOWER SAYS VACCINE GLOWS, CONTAINS TOXIC “LUCIFERASE,” GRAPHINE OXIDE COMPOUNDS
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GREAT RESET AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER
THE BIG PICTURE: THE DRAGON TRAP
THE MAN OF SIN: ANNOINTED FROM THE ABYSS
RAISING HELL WITH CERN AND SATURN
The next article in this Revelation series can be read in the link below.
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
END TIMES: DARKNESS DESCENDING 
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