Book synopsis · ~20 pages · Easy reading

Easy-Reading Synopsis: Eschatology 101

What the Bible Actually Says about the End of Time. This ~20-page synopsis stays close to Robert J. Cottle’s own wording—condensed chapter by chapter for clear, unhurried reading.

This is a faithful overview, not a substitute for the full book. Scripture references and arguments follow the manuscript. When you are ready for the complete treatment, get the book on Amazon.

Introduction

An obvious question to answer first is: what is Eschatology? The best explanation I could find is from David Nathan. Eschatology is the study of Scripture that pertains to: the period on Earth prior to the Lord’s return the rapture of the church the Antichrist and His Kingdom God’s judgement on unsaved man the millennium reign of Christ the final destruction of Satan the white throne judgement Put plainly, it’s the study of the end of time. While researching for this book I’ve discovered that there are almost as many opinions about the end-times as there are saints.

Many books have been written on the subject and unfortunately many of them have strayed into personal bias or non-biblical viewpoints. That said, there are more than a few sound teachers on eschatology who base their understanding on the full counsel of scripture.

One such teacher is David Nathan, and it is his understanding and guidance that has formed the basis of the information in this book, an understanding that is not based on the reasoning of man but on what the Word of God says. You will therefore find that much of this book is written in an expository style: providing the scripture, then adding commentary. I do not profess to be an expert on this subject, but I know the Holy Spirit dwells in me.

Scripture leaves no doubt on that. The return of Jesus is never to be feared by the believer.

Chapter 1: The Kingdom

Ask most saints to explain God’s end-times plan and they will likely open their Bibles to the book of Revelation and begin from there. Of course, it’s true, much of Revelation does describe end-time events but little new prophecy is revealed in the book. The book is best described as the bringing together, or a summary of, the numerous other end-times prophecies scattered through the whole of the Bible. Some of these other Bible references are brief but many are incredibly detailed and provide a clearer understanding regarding fulfilment and timing.

God dwells outside of time and therefore is not bound by its constraints. It is mind-boggling to us as humans, but God created time. Time’s most serious consequence is that we are all locked in the present. We can look back on the past but solely through memories or recorded history. Once the moment has passed it is etched as in granite and no amount of desire, or will, on our part can ever change the occurrence of it.

The flow of time is directed by God who appoints particular “times” within His unfolding purposes. God ordered the children of Israel to hold His feasts at their appointed time. Leviticus 23:4, “These are the set feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season.” God has divided time into seasons.

It’s not about any other person or even the Church, although the Church is clearly very involved in the end-time events. The sole purpose for these events is Jesus our King.

Chapter 2: Theological Viewpoints

As I mentioned, it seems there are almost as many opinions about end-time events as there are Christians. Unfortunately, many Christians view scripture, particularly end-time related prophesy, through an intellectual mind-set. Every Christian, if they’re truly born-again, has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. It is imperative that when reading God’s Word that we do so through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 we’re told, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” If you’re like a lot of Christians and have difficulty understanding end-time events and Revelation in particular, then that verse in John gives us the answer.

He, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things. The Holy Spirit is the key to understanding Biblical truth correctly. Please ask the help of the Spirit of God to teach you as we consider these end of time events.

The entire Bible was written to, or for, the Nation of Israel. God’s relationship with mankind on the physical Earth was, and still is, through Israel. In Jeremiah 31:31 it says, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” The LORD is very clear in this verse, the covenant that He will make will be with Israel and the house of Judah. Not with the USA or Europe or any other Gentile nation, it will be with Israel.

That fact is historically recorded both by Jewish and Roman historians. Based simply on this historical fact Postmillennialism and Amillennialism cannot therefore be a correct view of eschatology.

Chapter 3: Daniel’s Prayer

Now that we’ve set some ground rules let’s begin to dig a little deeper into how the Bible accounts eschatology. The best starting point for this is in the book of Daniel chapter 9. It was the year 583 BC and the Jews had been removed from the land of Israel and were captive in Babylon. The majestic temple, built by Solomon, had been completely destroyed and the whole city of Jerusalem lay in ruins. Daniel, a godly young man, was trained in captivity by his captors in the ways of the Babylonian Empire and was rapidly promoted to a position of administrator within the Empire.

As a government minister he had access to the library of scrolls including the Hebraic scrolls which had been taken during the capture of Jerusalem. Daniel had clearly read and understood the scroll of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had prophesied extensively that if Israel did not repent of their sin, then God would allow them to be taken them into captivity and interestingly, he declares exactly how long the captivity would last.

Darius was the undisputed King the of Medes and Persians. This means that the Babylonians had been defeated and Darius is reigning. The seat of this kingdom is at the Citadel which Daniel 8:2 tells us is in the city of Shushan in the province of Elam – not in Babylon. Daniel, previously a senior administrator for Babylon, was now a very high official in Darius’s empire. It’s incredible that the Bible is often very specific about historical times and events. This event took place in the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.

God’s plans are the only relevant news and immediately this treaty is signed, you can be certain we’re in the last week. Until then get ready don’t let the Lord find you unprepared.

Chapter 4: Daniel’s 70th Week

The greatest Biblical key to understanding eschatology is expressed in just one verse, Daniel 9:27. “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” This verse describes the 70th week of Daniel’s vision of seventy sets of seven weeks. All the events in the sixty-nine weeks, which have taken place, concluded with Jerusalem being sacked and the people of Israel being scattered throughout the world.

The events described in this 70th week are yet to occur and can only take place when Israel has returned to the land and become a nation again. Today we see Israel as a thriving nation in its ancestral God given land. Everything is currently in place to allow this 70th week to begin.

God will allow that any day now and as He does so the time of the Gentiles will draw to a close. Who is this ‘he’ that will renew this covenant with many? Daniel 9:26 explains this; it names him as “the prince that is come.” It was the people who followed this prince who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD70. The Roman legions disobeyed a direct command of General Titus not to destroy the temple. These soldiers fought savagely, furiously disregarding all authority because they were under the direct influence of a prince, someone other than their commanding General.

The detail and timing of the rapture is covered further on in this book and is actually a part of another event called the ‘Day of the Lord.’

Chapter 5: The Day of the Lord

This event, The Day of the Lord, is mentioned frequently in both the old and new testaments. Most Christians however are ignorant about this Day, having never been taught regarding it. What then is the Day of the Lord? The abridged version: the day, the moment, when God says enough to the wickedness and begins to pour out His wrath on the unsaved. For a more comprehensive answer let’s see what God’s word says about that Day. 2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the Earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” Okay, so that is a bit dramatic!

Perhaps then it is prudent to learn a bit more about this Day? 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” This phrase ‘a thief in the night’ is repeated in several places in the Bible meaning it has significance. This Day begins when the whole world is otherwise occupied. Earlier we looked at Daniel 12:10 “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” [emphasis added].

God, who is rich in mercy has made a way to escape that wrath through faith in Jesus Christ. Are you dear reader secure in that way and are you living rapture ready?

Chapter 6: Timing of the Rapture

A wise old teacher was once asked when he thought the Rapture would occur. Without hesitating he answered, “The first Tuesday in June, at 12 noon, either before or after.” A very shrewd reply to a question nobody knows the answer to. Matthew 24:26 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Remember ‘That Day’, His day the Day of the Lord. “Of that day no one knows,” that means nobody knows when this is going to happen. Even the angels in Heaven don’t know.

If some so-called prophet stands up and announces to all declaring the Lord has revealed to them that the rapture will be on this date, it’s a lie. Ignore them and continue serving the Lord. Jesus, the Son of God told us that no one knows, He means absolutely ‘no one’ knows. Some Christians are deceived so incredibly easily that it’s actually terrifying.

If something conflicts with the Bible, then believe the Bible. When the Bible says nobody know that day or hour, that means nobody knows. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:1 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.” The topic here is times and seasons. Regarding that Paul says he didn’t need to write to them about that. He’s inferring that such things are obvious to all. The words of Jesus in Matthew 24:26 are deliberate, He’s talking about ‘the day or the hour.’ The day or hour is unknown, but the times and seasons are obvious to all.

As we head into these final days everything is only going to get worse, much worse. But believe God, He stands by His word and what He has planned for you exceeds your wildest imagination.

Chapter 7: The Antichrist Beast

Nowhere, not in any place, in the Bible does it call this period of the 70th week of Daniel, this whole seven years, a time of tribulation. Because this has been taught and repeated so frequently in the Church over the past fifty plus years most have adopted this as a fact. Most believe there will be seven years of tribulation. However, just because a majority believe this, that doesn’t necessarily make it true. At the beginning of the 70th week the Antichrist makes a covenant with many. But in the middle of that week, three and a half years after he signs the covenant, he breaks it.

He brings an end to sacrifices and offerings and places and image in the Holy of Holies. The moment the Antichrist does this it ushers in a period called the Great Tribulation. This great tribulation time will be horrendous, unparalleled by anything ever seen in all of human history. Even when compared to the atrocities of the Nazi’s.

He’ll be absolutely ruthless, relentlessly hunting down and killing anyone who dares to even mummer against him. He does this because he will be completely demonically possessed by Satan. Jesus says in Matthew 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” He doesn’t say that just elect won’t survive, Jesus says no flesh, no person, will survive. Nobody will be immune from this evil madman. Satan will have physical control over the whole Earth during this period.

We’ll be able to confirm he is the Antichrist by calculating the number of his name, 666. But that is only one of the confirmations. The first one is the confirming of the covenant with many.

Chapter 8: The Throne Room of Heaven

So far, we have discussed the events, the timing and the main characters involved in what is about to happen to the Earth. Let’s leave that now and see things from God’s perspective and His viewpoint. Despite the apparent unrestrained raging of the Antichrist on this Earth God is still very much in control. Everything happening on Earth is in complete sync with His will and plan as we’ll now see. Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.

And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” [emphasis added]. That word translated shortly has been subject to incredible mis-interruption. If something is to take place shortly in plain English, it means it’s going happen very soon. The Greek word used here is takhos. The plain meaning of that word is that something must happen quickly or speedily.

Natural Israel is the physical people of Israel. Back to Revelation. Remember, these events must take place within a short period of time, not shortly after John’s words were written. Revelation 1:2-3 “Who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear.” [emphasis added]. This word translated ‘hear’ comes from the Greek word akouo. It means to give audience to or to understand. Blessed are those who read and understand.

Revelation 5:14 “Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” And then the seals begin.

Chapter 9: The Seals

The seven year, 70th week of Daniel begins when he, the Antichrist, makes a covenant with many. That ratification begins the period Jesus calls in Matthew 24, “the beginning of sorrows”. During this beginning time the Antichrist ascends to become the world ruler. He doesn’t start off as the world leader, he ascends to power. Daniel 7 tells us so; he rises from among the ten horns. During this rising he plucks off, or destroys, three of the horns. Three and a half years after the covenant ratification, in the middle of the week, Michael steps aside at the command of the Holy Spirit.

This allows the Antichrist to bring an end to sacrifice and offering and to start persecuting all who do not worship him. That begins the period of the Great Tribulation. Tribulation such as has never need seen before nor ever will be seen again. That great tribulation is cut short by an event called the Day of the Lord.

Moderate Muslims, Jews, Hindus and liberal minded non-Christian-Christians all coming together. Joint declarations have been signed already between these parties. The Bible tells in Matthew 24:5, Mark 13:6 and specifically Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist will come onto the scene as a man of peace. He comes looking like Christ to deceive and delude. Jesus warns in Matthew 24 that there will be many Christ lookalikes. Importantly he does not appear as a man of war as many seem to believe. Revelation 6:3-4 “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out.

Revelation 7:1 begins “After these things.” There is a gap, a space, an interval of time, between the sixth and seventh seal.

Chapter 10: The Trumpets

Revelation 7:1-2 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the Earth, holding the four winds of the Earth, that the wind should not blow on the Earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the Earth and the sea.” We now see the shift in God’s ways. The first four seals are all the actions of man but now we see God involve His angels.

This wording is very precise, “he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the Earth and the sea.” God is preparing the way to begin the trumpet judgements of God’s wrath.

Revelation 7:2-4 “And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the Earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the Earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:” The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that these 144,000 will come from their people. But this scripture is very clear, all these 144,000 are of the tribes of the children of Israel.

Everything thus far in our journey through Revelation has been in chronological order, in order of time, events happening in sequence. But now there is a pause.

Chapter 11: The Two Witnesses

Revelation 10:8-10 “Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the Earth.” So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” “You must prophesy again.” Put another way this is ‘another prophecy.’ The first prophecy is concluded; the chronological opening of the seals leading to the trumpets. Now you must prophesy again.

This is a second prophecy hence it is no longer in chronological time order of what proceeded it. “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” “And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” God’s word is always sweet. Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” But carrying out of God’s word often leads to great bitterness and sadness.

How many of our loved ones our closest friends, people whom we love and care about are going to reject Jesus.

In the interests of clarity, we’ll continue our walk through Revelation and eventually get to Revelation 16 and continue the bowl judgements which follows chronologically after the seventh trumpet of chapter 11.

Chapter 12: The Woman and the Child

Revelation 12:1-2 “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.” This woman we see here is Israel. The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes. There are similarities here to the dream of Joseph in Genesis 37:9-10. “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream.

And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the Earth before you?” Jacob immediately associated the sun with himself, the moon with Joseph’s mother and the eleven stars as the rest of Joseph’s brothers.

It’s now twelve stars, Joseph is included, which represents the nation of Israel, God’s chosen nation. Without doubt this woman represents Israel. Revelation 12:3 “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.” This imagery is similar to what we looked at earlier in the book of Daniel. The Antichrist led directly by the Satan, the dragon. Revelation 12:4-5 “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the Earth.

In the perspective of timing this casting down of Satan takes place during Daniel’s 70th week and ushers in the great tribulation. For that reason, this event will occur sometime just before the middle of the week.

Chapter 13: The Beast from the Sea

Revelation 13:1 “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” You’ll recall we looked at this in an earlier chapter on the Antichrist. “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard.” What he witnessed was traits of world empires, the same as Daniel recorded. The leopard represents of Greece. “His feet were like the feet of a bear,” (speaking of Medo-Persia) “and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.” (Speaking of Babylon.) This Beast is the Antichrist which is seen rising out of the sea – a topology of the nations.

Sea in the Bible, in an allegorical sense, it means the nations. In scripture when mentioning the sea, it almost always means the Mediterranean. That large body of water which forms Israel’s Western border.

The Beast rises from the sea, the Mediterranean, which means it arises from a European nation, most likely from the Roman Empire. The Beast is the Antichrist, the Dragon is Satan and Satan empowers the Antichrist. Revelation 12:2-3 “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” A mortal wound means death, this person was once dead. A mortuary report usually describes a cause of death, and an example may read; “This person was mortally wounded by blunt force trauma.

Francis has done much to advance one world religion and this is clearly paving the way. Someone will come after him and complete his work in a much more ungodly manner.

Chapter 14: The Everlasting Gospel

Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” Interesting just 144,000 with Jesus as He stands on Mount Zion. Are they selected saints or are they the 144,000 from the Jews? Let’s read on. Revelation 14:2-3 “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the Earth.” This seems like a paradox.

The Church are the redeemed ones and Christ is our redeemer, by His own blood. Who then are these 144,000 that are redeemed from the Earth?

Firstfruits is a feast of Israel, and Christ is the firstfruit of the Church. He is the first of all those that would come after him. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 it says, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” At the resurrection all born-again believers will be resurrected and will be like Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15 discusses the difference between our natural body and the resurrected body. It explains why we must take off this natural body in order to come into the presence of God the Father.

And the chapter concludes with imagery of the rapture.

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” God will give us grace.

Chapter 15: The Bowl Judgements

The book of Revelation now turns back to the chronological order of God’s judgements and describes the nature of these bowls of God’s wrath. A bowl is typically a round dish or container usually used for preparing, serving, or consuming food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve. Most bowls are not very deep but can be quite wide. This shape with no corners and seamless curved sides allows its contents to be easily poured.

There is no impediment to the flow therefore a bowel can be tipped out quickly. Despite there being a gap in Revelation these bowl judgements do follow directly after the trumpet judgements which we looked at earlier. There is no pause in His judgements once the Day of the Lord begins. These bowls are poured out very quickly.

At end of the trumpet judgement in Revelation 11:14 we read about a voice crying out, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Immediately before the bowl judgements this mighty declaration goes out that Christ shall rule. These bowl judgements are directed as rapid fire specifically at the Antichrist and with these God’s wrath is appeased and the millennial reign of Christ begins. The book of Revelation incorporates several different visions, not one long continuous vision.

Chapters 1-9 are sequential, then in Chapter 10 another event takes place with the little book and the two witnesses.

Chapter 16: The Scarlet Woman - Babylon

After the bowl judgements Revelation breaks the sequential events through another vision to specifically deal with Babylon. That kingdom which today rules or holds sway over all kingdoms and which the Antichrist will finally take over, change and rule from. The Bible now turns to focus on the religious order that brings the Antichrist to power. The governance system which this religious organization has birthed and its ultimate destruction. Revelation 17:1-2 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.” It’s important to understand the context of John’s vision John here and the language used.

John was already witnessing the pouring out of the bowls and during that vision one of the angels came over and started to talk with John. This angel told John that he wanted to show him another vision, a vision within a vision. One describing the specific judgement of the great harlot. The great harlot.

Revelation 17:3 “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” We’ve seen this beast before both in this book and in Daniel. The beast with seven heads and ten horns we now know represents the Antichrist. This woman is sitting, riding the Antichrist beast. Like riding a horse, she has control and authority over it. You can’t ride a horse until it has been tamed, its spirit broken and brought it into submission.

The animal is no longer free, it is subservient.

God is fully aware of everything she has done and brings a very special judgement specifically upon the city and annihilates its political system.

Chapter 17: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19:1 “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia!” Okay, why Alleluia and not Halleluiah? The answer is simple, it’s the same word. Alleluia is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Halleluiah, and the book of Revelation was written in Greek. Revelation 19:1-8 “Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the Earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia!

Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen!

Revelation 19:9 “Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” This verse is the crux of this chapter. Many have taught that the marriage supper or the marriage feast of the Lamb transpires over seven years. That teaching has arisen and become widespread in the Church primarily because of a false understanding of the timing of the rapture. Ask yourself; is this great multitude that we see in Revelation 19:6 any different from the other great multitudes that we’ve seen thus far in our journey through Revelation?

Revelation 21 and 22 are almost a mirror image Genesis 1 and 2. How it all began in the beginning so it will end on this Earth.

Chapter 18: Millennial Reign of Christ

Amazingly not a lot is written about the time of millennial reign of Christ in the New Testament. In the Old Testament however there are literally hundreds of verses describing this time. Let’s start in Revelation 20:1-3 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.

But after these things he must be released for a little while.” It’s not until this last book of the Bible that the New Testament first introduces this new time in God’s relationship with man; a literal period of one thousand years. Satan is physically imprisoned in the bottomless pit and unable to deceive the nations on the Earth.

Throughout this time Satan is locked or sealed in the bottomless pit and therefore unable to influence the world. Personally, I quite like the thought of that. During this one thousand years Christ reigns supreme on the Earth hence the term ‘The millennial reign of Christ.’ Revelation 20:4-5 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.

The Old Testament should never be dismissed as clearly, it’s a vital part of every subject in the Bible.

Chapter 19: The White Throne Judgement

Let’s continue through the final part of Revelation as we bring this to its conclusion. Revelation 20:7-10 “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the Earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the Earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” After one thousand years of the majestic reign of Jesus on the Earth because Satan had been banished to the bottomless pit, the Lord permits him to be released for a very short time.

God will never take away our salvation, His grace will not allow Him to renege on that. However, scripture is abundantly clear, we can willfully turn our back on God causing Him to blot our name out of the book of life. Revelation 22:19 is just one example in scripture God blotting someone’s name out of the book of life.

Chapter 20: The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:2-3 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” There is a very interesting truth in these verses where it says that God is with men, and He will dwell with them. The millennial reign of Jesus Christ has just ended and all those born-again have been ruling and reigning with Him for one thousand years.

Why now does it talk about God dwelling with men? We’ve been ruling and reigning with Jesus on this Earth but Heaven, where the Father dwells is our home. The Father officiated at the marriage feast of His own Son and the Church. His bride has been dwelling with the Father ever since.

The city is gloriously prepared as or ‘like’ a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21 starts with the statement that there is a new Earth and now we are introduced to the new capital city of that Earth, New Jerusalem. Remember Jesus says in John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

(Non-fiction) Not Many Fathers, why Othniel became a Judge. (A novel, fiction.) Eschatology 101, What the Bible says about the end of time. (Non-fiction)