Reigning and Rewarded (Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15)
Call to Hear
Today, we are back in the 20th chapter of Jesus’ Revelation.
The last time that I stood before you to share God’s Word, I mentioned that there are three vitally important things that we can learn from this chapter. First, Satan is serious. He is on a mission to steal, kill, and destroy. Second, God is sovereign. He is also on mission to give life and to give it in abundance to anyone who would take him at His word. Third, the Church is secure. No weapon formed against the people of God will prosper (Isa. 54:17). God has not abandoned us, so we must not abandon Him.
After the last message that I preached, a few of you asked, “Why does God allow Satan to be released?” That’s a great question and you may have a chance to ask God yourself when you stand before Him someday. For now, the short answer is, we don’t really know.
I think N.T. Wright is on to something in his interpretation of Satan’s release. He says,
“The release of the Satan, though unexpected and unwelcome to us, seems to be part of the strange divine plan to ensure that all evil, every trace, is rooted out of the world”.[i]
2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV
4 ...the god of this age has blinded [the minds of those], who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
J. Scott Duvall says that,
“The millennium demonstrates the tragic irony of deception: even after spending a thousand years with their deceiver, the rebellious will continue to prefer Satan’s deception to God’s truth.”[ii]
Make no mistake, their judgment is coming, but joy awaits the many who have been faithful to the Lamb. Before we get into that, let me pray for us.
PRAY
Revelation 20:4-6
Revelation 20:4–6 NKJV
4 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. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
In the first three verses of this chapter, John saw Satan, laid hold of, bound, cast down, shut up and sealed for a thousand years. Kept from anymore deception. Simultaneously, as Satan is held captive for a thousand years, there will arise a group of faithful followers of the Lamb who will stand in victory with Him. When Satan is restrained. The saints will reign.
The first thing that John makes mention of in this section are thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Exactly who “they” are isn’t 100% clear, but whoever they are they belong to Christ. These are Christians.
In Matthew 19:28 Jesus comforted His disciples by saying this,
Matthew 19:28 NKJV
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
To the angel of the church in Laodicea Jesus promised that
Revelation 3:21 NKJV
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
In Rev. 4:4 and Rev. 11:16 John noticed 24 thrones surrounding the throne of God,
Revelation 4:4 NKJV
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 11:16 NKJV
16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
Not only do they occupy thrones, but they are also given authority to exact judgment. The apostle Paul rebuked the church in Corinth with these words.
1 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV
3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
All of this is beautiful, but what gives me the greatest encouragement and hope is found in the remaining verses of this section. After John sees that judgment was committed to those who sat on thrones, he sees another remarkable sight.
The souls of those beheaded for remaining faithful to the Lamb of God! Because they refused the temporary pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:24-25) in this life in order to take hold of what could not fade, rust, or spoil (1 Pt. 1:4) they suffered.
The late J. Vernon McGee notes that,
“The tribulation saints are going to trade in three and a half years for one thousand years. I would say they are getting a much better deal.”[iii]
The three and a half years to which he is referring are found in Revelation 11-13 where the dragon, false prophet and the beast wreak havoc on the world. These light and momentary afflictions will be overshadowed by the millennial reign of the Lamb and all of His faithful followers.
These are the ones the beast of the sea made war against and overcame (Rev. 13:7). The ones found under the altar in Rev. 6:9-11 whose testimony to the word of God made them a target of the enemy. These are the ones whose testimony, coupled with the precious blood of the Lamb, gave them a lasting victory (Rev. 12:11)!
This is the very reason we are told to,
Hebrews 10:23 NKJV
23 ...hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Something that is often repeated in the pages of Revelation, something that we cannot escape, is the undeniable suffering of those who have placed their hope in Jesus. For a long time we have been sold a lie concerning suffering. The lie is that we should be exempt from suffering as Christians. That somehow, because we are Christians, we should get a pass when it comes to hardship and difficulty. However, a careful reading of God’s Word should steer us away from such falsehoods. In this life you will have trouble. Nothing will put a bigger target on your back in this world than remaining faithful Jesus.
But, not only does the book of Revelation highlight the suffering of those who follow the Suffering Servant, it also addresses the joy of victory and blessing due those who are faithful and endure until the end.
The apostle Paul reminds us in Rom. 8:17 that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:17 NKJV
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
St. Isaac the Syrian once said that,
“It is not possible for any man to draw near to Christ without tribulation, and without afflictions his righteousness cannot be preserved unchanged.”[iv]
What the pages of Revelation proves to us is the comforting truth that Paul encouraged his young prodigy, Timothy with,
2 Timothy 2:11–13 NKJV
11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Those who have denied Christ in the revelation, are referred to as, “the rest of the dead” in Rev. 20:5. This group is undeniably the same group mentioned in Rev. 19:21 who were
Revelation 19:21 NKJV
21 killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Robert Mounce is spot on in saying that
When people fail to respond to God’s gracious invitation and set themselves in opposition to his purposes, then they become the prey of horrifying demonic forces. They suffer the consequences of their choice.[v]
This is the inescapable truth of God’s Word. If you refuse to place your hope in Jesus, if you reject the grace of God made available to you through the obedient and loving sacrifice of the Son of God, a second death awaits you.
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 20:11–15 NKJV
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
In the first section, John saw multiple thrones. In this section he only sees one throne with only One Occupier. He is of such eminence and possesses such great power that even earth and heaven flee from His presence. The word translated fled in verse eleven means, to vanish; to cease to exist; conceived of as running away quickly (from a dangerous situation). That’s why Rev. 21:1 speaks of the new heaven and new earth.
All of heaven and earth gives way for the final judgment of God. This judgment, according to G.K. Beale, comes from the throne of a holy and righteous God,
“...who judges not only to punish sin but also to vindicate His persecuted people.”[vi]
What is referred to as the great white throne judgment is a crucial apocalyptic image. This will be a time when God’s final judgment against sin will be handed down. There is some debate about who will be judged at this time. Some believe that all of humanity, the righteous and the unrighteous, are represented here. Others believe that the reference to the “dead, small and great, standing before God” (v12) refers only to those who have died apart from Christ and who will be judged based on their own works done in this life.
I personally do not have a problem with having the righteous and unrighteous present here. I’ll tell you why. The Bible’s position on judgment is that those who belong to Christ and those who do not belong to Christ, will not be judged alike.
The word of God makes it abundantly clear, that
Hebrews 9:27 NKJV
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
The apostle Paul confirms this by saying that
2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Even the Hebrew scriptures tell us that, God is merciful, yet He will reward us according to our works (Job 34:11; Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12).
Psalm 62:12 NKJV
12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.
Jesus Himself said to His disciples that
Matthew 16:27 NKJV
27 the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Furthermore, He says this
John 5:24–29 NKJV
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Take notice that there is a major difference in these two resurrections. One leads to life. The other leads to condemnation. At the great white throne judgment, the books of all of your works in this life will be opened. And you will be judged by the Lamb and God based on what you have done with what time you were given in this life. We’ve heard pastor Mike say often that if you asked people if they thought they were going to heaven, the majority would say, “I hope so.” And then if you were to ask them upon what they based that hope, they would probably attest to being a good person. The problem with that line of reasoning is that it doesn’t align with scripture.
The prophet Isaiah tells us that
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
6 we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
He says in Isa. 53:6,
Isaiah 53:6 NKJV
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
My friend, can I warn you this morning, you don’t want to stand before a holy God and have Him judge you based on your own merits. You don’t want God to open the record of your life and read back to you what you have done. There is a lake burning with fire, whose flames are never quenched, awaiting those who have trusted in themselves instead of trusting in Christ.
Folks like Bart Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduate of Wheaton College, with an M. Div from Princeton Theological Seminary (once upon a time a Christian) claim that there is no such thing as an eternal punishment, that those who have rejected Christ in this life will just cease to exist in the next. “He says that the way in which things will turn out is that you will go into “a deep sleep, or it's a good outcome, and either way it's going to be fine.”[vii] Folks, that is not what God’s word teaches.
The lake of fire is not about annihilation. There is no vanishing into nothingness when the Lamb and God hands down judgment on those who have rejected the grace preached in the Gospel.
The late revivalist and preacher, Jonathan Edwards put it this way,
“The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.”[viii]
This is what awaits those who trust in themselves. Those whose names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life. But glory be to God, that His mercy endures forever. Glory be to God that He has made a way of escape for us. Praise God, that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).
Listen to what Eugene Peterson said in the Message translation of the Bible,
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 3
Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
You see, Jesus has already been judged for His Church.
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
So, when the books of the works of Christians are open, all it’ll say next to your name is,
“Jesus!”
“Forgiven!”
“Justified!”
“Made right!”
“Set free!”
“Adopted!”
“Born Again!”
“Child of God!”
“New Creation!”
“Holy!”
“Righteous!”
We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who is a promise of our redemption. The Name of God has been permanently written on our foreheads and we have been given a new name.
Call to Respond
Let me close with this final and encouraging thought.
Being God’s holy people has always been the plan from the very beginning (Ex. 19:6; Lev. 11:44; 19:1-2; 20:7, 26; [Eph. 1:4]; 1 Pet. 1:16). Here in the revelation that standard of holiness has finally been met thanks to the redeeming work of Jesus. Furthermore, it was originally intended that all of God’s people would reign as priests, not a certain tribe, but everyone one who belonged to God would serve and reign as His priests. But sin and idolatry hindered that for a time. However, here in the Revelation, the rejection of idolatry allows those who have faithfully followed the Lamb to serve as priests and to reign with Him (Ex. 19:5-6; 32:25-29; 3:10-13; 1 Pt. 2:9-10; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10). Jesus restores to us what sin has robbed us of.
Listen to how Dr. Darnell challenges us to live out our priesthood today.
“‘When do the followers of Jesus exercise this royal, priestly role?’ John’s answer is, ‘Right now, in this hurting, God-denying, idolatrous, persecuting world in which we live - in the Roman-dominated, emperor-worshiping world of first century Asia, where we live! It is not by any means something that will only happen in the far-distant future.’ ‘This is our time, our day, says John, to make the will of God known to our hurting world, and to bring all its people into the worship of our Risen Lord! And even if we should be beheaded because of our witness, death itself cannot harm us, but we will be raised with our King, and continue to reign with him for a long, long time!’”[ix]
Faithfulness ALWAYS has a reward!
Works Cited
[i] Wright, Revelation for Everyone, 182-183
[ii] J. Scott Duvall, Revelation, 281
[iii] Through the Bible with J. Vernon McGee. Vol. V.: 1 Corinthians - Revelation, p1056
[iv] The Ascetical Homilies 37, p164
[v] Robert Mounce, Revelation, p210
[vi] G.K. Beale, Revelation, 459
[vii] Heaven And Hell Are 'Not What Jesus Preached,' Religion Scholar Says : NPR
[viii] Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
[ix] David Darnell, The Scroll of Revelation: Unveiling the Day of YHWH, p48
