Thu, Oct 29, 2009
Understanding the Book of Revelation:Chapter 20
Unless you have a strong aversion to news reports,this thought must have crossed your mind recently:OH NO! THESE MUST BE THE BIBLE PREDICTED "LAST DAYS"!! Hey you sure are perceptive !!! With the firm belief that we have now entered into the Tribulation time,I am publishing a series of studies of the Book of Revelation,that difficult to understand road map that shows exactly where we are headed,using the easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society.I will then add insights in capitol letters which will provide explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read, which will be in agreement with leading biblical commentaries,in order to at long last make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. I will occasionally make changes in the CEV words if I detect variance from the meaning found in the King James Bible.
OK Ready? Let's find out what's going down!
Revelation 20
1I saw an angel come down from heaven, carrying the key to the deep pit (HELL) and a large chain. (THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THIS IS A SYMBOL) 2He chained the dragon (THIS WORD INDICATES POWER) for (LITERALLY) a thousand years. It is that old snake, (A NAME INDICATING CUNNING) who is also known as the devil ( THIS NAME MAKES CLEAR HIS EVIL NATURE) and Satan.(THIS NAME LABELS HIM AS OUR ADVERSARY) 3Then the angel threw the dragon into the pit. He locked and sealed it, so that a thousand years would go by before the dragon could fool the nations again. But after that, it would have to be set free for a little while.(THIS REFERS TO THE TIME AT THE END OF JESUS' 1000 YEAR KINGDOM ON EARTH WHEN GOD WILL ONCE AGAIN ALLOW SATAN TO TEMPT THE INHABITANTS OF JESUS' KINGDOM TO WEED OUT THOSE WITH A WEAK MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DEDICATION) 4I saw thrones, and sitting on those thrones were the ones who had been given the right to judge. (THE 24 ELDERS IN HEAVEN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER CHAPTER) I also saw the souls (THESES PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND AND NOT IN HEAVEN WITH THOSE WHO WERE RAPTURED) of the people who had their heads cut off (THE RAPTURE WAS SCHEDULED TO SAVE GOD'S CHOSEN FROM THIS HORROR) because they had told about Jesus and preached God's message. They were the same ones who had not worshiped the beast or the idol,(STATUE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST) and they had refused to let its mark be put on their hands or foreheads. (THE LAW REQUIRING ALL TO HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST PUT ON THEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THE RAPTURE)They will (NOTE:FUTURE TENSE) come to life and rule with Christ for a thousand years.(WHEN HE RETURNS TO EARTH TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM.NOTICE THEY ARE NOT GIVEN ANY ASSURANCE OF SALVATION AFTER THE 1000 YEARS ENDS AND SATAN HAS HAD ANOTHER CHANCE TO TEMPT THEM TO ONCE AGAIN ENTER INTO SIN) 5-6These people are the first to be raised to life,( AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH DURING THE "SECOND COMING") and they are especially blessed and holy.(BECAUSE) The second death (BEING SENT TO HELL) has no power (WILL NOT FORCE THEM INTO HELL) over them. They will be priests for God and Christ and will rule with them for a thousand years.(ON EARTH) No other dead people (THE UNSAVED) were raised to life until a thousand years later (WHEN JESUS' KINGDOM ON EARTH IS READY TO COME TO AN END)7At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be set free.(FROM HELL) 8He will fool the countries of Gog and Magog,(THESE TWO WORDS MAKE UP A HEBREW TERM WHICH IN ENGLISH ROUGHLY MEANS " MULTITUDE AND MAGNITUDE" WHICH INDICATE THAT SATAN WILL HAVE THE POWER TO DECEIVE PEOPLE IN ALL NATIONS FINDING NEW RECRUITS FOR HIS KINGDOM IN A TRULY DRAMATIC REFUTATION OF THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" BELIEF) which are at the far ends of the earth, and their people will follow him into battle.(AGAINST GOD) They (THE SATANISTS) will have as many followers as there are grains of sand along the beach, (THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND SATAN'S POWER AND EXTREMELY DECEITFUL AND CLEVERLY SOPHISTICATED ABILITY TO SEDUCE THEM AND EVEN WORSE, JUST HOW ACTIVE HE IS IN THEIR LIVES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THEY HAVE SO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIVES)9and they will march all the way across the earth. They will surround the camp of God's people ( ONE FINAL MILITARY ATTACK IN THE WORLD IS BEING PLANNED) and the city that His people love.(JERUSALEM) But fire (THIS COULD BE A MAJOR THUNDER AND LIGHTNING STORM) will come down from heaven and destroy the army. (WHAT A TERRIFIC IDEA,JUST WHAT WE NEED TODAY!)10Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur.(BACK WHERE HE BELONGS ONCE AGAIN BUT THIS TIME HE'LL STAY THERE PERMANENTLY) He will be there where the beast (ANTI-CHRIST) and the false prophet,(THE ANTI-CHRIST'S RELIGIOUS CHEERLEADER) are (THESE BEASTIES HAVE NOW BEEN THERE FOR OVER 1,000 YEARS) and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever.(JUST ONE GOOD IDEA RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER APPEARING HERE !) 11 I saw a great white throne and Him (JESUS) who sat on it. (SINNERS IN) Earth and heaven (DEMONS USED TO BE ANGELS BUT WERE DECEIVED BY SATAN WHO HIMSELF USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL OF THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN) tried to run away from Him but there was no place for them to go. 12I also saw all the dead people (THOSE NOT YET GRANTED OR DENIED SALVATION WHICH CONTRADICTS THE BELIEF THAT UPON DEATH ALL WILL IMMEDIATELY GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL) standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.(ANOTHER FALSE BELIEF IS THAT GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN OUR "WORKS" OR SERVICE TO HIM ) 13The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom (HELL) also gave up (SENT TO THE JUDGMENT) their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done.(THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION USES THE WORD "WORKS" INSTEAD OF "HAD DONE") 14Afterwards, (THOSE IN A STATE OF) death and (THOSE IN ) hell were thrown into the lake of fire. (THE PUNISHMENT AREA OF HELL)This is (WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS) the second death. 15Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life (A RECORD OF THOSE SELECTED FOR SALVATION) was thrown into the lake of fire.(HAVE HOPE,THERE'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO ESCAPE THIS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER )
OK Ready? Let's find out what's going down!
Revelation 20
1I saw an angel come down from heaven, carrying the key to the deep pit (HELL) and a large chain. (THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THIS IS A SYMBOL) 2He chained the dragon (THIS WORD INDICATES POWER) for (LITERALLY) a thousand years. It is that old snake, (A NAME INDICATING CUNNING) who is also known as the devil ( THIS NAME MAKES CLEAR HIS EVIL NATURE) and Satan.(THIS NAME LABELS HIM AS OUR ADVERSARY) 3Then the angel threw the dragon into the pit. He locked and sealed it, so that a thousand years would go by before the dragon could fool the nations again. But after that, it would have to be set free for a little while.(THIS REFERS TO THE TIME AT THE END OF JESUS' 1000 YEAR KINGDOM ON EARTH WHEN GOD WILL ONCE AGAIN ALLOW SATAN TO TEMPT THE INHABITANTS OF JESUS' KINGDOM TO WEED OUT THOSE WITH A WEAK MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DEDICATION) 4I saw thrones, and sitting on those thrones were the ones who had been given the right to judge. (THE 24 ELDERS IN HEAVEN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER CHAPTER) I also saw the souls (THESES PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND AND NOT IN HEAVEN WITH THOSE WHO WERE RAPTURED) of the people who had their heads cut off (THE RAPTURE WAS SCHEDULED TO SAVE GOD'S CHOSEN FROM THIS HORROR) because they had told about Jesus and preached God's message. They were the same ones who had not worshiped the beast or the idol,(STATUE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST) and they had refused to let its mark be put on their hands or foreheads. (THE LAW REQUIRING ALL TO HAVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST PUT ON THEM WILL GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THE RAPTURE)They will (NOTE:FUTURE TENSE) come to life and rule with Christ for a thousand years.(WHEN HE RETURNS TO EARTH TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM.NOTICE THEY ARE NOT GIVEN ANY ASSURANCE OF SALVATION AFTER THE 1000 YEARS ENDS AND SATAN HAS HAD ANOTHER CHANCE TO TEMPT THEM TO ONCE AGAIN ENTER INTO SIN) 5-6These people are the first to be raised to life,( AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH DURING THE "SECOND COMING") and they are especially blessed and holy.(BECAUSE) The second death (BEING SENT TO HELL) has no power (WILL NOT FORCE THEM INTO HELL) over them. They will be priests for God and Christ and will rule with them for a thousand years.(ON EARTH) No other dead people (THE UNSAVED) were raised to life until a thousand years later (WHEN JESUS' KINGDOM ON EARTH IS READY TO COME TO AN END)7At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be set free.(FROM HELL) 8He will fool the countries of Gog and Magog,(THESE TWO WORDS MAKE UP A HEBREW TERM WHICH IN ENGLISH ROUGHLY MEANS " MULTITUDE AND MAGNITUDE" WHICH INDICATE THAT SATAN WILL HAVE THE POWER TO DECEIVE PEOPLE IN ALL NATIONS FINDING NEW RECRUITS FOR HIS KINGDOM IN A TRULY DRAMATIC REFUTATION OF THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" BELIEF) which are at the far ends of the earth, and their people will follow him into battle.(AGAINST GOD) They (THE SATANISTS) will have as many followers as there are grains of sand along the beach, (THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND SATAN'S POWER AND EXTREMELY DECEITFUL AND CLEVERLY SOPHISTICATED ABILITY TO SEDUCE THEM AND EVEN WORSE, JUST HOW ACTIVE HE IS IN THEIR LIVES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THEY HAVE SO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIVES)9and they will march all the way across the earth. They will surround the camp of God's people ( ONE FINAL MILITARY ATTACK IN THE WORLD IS BEING PLANNED) and the city that His people love.(JERUSALEM) But fire (THIS COULD BE A MAJOR THUNDER AND LIGHTNING STORM) will come down from heaven and destroy the army. (WHAT A TERRIFIC IDEA,JUST WHAT WE NEED TODAY!)10Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur.(BACK WHERE HE BELONGS ONCE AGAIN BUT THIS TIME HE'LL STAY THERE PERMANENTLY) He will be there where the beast (ANTI-CHRIST) and the false prophet,(THE ANTI-CHRIST'S RELIGIOUS CHEERLEADER) are (THESE BEASTIES HAVE NOW BEEN THERE FOR OVER 1,000 YEARS) and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever.(JUST ONE GOOD IDEA RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER APPEARING HERE !) 11 I saw a great white throne and Him (JESUS) who sat on it. (SINNERS IN) Earth and heaven (DEMONS USED TO BE ANGELS BUT WERE DECEIVED BY SATAN WHO HIMSELF USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL OF THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN) tried to run away from Him but there was no place for them to go. 12I also saw all the dead people (THOSE NOT YET GRANTED OR DENIED SALVATION WHICH CONTRADICTS THE BELIEF THAT UPON DEATH ALL WILL IMMEDIATELY GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL) standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.(ANOTHER FALSE BELIEF IS THAT GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN OUR "WORKS" OR SERVICE TO HIM ) 13The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom (HELL) also gave up (SENT TO THE JUDGMENT) their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done.(THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION USES THE WORD "WORKS" INSTEAD OF "HAD DONE") 14Afterwards, (THOSE IN A STATE OF) death and (THOSE IN ) hell were thrown into the lake of fire. (THE PUNISHMENT AREA OF HELL)This is (WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS) the second death. 15Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life (A RECORD OF THOSE SELECTED FOR SALVATION) was thrown into the lake of fire.(HAVE HOPE,THERE'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO ESCAPE THIS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER )
From the YouVersion Blog RSS Feed
Videos for you to use Introducing YouVersion Live to your Group, Church or Event
Below are a couple resources we wanted to pass on to all of you who have been creating groups and events... Read more »
