I don't know about you, but a thousand years seems like a really long time! I mean, think about it. What was life like a thousand years ago? No microwave popcorn! No electric lights! GASP!! Not even any cell phones!!! How did people survive?!
OK. Seriously. A lot can happen in a thousand years. But there is a specific 'thousand years' that is coming that has great significance to us.
In Revelation 19:19 something really important--and fantastic!--happens:
"Then I [John] saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider [of the white horse, who is Jesus] and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
YAY! Two down, one to go! Now move ahead to Revelation 20. This chapter is filled with more good news!!
"And I [John] saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until a thousand years were ended." (20:1-3a)
Can you imagine?! A thousand years of NO SATAN!! The earth will be a completely different place to live without him going around causing grief and trouble. YES!! I only wish that was the end of him, but it's not.
"After that, he must be set free for a short time." (20:3b)
He'll be back, try to wreak more havoc, but God won't allow it.
"And the devil, who deceived [the people of the earth], was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (20:10)
WHOOP!!! I will positively dance on this day!!!
But sadly, those three won't have the fiery lake of burning sulfur all to themselves.
Monday we'll get into the second half of Chapter 20: The Dead are Judged.
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