Revelation - Week 35

Day 1

READ 

Revelation 19:19 

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 

As referred to in Revelation 13, the “beast” is the Antichrist. He seems to be over all the kings and armies of the world and at the end gathers them all to fight against the Lord Jesus Christ. The outcome will not be good for the wicked kings and armies.  

REFLECT 

No army is able to conquer the Lord Jesus Christ and His army. He is Almighty God. 

RESPOND 

Return to Revelation 13 to read about the beast (Antichrist) in verses 1-8. At that time no one was able to wage war against Him but things change at the second advent of Jesus. 

Day 2

READ 

Revelation 19:20-21 

20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies. 

Not only was the Antichrist captured but so also was the false prophet who performed miracles and deceived those who had the mark of the beast. Both the Antichrist and false prophet are thrown into the “fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Their army was killed by the means of the sword coming out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ. As mentioned previously, He had been able to speak worlds into existence and now was able to speak armies out of existence. 

REFLECT 

Think of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in overcoming armies with His spoken word. 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Hebrews 4:12-13 to see the power of the Word of God that we know as the Bible. Read also Psalm 139:23-24 and make that your prayer.  

Day 3

READ 

Revelation 20:1-3 

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while. 

Revelation 12:7-9 identifies the “dragon” as described in this passage. The dragon is the devil who energizes and empowers the beast and false prophet in opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ. The devil will be bound for a thousand years during which he will not be able to deceive the nations. A Latin term “millennium” is often used in referring to the thousand years. Some take the term as symbolic. This period of time is mentioned six times in Revelation 20:2-7. There is no reason not to accept it as actual years. 

REFLECT 

Think how wonderful it will be that the devil will be confined for a thousand years so he cannot deceive nations during this time.  

RESPOND 

The term “kingdom” is also used to refer to the thousand years mentioned in this passage. Isaiah writes about the kingdom. See passages Isaiah 11:6-7 and 65:20-25. It is thought that death will only result during this time because of outright rebellion against the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Day 4

READ 

Revelation 20:4 

4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 

The apostle John continued to tell what he saw. He saw thrones and those given authority to judge. He saw those martyred because they testified for the Lord Jesus and proclaimed the Word of God.  They had also refused to take the mark of the beast. They came back to life and “reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” 

REFLECT 

Think how courageous these martyrs had been during the Tribulation. Many will have died for their faith even before this time comes.  

RESPOND 

Read Hebrews 11:32-40. This is what the writer summarized after telling of so many who lived by faith. Those in Hebrews 11 seem to be the witnesses referred to in Hebrews 12:1. As originally written there was no chapter break between 11 and 12. 

Day 5

READ 

Revelation 20:5-6 

5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. 

The first resurrection refers to all the various resurrections of believers. The second death refers to the resurrection of unbelievers. The unbelievers will not be resurrected until after the thousand years are completed. The believers who are part of the first resurrection will reign with King Jesus a thousand years. 

REFLECT 

Think of the privilege of reigning with Christ a thousand years. Details are not given but with God it will be a perfect time for everyone. 

RESPOND 

The apostle Paul also mentioned to Timothy about reigning with Jesus. Read 2 Timothy 2:11-13. Notice also that even if believers are unfaithful, God never is.