Welcome to Thus Say the Prophets!

The Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed:
A Study into the Noahide Nazarene Way
By Ben Ruach HaKodesh (John of AllFaith) © 11.14.09
Chapter Twenty



Go to the index page for: The Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed

The Aftermath of Armageddon

Imprisoned for a Thousand Years

Once the Battle of Armageddon is over the answer to Lucifer's challenge will have been largely, but not completely, resolved. HaShem will have been vindicated and the Novus Ordo Seclorum will have been defeated. Lucifer and his minions will then be removed from the scene. The thousand year kingdom of God will begin.

20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 20:2 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 20:3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.

As you recall, at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period Lucifer and his celestial minions will have been expelled from the presence of HaShem and exiled to the Earth. At roughly this same point the Rex Mundi will have been assassinated after committing "the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel Prophet" in the newly rebuilt Jerusalem Temple (i.e. standing in the Holy place) -- Matthew 24:15. Following this expulsion and desecration the world will have been utterly plundered during the final three and a half years.

Lucifer will then possess the dead body of Rex Mundi and reanimate or raise it to life. Therefore during the second three and a half years of his reign Rex Mundi will be directly ruling the planet while sharing his physical body with Lucifer himself.

Once Moshiach and his armies defeat the Novus Ordo Seclorum in the Battle of Har Meggido (Armageddon) Rex Mundi and the False Prophet will be arrested by Moshiach and imprisoned for one thousand years. The people will be plotting their own demise in the Second Death.

The Thousand Year Kingdom of Moshiach and his God

We mortals tend to have a very limited view of eternity. A thousand years sounds like an unbelievably long time based on the shortness of our present physical lives, but understand that we are, like our Divine Parent, actually eternal beings: We are sons and daughters of the Most High! We were created in the image of the Most High and hence, as Psalm 82 reminds us so wondrously, we share in God's nature and are also therefore divine beings, gods who will "inherit the nations" (Psalm 82:8). To those whose consciousness, if not their experience, can grasp the truth of this, a thousand years is not so long:

II Peter 3:8 But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

At the beginning of our present age, about 5770 years ago, something traumatic occurred that shortened all lifespans tremendously. Recall that according to the Torah Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years (Gen. 5:5). Methuselah was nine hundred sixty nine years old when he died. Even the righteous Father Noah lived to be nine hundred and fifty years old. After the global flood however longevity declined rapidly. Abraham's father Terah only lived two hundred and five years (Gen. 11:32) and his daughter-in-law Sarah only lived a hundred and twenty seven years (Gen. 23:1). Today of course most people don't live to see even their eightieth birthday. No wonder such calculations seem like an inconceivably long time to us! No one in the Bible is recorded as having lived a thousand years.

As we'll discuss shortly however, once Moshiach comes this will be changed! There is no reason why everyone who survives the coming Seven Year Tribulation Period should not also live through the entire Thousand Year millennial period! And that thousand years is only the beginning! These survivors will enter into tangible eternity without ever having to taste death personally! I say "tangible eternity" because the truth is we are all eternal beings already, we are daughters and sons of the Most High. Most people do not have this understanding, however those who accept Y'shua the Anointed as Master and study his teachings understand the meaning of this saying:

John 11:25 Y'shua said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 11:26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

As we read at Revelation 19:10 above: Worship God, for the testimony of Y'shua is the Spirit of Prophecy. The Master was always looking to our generation and preparing us for what we are, even now, beginning to face. Hence he said: Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Survive these seven years and you will never die! But even if we are honored to die as martyrs he gives this assurance: He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. So as Paul said as Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Wrap your head around this saying! It will be imperative that you do soon if you intend to Stand... and I pray you will, no matter the cost.

20:4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Y'shua, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The Seventh Trumpet will sound as discussed above and Moshiach will be inaugurated as King of kings and Lord of lords. Of this glorious event Paul writes:

I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 15:54 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."
15:55 "Death, where is your sting?
Sheol, where is your victory?"

We will not all sleep: The word sleep here is koimao and means: to cause to sleep or to put to sleep. Most Bible students believe this means that some people will still be alive when this event happens while others will not, however there is something more here:

"we will not all be put to sleep" or killed.

This is important because there is a diversity of views regarding the time line of the resurrection that needs to be understood. To take Paul's words here as referring to a blanket resurrection would contradict what John is describing.

Paul is not speaking of the resurrection of the general population of Believers throughout history here, but of those living in our (final) generation in which the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24) is finally ending with the vomiting out of "the Laodecian Church." Paul is saying that not all of the Great Multitude will perish or be "put to sleep" during the seven years; some will survive. Rather than contradicting John he is in full agreement with him.

Among Moshiach's first acts in office will be the resurrection of those martyred 144,000 Jews and members of the Great Multitude who did not survive the War. These martyrs will join those who survived and kneel before the Throne (symbolically or literally) to receive their next assignments.

Likewise we know from Scripture that Moshiach will order all Jews to come to Jerusalem at this point:

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name by which he shall be called: Yahweh Our Righteousness.
23:7 Therefore behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that they shall no more say, As Yahweh lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 23:8 but, As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them. They shall dwell in their own land.

And again:

Isaiah 43:5 Don't be afraid; for I am with you.

I will bring your seed from the east,

and gather you from the west.
43:6 I will tell the north, 'Give them up!'

and tell the south, 'Don't hold them back!

Bring my sons from far,

and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
43:7 everyone who is called by my name,

and whom I have created for my glory,

whom I have formed,

yes, whom I have made.'"

Like all political leaders, Moshiach will form his cabinet and delegate his officers for the smooth administration of his government. From among the faithful Moshiach will anoint judges and grant them authority to carry out his directions.

The exact make-up of these various posts only time will tell however we do know that Jews will be placed in preeminent positions:

Isaiah 11:10 It will happen in that day [i.e. the day when Moshiach takes his throne] that the nations will seek the root of Jesse [i.e. Moshiach], who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place [i.e. Jerusalem] will be glorious.
11:11 It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt... [i.e. he will call all the Jews to Jerusalem even as HaShem called them home from Babylon using Cyrus the Great as we previously discussed]
11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations [i.e. for the Noahide Nations], and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth...

Of the nations and these returned Jews we read:

Zechariah 8:20 Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come; 8:21 and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of Armies. I will go also.'
8:22 Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Yahweh of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Yahweh."
8:23 Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

The First Resurrection

Now note the following carefully:

20:5 The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

This is why I wanted to clarify Paul's time line above.

According to Prophet John (and hence according to Master Y'shua who is revealing these things to him directly, and at times through an angel):

• Some people will survive the Seven Year War, most will not. These people who do will walk into the Kingdom as survivors.
  Most people, those who side with HaShem and those who do not, will not survive the coming seven year war.
• Those who do not survive the Seven Years but who stand with HaShem and His people will now be resurrected. This includes both Jews and Gentiles.
• The rest of the dead, Believers and non-Believers alike, will not take part in the first resurrection: They will not be resurrected for another thousand years.

Beyond this John is silent as to the state of the departed and so I will resist the urge to discuss this here as well.

20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

Following Armageddon the planet will be a disaster area. Those who survive the war and those who take part in the first resurrection will be responsible for the clean up. The final generation of the Times of the Gentiles, our generation, has destroyed the Earth like none before it. We have introduced nuclear waste, man-made chemicals, pesticides, contaminants of all kinds and we will be required to clean up our mess before the rest of the dead return.

Under the leadership of Moshiach it will be our task to re-establish the Garden of Eden and to create a world order fitting of the children of the Most High. This global work will be commissioned and overseen by Moshiach. By the end of the thousand years Planet Earth will be a holy and righteous place of truly natural beauty and splendor.

20:7 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison,

For one thousand years the Earth will have known peace.

For one thousand years Moshiach will have directed the course of human events with knowledge and wisdom and honor and worship to HaShem, the One God.

But remember the challenge of Lucifer and HaShem's offer of evidence. Humanity was given the privilege of deciding our own fate. After the seven years it will have been proved that Secular Humanism is not the way to go. Had Moshiach not intervened the planet itself would have been destroyed!

Throughout the thousand years untold millions of children will have been born. For all of them what we are now experiencing will subjects taught in the history books.

One final challenge remains to be answered.

Now it will be.

Decisively.

Gog and Magog

Gog and the Land of Magog



Click the map for a larger image

20:8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

This verse is usually translated as "Gog and Magog." This is a perfectly solid translation but there is a tad more to be noted by an equally valid alternative reading. Strong's tells us that the word and here is kai, a "conjunction, a primary particle having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force." This conjunction can be correctly translated as: and, also, even, indeed or but.

Therefore: "Gog, even Magog" is an equally correct translation that fits well with what the Torah tells us about Magog.

Likewise, "to gather them together": them here is autos (ow-tos), from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of (Strong's # 109) through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward) and correctly translates as: himself, herself, themselves or itself.

Therefore either "Gog and Magog" or "Gog, even Magog" works here as that source will gather them (i.e. the diverse forces) together to wage the final human war.

After the thousand years are over Satan will again be released onto the Earth and deceive the people of Magog and others. Unlike during under the reign of Rex Mundi all who join this rebellion will do so willingly and with full understanding of their actions. The title given to Lucifer here ("Satan" in most English translations) in the Greek is Satanas, meaning the adversary: one who opposes another in purpose or in action. Satanas will unite Gog and/even Magog and lead a vast army, as numerous as the sand of the sea, against Israel, Moshiach and his global theocracy.

The identity of Satanas is obvious, its Lucifer.

The word Gog means "mountain" and Magog means "overtopping or covering," including geographically as the north that is above what is to its south. The word "mountain" is often used in scripture to refer to authority and might as the following verses make clear. It will therefore be by the covering or authority and might of Magog that this future army will unite against its common enemy. The land of Magog will therefore be the headquarters or rally point of the mighty force that will come down (from the north) against Jerusalem, seat of Moshiach and his righteous administration. As we will see below, the wording of this passage also shows that the people of Magog will be joined with others in this final rebellion.

As stated before, when studying the prophecies it is always preferable to allow the Bible to interpret itself. There has been much speculation and confusion about the identity of Gog and Magog that the Bible, if considered, clears up.

As we have seen, this War of Gog and Magog will occur a thousand years after the Battle of Armageddon. While the text says that Lucifer will be released from his imprisonment the same is not said about the Rex Mundi. Indeed 20:10 below says that Rex Mundi and his False Prophet remain imprisoned. There is therefore no scriptural support for the view that Gog is Rex Mundi, that Rex Mundi will arise from Russia, nor that the War of Gog and Magog is the same battle as Armageddon.

Concerning the identity of Magog we read the following:

Genesis 10:1 Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras....

As discussed previously, the names of the sons of Jacob (Israel) became the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In 1948 the rebirth of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (and Benjamin) adopted the name of the united kingdom of Israel as the prophets foretold.

The same is true here.

Noah's grandson (through his 2nd son Japheth) Magog settled north of Israel in the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media as shown on the map above.

That region to the north of the Holy Land is the land of Magog. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel gives us a lot of information on this final War of Gog and Magog.

Following is an except from Ezekiel's famous prophecy about this coming war:

Ezekiel 38:1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 38:2 Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 38:3 and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: 38:4 and I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

Rosh, Meshech and Tubal

Rosh: These were the early Russian people, one of the three Scythian tribes over whom Magog was the prince. They invaded the land of Judah in the days of Josiah. As the Greek historian Herodotus has it: "For twenty-eight years the Scythians ruled over Asia, and things were turned upside down by their violence and contempt."

Meshech: These people lived to the north of Eretz Israel as well (1 Chr. 1:5; Ezek. 27:13; 38:2,3). The Moschi inhabited the Moschian Mountains, between the Black and Caspian Seas. During the reign of the Babylonians and Medo-Persians large numbers of these people crossed the Caucasus mountains and spread out across the northern steppes where they mingled with the Scythians and came to be known as the Muscovs. The Moskva River, the Russian nation and its ancient capital Moscow still bear the name.

Tubal: A tribe/nation mentioned by Isaiah (66:19), along with Javan, and by Ezekiel (27:13), along with Meshech. They were traders with Tyre. This nation was probably the Tiberini mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus as a people of the Asiatic highland west of the Upper Euphrates, the southern range of the Caucasus, on the east of the Black Sea (referenced source).

The River Euphrates as we have discussed is one of the God-decreed boundaries of Eretz Israel and so the identity of Gog and Magog is certain thanks to this break down by Prophet Ezekiel.

As we discussed previously the Rex Mundi or Antichrist will be a single, specific person, however from all appearances Gog will not be an individual despot but rather refers to a confederation of leaders arising from the Russian Federation southward to the northern border of Greater Israel as shown in the following map:

Eretz Israel and the Land of Magog



To put this into better perspective, Moscow to Jerusalem is only 1660.4 U.S. miles (2672.1 KM), 1441.9 nautical miles or a mere 3 hours 27 minutes by plane. Considering that Eretz Israel will extend to Turkey and Moscow is well within Russia the distance for an invasion will be a matter of a few hundred miles.

During the thousand year reign, from the area north of Eretz Israel and beyond it, Antisemitism will continue to rear its ugly head. This anti-Jewish movement will spread throughout the region attracting not only ethnic Russians (Ezek 38:1-4) but others as well as Ezekiel reveals:

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 38:6 Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you. 38:7 Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.

Iran and Egypt: Sunni and Shia Islam.

Persia: This is Iran, headquarters of Shia Islam.

Cush: Cush was a son of Ham, and father of Nimrod -- the Mighty Hunter in opposition to HaShem -- (Gen. 10:8; 1 Chr. 1:10). The land of Cush is named for him. While its exact location is debated the Tanack generally places it to the south of Eretz Israel near the southern borders of Egypt (Nahum 3:9) and as synonymous with Ethiopia (the KJV often even translates it as such -- Ps. 68:31; Isa. 18:1; Jer. 46:9, etc.). Therefore, the reference here is to al Ikwan, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood or its descendants.

Gomer: The eldest son of Japheth, and father of Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah (Gen. 10:2, 3). His descendants were the principal family branches of South-eastern Europe, the ancestors of the Celtae and the Cimmerii. These people in early times settled to the north of the Black Sea among the people of Magog and gave their name to the Crimea, the ancient Chersonesus Taurica. Their influence is still found in the names Cimmerian Bosphorus, Cimmerian Isthmus, etc. In the seventh century B.C.E. they were driven out of their original seat by the Scythians, and overran western Asia Minor, and from there they were later expelled. They subsequently reappear in the times of the Romans as the Cimbri of the north and west of Europe. They later crossed to the British Isles, where their descendants (including me) are still found in the Gaels and Cymry. Thus the whole Celtic race may be regarded as descended from Gomer.

These then are the principle groups that will rise and stand against Moshiach once the thousand years have ended.

So then, rebellion against the Theocratic kingdom will explode beginning with the people of Russia and all lands north of Israel, sweeping across to the Shia Muslims of Iran (Persians) and on around Eretz Israel to the south through Egypt (with Sunni -- Wahabi Islam), Ethiopia and at least North Africa, as well as among the people of Western Europe possibly all the way to the British Isles. Again the people and countries of the Americas are not mentioned and so we have no way of knowing with whom they will side in this coming and final war.

Prophet Ezekiel continues:

38:8 After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.

Notice how the prophet stresses that these things will occur in the later years. He may not understand the time line exactly however he knows that what he is receiving from HaShem will happen at the End of Days.

These later days are those times following the establishment of the Kingdom of HaShem by Moshiach.

Through the battle of Armageddon Eretz Israel will have been "brought back from the sword" and liberated by Moshiach. Jews who had been dispersed will be "gathered out of many peoples" and "they shall dwell securely" all of them in Eretz Israel.

The Invasion of Eretz Israel

Prophet Ezekiel is describing the same events as John, only in much more detail:

38:9 You shall ascend, you shall come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
38:10 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device: 38:11 and you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates; 38:12 to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.

Hordes of people, Russians, Muslims (both Shia and Sunni), Africans, Europeans and others will choose, of their own free will, to rebel against Moshiach and his global government! This rebellion will be completely unjustifiable. The Jews will be living in "unwalled cities" confirming that they are just rulers and at peace with all people. But greed, hatred and Antisemitism will ignite this unconscionable rebellion.

Throughout the thousand years generations of children and grandchildren will have been born. Even though thousands if not millions of survivors of the Great Tribulation will still be alive none of them will side with the Rebellion. The rebellion will occur among those born within the Kingdom Age. We know this because the prophet says the second death will not take any of the Great Multitude (Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years).

Ezekiel continues:

38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, shall tell you, Have you come to take the spoil? have you assembled your company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great spoil?
38:14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, shall you not know it? 38:15 You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army; 38:16 and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.

If you do a study on the various peoples and places described by Ezekiel you will find that he paints a most complete and compelling picture. For brevity I will not go into all of these details here. I do encourage you to read all of Ezekiel's prophecies and study his vision in greater detail.

38:17 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?
38:18 It shall happen in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils. 38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 38:20 so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 38:21 I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains, says the Lord Yahweh: every man's sword shall be against his brother. 38:22 With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.
38:23 I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.

Everything the Great Multitude and their descendants will have created will be smashed to dust! The most advanced civilization the world will have thus far known will obliterated as though it had never existed. Imagine this: For a thousand years humanity will have worked and lived creating the grandest, most advanced civilization in human history. Now it will all be destroyed in the War of Gog and Magog! No longer will humanity be able to blame Adam for his rebellion! Their rebellion will be far worse and much more deliberate than his!

We now continue with John's narration of his vision:

20:9 They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the holy ones, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them.

This rebellion will be centered on the attacks against Jerusalem but it will be global in scope. This will be like the rebellion of Adam and Eve (and possibly Adama and Lilith), with one critical exception: Millions of people will now side with HaShem! The faithful will assemble in Jerusalem and in other places of safety around the world depending on where they are. With one voice their cries will ascend to the Throne of HaShem and He will hear and respond.

This time no Moshiach will arise to lead human armies in battle! This time HaShem Himself will defend His people and decisively end the final rebellion of human history.

20:10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Lucifer's accusation will have been met! Perhaps not all, but untold millions will, with full understanding, choose HaShem! Never again will wickedness be allowed to contaminate the Earth. Never again will Lucifer be allowed to deceive the people of the Planet.

The Great White Throne Judgment and the Second Resurrection

20:11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.

Moshiach, empowered by HaShem will now hold court. This will include a series of actual trials around the world. All who have rebelled against HaShem in the War of Gog and Magog will be found guilty. But this will be like no other trial in human history:

20:12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Note that the text says the dead stood before the throne (singular) and that "they (plural) opened books." Now comes the understanding of those verses that say "Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations" (Ps. 82:8) and "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (II Tim. 2:12) and again, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6).

The Judges

Recall that when HaShem first established Israel they had no king over them. Due to their desire to have a king like other nations HaShem allowed this. HaShem's Will however is that the human race obey Him as Sovereign based on His laws.

Following the World Flood HaShem gave the Seven Noahide laws to humanity. Later He revealed the Torah and its 613 mitzvot (commandments) for the Jews. He decreed that His Laws would be adjudicated (applied) by Samuel and the judges who would come after him. However the people complained. They wanted a king to rule them and so HaShem allowed this and gave them Saul. Of this we read:

I Samuel 8:1 It happened, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beersheba.
8:3 His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah; 8:5 and they said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."
8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, "Give us a king to judge us."

Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
8:7 Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to you.
8:9 Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who shall reign over them."

Now following the Thousand Year Kingdom the Will of HaShem will be fully implemented on Earth as it is in Heaven with a new Heaven and new Earth. HaShem will be the undisputed Ruler of the earth as Sovereign Majesty. His laws will be enforced through righteous judges as He originally intended.

These judges will come from among the survivors of the Great Tribulation.

They will have witnessed and experienced the most advanced pre-Tribulation society in human history. They will have experienced the result of that greed based civilization -- the Tribulation Period -- as well as life during the thousand years in harmony with the Will of HaShem. Based on their experiences they will know the Truth and their judgments will be righteous.

HaShem created humans with free will and that liberty will always be honored. The Judges will serve as a balance to ensure the future of the planet in harmony with the Will of HaShem.

Now John is describing how they will sit in judgment based on the authority of HaShem under the rule of His anointed Moshiach.

While the scriptures do not specifically say the Second Resurrection occurs at this (or any other) point, it is obvious from the context. The next chapter will confirm this as John beholds the creation of the new Heaven and the new Earth. All those will live under the rule of Moshiach will be welcomed back to life at this point.

20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Sheol gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 20:14 Death and Sheol were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 20:15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Here ends Chapter 20.

Next



For more information on this topic visit:

Thus Say The Prophets

And

The Noahide Nazarene Way

Children Of Noah	The Noahide Nazarene Way
	My Multiply Blog
	Thus Say the Prophets
	AllFaith.com

Thus Says The Prophets	Thus Say the Prophets
	The Noahide Nazarene Way
	The AllFaith Group
	Religious Studies
	My Multiply Blog
	AllFaith.com