In The Word
Read: Revelation 20:1-10
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a 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 for a thousand years.
Satan Freed and Doomed
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Having previously cast the dragon and false prophet into the lake of fire, Yeshua will then place the devil into captivity for 1,000 years. The people remaining on earth will enjoy Yeshua’s presence along with freedom from the devil’s temptations to sin. When the devil is released from captivity, he will deceive many, raise an army, and attempt to overthrow Yeshua. Sadly, mankind will once again rebel against God. Yeshua will destroy all who oppose Him by fire and cast the devil into hell.
Hell is real; it is not a fictitious place that God made up just to threaten people or coerce obedience. It is not a difficult emotional or physical state on earth that people face, such as sickness or suffering. Yeshua said it is an actual place of “eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). People that refuse to believe in Yeshua will also be banished there.
Heaven is also real and is reserved for those who wholeheartedly believe in Yeshua. Many people claim to believe in Yeshua’s name, but they do not faithfully follow His teachings. History reveals that mankind has struggled to faithfully obey God, instead often seeking to satisfy fleshly desires and follow the devil’s temptations. Since our flesh is weak, God has given us His Holy Spirit to provide us supernatural power to faithfully obey all of God commands. How have you been faithful to God? Use the Spirit within you to live for God wholeheartedly.