Final Scenes

With broad strokes of the prophetic brush John has painted a vivid picture of the conflict of the ages, particularly as it has raged back and forth through the last 2,000 years. In Revelation 12 and on through the book John fills in the fine details and now this detail work reaches its zenith in the description of the 1,000 years in revelation 19:11 to 21:8. In this study guide you will be thrilled by the hallelujah chorus and the wedding scene in the first ten verses of Revelation 19, while the glorious descent of the New Jerusalem, so graphically described in Revelation 21 will be surved in the next study guide.

In Revelation 20 there is good news about the bad news of Revelation. The Devil, who has worked through earthly powers to cause so much misery on Earth and conflict in the hearts of humanity, is bound for 1,000 years and is then only loosed for a short time, after which he goes to destruction. No wonder the song of the saved swells like thunder, echoing and re-echoing praise and glory to God. "Amen, Hallelujah!"

What is the most beautiful wedding you have ever seen? What impressed you the most?

What have others said?

How could these studies help you most in a time of personal or national war?

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The 1,000 year period, mentioned six times in Revelation 20, has often been called THE millennium. No part of prophecy has been the subject of so much speculation as this 1,000 years, not because it is hard to understand but because people have tried to fit it into their preconceived ideas of lat day events. Some have siad Jesus will come before the Millennium, or after the millennium. Others have said that during the millennium Jesus reigns on earth, or in heaven, or only in the hearts of saved humanity. Another source of confusion has been the use of Old Testament prophecies that were given to national Israel, conditional on the nation's acceptance of Jesus and His salvation. Becuase national Israel rejected Jesus, it leads to prophetic chaos to try to fit all the conditional prophecies into the final future scenario given to John as the last word on Biblical prophecy.

It is important that we do not become embroiled in conflict over vairous millennial viewpoint, but that you prayerfully ask Jesus to walk us through this beautiful prophecy so that the light of God's special message for us will shine out with increasing clarity.

Hallelujah! "19:1) After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2) for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitue who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of this servents." 3) And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."	This is John's seventh view of joy in heaven among those who are finally saved. Four times they shout hallelujah -- no other time is the word used in the New Testament. What would you really like to praise God for right now? What have others said? There are at least seven reasons why the saved first shout hallelujah in verses 1-3. Which reason will be especially meaningful for you? What have others said?
"4) The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And the cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" 5) The a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"	Cross Reference: "Amen," the great affirmation of truth, is found more time in Revelation than any other book of the Bible. Read Deuteronomy 27:14-26, Nehemiah 8:1-6 and compare with Revelation 7:12. Why do you think Jesus is called "Amen" in Revelation 3:14? What have others said?
"6) Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Halleluja! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.' 7) Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8) Fine linen, bight and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)	What is the difference between righteous acts and righteous intentions? What have others said? For the royal marriage see Mini-Study 1
"9) Then the angel said to me, 'Write: "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!"' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'	While the church as a whole is symbolized as the bride, individuals who are saved are called wedding guests. Cross Reference: Jesus told a number of wedding stories in which His people are pictured as guests. Where do you find yourself in Matthew 22:1-14? What have others said?
"10) At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."	Would you feel inclined to worship the angel like John? Why? What have others said? What indications are given that the prophetic gift will be evident in the last days? Revelation 12:17; Joel 2:28, 29 What have others said? How many similarities can you find between the experiences of the saved in Revelation 19:1-10 and God's last day call to salvation in Revelation 14:6-12? What have others said?
The Rider on the White horse "11) I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12) His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14) the armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." "15) Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16) On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."	John last saw the door "standing open" in Revelation 4:1. Soon afterwards he saw the white horse of the gospel race across the world. Now he sees another white horse with a very special rider. How many clues can you find in verses 11-16 as you identify this rider? What have others said? Which title of the rider means the most to you? Why? What have others said? John has had at least three previously visions of Jesus' Second Coming (1:7; 6:16-17; 14:14-20). Does His 'rulling' of the unsaved leave them dead or alive? See Psalm 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; and Revelation 2:27. What have others said? Cross Reference: When Jesus comes with all His armies of angels, His saved people are taken to the wedding. What happens to the unsaved? Matthew 24:26-31; Luke 17:30-37. What have others said?
"17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, 'Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18) so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and might men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free adn slave, small and great.'" "19) Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20) But the beaset was captured,	Cross Reference: In what words would you describe the conditions pictured in Jeremiah 25:30-33; Revelation 11:18? What have others said?
"and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. with these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the firely lake of burning sulfer."	Cross Reference: The miraculous signs of Antichrist have deluded the unsaved, but how does the glory of Jesus' coming affect the lawless miracle workers? 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2:5-10 What have others said?
"21) The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh."	Why do you think it will be impossible for the unsaved to stand in the presence of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)? What have others said? Cross Reference: Are the saved left on the earth at Jesus' Second Coming? John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. What have others said?
The Thousand Years "20:1) And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2) He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3) He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.	What words does an ancient prophet use to picture this time when the earth is without a living human population? Jeremiah 4:23-26 What have others said? It seems that Satan is left for 1,000 years with no one to tempt. Have you ever been bound up or tied up by circumstances? What happened? What have others said?
"4) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their restimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."	Apparently God gives the saved the opportunity of judging the unsaved world and proclaiming His justice. Where are they when they do this? Revelation 19:1-2; 15:2-4 What have others said? When are the saved taken to heaven to share in Joy and judgment with Jesus? John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Mark 13:26-27 What have others said?
"5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6) Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."	More about the resurrection: Mini-Study 2. There is a major resurrection at both ends of the 1,000 years. If those in the first resurrection are "blessed and holy," who are in the second resurrection? What have others said? When God's people inherit the earth for how long with they reign with Him over the Universe? Revelation 22:5 What have others said?
Satan's Doom "7) When the Thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8) and will go out wo deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth -- God and Magog -- to gather them for the battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore."	The unsaved are raised at the end of the 1,000 years (verse 5) and are characterized by Israel's ancient enemeis Gog and Magog. So Satan now has people to work on. How does God's city come to be back on earth? Notice John's next two visions. Revelation 21:1-11 What have others said?
"9) They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them."	At the end of the millennium is the completion of Armageddon and the seven last plagues. What encouragement do you get from reading in verse 9 that all the armies of earth cannot overthrow God's city? What have others said?
"10) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfer, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."	The word "forever" is used in the Bible at least 56 times for things that have come to and end. It can mean "to the end of -- life, existance, or special circumstances." How does this apply to the fate of the unsaved? 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 7; Malachi 4:1-3 What have others said?
The Dead are Judged "11) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earh and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13) The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done."	John's vision now takes him back again before the destruction of the unsaved. Every person who has ever lived will be alive around the great white throne, some in the city and some outside. Why do people sometime hope there will be no resurrection? What have others said?
"14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15) If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."	What feeling do you get when you realize that death and the grave will one day be destroyed? What have others said? If you are truely born twice, how many times will you have to die? Why? What have others said?

How, in the next 24 hours, could you share with someone on the 'street' Jesus' wedding invitation? What will this do for you?

What have others said?

By claiming the promises in God's Word, how can you get to know the one who is 'Faithful and True'?

What have others said?

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In the marriage customs of Bible times, at first the bride was chosen and the bride price or dowery paid. The betrothal or engagement was almost as binding as marriage but, before the wedding, there was a time of separation when the bridegroom went to prepare a new home for the bride. Finally the marriage and supper took place, the trumpets sounded, and the bridegroom threw his cloak over the bride and took her home.

By His incarnation Jesus linked Himself to humanity. How can humanity be united in a marriage-like relationship to Jesus? Galatians 3:26-29

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As God's people in Bible times looked forward to a future life with Jesus after death, they always looked with hope to the resurrection.

Think about This: If there is no sense of time in death (like sleep seems timeless), how long will it seem between the moment of death and resurrection? How does this affect your sense of urgency today?

What have others said?