Please note that the above explanation of the seven kings is simply
a possibility that makes sense to this author, but it is only speculation. Without
a doubt, there have been many kings throughout
history whose lives and action have been controlled by satan. And
there have been some eras in which God’s people have been in great
jeopardy as a result of the work of satan and his beast.
satan himself is “the eighth king” (verse 11a). According to interpreting
principle number one, since seven is a complete number,
then eight is one more. satan is one more because he is spiritual, not
physical; and because he is, in fact, the head of the other seven, he is
one more than complete. Revelation 17:11b says, “He belongs to the
seven and is going to his destruction.” satan, being the eighth king,
would refer to two circumstances. First, as head of the ten kings
after the abomination of desolation is set up and after being released
from the abyss following the millennial reign of Christ as he gathers
his family from the four winds to make war against the family of
God in the final battle (Revelation 20:7–10).
The scarlet beast also had “ten horns.” As the angel continued to
interpret the vision for John, he said,
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received
a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings,
along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their
power and authority to the beast. They will make war against
the Lamb.
Revelation 18:12–14
These kings will reign for one hour and do so along with the beast. This means that they will reign concurrently in history and at a time
when satan has control “as kings along with the beast” (verse 12). They also will reign at a time when they will “make war against the
Lamb” (verse 14).
These ten kings are the kings of Revelation 16:14, which says,
“Go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the
182
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Also, Revelation 16:16
says, “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in
Hebrew is called Armageddon.” They are also the same as the kings
described in chapter 19, which says,
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.
Revelation 19:19
Throughout history, satan has been in a continuous state of rebellion
against God. In that rebellion, he has tried continuously to destroy
God’s witnesses, the family of God. There have been certain time
periods in history when satan cornered God’s people and was about
to strike the final blow to achieve his purpose and God intervened
and rescued them. This is clearly explained in the account of the
Babylonian exile.
God’s people were slaves in Babylon and lived continually under
the possibility of being destroyed. (Refer to the book of Esther). However, in due time, God’s intervention saved his people from certain
death.
At particular points in history, satan has brought God’s people
to the brink of destruction through his great prostitute and certain
kings who were under his control, but God intervened. At the time
of the seventh king, however, God will not intervene; but the two
witnesses will be killed, leaving no further witness on earth. God
will intervene by resurrecting the two witnesses and removing his
family from the earth.
1. The five kings are the possibilities previously presented.
2. The sixth king will reign at the time of the first
beast. (Revelation 13:1–8). He will progressively gain
authority over all mankind (Revelation 13:7b-8).
With the conquering and removal of the saints,
God’s Spirit will no longer be at work on the earth. satan will have a free hand since he will be king of
183
Message From the Throne
the earth. satan, the eighth king, is spiritual––seven
kings and one more. The seven kings are the complete
number of kings who have fought and will fight
to destroy God’s people.
3. The seventh king will be synonymous with the ten
kings and will rule simultaneously in a kingdom
without God. 666 means mankind without God. (666, interpreting principle number one.)
The ten kings will be satan’s vassal kings (Revelation
17:12–13), who will be gathered to make spiritual
war against the Lamb (Revelation 16:14, 16; 17:14;
19:17–21).
4. The eighth king will be satan, the spiritual king of
the earth, who will reign as sole authority after the
midpoint, or three and a half years, of tribulation
after the two witnesses have been killed and the family
of God is all in heaven. “The beast and the ten
horns you saw will hate the prostitute” (Revelation
17:16a).
The prostitute is a visionary, spiritual entity that
is comprised of 1) All of the physical family of satan,
and, 2) The spiritual leader, satan. In spite of the fact
that she is the family of satan, satan and his kings
“will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they
will eat her flesh and burn her with fire” (Revelation
17:16b).
The family of satan will be like a rabid dog, biting and destroying
itself. This is pictured in the scenes of the fifth and sixth trumpets,
which correspond in time with the events that bring the ten kings to
power. These terrible events are the will of God and bring about his
purpose. This is seen in Revelation 17:17, which says, “For God has
put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give
the beast, their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.”
184
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites desired a king. God said that they
had rejected his leadership and desired an earthly king like other
nations. The last generation of mankind will have truly received
their king, but also will have realized the awesome consequences that
God pronounced in 1 Samuel. Not only will they compromise their
freedom to get their kings, but those kings will also compromise
their power as kings, for they will agree to give their power to satan
so they can rule. (They could not be kings except under satan.) Their
rejection of God––and God’s judgment being carried out as God’s
purpose for those who have rejected him as their Creator––will seal
their destiny as the family of satan. By their own choice, they destroy
themselves as God brings an end to his creation.
The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings
of the earth.
Revelation 17:18
The woman, or the great prostitute––people over all the earth––rule
over the kings. The people rule over the kings. This is a peculiar
statement in view of the fact that the kings are under the control of
satan, which is the purpose of God as explained in verse 17.
It is possible that this peculiar statement can be explained by taking
a look at the current situation in United States politics. A king
could be the equivalent to a president or a prime minister. There are
two things that have primary influence over the statements a US
President makes in public: 1) his perception of what the people want
to hear, and 2) what the news media manipulates him to say.
Therefore, through modern democracy and the mass media, we
can see how the people––that great city––will rule over the kings
in a way not possible before modern technology and communication
systems. The kings themselves will also desire the wealth and
power that is exemplified by the visionary woman and will say or do
anything to get votes to rule. Thus, the people actually rule over the
kings of the earth through democratic form of government.
Please note that a democratic form of government is not evil. Democracy is the best form of government ever devised by man185
Message From the Throne
kind. Democracy is great. It beats a dictator every day. What this is
saying is that at the time of the end the kings will be elected officials,
thus ruled over by the people.

187
Revelation 18
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven He
had great authority and the earth was illuminated by his splendor
With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the
great! She has become a home for demons and a home for every
evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird ”
Revelation 18:1–2
This chapter is a description of the accusations brought against
“Babylon the great” (verse 2), which is synonymous with “the great
harlot” (17:1) The great harlot, or prostitute, is representative of and
descriptive of the people, and Babylon the great is their worldwide
city
I believe that here in this scripture God gives us an illustration
of “Babylon the great” as an example of mankind’s rebellion against
the way and plan of God The root of the name “Babylon” comes
from the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1–9 At the Tower
of Babel, mankind attempted to build a tower, a way to heaven, different
from God’s plan for his creation Mankind’s attempt to reach
heaven without being obedient to the plan of God is somewhat the
same as the statement by the great harlot in Revelation 18:7, which
says, “I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow ”
In this statement, she defi es death and judgment, which is common
to all and so defi es God’s plan for his creation Thus, God uses
“Babylon the great” as the name of the city of the rebellious; rebellious,
thus the remainder of her name “mother of harlots and of the
abominations of the earth ”
In time sequence, creation will be destroyed and will fall only
after God’s two witnesses have been killed and resurrected by God
After that, no one will have the opportunity to be saved, for there
will be no more witnesses Therefore, there will be no reason for
earth to continue Creation will be destroyed
188
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
It is quite evident today, through movies, television, newspapers,
etc., that satanism is spreading like wildfire. The time is nearing
when the earth will truly be a “home for demons.” Verse 3 says, “For
all of the earth committed adultery with her.” Clearly, all of mankind
at the time of the ten kings will have committed spiritual adultery;
satan will be their god. Through their freedom of choice, they made
the wrong choice, the misuse of the spirit of conquest; the first seal
will have borne its fruit.
The remainder of verse 3 says, “ … and the merchants of the earth
grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” The business community will
have reached its height in greed, accomplishment, and wealth, but
they will have rejected God, all the while believing that their wealth
is all they need. The abuse of the spirit of business (the third seal)
will also have borne its fruit.
Then I heard another voice from heaven say; “Come out of her
my people, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for
her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her
crimes.
Revelation 18:4–5
This plea to the family of God to come out of Babylon the great is in
the midst of her accusations. Why does God warn the family of God
when they will not be there at that time in history? Remember,
The woman sits on all mankind.
The message was written to the family of God more
than 1900 years, at least, before these events.
There has always been a family of satan.
The family of God and the family of satan has always
lived side by side and even together.
The warning is not to be caught up in, nor participate in, the things
that satan promotes and deceives his family to accept. After the
warning to the family of God (verses 4–5) judgment is proclaimed.
1
2
3
4
189
Message From the Throne
Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what
she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give
her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave
herself.
Revelation 18:5–7
Thus, judgment is passed on the great prostitute. She receives a
death sentence, not only because of the two preceding accusations,
but also because “In her heart she boasts, I sit as Queen; I am not a
widow, and I will never mourn (Revelation 18:7b).
In effect, she thinks she can escape death. God ordained that all
would die physically, but she has rejected God and refuses to accept
the fact that she must die and face the judgment. Thus, the message
of the fourth seal (death) is rejected, but she does not escape.
Therefore, in one day her plagues will overtake her: death,
morning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is
the Lord God who judges her.
Revelation 18:8
In this verse is the final sentence. Also, verses 9–23 elaborate on the
whole account of the end of physical earth. It is summed up best in
the following verse, “With such violence, the great city of Babylon
will be thrown down, never to be found again” (Revelation 18:21).
In the following verse is the final accusation. It is also the judgment
of the second seal (the rider with the great sword) because
they have sinned. “In her was found the blood of the prophets and
of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth” (Revelation
18:24).
With these explanations and judgments, the great prostitute,
Babylon the great, is condemned. Her sentence will be carried out as
seen in chapter 19, as the people are “all killed” with no one to bury
them. The great buildings, museums, statues, homes, estates, factories,
shopping centers, airports, etc., will utterly fall and burn.

191
Revelation 19
The fi rst eight verses of chapter 19 are a record of three songs of
praise that are sung by the great multitude of the family of God, the
elders, the four living creatures, and a voice from the throne They all
praise God for his justice in pronouncing judgment upon the great
prostitute All are in agreement and shout “Alleluia! For the wedding
of the Lamb has come” (Revelation 19:1–7b)
After the choruses of praise, the angel instructed John to write
a message that contains the “true Words of God ” (verse 9b) He
wrote, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of
the Lamb!” Those who are invited will be given “fi ne linen,” which
stands for the righteous acts of the saints (verse8b) This explanation
corresponds with Revelation 7:14, which states, “They have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ” The
blood of the Lamb was shed for all, but each person must choose to
wash their garments in that blood in order to be invited to the wedding
supper of the Lamb
At the awesomeness of the events he witnessed, John fell at the
feet of the angel “to worship him” (verse 10a) At that, the angel gave
him a severe warning, a lesson desperately needed among the family
of God The angel said, “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” (verse 10b)
We need always to be careful to give all credit, glory, and honor to
God and do not glorify each other for the great deeds done here on
earth For of a truth, we could do nothing without our God, not even
exist for one heartbeat
192
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
The Battle on the Great Day of
God Almighty: Armageddon
The last great battle of physical mankind is recorded in Revelation
19:11–21. This battle has been given its name, the place of its occurrence,
and the description of the preparations in Revelation 16:12–16. The pouring of the sixth bowl will prepare the family of satan for the
battle, in that they will be gathered to the place, spiritually, where
they will meet their defeat.
The preparation of the family of God is described in Revelation
19:11–16. The rider on the white horse is Jesus. He is prepared for
battle with “many crowns”(verse 12) and a “robe dipped in blood”
(verse 13). He has two names: “the Word of God” and “King of kings
and Lord of lords.” He has “a sharp sword” coming out of his mouth. Following him are the “armies of heaven” who are “riding on white
horses and dressed in fine linen.” All of the armies of heaven are
spiritual beings, not physical beings. Fine linen does not mean army
fatigues. All of God’s armies come from heaven.
Revelation 19:17- 21 tells of the destruction of satan’s family who
are involved in this ultimate battle. The angel calls on the birds to
come and eat the flesh of “all people, free and slave, small and great”
(verse 18). These verses speak of the completeness of the destruction
of mankind, who are the family of satan. They will all be dead, and
there will be no one to bury the dead. Their bodies will lie exposed
for the scavengers to feast upon. No one will escape. A king’s authority
will not save him. A general’s army will not be able to protect
him. The great and wealthy will not be able to buy their way out. The poor or slave will not be able to beg their way out. All physical
mankind will be destroyed.
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.
Revelation 19:19
193
Message From the Throne
The armies of satan will be prepared and gathered together in array
against God’s armies. The armies of heaven will be set against the
kings of the earth and their armies––heavenly armies versus earthly
armies; spiritual armies versus physical armies. The mismatch of the
ages! Armageddon!
How could the physical earthly kings, generals, and mighty men
think they could fight the spiritual Jesus and the spiritual armies of
heaven? They will be deceived!
The Great Deception
Physical mankind of the family of satan will be deceived. They will
have listened to the beast and the false prophet, as stated in Revelation
19:20. The false prophet had performed the miraculous signs on
his, the beast’s, behalf. “With these signs he had deluded them, who
had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.”
The physical armies of the family of satan will have seen “miraculous
signs” and will have been “deluded” and deceived so as to think
they can fight God’s heavenly armies. These miracles, which are
recorded in chapter 13, are as follows:
One of the “heads of the beast” (a king, president,
prime minister, etc.) “seemed” (a deception) to have
had a fatal wound, which was “healed” (verse 3).
The first beast defeated his enemies, the physical
family of God (11:7 and chapter 12).
The second beast caused fire to come down from
heaven in full view of mankind (12:13).
The second beast also caused the image (statue, idle)
of the first beast to both breathe and speak. He seemingly
brought the dead back to life (13:15).
When mankind sees these great signs and wonders, they will think
they can fight God!
1
2
3
4
194
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
At the present time, late twentieth and twenty-first centuries,
there are seemingly unexplainable phenomena taking place before
our eyes. It includes raising tables at séances, speaking to spirits, soul
travel, fortune telling, games––Ouija board, Dungeons & Dragons,
etc.––magic shows, spiritual warfare among witches, etc. Most magic
shows consist of sleight-of-hand tricks; however, many more than
would be imagined consist of feats performed by demonic powers. These magic arts, in their many variations, are forerunners to the
miraculous signs that are spoken of in chapter 13.
By the time of this final battle in Revelation 19:20–21, these
witches, warlocks, satanic high priests, etc., will have become so
seemingly proficient with their spiritual powers that they will believe
they can fight God and win.
They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and
they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them
for the battle on the great day of God Almighty … then they
gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called
Armageddon.
Revelation 16:14–16
All of mankind, all creation, from all of history who rebelled against
God have waited and prepared for this final showdown. And
finally, the battle is set in array––the great day of God Almighty at
Armageddon.
Instantly It Will All Be Over
The beast and the false prophet will be “thrown alive into the fiery
lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 19:20c). The interpretation is
that the beast and the false prophet will be the physical leaders of
the spiritual entities that are the beast––who is the ten kings of
13:12–13, plus certain persons who lead rebellion against God––and
the false prophet who is the satanic church, plus certain persons
who lead spiritual rebellion against God. They will be instantly
destroyed, both physically and spiritually. The lake of fire is spiritual
death (Revelation 20:10; 14–15). They will not have their day
195
Message From the Throne
in court, being judged before the great white throne judgment of
God, but will be thrown immediately into the lake of fire; thus, the
eternal death.
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 gorge
themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 19:21
“The rest of the them” will be all the physical armies of the family of
satan after their leaders have been thrown into the lake of fire. The
sword with which they will be killed is the “Word of God.” Jesus is
named the “Word of God” in verse 13. Throughout the Bible, the
sword of God is the Word of God. It is not a physical sword. It is
the Word of God as proclaimed from the mouth of Jesus. They all
die; their hearts stop beating. There is no battle; they just die. This
description of the battle in chapter 19 corresponds in history with
the pouring out of the seventh bowl and the reaping of the earth as
referred to in Revelation 14:14–20.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and out of
the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is
done!” Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of
thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever
occurred since man was on the earth, so tremendous was the
quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the
nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the great and gave
her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every
island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From
the sky, huge hailstones of about one hundred pounds each fell
upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of
hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Revelation 16:17–21
Thus, physical mankind and physical earth as we know it today will
be destroyed. There will be no more physical people on physical
earth after the battle of Armageddon.
196
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
In Genesis 1:1–2a, “God created the heavens and the earth, and
the earth was without form and void.”
Then God began to form the earth. He made the Garden of
Eden, but sin came into the garden and brought the destruction of
creation. In the end, God will create a new heaven.
197
Revelation 20
And I 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 one thousand years 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
Revelation 20:1–3
This scene, as with the others, is a vision of physical things that
depict spiritual reality It is doubtful that the angel has a key that
fi ts a lock or a chain large enough to bind a spiritual being such
as satan However, this scene includes a lock and chain that depict
satan’s confi nement to a spiritual prison This is the same type of
imprisonment as seen in Luke 16:26, which states, “a great chasm has
been fi xed ” This is understood to be a barrier “fi xed” by God, and no
one can cross over The abyss, however, is signifi cantly different in
that it will be sealed over satan It is more like solitary confi nement
in nature than an open prison like in Luke satan will be confi ned
to the abyss and will not be able to communicate with those on the
outside satan is imprisoned and sealed by command of God No one
disobeys such a command
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 testimony 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
(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand
198
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy
are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second
death has no power over them, but they will be priest of God
and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4–6
In this scene, John is shown the events surrounding the millennial
reign of Jesus. The family of God will be bodily resurrected and
judged. Then they will reign with Christ for a thousand years. I
believe that the whole family of God will be included in this first
resurrection. Here it states that those who gave their lives “because
of their testimony for Jesus” are priests and will reign with him
(Revelation 20:4).
It could seem as though those who will be priests of God and
of Christ and who will reign with him for a thousand years are set
apart from the rest as more holy because verse 6 says, “Blessed and
holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second
death has no power over them, but they will be priest of God and
of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” However,
I believe that the emphasis refers more to the fact of the fifth seal,
which gives those who are martyred a special place in heaven under
the altar. All of the family of God will take part in the first resurrection,
for there are only two resurrections, as explained in Revelation
14:14–20. The first includes the family of God; the second includes
the family of satan. In these verses, we are given an illustration of the
most rewarded, of the family of God, but that does not mean that
the rest of the family God will not be there. Indeed, all who have
“called upon the name of the Lord” have not received the mark of
the beast and will participate in the first resurrection as the part of
the family of God.
I believe that the millennial reign of Christ is a spiritual reign,
not a physical reign. I hold to this interpretation, believing that the
whole church, the family of God, will either have died and gone to
heaven or have been taken to heaven, raptured before the great tribulation,
the seven bowls of God’s wrath (chapter 16). I also believe
that, after the great tribulation, physical mankind will be no more
199
Message From the Throne
because Revelation 19:21 states, “the rest of them were killed.” All
of the family of God is physically gone at the end of chapter 11; all
of the family of satan is dead at the end of chapter 19. As a result,
there is no mention of physical mankind in chapter 20. Therefore,
the one thousand-year reign with Christ is spiritual, not physical. This interpretation is in harmony with the prophecies of Daniel 9
and Matthew 24, etc.
I saw thrones on which there were seated those who had been
given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because
of the Word of God.
Revelation 20:4
Here the family of God is judged from within. The judges will be
members of the family of God as described in Revelation 14:1–5. There is nothing written in Revelation as to the nature of this judgment;
however, there are verses throughout the rest of the Bible that
do explain. Ecclesiastes 3:17 says, “God will bring to judgment both
the righteous and the wicked.” Jesus said to his disciples in Luke
22:30, you “will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Romans 14:10 says, “You, then, why do you judge your brother? For
we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” The first five verses of
1 Corinthians 4 states,
So, then, men aught to regard us as servants of Christ, and as
those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required
that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I
care very little, if I am judged by you or by any human court;
indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but
that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the
Lord comes. He will bring to light, what is hidden in darkness
and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time, each
will receive his praise from God.
200
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
These scriptures and many more speak to the fact that the family of
God will be judged. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul gives some insights as
to the nature of the judgment of the family of God as referred to in
Revelation 20:4.
First, this judgment is not judgment as pertaining to salvation. All who are with Christ during the millennial reign are saved. They
are the family of God, or they would not be there with him.
Second, each Christian has been given gifts and abilities and
will be judged according to how each used those gifts and abilities. The Bible says, “ … those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). We need also to apply the teaching of
Jesus from the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), the parable of the
sower (Matthew 13), etc., and realize that we will be held accountable
for what our Lord, through the Holy Spirit, has led us to do
in service to him. During the one-thousand-year reign, we will be
judged to determine whether we were faithful––not to condemn,
but for our learning.
Third, we will be judged to “bring to light, what is hidden in
darkness” (1 Corinthians 4:5b). We understand the phrase “hidden
in darkness” to be a reference to unconfessed sin. That which is in
the “light” is known or confessed. Thus, that which has not been
confessed is secret, or hidden in the dark. All of our unconfessed sins
will be brought to light that we may confess them and be cleansed,
then “God will wipe away all tears.”
Fourth, the motives of the heart will be judged. I believe that
there is an illustration of this in 1 Corinthians. Paul had apparently
been judged or accused by some of his contemporaries (1 Corinthians
4:3). Paul and those who judged him had an unresolved problem
between them. Paul said that his conscience was clear, so God had
not convicted him of sin, yet he was accused. If then Paul was falsely
accused, there may have been a misunderstanding of the motives of
men’s hearts.
I know of a circumstance in which two people that were neighbors,
friends, and leaders in their local church had a misunderstanding. They
became angry, accused each other, and refused to speak to
201
Message From the Throne
each other for years, though each continued to be in leadership positions
in the church. At the judgment of the family of God during
the one-thousand-year reign, these two will have to settle their misunderstanding. As
they stand in judgment, we may imagine that one
would say to the judge, “She laughed at me and said that my dress
was inappropriate.” The other one would reply, “Well, I didn’t know
what was wrong with you. You just started acting strange toward me. Besides, I didn’t mean to insult you. I was just having a good time.”
The judge might say to the first one, “The true intention of her
heart was not to insult you in any way. However, since you were hurt
by the statement, you should have shared your feelings with your
friend so that she could have known and apologized.”
Then the judge might say to the second woman, “You also had
the opportunity to ask your neighbor whether there was some problem
or if you had hurt her in some way.”
These two friends would then have opportunity to forgive each
other, ask forgiveness from God for the problems that division had
caused in the church, and then enter into eternity with true joy and
regained friendship. Thus, as the motives of mankind’s hearts are
defined by the judge from the knowledge of God, the family of God
will become true brothers and sisters with love and understanding
and heaven will be heaven.
In these ways, and doubtless in many others, the family of God
will be judged, and we will “know as we are known.” Heaven will
be a wonderful place. It will be without misunderstanding, division,
prejudice, disagreement, or any such thing that would quench the
joy of being with our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in
heaven.
When the thousand years are over, satan will be released from
his prison and go out to deceive the nations in the four corners
of the earth––Gog and Magog––to gather them for battle.”
Revelation 20:7–8a
Satan will be released from his spiritual prison and, being a spiritual
being, “will go out to deceive the nations” (verse 8a). There is
202
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
a marked difference between the description in chapter 20 and the
description described in chapters 13, 16, and 19. In these chapters, the
beast and the false prophet, who are comprised of physical mankind
with their spiritual leader satan, deceive physical mankind. Here in
chapter 20, there is no beast, false prophet, or physical mankind. Mankind was either physically taken away (raptured) or physically
killed, as recorded in chapters 14 and 19. (Mankind, at the conclusion
of chapter 19, no longer exists as physical.) Therefore, the participants––
satan, Gog, and Magog––are spiritual beings.
We know satan well, but who are Gog and Magog? In order to
understand who they are as mentioned in Revelation 20, we need to
understand the interpretation of Ezekiel 36–39. First, read these four
chapters in Ezekiel and then proceed.
Chapter 36 of the Ezekiel says the following:
Israel’s enemies have taken possession of Israel’s
mountains (verse 2).
Israel has “suffered the scorn of the nations” (verse 6).
Israel’s enemies “with glee and with malice in their
hearts” have taken possession to plunder (verse 5)
Israel will be restored for the sake of God’s holy name
(verse 22).
Israel should be ashamed and disgraced for her
conduct.
Chapter 37 says the following through a visionary illustration:
There is a valley of very dry bones (verse two).
These dry bones, through an act of God, will become
alive and breathe.
These “bones are the whole house of Israel” (verse 11).
At that time, the divided kingdom will become one
under one king or one shepherd forever (verses 22–25).
God’s “dwelling place will be with them” (verse 27).
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
203
Message From the Throne
Chapter 38 says the following:
God will bring Gog and his army of many nations
and prepare them for war (verse 3–7).
At any given time, Gog “will be called to arms” (verse 8).
In future years, Gog will invade a land that has recovered
from war, whose people were gathered from
many nations to Israel (verse 8).
Gog “will be like a cloud covering the land” (verse
nine).
Gog will attack a peaceful and unprotected people
(verse 10).
Chapter 39 says the following:
Gog and his armies will be destroyed by God.
God’s people will plunder and bury Gog and his
armies.
God will gather his people, will not leave any behind,
and will no longer hide his face from them.
There are two questions that need to be answered to correctly interpret
this block of Scripture: 1) who the prophecy is about, and, 2) to
what time era does it refer?
Who the Prophecy Is About?
Ezekiel 38:1 says that Gog is the prince of Magog. In a confederation,
alliance with the prince of Gog and the armies of Magog are
“many nations.” And all their “troops” are prepared for war (verses
5–6). Gog and Magog then are a vast confederated army with Gog
as its leader. They are those who are against God’s people, for they
will attack the land of Israel (verse 18). Thus, Gog and Magog are
those who fight against the family of God. Gog and Magog are the
family of satan.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
204
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
Gog does not plan and execute the attack of his own doing, for
God said, “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring
you out with your whole army” (verse 4). Thus, God directs Gog and
Magog in order to bring creation to a conclusion according to God’s
plan and power. Thus, Gog and Magog are the leaders, and their
armies are the family of satan.
Therefore, we see in Ezekiel 36–39 a message that reveals the
plight of Israel at the time of its Babylonian exile: why they were
destroyed, who destroyed them, and who was in charge. It also
reveals a prophecy that proclaims the restoration of Israel and the
final outcome of all mankind. This final outcome of mankind parallels
the prophecies of Revelation.
The fact that life in God’s eyes does not end at death needs to be
included here. Not only does life not end at death, but there is not
even a break in it. At death, we simply step from physical life into
spiritual life, leaving the body behind. Thus God sees and speaks of
his people’s sins, his judgment for those sins, the destruction of his
people because of their sins, and the forgiveness and the restoration
of his people as a continuing sequence of events. They are a continuing
sequence of events, but some of those events are of the physical
world with the final event in the spiritual realm.
The need to understand this comes from the fact that most people
who write about Revelation prophecy speak about the millennial
reign of Christ as being physical mankind on a physical earth. Many
of the references come from the Ezekiel chapters 36 through 39, and
indeed these chapters give the best explanation to understand the
sequence of events as described in the previous paragraph.
In Ezekiel 36:16–21, God gives the accusations of sin that are brought
against the house of Israel that resulted with their exile to Babylon and
that resulted with the destruction of the temple in AD 70.
In Ezekiel 36:22–38, God gives an explanation of how the house
of Israel will be restored to their land and to him as their God. That
brought about the return from the Babylonian exile. That brought
the establishment of Israel in 1948.
205
Message From the Throne
In Ezekiel 37:1–14, God gives a visionary illustration of the resurrection
of the family of God in the valley of dry bones. This corresponds
with the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4–6).
In Ezekiel 37:15–24, God gives an explanation of the family of
God being brought together as a resurrected family with one leader,
David. This corresponds with the judgment of the family of God
during the millennial reign (Revelation 20:4–6).
In Ezekiel 37:25–28, God explains how the children of Israel will
be returned to the land and they will live in peace with an everlasting
covenant and God’s sanctuary will be in their midst forevermore,
eternally.
God’s time must also be applied to Gog and Magog in the same
way that it is applied to Israel, the family of God. In God’s time,
Gog and Magog have set themselves in array against God’s people:
1) at the time of the Babylonian exile, 2) at the time of the beast and
the two witnesses (Revelation 11 and 13), and 3) at the time immediately
following the millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20. Also,
in this context, Gog and Magog are destroyed 1) when Babylon was
destroyed in the Old Testament, 2) when the beast will be destroyed
at the physical end (Revelation 19:17–21), and 3) when they, Gog and
Magog, will be destroyed spiritually (Revelation 20:9). Thus, Gog
and Magog represent the eternal enemies of the family of God.
Some interesting observations:
As discussed in Ezekiel 38–39, Gog of the land of Magog is the
“chief prince” of “Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38: 3; 39: 1). He has with him in battle array “Persia, Kush, Put, Gomer, Beth
Togarmah and many nations” Also, three other names that are mentioned
in Ezekiel 38:13 are Sheba, the Dedan, and Tarshish. It is
significant that all of these names, except their leader, Gog, are listed
among the sons of Japfeth and Ham, who are two of the three sons
of Noah (Genesis 10). (Persia is not listed in Genesis 10; however,
Nimrod, who is mentioned in verses 8–10, is described as the builder
of cities that are known to be in the area, later, called Persia.)
It is also significant that Abraham came from the lineage of
Shem. Thus, God’s chosen people, through which Jesus was born,
206
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
came from the linage of Shem. Noah said of Shem, “Blessed, be the
Lord, the God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26). Therefore, Shem was recognized
by his father, Noah, as having the Lord as his God.
Please note: All of the forefathers of Joseph and Mary in Matthew
and Luke are listed in the lineage of Shem.
From Shem, Noah’s eldest son, came God’s chosen people,
Israel. From the other two sons descended the enemies of God’s
people. This does not mean that all of the descendents of Shem are
all the family of God or that all of the descendents of Japheth and
Ham are of the family of satan. (Not all of the sons of Ham and
Japheth were named here, thus allowing that not all of them were of
the family of satan.)
I believe these references are made with the same meaning as
when we say that the United States is a Christian nation. The US is
called a Christian nation, but that by no means implies that everyone
who is a citizen of the US is a Christian. Therefore, the sons of
Japheth and Ham are referred to as the enemies of the descendents
of Shem. In general terms in Old Testament times, the Israelites,
who were descendants of Shem, were God’s people; the rest of the
world, as descendents of Japheth and Ham, were not God’s people. In a real sense, there has been a spiritual lineage that began with the
sons of Japheth and Ham, who did not worship God. This lineage
has continued unbroken throughout history as the family of satan. Gog and Magog represent the whole family of satan, as referred to
in Revelation 20.
There is also a spiritual lineage that began with the descendents
of Shem who worshiped God, and that has continued unbroken
throughout history as the family of God. In Old Testament times,
this distinction was seemingly perpetuated by blood lineage. (If one
was an Israelite, that one would be of God’s people. If one was not
an Israelite, then that one would be a Gentile and not one of God’s
people.) Since the New Testament era, we understand that the family
of God is entered into by relationship with Jesus Christ as born
again spiritually, not through blood lineage as born physically.
Israel is the whole family of God (Ezekiel 37:11). “Whole” in the
207
Message From the Throne
Ezekiel context is at the time of the resurrection, at the end of time. (Valley of dry bones is the resurrection; “God’s dwelling place is with
them” is only after the resurrection.) So if the whole house of Israel
in Ezekiel refers to the time of the resurrection, then it is the same
time era as Revelation 20. Therefore, “the whole house of Israel”
refers to all of the family of God from Adam and Eve through the
two witnesses and those raptured.
As the leader of these named peoples and many nations mentioned
above, Gog is forced into obedience to God. God said to Gog, “I will
turn you around and drag you along” (Ezekiel 39:2a). God is in control
of Gog and his armies; God is in control of the family of satan. Therefore, when God speaks of Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Persia,
Cush, Put, Beth Togarmah, and the many nations with them,
he speaks of the family of satan, those who have not repented and
accepted Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 38:7 says, “Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes
gathered about you, and take command of them.” This is a command
from God to Gog and his troops. I suggest that the fulfillment
of this command is explained in Revelation 13:5–10. The statement,
“take command of them,” may be exemplified in the statement, “He
was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation”
(Ezekiel 38:7; Revelation 13:7b). He took “command” as instructed
by God and exercised “his authority for forty-two months.” (Revelation
13:5).
Ezekiel 38:8a says, “After many days you will be called to arms.”
The phrase “after many days” may be seen as a parallel to 1260 days
or forty-two months (same time period; 42 x 30 = 1260). The beast
will be given authority for forty-two months; the family of God is
protected for 1260 days. Thus, he will take command and consolidate
his power but must wait the 1260 days until he is “called” by
God “to arms” before he can kill the two witnesses.
Ezekiel 38:8b says, “In future years you will invade a land that
has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many
nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate.”
208
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
The phrase “in future years” is different from the phrase “after many
days” (verse 8a); thus, it is a different era. The people who live in the
“land that has recovered from war” have been brought out from the
nations, live in safety and peace, and do not have walls, gates, or bars. Since, after many days, Gog and his armies will be called to arms
and given power to kill the two witnesses, after which all physical
life on earth comes to an end––after Armageddon.
Then the verse which says, “in future years you will invade a land
that has recovered from war,” must describe satan’s invasion of the
land of Israel, family of God, on earth at the end of the millennial
reign of Christ as recorded in Revelation 20:1–6. The phrase “in future
years” parallels the one-thousand-year reign on earth when satan is
imprisoned in the abyss. Then after the one thousand years, satan will
be released to attack the family of God again for the last time.
Here in Ezekiel 36–39, the family of God is given an explanation
and prophecy in regard to the fact that they, the family of God, have
been disobedient, rebellious sinners. These, who are the believers in
God, have, as a result of their sins, been judged guilty and experienced
the discipline of God. The discipline of God has resulted in
the enemies of God––those who do not believe nor follow God––
bringing defeat and destruction to the family of God. Those who
are not God’s people have in fact been part of the disciplinary action
of God. As God removed his protection from his people because
of their disobedience, rebellion, sin, this allowed those who are of
the family of satan to persecute and destroy God’s people physically. This message also tells the family of God that they will be restored,
physically, spiritually, and eternally.
Also, the messages of these four chapters tell the family of God
that this is an ongoing process. They, the family of God, at a time
prior to Babylon had sinned, and they were disciplined by godless
Babylon; and that, this process of disobedience—sin resulting in discipline––
from their God and Creator, was discipline, in many ways
carried out by those who are of the family of satan. This will be a
continuing process until the end of time and end of God’s creation.
Also, we are told in these chapters that those who were not of
209
Message From the Throne
the family of God, who have been the rod of discipline against the
family of God, will be judged by God. Their unbelief and rebellion
against God will be defeated by God. In the end, the family of satan,
those who follow the rebellious nature of satan, will be judged and
judgment carried out by God in the lake of fire.
satan, with the one-third of the angels of heaven who rebelled
against God, along with mankind who followed in that same rebellious
state against God their Creator, will in the final analysis be
judged, condemned, and the death sentence carried out by God in
the lake of fire.
Therefore, the time era of Ezekiel’s prophecy begins with the
Babylonian exile and continues until satan and the souls from hell
come to attack the family of God at the end of the millennium.
We must remember that God sees no break in life at the point of
physical death. He speaks of his family when in a spiritual state, after
physical death, just the same as when they were in a physical state.
The invasion that takes place in Ezekiel 38:1–17 is in the spirit
realm. Ezekiel 38:1–17 coincides in time with Revelation 20:7–10. We
must also remember that in Revelation God ceases to speak of Israel
as the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and begins to speak
of Israel as those who have repented and believed in the name of
Jesus, the Son of God (Revelation 7:13–15). Then, the invasion above
is of the land of those who inherit eternal life in heaven, being the
144,000 and the great multitude that could not be numbered from
every nation, language, and tribe in Revelation 7 not of the physical
nation of Israel.
And I 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 the thousand years were ended. After
that, he must be set free for a short time.
Revelation 20:1–3
210
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
Understand satan deceiving the nations, as stated above, refers to
Gog and his armies, or the family of satan. satan will be bound in the
abyss to keep him from deceiving the family of satan (many nations),
not the family of God.
It is important to understand that Israel, or the family of God,
are those who are gathered from “all nations, tribes, peoples, and
tongues” (Revelation 7:9). So, the family of God and the family of
satan both come from every people on earth, every nation.
When the thousand years are over, satan will be released for a
short time, during which he will again deceive the nations. This is
evidenced in Ezekiel when the Lord said,
On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will
devise an evil scheme. You will say, “I will invade a land of
unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting
people––all of them living without walls and without gates
and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the
livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.” Sheba and
Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will
say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your
hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock
and goods and to seize much plunder?”
Ezekiel 38:10–13
On the day of the invasion, satan will again be free to deceive the
many nations by injecting evil thoughts, full of lies, into their minds. They will be tricked into thinking that he can again attack and loot
the family of God. This deception is especially evident in the inquiries
of Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, who are descended
from Ham and Japheth and, therefore, of the family of satan. Their
inquiry would be asking satan, “Why are we invading?” For they
are spiritual beings and have no need of the plunder mentioned,
although, in their physical lives, they desired these riches. Here they
are confused, misled, and deceived by satan. Again, this does not
mean that all descendents of Ham and Japheth are of the family of
satan or that all descendents of Shem are of the family of God. God
211
Message From the Throne
uses these names to refer to the family of satan in the same way that
he uses the name Israel to refer to the family of God.
In Ezekiel, the Lord says,
Call out to every kind of bird and all the wild animals: “Assemble
and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing
for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you
will eat flesh and drink blood. You will eat the flesh of mighty
men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they
were rams and lambs, goats and bulls—all of them fatted animals
from Bashan. At the sacrifice I am preparing for you, you will
eat fat till you are glutted and drank blood till you are drunk. At
my table, you will have your fill of horses and riders; mighty men
and soldiers of every kind,” declares the sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 39:17–20
These verses foretell the same event as Revelation 19:17, 18, and 21,
which is a call to all birds to eat the flesh of all the people of the family
of satan. There will be no one to bury them. All physical mankind
will be dead. This is not speaking about hungry birds, but an illustration
of the fact that there will be no one to bury the dead.
Please note that these chapters in Ezekiel give us difficulty in
regard to time sequence of events. Chapter 37 gives a visionary picture
of the first resurrection, and then chapter 38 explains of the
attack of Gog and Magog after the one thousand years. Chapter 39
explains the events of the battle of Armageddon.
My explanation: Chapter 37 equals the final events of the family
of God. Chapter 38 equals corresponding final events of the family
of satan. Chapter 39 goes back in time to give fuller explanation.
The above explanation has precedent in Revelation. Chapter 16
is a conclusion, and then we have the explanations of chapters 17 and
18. Nevertheless, as we mesh together these books of prophecy, we
have an excellent timetable of the end time.
Always remember our Lord has the final word; we are trying to
learn.
Therefore, the prophecies of Ezekiel reveal that Gog and Magog
are the eternal enemies of the family of God. They are not only the
212
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
enemy in this physical world, but they will continue to be the enemy
in the spiritual realm.
Please note that it is necessary that the enemies of God be
defeated in every realm.
In the descriptions above from Ezekiel and the overall explanations
in Revelation, it is clearly declared that satan, every rebellious
angel, and every rebellious human being will be utterly defeated.
satan and one-third of the angels of heaven rebelled
against God and were defeated, thrown out, and confined
to the realm of earth.
satan and the demons, along with the rebellious of
mankind, rebelled and fought against God until they
defeated God’s people and took control of earth. Then, God killed the physical, cast them out, and
destroyed the earth as we know it.
satan, the demons, and the spirits of rebellious mankind
rebelled again after the one-thousand-year
reign of Christ against God and his faithful. satan
was cast into the lake of fire and the spirits of the
rebellious received their resurrected bodies to stand
in judgment and be cast into the lake of fire.
Satan was defeated in the heavenly realm and condemned! satan will
be defeated in the earthly realm and bound! Satan will be defeated in
the eternal realm and the death sentence carried out!
It is necessary for every rebellion to be utterly defeated!
God is God, and there is no other beside him!
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 testimony 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 on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand
•
•
•
213
Message From the Throne
years were ended). This is the first resurrection. 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.
Revelation 20:4–6
The family of God will be resurrected with spiritual bodies, which
will be like Jesus’ body after his resurrection from the dead. This is
called the first resurrection, as stated in verses 5b-6. I believe these
verses to mean that the armies of heaven that accompany Jesus on his
return on the white horse are the souls (in the spirit) of the family of
God. Their bodies (physical remains) are still on earth, in the grave,
in the sea, in the dust of the earth, etc. Their souls had departed at
death and had gone to be with their Lord. After the battle of Armageddon,
their bodies will be resurrected and united with their souls
and spirits. This explanation was given by God to Ezekiel in the
valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37).
The family of God will reign with resurrected spiritual bodies
for a thousand years. Then Gog and Magog, the souls of the family
of satan, will return to make war against them. This will be somewhat
as the return of Jesus and the armies of heaven. It will be satan’s
last attempt to duplicate what God has done.
Satan will be leading the souls, in the spirit, of his family––those
whose bodies are still in the grave, in the sea, or the dust of the earth,
etc. After satan is destroyed in the lake of burning sulfur (verse 10),
the souls of the family of satan will be judged before the great white
throne and will be thrown, resurrected body and soul, into the “lake
of fire, which is the second death” (verse 14). This is spiritual death
and separation from God for eternity. Thus, all of creation will be
placed “under the feet” and under the authority of Jesus.
Satan rebelled and attempted to rule heaven, the garden of Eden,
and all of earth; he will attempt to rule hell. He was not permitted
to rule in heaven but was thrown out. After satan takes control of
earth, God will immediately destroy it. He will also attempt to rule
in eternity, but God will not permit that, and satan will be cast into
the lake of fire. All will know that God is God and that there is none
214
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
other besides him. “Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10–11).
When the thousand years are over, satan will be released from
his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners
of the earth––Gog and Magog––to gather them for battle (Revelation
20:7–8a).
The Four Corners of the Earth
The “four corners” refer to points in the spiritual realm, not the
physical world. This is substantiated by comparing these statements
in Revelation 7:1, Ezekiel 37:9–19, and Matthew 24:31. The latter is
the clearest, as it states, “And he will send his angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of the heavens to the other.” This is obviously a spiritual
gathering of the family of God. The “four corners of the earth” refer
to satan’s family in hell, who are of this world, in the same way that
“the four winds … of the heavens” refer to God’s family, who are not
of this world.
To more easily understand the concept of the four corners of
the earth, let us review what we know about the spiritual realm. Even though we are physical beings, we can understand that there
is a spiritual realm all around us. We cannot see this spiritual realm
unless God chooses to open our eyes to it or unless satan reveals
himself to us. (Refer to 2 Kings 6:17.) We know that the Holy Spirit
of God is with us and that there are angels. We know that satan
and his demons are present, though we cannot see them. So, we
conclude that the Holy Spirit and the angels exist side by side with
satan and his demons.
We also know that God has fixed “a great chasm” between the
spiritual family of God and the spiritual family of satan, as seen in
Luke 16:26. So we can reason that the Holy Spirit and the angels and
satan and the demons exist side by side. They are present all around
us; however, they are separated by a spiritual “chasm” or division that
neither side can cross over. We can determine, then, that the abyss and
215
Message From the Throne
hell are not necessarily far away in some distant galaxy but around the
earth itself. The Bible calls satan “the prince of the air.”
This will also be true during the millennial reign. When Jesus
and the saints are ruling earth, satan will be released and will gather
his spirit family from the four corners of the earth. As God removes
the spiritual barrier, they will come to attack the family of God once
more, those who are living on earth in resurrected spiritual bodies. satan will be destroyed, his family will be given their spiritual resurrected
bodies, and the great white throne judgment will be pronounced. The
family of God will be on the right; the family of satan
on the left. The family of God will live in the new heaven and the
new earth; the family of satan will be thrown into the lake of fire. The Scripture says,
If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life,
he was thrown into the lake of fire. Then I saw a new heaven
and new earth, for the first heaven in the first earth had passed
away.
Revelation 20:15–21:1
They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded
the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.
Revelation 20:9a
The family of satan as spiritual beings, as numerous as the sand of
the seashore, will cover the whole earth. Ezekiel helps us to see this,
“You will advance against my people Israel, like a cloud that covers
the land” (Ezekiel 38:16a). Thus, the family of satan will be gathered
from the four corners of the earth, hell, and will cover the earth like
a cloud ready to annihilate the family of God, though they are at
peace and seemingly unprotected while ruling with Jesus during the
millennium. “But fire came down from heaven and devoured them”
(Revelation 20:9).
The “fire” that came down from heaven is the Word of God. Thus, it is finished! It is completely over; satan cannot rule. satan is
“thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,” and the family of satan is
prepared to stand before the judgment of the great white throne.
216
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
John immediately saw a new scene. He wrote, “Then I saw
a great white throne and him, who was seated on it” (Revelation
20:11a). God is seated to judge all mankind. They will be divided
like sheep from the goats. Indeed, they will be already divided, for
the family of God is with Jesus and the family of satan surrounds
them (verse 9). The books were opened (verse 12) and “each person
was judged according to what he had done” (Revelation 20:13). Thus, God will have a record of every person and every deed each
person did in his physical life. From these records, judgment will be
made as to the eternal destiny of each person. Revelation 20:15 says,
“If anyone’s name is not found written in the Book of Life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire.”
217
Revelation 21
Then John saw another scene that showed the fi nal destination of
the family of God It was a beautiful scene It seems to be the clearest
and best described scene of all of Revelation, and rightly so, for
God was showing his people who were suffering persecution, and
who would continue to suffer, that beautiful home that he had prepared
for them I do not want to interfere with this beautiful scene
described in chapter 21 and 22, so I suggest that you read these without
further discussion at this point “I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last, the Beginning and End” (Revelation 22:13)
God is God God was in the beginning, the Creator
God will be in the end King of kings and Lord of lords
God will be the new beginning for eternity
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
Is your name written in the Book of Life?
The spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears
say, “Come!” Whosoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever
wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life
Revelation 22:17
Do you need to come to Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul
and enter into the family of God?
If so, please pray, “Dear heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God and died on the cross to pay the penalty
for my sins Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner I am lost without you
Please, Lord Jesus, forgive my sins and save me I open my heart
218
Alpha, Omega, Alpha
and life to you. Please come into my heart. Please, teach me through
your Holy Spirit. Thank you for hearing my prayer and for your
promise of eternal life. I ask you, Lord Jesus, to be Lord of my life. I
pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
The Holy Spirit of God invites, draws, and urges each person
to know and accept Jesus Christ as Lord. He is the Son of God, the
Savior of the world, and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
We search for the meaning of life, death, and even our own existence. Why?
Because we yearn for understanding of God, of Jesus
Christ, of the Holy Spirit. Those who have found the answer and
understand realize how wonderful life is in Jesus Christ and how
important it is to know him as Lord and to have the presence of his
Holy Spirit. We realize how dangerous it is to turn to self, satan,
or the things of this world in a cheap exchange for the salvation in
Christ Jesus. That is why the Spirit says, “Come!” That’s why the
bride, those who have already accepted Jesus Christ, says, “Come!”
Some people come in deep need and searching desperately for
meaning in life. “Whosoever is thirsty, let him come.”
Some just want to come to Christ simply, unquestioning, trusting
as a child. “Whosoever wishes let him come, let him take the free
gift of the water of life,” said Jesus Christ.
The price has already been paid for your gift. It was Christ’s
death on the cross, which paid the price for your sins so that you
may have eternal life with God and the Son, Jesus Christ, in heaven
forever. The gift of life through Jesus Christ is a gift obtained just
by accepting what Jesus Christ gladly has done for you through his
death upon the cross for your sins.
All mankind, as created by God, is guaranteed freedom of
choice. Many have chosen not to receive Jesus and will spend eternity
in hell, separated from God (Revelation 20:15), but to all who
choose to receive and believe in Jesus Christ, he gives the right to
become children of God.
A person must first “believe in order to receive” ( John 3:18).
Believe that God is the creator of all things physical.
Believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, that Jesus
219
Message From the Throne
Christ is the only one who came from heaven (the spiritual realm)
into the physical world through the miraculous virgin birth, that
Jesus Christ is “Emanuel, God with us.”
Believe that Jesus, as the Son of God, is God’s plan for the
redemption of sinful mankind ( John 14:6).
Believe that Jesus physically died on the cross, was buried, and
was resurrected from the dead by the power of God.
Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord.
A person must “understand” in order to receive.
Understand that I have personally sinned.
Understand that I am condemned by God because of sin.
Understand that I must confess my personal sin to Jesus Christ.
Understand that I must choose Jesus Christ, turning from my
sins and the things of this world.
A person must make a determined decision and act upon that
decision through prayer.
Suggested Prayer
This must be your decision and your prayer.
Dear heavenly Father,
I believe that you are God, my Creator. I believe that Jesus is
the only Son of God, that Jesus died for my sins, arose from the
grave, and is alive in heaven.
I confess that I am a sinner, and I ask you, Lord Jesus, to
please forgive my sins and save me. Dear Lord Jesus, please
come into my heart and be Lord of my life.
Thank you, Lord, for dying for my sins, hearing my prayer,
and giving me eternal life in heaven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
I ______________________________on this day ________
_______________ prayed, confessed my sins, and asked Jesus
Christ to come into my heart.