THE END
Revelation 20:1-15
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20 is about outcomes, while chapters 21 and 22 are about new beginnings. As you spend time reading Revelation, keep in mind that it is the outcome that is most important. The details in the preceding chapters are just details and may be relevant or not relevant to you.
What John tells us in this chapter is that there will be a final reckoning; a final opportunity for mankind to make his stand: for God or against God. There is no longer any “in-between” as everything else has been removed. Satan has been thrown into the Abyss and locked up, “to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended.” In that thousand years, Christ and his disciples would rule. And then for one last time, one last test, Satan would be released.
Here is justice at its most fair, giving the soul one last chance. Yet, John tells us that those who joined Satan “in number they are like the sand on the seashore.” I think it is because when you have spent your lifetime on the side of evil, evil you become.
And then the devil and all who follow him will be dealt with decisively.
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. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
This is the final reckoning. This is when God calls out time. This is when the wheat has been safely separated from the weeds and the weeds are gathered and thrown into the fire.
After this point, the only question will be whether your name is in the book of life.
For all of us, that is the most important question.
“Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”