WHEN THE CHURCH IS GONE – III         

          Last week we looked at events of the last 3.5 years of the 7 years after the rapture of the church.  We saw the antichrist break his treaty with Israel.  We saw him declare himself to be god and then drive the Jews out of their temple by placing an image of himself there to be worshipped.  During this time, to assure that he had the alliance of all, he demanded that all humans receive a mark on either their hand or their forehead.  Without that mark one would not be able to carry on any business.  Those refusing the mark would be deemed outlaws, traitors, enemies of the new world order, and thus would be killed.  Because the Jews will not serve him and accept this new world religion, the antichrist declares war on them.  The Jews flee to a place that God has prepared for them.   

REV. 16:13-16 - These demonic spirits are seen coming out of the beast, the dragon and the false prophet. The spirits go forth unto the leaders of the new world, trying to recruit their help at the battle of Armageddon.  Antichrist is calling on all those who have indicated alliance to him to help him get rid of his enemies the Jews. 

BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

MATT. 24:27-31 - This is the Second Coming of the Lord. We will later see that he is coming to make war with the beast and his followers and he gathers the birds of the air together to eat the flesh of the great number that will be slaughtered. What is the sign that shall appear in the sky? No-one really knows. But the people of the earth when they see it will know and they will cry because they know that their time is short. The elect that are gathered here are the remaining Christians who have gotten saved during this period.  Most of them will probably be Jews since from a salvation stand point; Revelation is about the re-grafting of the Jews into the vine. 

REV. 14:14 - 20 - This is a preview of events. First Jesus gathers his people together. Then the angels go in to cut down the vines along with any wild grapes, and weeds growing in the earth. These wild grapes represent the beast and his followers. The numbers that will be killed are so many that a blood river about 180 miles long and deep enough so that a horse can barely keep his head above it, will be created. 

Zech 14:1-7 - This describes the return of Christ with his saints for the Battle of Armageddon.  It does not matter whether it is night or day; for Christ is the light of the world and will bring with him light bright enough to overcome all darkness, including the dimness of the day. 

Jude 14-15 - When Jesus came to earth the first time he came to save the world from sin.  When he returns the second time, he will bring those who have accepted God’s plan of salvation with him.  But in His second coming he comes to execute judgment upon all the enemies of God.   

REV. 19:11-21 - This is the point where Jesus actually returns. The armies following him include the saints and angels.  However, when Jesus shows up there is no evidence that their will actually be any fighting going on.  The enemies of God are slain by the sword coming out of the mouth of Christ.  This sword is nothing but the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as being living and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword.  The birds, vultures, etc are invited to gather together anticipating a great super.  They will be allowed to eat the flesh of all those who are slain by the words coming from the mouth of Jesus. 

Zech 14:12-15 - This reads to me like these people just dried up.  This is some kind of plague spoken on them.  It will be so bad that the people will turn on one another; one pushing another forward in an attempt to escape themselves.  According to this Judah will also be at Jerusalem to fight against the antichrist.  It could be that the antichrist will attack the Jews remaining in the city. 

Ezek. 39:11-16 -- It will take 7 months to bury all the dead.  They will hire people to go out and bury the dead.  If a travel along the way finds the remains of anything dead they marked that spot, notified authorities and someone would come out to bury the bones.  Remember the birds were allowed to eat the flesh.  This left only the bones.   

REV. 19:20

            As a result of the Battle of Armageddon, the beast (antichrist) and his false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire.  All other humans who have gathered against the Jews to fight in the army of the antichrist are slain by the sword from the mouth of Christ.

What becomes of the Devil?  

REVELATION 20: 1-3

         Having defeated the antichrist and his followers, Jesus now commands that Satan be bound up in a bottomless pit for 1000 years. He is imprisoned so that he cannot deceive the remaining inhabitants of earth. It is during these 1000 years that Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth.

REVELATION 20:4-6

This is often called the Millennium reign of Christ. For 1000 years Christ and those who have died in Christ from the church age through the tribulation period, will reign and judge the people of the earth.

MATT. 25:31-46

            This is called the judgment of the nations. The nations here represent all the people who are still alive on the earth. Some of the people are Christians, having accepted Christ during the tribulation period. Some are those who received the mark out of convenience but were not at Armageddon. They really held no allegiance to any one. Some are not Christians but also were able to escape receiving the mark.

Those who have the mark are automatically goats (Rev. 14:9-11-- If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.) 

          Those who are not Christians but have no mark will be judged based on how they treated Christians during the tribulation period. Those who had been helpful will be on the right. Those who had not been helpful will be on the left. The basis for right or left will be whether one participated in the persecution of the Jews or whether one tried to help sustain the Jews. Those on the right will inherit the earth with the intent of carrying out God's original plan for mankind. Those on the left are sent to hell.

Those who remain on the earth will be under the rule of Jesus and His saints, and free from the influence of Satan for 1000 years. 

            During the Millennium the earth and those who live therein will undergo great changes. 

Isaiah 65:18-25

          Jerusalem will be recreated.  There Jesus will rejoice in His people and it will be a time of great Joy.  The voice of weeping and crying will not be heard there.  People will live much longer.  There will be no infant deaths and even the righteous older people will have extended lives.  But those choosing to sin during that time will be accursed or executed.  Cities will be repopulated.  The earth will bear much fruit and men will no longer labor hard only to have little or no harvest.  Isaiah 4:2 says “In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel” and Ezekiel 36:35 says “And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.”   Christ will be there to respond to every need of the righteous even as they voice it.  The animals will be peaceful.  Isaiah 11:6-9 says, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”  

Isaiah 30:23-26

          The earth will bring forth much fruit because rain and sunshine will be plenteous.  There will be plenty of water.  Streams and rivers will again flow from the mountains and even the desert will blossom like a rose. 

Isaiah 35:3-10

          There will be streams in the desert; where it was dry it will be like a pool of water.  The desert will bring forth springs of water.  People will be healed of diseases.  There will be a highway throughout the earth that leads to Jerusalem.  Only the redeemed will be able to travel the highway. 

Zechariah 14:16-19

          The highway will be used to go up to Jerusalem to worship Christ.  Those who refuse to come will be punished with drought and plagues.  Some will come only by force; to escape being plagued and to gain the benefit of a fruitful land.

Isaiah 2:1-4

          Many will come to Christ by choice seeking to learn of Him the ways of God.  He will teach them the way of peace.  Men will turn there weapons into farming tools; for they will no longer seek war with one another.

Isaiah 14:7-8

          The whole earth is at rest.  Even the trees cry out saying that none have come to destroy them since Christ came.  Romans 8:22 tells us “For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now” waiting for Christ to return.   

REVELATIONS 20:7-10

After 1000 years, Satan is loosed again so that he might tempt and deceive the people of the earth. Over the 1000-year reign of Christ, the people have had little choice but to serve and worship God. Those who never really make a commitment to Christ so that their nature is changed, still have a nature to sin. Some are still rebellious. New people have been born over this time. This allows a final testing of mankind to determine who is really committed to God. As you can see, the Devil will still deceive many who have lived with Christ as their leader, to rebel against Christ. God destroys these humans who rebel against Christ, and cast the devil into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever.

REVELATION 20: 11-15

This is the judgment of the wicked dead. Those whose spirit and soul are in hell will be resurrected and given immortal bodies. They will be judged for their works, shown the many opportunities where they were offered salvation and refused to accept Christ. Their names are not written in the Lamb's book of life because they rejected the lamb. These will be cast into the lake of fire along with the devil, the antichrist, the false prophet, death and hell. They will be there forever in torment.

REVELATION 21:1-7

God will renovate the earth and He himself will come and dwell among man. This is what God intended from the very beginning. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and now he come to live with man. There will be no death, sorrow or pain. God will bring His city, the New Jerusalem, to the earth and live with mankind. Finally man will get to live the life that God initially intended for Him. 

REVELATION 21:24-22:1-5

The nations of people remaining on the earth will be able to come into the Holy City. There they will find the tree of life, necessary for them to sustain themselves. These are still flesh and blood human beings. Though their spirits and souls have new life because they are saved, their flesh is still subject to decay and death. The people must partake of the fruit and leaves of the tree of life to maintain eternal health. Thus all those who have been redeemed from sin, whether in mortal bodies or immortal bodies will live with God and Christ forever.