In the near future, Bible prophecies will start to be fulfilled in rapid succession.  I have detailed these elsewhere, but this includes the rapture of the church, wars against Israel, supernatural deceptions, and judgments from God.  This time of upheaval and greatest tribulation will be ended by the return of Jesus Christ in bodily form on earth (the Second Coming).  He will then institute His Kingdom rule for a period of 1000 years, known as the Millennial Kingdom.  During the Millennial Kingdom, satan and his demons will be chained in the Abyss (hell).  Temptation of humanity by fallen evil spirits will temporarily be a thing of the past.  

“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.  (Daniel 7:11-12 ESV)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.  And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,  and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while…   (Revelation 20:1-3 ESV)

In addition, the curse from the fall of Adam and Eve will be reversed.  Long life will be reinstated, animals will be tame, health will be restored, and the world will be peaceful.  It will be very similar to living in the garden of Eden, except that humanity’s sin nature will remain.

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?  All who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be “Christians”.  God will dwell among His people in a restored Temple in Jerusalem.  What could go wrong?

Well, Jesus and His resurrected saints will rule “with an iron rod”.  That doesn’t mean He will beat people, but He will have strict laws and require obedience.  Remember the Old Testament laws given when Israel was a Theocracy (nation run by God)?  I imagine many of the rules will be similar.  Now, with no fallen angels to tempt humanity, you would think it wouldn’t be that hard to follow God’s rules when He’s RIGHT THERE.  After all, the rules are fair and just.

Unfortunately, the Bible predicts another response.  While many will follow God in obedience, many will harbor resentment in their hearts.  Despite the reversal of the curse, humanity’s sin nature will still be intact.  All these years humans have been placing blame:  the serpent made me do it…Eve made me do it…the devil made me do it…unbelievers around me made me do it… God is about to show humanity that even without external temptation, our fallen nature is rebellious against Him.  I made me do it.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.  And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Revelation 20:7-10 ESV

In a short period of time at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, satan will raise up an army against God EVEN WHILE HE LIVES AMONG THEM. As astonishing as this is, it will unfortunately come to pass exactly as God foreknows.  Many humans will collect in rebellion – their number like the sand of the sea (a vast number) – and surround Jerusalem.

Note the mention of Gog and Magog here, who are the spiritual entities behind certain geographical regions.  For many reasons, this last battle is not the same as the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog/Magog).

Once again, humanity proves no match against the Living God, and fire will come down from heaven and consume them immediately.  There is no “battle”.  At this point, satan is finally thrown in the eternal lake of fire.

The Great White Throne judgement will then commence.  All of mankind (unbelievers from the dawn of time, plus believers from the Millennial Kingdom) will face the Living God and give an account of their lives.  Those whose names are found in the Book of Life will live with God eternally; those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be cast in the eternal lake of fire.

Once judgment is complete, God fashions a new heaven and a new earth.  This present age will be truly over, and all believers will enter eternity with God:

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4 ESV

Are you CERTAIN of your Salvation, beyond a shadow of a doubt?  Do you KNOW that no matter when the rapture occurs, you will be counted worthy to escape?  If not, please read What Must I do to Be Saved.

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 The Bible is infallible.  I am not.  Be a Berean – examine the scriptures for yourself to see if these things are so!