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Day 184 Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, and set a seal on him, so he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 I saw thrones, they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. No place was found for them. 12 I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. When people stand before a judge to receive the sentence, whether guilty or not guilty, the sentence for those who are guilty is temporary. They receive the number of years for the crime they committed, even when the sentence is a death sentence, it ends with their death. Death frees them. John saw God’s eternal judgment. He described two resurrections. The first resurrection belonged to the saints of God who came through the Tribulation. John also saw thrones for those who judged the saints and found them worthy. God blessed them because of their witness of the Lamb because they didn’t take the mark of the beast, and they lived and reigned with the Lamb for a thousand years while God imprisoned Satan in the bottomless pit. Their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world. When God released Satan from the bottomless pit, Satan made war with the saints. God destroyed all those who warred against the saints and cast Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone. Then the second resurrection took place and God judged those who warred against the saints in the Great White Throne Judgment. Death and Hades also gave up the dead in them, and God judged each person according to their works. Then God cast them into the lake of fire because their names were not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. As Christians you know two things from these verses. One, you will not be part of the first resurrection and judgment of the saints. You will judge them and find them worthy, then God will bless them. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know saints will judge the world? And if you will judge the world, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? Two, you will see the second resurrection of all those who rejected Jesus as Savior and Lord, not only those who fought against the saints in the final war. You will see God’s White Throne judgment when Death and Hades give up everyone found in them from the beginning of time. You will see God cast Satan into the lake of fire for eternity along with the beast and false prophet. God will then judge everyone according to their works and send them to the lake of fire along with Satan for eternity. This is the second death. Eternal separation from God. You won’t have part in the second death because you only die once. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. You receive God’s blessing now when you proclaim God’s Word to those who don’t know Him, so they can know Him. God will bless the saints who will come through the Tribulation for the same reason He blesses you: because you will not allow Satan to take your witness of Christ from you. Even when he kills you for the sake of the gospel. Have you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world? Rejoice because God’s blessing rests on your life. If you have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord yet, there is still time. Accept Him now and know that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Then you will never face the second resurrection, the Great White Throne Judgment, or the second death. Let’s pray: Father, thank you that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Let me be Your witness to those who don’t know You so they too will know their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 17 January 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.