The Final Judgment

I have a series of Bible study books by a scholar named, Irving L. Jensen, so below are a few outline notes from the one on the Revelation. Why the Revelation? My church has an adult Bible study where we just started a study in this book. This is an outline of Jensen’s work with a few of my own additions.

It is recorded here what seems vital concerning the eternal destinies of unbelievers. There is so much compacted into the 36 verses. Chapters 19-20 is the climactic event of Christ’s second coming to the earth (Revelation 19:11-21). Background to this event is found in Isaiah 63:1-6, 64:1-2, Zechariah 14:3-4, and Matthew 24:27-31. Perhaps review Revelation 16:13-16, reference to the battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 19:1-21 – The second coming of Jesus is where he returns to the earth and destroys his enemies. A vast crowd in heaven praises the Lamb.

1. Allelujahs (Revelation 19:1, 3-4, 6) forefold Hallelujahs
   1. First angel: a loud voice and a great multitude (Revelation 19:1) salvation, glory, power.
   2. Second angel: smoke rises up forever (Revelation 19:3)
   3. Worship from the 24 elders and the four living creatures (Revelation 19:4)
   4. A great voice sounding like many waters and peals of thunder (Revelation 19:6)
2. Appointment for the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)
   1. Come, the bride is ready (Revelation 19:7)
   2. She is clothed in fine linen, bright and clean (Revelation 19:8) the righteous acts of the saints.
   3. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper (Revelation 19:9)
3. Admonition for John to Worship God (Revelation 19:10) John tries to worship at the feet of the angels and they say, “don’t do that!” Worship only God.
4. Advent focused on the conquering Christ (Revelation 19:11-13)
   1. The white horse called faithful and true (Revelation 19:11a)
   2. He judges in righteousness and war (Revelation 19:11b)
   3. His eyes are flame, with crowns on his head (Revelation 19:12a)
   4. He has a name no one knows but himself (Revelation 19:12b)
   5. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood (Revelation 19:13a)
   6. His name is called the Word of God (Revelation 19:13b)
5. Armies follow him on the white horse, from heaven (Revelation 19:14)
6. Assignment from God to strike and rule (Revelation 19:15-16)
   1. His mouth has a sword to strike down the nations (Revelation 19:15a)
   2. He will rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15b)
   3. He treads the wine press of his fierce anger (Revelation 19:15c)
   4. On his robe and on his thigh is the name, “King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)
7. Armageddon: fall of the gentile powers and dominion (Revelation 19:17-21)
   1. Feast for the fowls (Revelation 19:17-18) assemble for the great supper, feeding off the flesh of kings and commanders.
   2. Federated armies (beast and kings) rise up against Christ and his army (Revelation 19:19)
   3. Foes of Christ in that day (Revelation 19:20)
      1. The beast was seized, along with the false prophet (who performed signs and deceived those who received the mark and worshiped).
      2. These two were thrown into the lake of fire.
   4. Final features of the battle (Revelation 19:21)
      1. The rest were killed with the sword from his mouth.
      2. All the birds were filled with their flesh.

Revelation 20:1-15 – Christ rules for 1000 years. After that time, Satan is finally defeated once and for all and thrown into hell. The great white throne judgment happens here.

1. The great chain (Revelation 20:1-3)
   1. Angel came down with keys to the abyss and a great chain (Revelation 20:1)
   2. He lays hold of the dragon, serpent, devil, and Satan (Revelation 20:2)
   3. Enemies are thrown into the abyss, it is shut and sealed (Revelation 19:3)
      1. They could deceive the nations no longer.
      2. They will be released after the 1000 years.
2. The great reign (Revelation 20:4-6)
   1. John sees thrones (Revelation 20:4)
      1. The souls of those beheaded for their testimony.
      2. Because of the word of God.
      3. Who did not receive the mark.
      4. And were raised to life and reigned with Christ for 1000 years.
   2. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the end of the 1000 years (Revelation 20:5)
3. The great revolt (Revelation 20:7-10)
   1. The adversary (Revelation 20:7) Satan released after the 1000 years.
   2. The apostasy (Revelation 20:8) he goes out to deceive the nations.
   3. The attack (Revelation 20:9a) They go after the saints and Jerusalem.
   4. The annihilation (Revelation 20:9b-10)
      1. They are consumed by the fires of heaven.
      2. Satan is consumed by the fires of hell.
4. The great throne (Revelation 20:11-15)
   1. The judge (Revelation 20:11) the Savior is sitting on his throne.
   2. The judged (Revelation 20:12-13) all the unsaved throughout history are now judged.
      1. The books: various books and the Book of Life
      2. The basis: the deeds done while on the earth.
   3. The judgment (Revelation 20:14-15) into the lake of fire forever.
      1. Death and Hades thrown into the lake of fire (the second death).
      2. With all those whose names were not listed in the Book of Life.

NOTES:

1. What is the marriage of the Lamb and who is his bride (Revelation 19:1-8, Ephesians 5:23-32)?
2. Who are the ones called to the marriage supper (Revelation 19:9, John 3:29)?
3. Who is the rider of the white horse and how is he described (Revelation 19:11-16)? Compare this with Philippians 2:5-11.
4. Righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:8), better is righteous deeds of the saints (see Ephesians 5:26-27).
5. How is the second coming different from what people call the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)?
6. Compare the suppers listed here (Revelation 19:9, 17).
7. And They Lived (Revelation 20:4, John 11:25) these are the martyrs who died for their faith.
8. The millennium:
   1. In a book full of symbolic language, why do theologians call this literal?
   2. a thousand years is 10x10x10 which is the complete number 10 to the power of the trinity 3.
   3. Amillennialists say this 1000 years is the time from the first advent of Jesus to the second advent of Jesus… a complete time, not too soon nor too late. He will return at the right time, when the Father is good and ready. See Ray Summers for more information.
   4. For what purpose is the binding and the letting him go again (Revelation 20:8)?
   5. Regarding the first and second resurrection, in John 5:29, Jesus refers to two types of people raised, not two resurrections.
   6. What might you conclude about the millennium by how often it is mentioned in the Bible? (Three times in this one chapter, in a highly symbolic book). (See Ezekiel 20:34-38).
   7. Old Testament references about a future reign (Isaiah 2:2-4, 9:6-7, 11:4-9, 30:15-33, 65:17-66:14, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalm 72, plus Isaiah chapters 35, 44, and 49).
9. Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-10)
   1. Who instigates the battle?
   2. From where do you think he recruits his soldiers?
   3. What is your impression of this last battle of the world?
   4. Old Testament passages of prophecy (Jeremiah 51:27-36, Joel 3:9-15, Zephaniah 3:8).
10. Deceive the Nations (Revelation 20:8) the armies of these nations will never turn to Christ for salvation, though they outwardly obey his governmental rule. What is the point of this deception, especially when the “millennium” is over?
11. The throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
    1. Who is the judge? (Revelation 20:4, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 2 Timothy 2:12)
    2. Compare these passages of Christ as judge: John 5:22, Acts 17:31, 2 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 19:28, 25:31.
    3. Who will be judged?
    4. In what ways have believers already been judged?
    5. What are the books and another book?
    6. Why are people judged on their deeds or works (Revelation 20:12-13)? What about Ephesians 2:8-9? How does Ephesians 2:10 provide the answer?
    7. What is the outcome?
    8. What is eternal death? (Continually dying or death that lasts forever, and the person is aware of what’s happening?)
12. What do you learn about Jesus in these two chapters?
13. Why is it necessary for judgment to be made in righteousness (Revelation 19:11, Genesis 18:25, Psalm 9:4, 8, 98:9, Isaiah 11:4, Acts 17:31, John 5:30)?
14. Perhaps the most important verse in the whole book (Revelation 20:15).