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NASB | Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive and mislead the nations which are in the four corners of the earth--[including] Gog and Magog--to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore. [Ezek 38:2; 39:1, 6] |
Subject: Millions led by Satan equal Goat Nations |
Bible Note: One of our number wonders where so great a number comes from who are deceived by Satan when the 1000 years are finished. Rev.20:8. It is true that God will destroy all the wicked sinners on the Day of the Lord. These wicked ones "refuse to repent" during the trumpet and plague judgments. They include the 200 million soldiers who come from the East and kill a third of mankind just before entering the Holy Land to "make war against the Lamb." Rev.9:15, 17:14. If they kill 2 billion people over a "quarter" of the earth's surface (Seal 4), that means up to 800 million Muslims (descendants of Ishmael's 12 tribes) suddenly bow down as Christ comes with all the Saints. (This is not to mention the rest of the 4 billion people who survive the Holocaust of the 6th Trumpet.) What happens to the 800 million Muslems if they "beg to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man"? Luke 21:36. This verse cannot apply to believers because they will all be overcomers and fully prepared for Christ's coming. I believe those Jesus urges to beg to escape all that happens on the sun-darkened day He appears applies primarily to Jews when they "mourn" and the entire remnant of one third who survive will be saved, but not "gathered together above." Zech.12:10, Zech.13:8,9, Joel 2:32, Matt.24:30, Rev.1:7, Rom.11:26, Heb.8:8-13. Now, I realize the Jewish remnant and the 800 million Muslims are left behind during the Hour of Trial from which all Believers will be kept through the Rapture. Jesus offers hope of being preserved (Lk.17:33) to "all who are willing to die." They will be "kept alive" (same word used of Moses kept alive in the Nile River basket). Now consider the setting pictured by Jesus wherever there are "Twosomes. One will be taken and one left." Both are unbelievers since no Believer will suffer judgment or be left behind. The two working by "day" are on the opposite side of the earth to those who are in bed at "night." So this is a global picture of millions wherein half of the 4 billion who survive could cry out for mercy. The destruction coming "as it was in the days of Noah" need not apply to the millions being left behind! God will "preserve" every one who is not "fed to the birds." Luke 17:37, Matt.24:28, Rev.19:17-21. Now for the great masses who exist at the end of the 1000 years. They are divided between "sheep and goat" nations which form as a result of the Jews being at the head of the nations, of the stipulated necessity for all "those left behind" (Zech.14:16; Rev.15:4) to come annually to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and to fulfill the New Covenant embraced by Israel (Heb.8:8-13). By this the "knowledge of the Lord will so cover the earth so that all will know the Lord." Now what is the purpose for the New Earth at the end of the Millennium? Jesus will separate the sheep nations from the goats and cast the latter into Hell. The sheep nations will "inherit the kingdom forever" (to fulfill the eternal kingdom promised to the natural descendants of Abraham and to fulfill the Davidic Covenant) Matt.25:34. God will have an "earthly people" living on the New Earth (only the Bride inhabits the New Jerusalem) who will "bring their honor and glory into the New Jerusalem" during the eternal state. Their "healing" will be maintained by the same leaves of the Tree of Life after they come into the New City as that required during the Millennium itself. Ezek.47:12, Rev.21:24-26, Rev.22:2. Where else could enough mortals be found to produce as many as the "sands of the sea" for the final battle of Gog and Magog when the 1000 years are finished? By the way, the 1000 years cannot begin until "all the martyrs come out from the Great Tribulation" and learn that they alone will "serve God day and night as pillars in the Temple of heaven for 1000 years." So the 1000 years are not finished until they enjoy the identical blessings of the New Jerusalem for 1000 years in advance of that enjoyed by all the Bride through eternity. Rev.3:10, Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4,5, Rev.21:4. Friends, the Martyrs win the highest reward available to the Church. Jesus promises they will receive the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem that later comes down out of heaven and "My new name." What an incentive for Believers to "love not their life unto death" and especially for the "few (some) who must taste death" for up to three final days while the Two Prophets lie dead ... waiting for the last martyr to be killed before "God judges and avenges their blood." Rev.6:9-11. Mel www.lastday.net, lastday1@cox.net |