9 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and encircled the fortress (camp) of God's people (the saints) and the beloved city; but fire descended from heaven and consumed them. [II Kings 1:10-12; Ezek. 38:2, 22.]
10 Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages).
The devil is thrown into the Lake of Fire where the anti-christ and false prophet are. Notice that only these three are mentioned as suffering and being tormented forever and ever. Keep this in mind as we study on.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books.
The dead are raised back to life here to be judged. Think about it, not just those who died before and during the Great Tribulation are raised here, but those who lived and died during the 1,000 year reign of Christ, are also raised back to life. Death will not have been thrown into the Lake of Fire during the Millennial Reign of Christ. All of the dead will be raised and judged. If it was a given that all would be judged guilty of Hell, then why have the Books opened. Why raise these people, only to throw them back to the Lake of Fire?
These verses tie right in with Jesus’ parable of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Matthew 22. In Jesus’ parable He tells us something very interesting and it is this: when our Father comes to the earth, which is happening here in Revelation 20, He only finds one man not worthy to stay, Matthew 22:11-13. Ask yourself this question, why did Jesus only tell us one man wasn’t allowed to stay, if it were true that all of the dead who are raised will be found guilty of Hell? Jesus tells us that both the good and bad are here when our Father returns, Matthew 22:10. Yet Jesus tells us that only one is not allowed to stay?
Grace tells us that people are judged innocent, regardless of what they have done. Grace is all free and it is all undeserved. Jesus has been given all flesh and He tells us that He will not lose any that He has been given, except one, Judas, John 17:12. People will be judged, but not to see if they will be thrown into Hell or not, but to see where they stand in eternity. There will be those who were first now and they will be judged to be last for eternity. There will be those who were last, that will be judged to be first, Mark 10:31. Read Micah Chapter 4 and you will see that there will be nations of people who finally come to understand that Jesus is Lord. Jesus wins and He wins huge! Not everyone is a Bride of Christ, there are many guests of ours at the Wedding celebration. Matthew 22:10.
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