Revelation 20
Bible Passage: Revelation 20
What are your feelings as you read today’s passage?
One of the recurring themes in man’s lament of life is whether the evil will ever get its reward?
Anyone who pays attention to today’s headline is likely to wonder whatever happened to ethics and justice. Sometimes it seems that fairness never happens in matters of business, government, the law and world affairs. It also seems that all those evil doers get away with murder while we poor ethical ones suffer in silence.
But in today’s passage, those who long to see justice reign, the vision of Elder John offers powerful hope.
God will not turn His back on injustice.
His character is such that He demands that He gives these evil doers what is coming to them.
Moreover, the Scripture promises that He will deal with evil in absolute, final ways. John’s vision foresees that triumphant accomplishment:
- God will bind evil and cast it into a bottomless pit (Rev 20:2-3)
- God will set a seal on the source of evil so that all will recognize him for what he is (20:3)
- God will administer judgement and restore believers who have been killed unjustly (20:4)
- God will deal finally with Satan after allowing him one last attempt to deceive (20:7-9); the devil’s punishment will include eternal torment (20:10, 14)
- The dead will stand before God and be judged (20:11-15)
This picture offers tremendous hope to us to are so frustrated by the injustices in the world today and think that God does not care or see.
But God knows… and God sees… and He has a plan.
We just have to wait for His time.
It is a relief to know that no human being – no matter how impartial and objective or biased or corrupt – is the final judge.
Ultimate justice will someday be administered by One who can be thoroughly trusted – God – our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ.
And since this is so… we must make sure that our names are found in the Book of Life … or we too will be dragged down by Satan and suffer in the lake of fire forever.
May all our names be found in the Book of Life.