The final battle closes humanity’s door
9b but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, (Revelation 20:9b–ESV)
There is no prolonged battle here, just a final fiery end. The 1,000 years of grace and Satan-less life had resulted in the salvation of a remnant. One can imagine that to the very last some were entering the kingdom. As the armies were marching some were saying, “Yes” to grace. Probably even up to the moment when fire fell some were saying, “Yes.” Maybe some said yes from the battle groups.
The river of grace finally flowed itself to its last drop, and without grace to keep God’s righteous wrath in check that wrath fell. The God-rejectors were consumed. This is what we deserve. All men in all times except for Adam and Eve before the fall are only preserved from such a fiery demise by grace. Our lives naturally stand opposed to God’s. Remember my response in the prison? It was not natural compassion. It was more like natural stone. It is a bad thing when natural responses are not God-like. Only God’s love prevents his fury. His love goes far beyond what ours would. Eventually, though, God says “enough” turns the faucet on grace to closed and the end comes.
The final battle removes Satan
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10–ESV)
One thousand years or so before this battle an angel was sent after Satan. Satan was captured, chained and thrown into the Abyss. It was said that he would have to come out one more time, for a little while.
That little while is done. God allowed the full power of Satan’s deceit to roll the world up into a big ball against God. They came rolling and like a tumbleweed into a forest fire rolled right across the finish line and out of life.
Satan was the next one dealt with. His judgment was done then and there and permanently so. He, like the Beast and the False Prophet was permanently banished into the lake of fire. No more will his wickedness corrupt. His wicked influence will never again stalk those who love God and keep his commandments. The permanent wall of good and evil, God and not-God will go up for him. His punishment will be an eternal one.
Epilogue to this lesson
Remember the people living in peace and safety in the camp of God and around Jerusalem? Well, that camp was saved by God and now the whole world will be open before them. Shortly, the second resurrection will happen and the earth will be filled. Be there, my friend, be there.
Lane Ulrich says
After I wrote this and was tooling around on the news I came across this page: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/mike-pence-s-holocaust-day-message-sparks-jewish-outrage-1.5768602
The author, Allison Sommer, pointed out that much of the language used by Mr. Pence was had legitimate Jewish roots. I found myself intrigued by this article for two reasons. First, my curiosity was piqued by the author not making the tweets a platform for a similar rant. It seemed to be a legitimate look at what was actually going on. It was not merely reactionary journalism. Second, the tweets grounded me, again, in the nature of interpersonal conflict. The people Satan brings against Israel in the future will be of similar vehemence. That vehemence exists in many quarters today even though my day-to-day experience is somewhat isolated from it.