Just four short verses in the book of Revelation describe a rather surprising
(and tragic) ending to the kingdom age: rebellion.
Why does this happen? Why does God let Satan loose?
It may be because by this time in the kingdom age, men have stopped really
appreciating, really worshipping the King. It may be because they begin
to take the health, the wealth, the peace and the plenty for granted. Maybe,
like the ancient Israelites, people become materialistic, selfish, and God
allows Satan to test them.
Or perhaps it is just for the record, to demonstrate to everyone one last
time before the eternal age commences, what life is like with Satan in charge.
To prove, once and for all, that God is good, Satan is evil, (and humans
vulnerable) and not the other way around.
In any case, those who join Satan in his last-ditch, last-chance run at
the throne surround Jerusalem. Perhaps this will be at the time of the feast
of tabernacles, when the Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and all the other
saints will be inside . . . Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, Zechariah, Paul, Peter, Mark, Luke, John and others of the apostles,
and millions of other saints. All the saints will have long since known
this was coming, but nevertheless, it will have an aura of strangeness about
it.
People from nations they visited, taught in, ruled over, were now about
to attack the fabulous capital city.
Some of the saints sit stoic, arms folded, lips pursed, nodding. They knew
it was coming, uh-huh, and here it is. Others are grieved, shocked and horrified
to see this outbreak of violence after so many exquisite years, one upon
another.
Satan has only been loosed a short span of time earlier, but it didn't take
him long to undo the good, the blessings, the peace upon peace that the
King and the saints had built up over 1,000 years, working together. He
actually had the ability to turn people against Jesus. Amazing.
And as they were thinking, Crrraaaaasshhhh!!! Huge bolts of lightening pound
the earth from heaven. Like millions of kettledrums. The earth shakes. Fires
break out all over and all around the rebellious armies. Within minutes,
they are burned up.
Within a few more minutes Jesus has sent Michael and Gabriel, assisted by
a battalion of angels, to lay hold of Satan, and bind him, and cast him
into the lake of fire.. . forever. Forever to suffer torment, forever to
rage -- alone -- in the darkness. Forever to have some point and stare in
astonishment and say, "Was this the one who shook the earth?"1
As things settle back down, it becomes apparent to all the saints, and humans
that what they have just witnessed is no different from what had happened
in the Garden of Eden. Satan deceiving men. Deceiving the first man Adam.
Trying, and failing, to deceive the man Jesus. Deceiving the last physical
man. The pattern never broken, the theme never varied. God always good,
right and true. Satan always evil, false, a liar, thief and deceiver of
men.
And so the story of man, living, eating, walking, talking, breathing, sleeping,
man as we know him, ends.
Well, almost.
FOOTNOTES
Chapter 15 REBELLION
1. Is. 14
