Jesus Is Coming Again Pt. 6 Final Judgment, Final Battles, Final Victory

We turn now to Paul's first letter to the Christians at Corinth. He references both parts of Jesus' second coming: the rapture of the church and the great, day of final judgment.

Jesus will bring His church home before final judgment. 

1 Corinthians 15:22-23  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

Paul was used by God to show us that Jesus Christ is the second Adam. Whereas the first Adam failed to obey God, and plunged all humanity into sin, the second Adam did not fail.

Death is a result of man falling into sin. God undid this by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to live a perfect life as the God man, and to taste death for all humanity. 

Then, Jesus shed His perfect innocent blood as the perfect Lamb of God. He paid off our sin debt. 

The good news is that even though all people are born sinners, separated from God, they do not have to stay in that condition. 

When we hear the gospel and learn of our sins, death and condemnation, we can turn to Jesus with repentant faith, and be saved!

It is within this context that Paul speaks briefly about Jesus coming in the event we know as the rapture of the church. 

He is coming to take all the saved from every generation, living and dead, home to heaven. 

Fast forward to end of the millennial  kingdom age. 

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

The Spirit of God guided the apostle Paul to address the other aspect of Jesus' coming back to earth. 

The phrase "then cometh the end" refers to that day of final judgment, when all of the horrendous judgment described in Revelation, is finished. 

This is when Jesus Christ puts down all rebellion against God. He will rule and reign on earth for 1,000 years. Then, according to Revelation 20:1-10, Satan is bound during the millennial reign of Christ, but then he is let loose for a short season. 

At that point, Satan manages to deceive people who have lived during the reign of Jesus Christ. 

This seems to be the final moral test for mankind. In the beginning God created a perfect world, but gave man a free will to make moral choices to obey God or not. We know very well the consequences of Adam's disobedience.  

During the thousand year reign of Christ, Israel will be fully restored. The right worship of Jehovah will be in place. 

Believers in Jesus Christ saved during the church age will have some role in His kingdom. The curse will be reversed and peace will reign for one thousand years.

Then, when Satan is loosed, he will find people to deceive and rebel against God one last time. They will futilely attempt to overthrow Jerusalem, and it ends swiftly, when God sends fire down from heaven to consume them.

Jesus will rule and reign until the last enemy is defeated.

1 Corinthians 15:25-28  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27)  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28)  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

At this point, Satan is cast into the lake of fire forever. This is when God will create the new heavens, new earth, and new Jerusalem. 

This is the event Paul is referencing. When Jesus has reigned for 1,000 years, and put down that last rebellion, He will deliver it all to His Father, that God may be all in all. 

King Jesus will come to judge the world, bringing His saints.

Revelation 19:11-13  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

This is what will happen after the rapture of the church and after the marriage supper of the Lamb. King Jesus is going to return to the earth, setting foot on the planet, rather than stopping in the clouds, as at the rapture. 

Your see the glorious majesty and omnipotent power of Jesus Christ on display. He came once as a humble babe. He will come this time as Judge and King. 

All believers taken in resurrection of life will come back with Jesus. 

Revelation 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

Here is what happens with all believers from all ages who were taken home to heaven at the resurrection of life which will happen at the rapture of the church. 

We will follow Jesus to the earth sitting on white horses. We will see the fierce wrath of God poured out upon all who despised and rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The battle of Armageddon. 

Revelation 19:15-21  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17)  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18)  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19)  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20)  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21)  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This is the climatic battle at the end of the seven year tribulation period. It is often called the battle of Armageddon, for the Bible says it will be fought in the plains of Megiddo. 

Satan is put in prison for 1,000 years.

Revelation 20:1-3  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2)  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3)  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

A mighty angel comes down from heaven, and lays hold on Satan and unceremoniously bound him up and threw him into prison in the bottomless pit.

However, God is going to release the Devil on last time at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. 

Battle of Gog and Magog.

Revelation 20:7-10  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8)  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9)  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10)  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

New heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem and eternity. 

Revelation 21:1-3  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Most of the prophets, especially Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel, provide much detail about the final day of judgment, the kingdom age and the last battle of Gog and Magog. 

Thus, what we touched upon in this post, is a sampling of what the Bible teaches.

Here is what is certain. The rapture of the church could happen at any moment, and believers will be taken to heaven. The marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, shall take place.

On earth, the Jewish people will be turned to Jehovah and be His witnesses as the world experiences the judgments of seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. 

God's judgment upon a Christ rejecting world will grow worse with each wave. The tribulation period ends when Christ brings all His saints back to the earth, and King Jesus destroys the antichrist and false prophet with the brightness of His coming. 

This is followed by a thousand year rule of Christ, and one final battle.

Then, the judgment of the wicked takes place at the great white throne of God. 

God will recreate all things and eternity will begin.

The question is "Are you ready for these things?" Jesus said you must be born again, adopted into the family of God. 

This is my prayer for each reader, that you have heard and read this gospel truth enough to repent of your sins, and turn to Jesus Christ with repentant faith. 

You can receive eternal life and begin walking in newness of life, assured of a home in heaven. 

All believers in Christ will enjoy eternal life with Him in the new heavens, new earth and all that comes with it. I hope to see you in that glorious place!

Bob