The Millennial Reign
By Rick Lanning
The Millennial View Of Things To Come:
“If we somehow make it through the seven terrible years, especially the last half, the Glorious Appearing will be all that more glorious. Christ will come back to set up his thousand-year reign on earth.” “The Millennium?” “Exactly.” (Tim LaHaye, Left Behind: A Novel Of The Earth’s Last Days; pg. 309)
The hugely popular Left Behind series, along with the best-selling books by other premillennial teachers like Hal Lindsey, Billy Graham, John Walvoord and many others, have driven interest in prophetic speculation to an all-time high in America. With Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking on your door and telling of a coming Utopia on earth at any moment, along with nearly every radio and television station which airs religious broadcasting focusing on “the end times” and the coming 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, it is important that we spend serious time in Bible study on this topic.
In their book, Are We Living In The End Times? Current Events Foretold In Scripture…And What They Mean, the authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins reveal their proof for their millennial theology they used to write the Left Behind series. In their chapter “The Millennium” they give us an outline of what they believe the Bible says will happen in the near future when Christ comes to set up His kingdom on earth. We will use their thoughts to introduce our study.
“His coming kingdom will truly be the utopia that has eluded mankind since the fall. It will be a time of peace, righteousness, prosperity, and conversion and will abundantly fulfill all that the prophets said about it.” (pg. 234)
“Can you imagine what the world would be like without the Deceiver around to whisper his lies into susceptible human ears? What would life be like if the tempter were not skulking nearby to prod us into this or that sin?…Gone would be counterfeit truths, counterfeit promises, counterfeit angels, counterfeit gods! What a world that would be! And that will be the world of the Millennium.” (pg. 235)
“We are not left in doubt about the duration of the kingdom age, for Revelation 20 mentions six times that it is to last for one thousand years – a millennium. One thousand years of peace on earth!” (pg. 235)
He then quotes Daniel 2, Psalm 2 and Revelation 20 to support his belief in this coming Millennial reign.
Are these things true? It is our purpose in this study to refute this theory.
GOD NEVER PROMISED AN EARTHLY REIGN
A. First Rule Of Bible Study: Explain Difficult Passages From Clear Scriptures
1. Before we jump head-first into Revelation or other hard Apocalyptic books, it is wise advice to “search the scriptures” from texts which are straight-forward and to-the-point on doctrinal issues.
2. For example, to understand the doctrine of the Lord’s kingdom, it is crucial we take God’s literal speech on the topic before we tackle the more difficult figurative language.
a. John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world, if My kingdom were of this world My servants would fight.”
b. Romans 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
c. Once easy passages like this are understood, showing the Kingdom of God is not an earthly rule, but a heavenly, then when you come to hard texts you will be able to compare the two and draw a right conclusion.
d. You don’t use the Book of Revelation (figurative) to interpret the gospel of John or Romans (literal).
B. The Jewish Mindset About The Kingdom Was Totally Wrong
1. John 6:14-15 When Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 the Jews immediately connected that sign and said “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Their Messiah would surely be a Divine bread-winner for Jews.
2. John 12:32-34 “32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 33This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" They believed their coming Messiah would live forever and never die. Not only would their Messiah never allow the Romans to crucify Him, He would in fact bring vengeance upon them and destroy them by leading the Jews army as their Captain.
C. The Truth Of What Prophecy Said About The Messiah On Earth
1. All prophecy about Christ had to be fulfilled in Jesus On His First Coming
a. Luke 24:44-48 Including The Great Commission To Preach The Gospel To The World And Establish The Church 44Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And you are witnesses of these things.
b. Acts 3:18-24 ALL of the prophets foretold Christ’s first coming, which Peter said “He has thus fulfilled.” 18But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. …which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began…. 24Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
2. If Jesus did fulfill “All prophecy” about Him on His first coming, and – He did not establish a physical, earthly kingdom and reign upon David’s literal throne on His first coming, - then we must conclude God never foretold or ever promised an earthly throne.
THE SCRIPTURES FORBID AN EARTHLY REIGN
A. No Seed Of Coniah Shall Rule On Earth
1. Jer 22:28-30 An Unmistakable Prophecy Of Jeconiah’s (Jehoichin) Curse 28"Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol-- A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know? 29O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the LORD! 30Thus says the LORD: 'Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.' "
2. Matt. 1:12 and Luke 3:27 Reveals Christ’s Lineage From Coniah (Jeconiah)
3. Since no one from Coniah’s descendants can “sit on the throne of David” or rule “anymore in Judah” – and since Christ is one of Coniah’s descendants – then it follows that Christ cannot rule or reign on earth in Jerusalem!
a. If He does, it makes Jeremiah a false prophet.
b. If He does, it makes the Bible contradict itself, thus making God a liar.
c. Christ reigns from heaven, not earth. Millennialists are wrong.
B. The “Branch Of David” Would Be A “Priest Upon His Throne” (King-Priest)
1. Jer. 33:15-18 The Messiah Was To Be The Branch of David 15'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David - A Branch of righteousness;He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 16In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' 17"For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.' "
2. Zech. 6:12-13 This Branch Would Be Both A King and Priest On A Throne "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both." '
3. Jesus Is:
a. The Branch of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
b. A King and Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:20; 7:1)
4. Yet Jesus Cannot Be A Priest On Earth (He is from tribe of Judah, not Levi)
a. Heb. 8:1-4 8:1Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,… 4For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest…”
b. Our High Priest (Jesus) is “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”
5. Jesus is not on earth, nor can He be, and still reign as King or serve as Priest. He reigns and serves us in heaven. The Millennialists are wrong again.
C. God Does Not Want An Earthly Kingdom!
1. Exodus 19:3-6 Moses told Israel God’s true design for His kingdom “5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
2. I Samuel 8:1-9 But God was de-throned by the people, wanting an earthly king and kingdom. 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
3. Hosea 13:9-11 God would take away Israel’s earthly king in wrath 9"O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me. 10I will be your King; Where is any other, That he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes'? 11 I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath.
4. Look carefully at this sequence of God’s dealings:
a. Israel was meant to be a spiritual people who looked only to God as King.
b. Out of rebellion against God they were made an earthly kingdom like the nations around them.
c. They remained a carnal, worldly kingdom throughout their history (just as God had predicted).
d. They were removed in anger and wrath by God.
5. Question: Why would God want to resurrect another earthly kingdom again?
a. “My kingdom is NOT of this world” (John 18:36)
b. “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21)
AN EARTHLY MILLENNIAL REIGN IS NOT FOUND IN REVELATION
A. First Things First: Understanding Apocalyptic Literature
1. Apocalyptic literature is meant to be Understandable.
a. Apocalyptic means “to uncover; unveil; reveal; to make known.”
b. Like Paul’s “mystery” of the gospel, it is mysterious only to those who refuse to read to understand (Eph. 3:3-5). It can be known!
c. Properly interpreting apocalyptic books of the Bible like Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation comes from understanding the nature of that kind of literature.
d. Trouble (with a capital “T”) is a certainty if one tries to interpret these books literally
2. Apocalyptic literature is a two-fold Heaven-Earth viewpoint.
a. It discusses events as seen on earth, but it also discusses the same events as viewed by God in heaven.
b. Events happening on earth are a direct result of what God is doing above in heaven. The reader must connect the two together to accurately interpret the writing.
c. Books like Daniel and Revelation are graphically describing a “behind-the-scenes” look at God’s hand at work on earth.
d. While the unbeliever sees only the terrible things happening on earth, the believer is allowed to “see” what is really happening. What is going on here is not the whole story. It is what is going on up in heaven that is crucial to understand. Once the Christian understands heaven’s role, then what is happening on earth makes more sense.
3. Apocalyptic is Crisis literature.
a. It is always a literature written during terrible times and distress.
b. Read the Jewish literature written between 168 B.C. and 134 B.C. – during the Maccabean period when these Jews rebelled against the evil reign of the Syrian kingdom, especially Antiochus Ephiphanes (175-163 B.C.), who tried to Hellenize the Jews by forbidding circumcision, destroying all Old Testament books, and performing sacrilege by offering a pig on the altar in the Temple. I & II Maccabees in the Apocrapha is written in apocalyptic language, giving hope during the great crisis and helping them answer the scoffers who harrassed them with questions like, “Where is your God now? Why doesn’t He deliver you?” The books answer: “He will … soon!”
c. Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah are written during great crisis in Israel’s history, particularly through the exile period when Israel needed to know if God was still working to bless them.
d. Revelation was written during the great crisis of the church in their struggle against the Roman empire and their Jewish enemies.
4. Apocalyptic is Victory literature.
a. God always wins. He never loses.
b. It is not written for the purpose of wild prophetic speculations far into the future (like Millennialist’s promote), but in response to an immediate crisis in order to offer hope and courage to those going through trials of faith.
c. The one formula known in all apocalyptic writings is: God will triumph soon! It does not deal with far-off events into the future.
d. In one sense apocalyptic literature is not pure prophecy (as we think of distant future events being foretold in advance), because you already know the future before you even begin – God wins!
e. It is much like Hollywood action movies and Tom Clancy suspense novels. You are kept on the edge of your seat throughout all the action, but in the end you know the good guys will win.
5. Apocalyptic literature is always meant for the First Readers.
a. It is primarily for those first readers, to give them hope and comfort.
b. For us to read their “mail” and claim it is talking about events 2000 years removed from them, is foolish and wrong.
c. Millennial writers and teachers are wrong to make Revelation read like a modern newspaper for us today. It has nothing to do with nuclear bombs or WW3 or the rise of some world leader who will rule soon.
6. Apocalyptic literature is focused only on the Big Picture.
a. Right vs. wrong. Good vs. evil. God vs. Satan. Christians vs. world.
b. When the reader gets caught up in trying to define and understand all the sub-plots and small details of every image and scene, he will miss entirely the point of the writer.
c. Action is the name of the game in Apocalyptic writing. Big, fast, strong, colorful, and victorious action are what it is all about. Let the scenes unfold, taking in the greatness of it all, knowing in the end that God will stand triumphant, and Christians will be victorious.
d. Trying to read into the fine print of every character and each number and all the various scenes will only throw your spiritual lens out of focus.
7. Apocalyptic literature is by nature Not Doctrinal.
a. Deep theological debate and heavy doctrinal treatise are for books like Romans and Hebrews. You can’t read Revelation like Romans!
b. You are encouraged to sit back, see the panoramic action scenes as they unfold, and enjoy the drama that builds to a grand climax of victory. Nothing more is at stake. It is meant for the Christians “viewing pleasure.”
c. The Millennialists are wrong to turn apocalyptic literature into the basis of most of their doctrinal positions. It simply is not meant for that.
8. Apocalyptic literature made great use of Known Signs and Symbols.
a. While the modern reader struggles to grasp all the numerology and symbolism of this vivid figurative language, the first readers understood it perfectly.
b. It was not coded and secretive to the original audience of readers. The Christians easily grasped what John wrote them in The Revelation.
9. Apocalyptic literature was a Reinterpretation of O. T. Prophecy.
a. Revelation draws heavily on the Old Testament.
b. While not one verse is actually quoted verbatim, there are between 300 and 400 allusions to the prophecies of the Old Testament.
c. The Jewish Christians, who were steeped in the rich traditions and writings of the prophets, would immediately understand all the signs and symbols John was using. Anyone today who seeks to understand Revelation must first have a working knowledge of the Old Testament. Sadly, far too many who teach this book do not.
B. Revelation 20 - The So-Called “Proof-Text” Of The 1000 Year Millennium
20:1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 7Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
C. Millennial Assumptions – Assumptions – Assumptions
1. Millennial teachers talk long and loud about the need for literalness in interpretation, and for scriptural proof for doctrinal positions.
2. Where in the above “proof-text” do you read of the many doctrinal positions they hold in premillennialism?
3. Very little of the Premillennial theory can be sustained by either Revelation 20, or for that matter, any other book-chapter-verse of the Bible.
4. Please note the underlined words in the text above and state whether these things should be interpreted literally or figuratively. Is the key, and chain, and mark, and prison, and four corners to be taken literally? Why would you need physical things in a spirit world? So if these are figurative, why cannot the rest of the images, like 1000 years, be figurative also? Can anyone just pick-and-choose to suit their own personal opinions?
REVELATION 20 AND THE TRUE MILLENNIAL REIGN
A. The Necessary Setting and Time-Frame: Shortly!
1. Rev 1:1, 3 “must shortly take place…the time is near”
2. Rev 1:19 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” (how long after? See 1:1; 22:6)
3. Rev 4:1 "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." (how long after this? See 1:1; 22:6 – shortly)
4. Rev 22:6 “And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place”
B. The Necessary Ingredient To Understand This Apocalypse: Signified
1. Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John”
2. To “signify” is the indicate something by signs. To “sign-i-fy” a writing is to write in signs or symbols. The very book easily reveals the symbolism of the writer.
C. Rev 20:1-3 - The Binding Of Satan!
“1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
1. This scripture is not written in a vacuum, but is closely connected to chapter 19 where Satan’s two allies (the beast and false prophet) were cast into the lake of fire (19:19-21). Now, what will become of Satan himself? John tells us clearly in 20:1-10.
2. God’s angel is given power (the key and great chain) to imprison Satan, here called by four names which, combined, fully describe his wickedness:
a. Dragon – strong and ferocious (like the stalking lion of I Pet 5:8)
b. Serpent of old – who beguiled Eve and all others with trickery and lies
c. Devil – the accuser and slanderer of men for all time
d. Satan – man’s arch-enemy and adversary
3. Satan is graphically described in unmistakable terms as being stripped of his powers “over the nations” for an extensive amount of time – 1000 years. Please note, it is not the period of time that is emphasized, but the actual binding of Satan from controlling the nations. He is put in a pit, the key is used to lock him in, and a seal (obviously a signet from God Himself) is set to ward off any who might dare to release him (like Rome’s seal over Christ’s tomb).
4. Notice, this binding is not stated as “solitary confinement” where he has no powers at all on earth, for we know he still has freedom to stalk man and tempt him (I Pet. 5:8), but specifically John tells us his limitation is “over the nations to deceive them.” Like a dog on a chain, he has freedom to move, but only in the confines the owner has staked him. So with the Devil. Observe from the book what this means:
a. In 13:1, 11 Satan called the Sea Beast and Land Beast and gave them power to do battle at the great day of God (16:13-14).
b. In 13:7; 17:14; 19:19 these Beasts war against the Lamb of God.
c. These Beasts represent the evil Roman empire, and the false religions used by Rome, to fight the Lord’s church, including Emperor worship.
d. Satan had deceived these two Beasts into warring against God and His people (the church).
e. In 19:20 these two Beasts are totally defeated and cast into the fire! This signaled forever the end of the Roman Empire.
f. Now in chapter 20 Satan is left alone to fight, but he is also quickly bound and restrained from persecuting the saints for a period of time (1000 years is symbolic of this time of being chained by God’s power).
g. In the future Satan would be released (“loosed”) to again persecute saints.
D. Rev. 20:4-6 The Martyred Saints Reign With Christ 1000 Years
4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
1. With Satan safely removed from deceiving nations from rising up against the church, John turns his attention to those who had been tortured by Rome.
2. The first vision John saw was “Thrones” – the image of royalty. Who were on these seats of power, authority and judgment? “SOULS!”
3. What Souls?
a. “Those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus”
b. “Those who had been beheaded …for the word of God”
c. “Those who had been beheaded…who had not worshipped the beast”
d. “Those who had been beheaded…who had not worshipped …the image”
e. “Those who had been beheaded…who had not received his mark on their foreheads or hands”
4. “THEY lived and REIGNED with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS!”
a. Martyred souls, who had died for their faith when they refused to bow to Caesar or renounce Christ as their Lord, are on the thrones of glory.
b. They had confessed Christ before men, and now Christ confesses them before the Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).
c. They had stood on the promises of the Word of God. They took Jesus as His word, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)
d. The mark of the Beast meant nothing to them, the praises of God meant everything. For that they lost their heads, but gained a crown (Rev.2:10).
e. The picture here is very similar to the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The difference being, in Hades Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom, while these saints in Hades were on thrones reigning with Christ! Christians will reign with Christ after death (2 Tim. 2:12).
f. They are “priests of God and Christ, and reign with Him 1000 years.” This is like the Christian’s description of “a royal priesthood” (I Pet 2:9).
5. Questions For Millennial Believers:
a. Who is NOT said here to be reigning? Saints on earth. Jews.
b. Who is the only ones reigning? Martyred saints.
c. Where is the reigning taking place? Heaven. Not the earth.
d. Who does your theory teach is reigning? Christ, with all Christians. And Where? On earth. In Jerusalem. On a literal throne.
6. “The First Resurrection” – speaks specifically about Christians.
a. They are called “blessed and holy” (vs. 6) – or “saints.”
b. The “second death” has no power over them (vs. 6) – which is an obvious reference to spiritual death in hell, because the “first death” must be faced by all men, which is physical death (Heb. 9:27).
c. These martyred souls were first seen under the altar crying out for vindication of their cause and martyrdom. Read their words: Rev 6:9-11 9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
d. But now in Rev. 20 – these souls are no longer under the altar, but on thrones of glory! Their cause had been vindicated. Their cause (The Lord’s Kingdom) had been “resurrected” from seeming death and extinction by Rome to triumph and glory. (Study Ezek. 37:1-14 and Isa. 26:13-19 for similar “resurrections” of a cause.
e. The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. The Cause for which they died would live on and become glorious – the “First Resurrection.”
7. “The rest of the dead did not live again” can be studied from two angles:
a. These are the unrighteous dead who do not live or reign with anyone.
b. More likely, it just simply means “all others besides the martyred saints”showing the context is focusing strictly on them, not the dead in general.
8. Those Of The True Millennial Reign
a. Those of “the first resurrection” (i.e. the martyred saints whose cause has been vindicated) will not be touched by “the second death” (i.e. clearly identified in 20:14 and 21:8 as “the lake of fire” or hell).
b. These martyred saints are “priests of God and of Christ” and “reign with Him a thousand years.”
The Millennial Reign has been in progress since souls were martyred for their faith in the first century! Anyone who now argues it is yet future denies a rightful throne to those who were beheaded for their faith. To say the Millennium is yet to happen is to “twist the scriptures to your own destruction.” (2 Pet. 3:16). It denies the plain language God has spoken. The clear message of the Book of Revelation is “He Who Overcomes” (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:4-5, 12-13, 21; 12:11; 15:2; 21:7).
Paul summarizes perfectly for us the entire message of Revelation in Rom. 8:31-39
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
