“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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” (Rev. 20: 7-8). This event takes place after the one thousand years reign, but before the second resurrection and the White Thrown Judgment. It refers to the nations which live on earth during the Millenial reign but at no time have become part of the great plan of God for humanity. If one reads the book of the prophet Ezechiel, chapters 38 and 39 carefully, it is easy to note the connection between the two great decisive battles: The one at Armaged’don will take place just before the Millenial reign starts. The other one (“Gog and Magog”) will take place immediately after the one thousand years are over. There is a great similarity between Ezek. 39: 17-20 and Rev. 19: 17–21. In fact, both times the same peoples who will come against Jeru-salem are spoken of. Because Satan is bound during the one thousand years reign, everything remains quiet. The moment he is loosed great trouble begins and his influence will be again upon the unregenerated.

“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. 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 forever and ever” (Rev. 20: 9-10).

Before time merges into eternity, the final judgment (according to Rev. 20, from verse 11) will take place. All people who ever were born into this world and lived on earth will be resurrected and will have to appear before the eternal Judge. At that time the books will be opened, and all will be judged according to their works. It is very encouraging to read that the Book of Life will also be opened at that second resurrection. There will be people whose names are written in the Book of Life, although they were not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is the same book but contains two different categories. One pertains to the first resurrection and the other to the second. Those who are found in the Book of life certainly believed, while living on earth, in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and therefore received eternal life. They did not believe the promises for their day, perhaps were kept in the dark in various denominations, and therefore could not participate in the Wedding Supper and missed the Millenial reign with Christ. But all who really believed in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will go into eternal life.

The Word of God also speaks very clearly of the final doom of those remaining who appear in the final judgment, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20: 15). The lake of fire is mentioned as “the second death”. The Scripture is very clear on this point, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (v. 14). At that time Satan, the false prophet and the beast are already in the lake of fire. About the duration of their torment it says, “And shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” It can be ages. Regretfully, the Bible translators render the Greek word “aeon” many times as eternal or eternity or everlasting. But in actuality the word “aeon” describes a space of time and not eternity .

Although no one can predict when it would be, there will come a future moment when time will cease. Time will be abolished, and those things which were — during “time” — will not exist throughout all eternity. Those things which had a beginning, will of necessity have to have an end. It would be easier for us to understand this difficult concept, if Bible translators had been divinely enlightened on this subject. Things pertain-ing to God never had a beginning — they were eternal and will “be” throughout all eternity. Things which had a beginning or were created, will somewhere also have an end.

Remember, the lake of fire is spoken of as “the second death”. The first death happens to a person when the soul leaves the body. The second death will be, when the spirit of life leaves the soul. Then that which God said in His Word will be fulfilled, “Every soul that sinneth, it shall surely die” (Ezek. 18: 4+20). Strange but true, there is not a single place in the Holy Scriptures stating that man has an immortal soul. Only of God, the Eternal One, we read, “… who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto”(I Tim. 6: 15+16). In reference to this truth those who search it and are honest in their hearts, have to agree with the Word of God. Our Lord and Saviour made the statement, “I said, therefore, unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jn. 8: 24). Moses spoke about the ministry Christ would have as the Son of Man, “the Prophet”, and stated, “And it shall come to pass that every soul, who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Dt. 18: 15-19; Acts 3: 21-23).

Only in Him do we have eternal life. Only those who have received His eternal life by a true experience of the new birth can live eternally. Eternal life is God’s own life that was manifested in Christ here on the earth. As stated, the life of God never began, and therefore it can never end and will be throughout eternity. Read the following statement care-fully, “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I Jn. 5: 11-12).

It should be emphasized that no man will be lost because he was born in sin and lived in sin. The sin question was settled once and for all when Christ was made sin for us, that through Him we might become the very righteousness of God (Rom. 3: 21-26). Only those who do not believe that God was in Christ reconciling the world with Himself, forgiving all our sins and trespasses and receiving us as His own sons and daughters, will die in their sins (Jn. 8: 24).

True faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour, is not a religious matter, but it is a part of God’s eternal plan for humanity. In Him alone God was personally manifested, and thereby, eternal life came to us. Hence, it is absolutely essential to believe in Christ, if one wishes to re-ceive eternal life, “… that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3: 15). Whosoever does not believe during his lifetime is condemned already (Mk. 16: 16). Those who remain in the sin of unbelief separate themselves from God. If the reader wishes to be with the Lord for ever, don’t try it in your own way and through your own works, but acknowledge the mighty work of redemption which was accomplished in Christ, and find your eternal salvation and rest in God.

After the final judgment at the White Throne, God will create the new heavens and the new earth. All who will live therein will never remember the old things that were during their life time. That will be glorious eternity, no more sickness, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death, no more tears. Blessed are those who will live eternally in that bliss of glory. In the end, serving the Lord in this earthly life will be worthwhile. To those who have this glorious hope, there will be a reunion with all the loved ones who went before us. They will meet the ones who loved and obeyed the Lord, and who also loved one another. Remember, only perfect love — the Love of God — will enter there.

The new heavens and the new earth were already promised in the Old and the New Testament and will come into existence when time will be finished, after the one thousand years reign is over and the final judgment at the White Throne has happened. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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” (Rev. 20: 7-8). This event takes place after the one thousand years reign, but before the second resurrection and the White Thrown Judgment. It refers to the nations which live on earth during the Millenial reign but at no time have become part of the great plan of God for humanity. If one reads the book of the prophet Ezechiel, chapters 38 and 39 carefully, it is easy to note the connection between the two great decisive battles: The one at Armaged’don will take place just before the Millenial reign starts. The other one (“Gog and Magog”) will take place immediately after the one thousand years are over. There is a great similarity between Ezek. 39: 17-20 and Rev. 19: 17–21. In fact, both times the same peoples who will come against Jeru-salem are spoken of. Because Satan is bound during the one thousand years reign, everything remains quiet. The moment he is loosed great trouble begins and his influence will be again upon the unregenerated.

“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. 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 forever and ever” (Rev. 20: 9-10).

Before time merges into eternity, the final judgment (according to Rev. 20, from verse 11) will take place. All people who ever were born into this world and lived on earth will be resurrected and will have to appear before the eternal Judge. At that time the books will be opened, and all will be judged according to their works. It is very encouraging to read that the Book of Life will also be opened at that second resurrection. There will be people whose names are written in the Book of Life, although they were not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is the same book but contains two different categories. One pertains to the first resurrection and the other to the second. Those who are found in the Book of life certainly believed, while living on earth, in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and therefore received eternal life. They did not believe the promises for their day, perhaps were kept in the dark in various denominations, and therefore could not participate in the Wedding Supper and missed the Millenial reign with Christ. But all who really believed in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will go into eternal life.

The Word of God also speaks very clearly of the final doom of those remaining who appear in the final judgment, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20: 15). The lake of fire is mentioned as “the second death”. The Scripture is very clear on this point, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (v. 14). At that time Satan, the false prophet and the beast are already in the lake of fire. About the duration of their torment it says, “And shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” It can be ages. Regretfully, the Bible translators render the Greek word “aeon” many times as eternal or eternity or everlasting. But in actuality the word “aeon” describes a space of time and not eternity .

Although no one can predict when it would be, there will come a future moment when time will cease. Time will be abolished, and those things which were — during “time” — will not exist throughout all eternity. Those things which had a beginning, will of necessity have to have an end. It would be easier for us to understand this difficult concept, if Bible translators had been divinely enlightened on this subject. Things pertain-ing to God never had a beginning — they were eternal and will “be” throughout all eternity. Things which had a beginning or were created, will somewhere also have an end.

Remember, the lake of fire is spoken of as “the second death”. The first death happens to a person when the soul leaves the body. The second death will be, when the spirit of life leaves the soul. Then that which God said in His Word will be fulfilled, “Every soul that sinneth, it shall surely die” (Ezek. 18: 4+20). Strange but true, there is not a single place in the Holy Scriptures stating that man has an immortal soul. Only of God, the Eternal One, we read, “… who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto”  (I Tim. 6: 15+16). In reference to this truth those who search it and are honest in their hearts, have to agree with the Word of God. Our Lord and Saviour made the statement, “I said, therefore, unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jn. 8: 24). Moses spoke about the ministry Christ would have as the Son of Man, “the Prophet”, and stated, “And it shall come to pass that every soul, who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Dt. 18: 15-19; Acts 3: 21-23).

Only in Him do we have eternal life. Only those who have received His eternal life by a true experience of the new birth can live eternally. Eternal life is God’s own life that was manifested in Christ here on the earth. As stated, the life of God never began, and therefore it can never end and will be throughout eternity. Read the following statement care-fully, “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I Jn. 5: 11-12).

It should be emphasized that no man will be lost because he was born in sin and lived in sin. The sin question was settled once and for all when Christ was made sin for us, that through Him we might become the very righteousness of God (Rom. 3: 21-26). Only those who do not believe that God was in Christ reconciling the world with Himself, forgiving all our sins and trespasses and receiving us as His own sons and daughters, will die in their sins (Jn. 8: 24).

True faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour, is not a religious matter, but it is a part of God’s eternal plan for humanity. In Him alone God was personally manifested, and thereby, eternal life came to us. Hence, it is absolutely essential to believe in Christ, if one wishes to re-ceive eternal life, “… that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3: 15). Whosoever does not believe during his lifetime is condemned already (Mk. 16: 16). Those who remain in the sin of unbelief separate themselves from God. If the reader wishes to be with the Lord for ever, don’t try it in your own way and through your own works, but acknowledge the mighty work of redemption which was accomplished in Christ, and find your eternal salvation and rest in God.

After the final judgment at the White Throne, God will create the new heavens and the new earth. All who will live therein will never remember the old things that were during their life time. That will be glorious eternity, no more sickness, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death, no more tears. Blessed are those who will live eternally in that bliss of glory. In the end, serving the Lord in this earthly life will be worthwhile. To those who have this glorious hope, there will be a reunion with all the loved ones who went before us. They will meet the ones who loved and obeyed the Lord, and who also loved one another. Remember, only perfect love — the Love of God — will enter there.

The new heavens and the new earth were already promised in the Old and the New Testament and will come into existence when time will be finished, after the one thousand years reign is over and the final judgment at the White Throne has happened. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”