NOTE.-The word rendered "bottomless pit" in this text is _abusos_, the Greek term employed by the Septuagint in Gen. 1:2, as the equivalent of the Hebrew word rendered "deep" in our English versions. A more literal translation would be "abyss." It is a term applied to the earth in its desolate, waste, chaotic, dark, uninhabited condition. In this condition it will remain during the one thousand years. It will be the dreary prison-house of Satan during this period. Here, in the midst of the moldering bones of wicked dead, slain at Christ"s second coming, the broken-down cities, and the wreck and ruin of all the pomp and power of this world, Satan will have opportunity to reflect upon the results of his rebellion against G.o.d. But the prophecy of Isaiah says, "After many days shall they be visited."
13. The righteous dead are raised at Christ"s second coming. When will the rest of the dead, the wicked, be raised?
"The rest of the dead lived not again _until the thousand years were finished_." Verse 5.
NOTES.-From this we see that the beginning and the close of the millennium, or one thousand years, are marked by the two resurrections. The word millennium is from two Latin words, _mille_, meaning a thousand, and _annus_, year-a thousand years.
It covers the time during which Satan is to be bound and wicked men and angels are to be judged. This period is bounded by distinct events. Its beginning is marked by the close of probation, the pouring out of the seven last plagues, the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the righteous dead. It closes with the resurrection of the wicked, and their final destruction in the lake of fire. See diagram on page 356.
14. What change is made in Satan"s condition at the close of the one thousand years?
"After that _he must be loosed a little season_." Verse 3.
NOTE.-At the close of the one thousand years, Christ, accompanied by the saints, comes to the earth again, to execute judgment upon the wicked, and to prepare the earth, by a re-creation, for the eternal abode of the righteous. At this time, in answer to the summons of Christ, the wicked dead of all ages awake to life. This is the second resurrection, the resurrection unto d.a.m.nation. The wicked come forth with the same rebellious spirit which possessed them in this life. Then Satan is loosed from his long period of captivity and inactivity.
15. As soon as the wicked are raised, what does Satan at once proceed to do?
"When the thousand years are expired, 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." Verses 7, 8.
16. Against whom do the wicked go to make war, and what is the outcome?
"They went up on the breadth of the earth, and _compa.s.sed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city_; and _fire came down from G.o.d out of heaven, and devoured them_." Verse 9.
NOTES.-This is the last act in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The whole human race meet here for the first and last time. The eternal separation of the righteous from the wicked here takes place. At this time the judgment of G.o.d is executed upon the wicked in the lake of fire. This is the second death.
This ends the great rebellion against G.o.d and His government. Now is heard the voice of G.o.d as He sits upon His throne, speaking to the saints, and saying, "Behold, I make all things new;" and out of the burning ruins of the old earth there springs forth before the admiring gaze of the millions of the redeemed, "a new heaven and a new earth," in which they shall find an everlasting inheritance and dwelling-place.
The millennium is a great sabbath of rest, both for the earth and for G.o.d"s people. For six thousand years the earth and its inhabitants have been groaning under the curse of sin. The millennium, the seventh thousand, will be a sabbath of rest and release; for, says the prophet concerning the land, "as long as she lay desolate she kept _sabbath_." 2 Chron. 36:21. "There remaineth therefore a _rest_ [margin, _keeping of a sabbath_] to the people of G.o.d." Heb. 4:9. This precedes the new earth state.
Length Of The Day Of The Lord
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Last Great Earthquake. "For the great day of His wrath is come." Rev.
6:17.
1. What is the character of the "day of the Lord"?
"The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
_That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress._" Zeph. 1:14, 15.
2. Under which of the seven seals does this day begin?
"And I beheld _when He had opened the sixth seal_, and, lo, there was a great earthquake, ... for _the great day of His wrath is come_; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6:12-17.
3. What signs were to appear under this seal?
"The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." Verses 12, 13.
NOTE.-For dates and fulfilment of these signs, see readings on pages 311, 319. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755 (page 286) should not be confounded with that to take place under the seventh plague. Rev. 16:18.
4. Under which seal will the Lord come?
"And when He had _opened the seventh seal_, there was silence in heaven about the s.p.a.ce of half an hour." Rev. 8:1.
NOTE.-This silence in heaven is the result of Christ and the angels leaving heaven to come to this earth. See page 288.
5. With what is the day of wrath to open?
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having _the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of G.o.d_." Rev. 15:1.
NOTE.-These plagues immediately precede Christ"s coming. See Rev.
16:12-15, and reading on page 301.
6. What great event will take place at Christ"s coming?
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven: ... and _the dead in Christ shall rise first_." 1 Thess. 4:16.
7. How long after this will the wicked dead be raised?
"But _the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished_." Rev. 20:5.
8. As they gather around the holy city, what will take place?
"And fire came down from G.o.d out of heaven, and devoured them." Verse 9.
9. What is this destruction called?
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and wh.o.r.emongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is _the second death_." Rev. 21:8.
10. Unto what are the present heavens and earth reserved?
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved _unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of unG.o.dly men_." 2 Peter 3:7.