The Defeat of Satan and the Promise of Resurrection

Death and Resurrection: Revelation 19-20

Revelation 20 portrays the dramatic defeat of Satan, the promise of resurrection for believers, and the ultimate judgment of humanity. It emphasizes that Jesus has already won the victory, binding the dragon and offering freedom from sin’s power through the Holy Spirit. Believers are called to live as ambassadors of God’s kingdom, boldly proclaiming Christ’s reign and bringing light into the world. This passage highlights the urgency of sharing the gospel with those still in darkness, reminding us that while the dragon’s influence persists, his power has been broken, and Jesus reigns as the true King.

Sermon Transcript

If you want to grab your phone, there are message notes available on the website. You can find them on the media page to follow along.

Revelation 20, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

We come to this text, and it’s big, dramatic—just like everything we’ve been going through in Revelation. There are giant wars, images of beasts, the dragon, angels coming down from heaven—it’s all part of this dramatic story. But we don’t always understand why it’s presented this way.

The other night, I was taking out the trash. It was dark outside, and I grabbed the bag, which was overfull and had a little hole in it. As I stepped outside, I noticed something under the back of my pickup. In the dim glow of the streetlights, I saw beady eyes. It looked larger than a raccoon and taller than a bear, and I couldn’t tell much else. My first instinct was to step back because it seemed like a large animal.

I stood there, staring at it, and decided I wasn’t going to take the trash out right then. As I started to back away, I realized I couldn’t fit the overfull bag back into the tiny trash can. My only option was to make it past whatever was under the truck to get to the garbage can. I thought, sometimes you just have to face your fears. So I stepped forward, quickly flipped open the trash can lid, threw the bag inside, and turned to leave. At that moment, the thing moved. I froze, thinking I was about to get attacked. But then I saw it clearly—black, brown, and white, with little beady eyes. It was my neighbor’s calico cat, chewing on trash from a bag it had dragged under my truck.

I laughed at myself, but then I realized the real problem: I’d have to set my alarm for half an hour earlier to clean up the mess before work. And that’s the thing about stories—they’re more compelling when they’re dramatic. Sure, I could’ve told you the boring version: the neighbor’s cat made a mess, and I had to wake up early. But you’d rather hear about how I thought I was about to get attacked by some terrifying creature.

That’s how the book of Revelation works. It communicates profound truths through a dramatic narrative. The Bible is a story. Every law Moses gave is part of a story, given in a specific context. Every teaching Paul wrote is part of a story, tied to something happening in those churches. Prophecies and visions are part of a larger story, pointing to spiritual realities. Revelation uses a dramatic story because it has to communicate truths that transcend generations, times, and cultures. If it were just a list of facts, we wouldn’t be as fascinated by it as the church has been throughout history.

At its core, Revelation tells a simple story. Today, we’re going to look at a timeline that helps us understand it. The story involves two resurrections and two deaths. Not all of them are explicitly mentioned in the text, but the passage assumes we understand their existence. The first resurrection happens around the same time as the first death, and the second resurrection happens around the same time as the second death. It’s fascinating how it all aligns.

Let’s bring in the timeline to help us visualize these key moments in history. We’ll point to the first and second deaths and resurrections as we walk through this passage. Hopefully, this will clarify the profound truths Revelation is communicating.

Alright, here’s my poster board. You can see the narrative laid out on it, and if you want a closer look, you can download the coloring sheet from the media page on the website. This shows the narrative of the cross, with Jesus seated on the throne—marked here as the blue throne. Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, as described in Philippians 2, where he received the name above all names.

This is the story the church tells: Jesus reigns until the day the cloud rider returns. That’s when Jesus comes back to gather his people, marking the first resurrection. The second resurrection comes later. This timeline also includes the first death, which occurs when Satan is bound in the abyss. But at the end, Satan is released for a short time, just before Jesus returns, not only to gather his people but to cast Satan, death, Hades, and everything else into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

So, the first death occurs at Jesus’ resurrection, and the second death happens when Jesus returns. This is the basic outline of the story. Again, if you want to dive deeper, you can download the coloring sheet from the website—it’s the same timeline, just recreated here by my kids for the poster board.

Now let’s talk about the two deaths. The first death is a physical death. It’s the death all of us experience because of sin and the curse given to Adam in Genesis 3. Humanity’s rebellion against God introduced physical death into the world, and it has ruled over human history from Genesis 3 until Jesus’ return. We all know this reality: everyone dies. It’s a fact of life.

In verse 5 of Revelation 20, it says, “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.” This implies that everyone experiences the first death, but only those who are faithful to Jesus will escape the second death through the future resurrection. Some might wonder why Christians still die if we’re promised life. The answer is that physical death is part of the curse of sin. But God rescues us from death, not by preventing it, but by promising resurrection.

The second death is final and ultimate. It’s not just physical death but spiritual death. Revelation speaks of Satan, those who rebel, and those unfaithful to Jesus being locked in the abyss or thrown into the lake of fire. The dragon, Satan, is currently imprisoned, but Revelation tells us that he will be released in the future. He will gather people from across the globe for one last rebellion. Why is he released? Because unless he is freed, he cannot be cast into the eternal lake of fire. This points to a more ultimate death—one that goes beyond physical death.

When did death enter the world? Genesis 3. When does death leave the world? At the end of time, when death and Hades are personified and cast into the lake of fire, never to escape again.

Now let’s look at resurrection. What is the first resurrection? How can we point back to the cross and say it marks the first resurrection, even though we haven’t yet experienced our own deaths? Certainly, the resurrection of Jesus is the first resurrection. But the text also suggests that we have the opportunity to participate in this first resurrection.

Revelation 20:4-6 speaks of a thousand-year reign of Christ. This reign begins when Jesus sits on his throne and receives all authority, as stated in Matthew 28: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. In this vision, John sees thrones with people seated on them who were given authority to judge. These are the elders, as mentioned earlier in Revelation. He also sees the souls of those who were martyred for their testimony, the ones who had been beheaded for their faithfulness. These martyrs are now seated on the thrones, reigning with Christ during this thousand-year period.

Those who didn’t worship the beast or its image and didn’t accept the mark on their foreheads or hands were instead sealed by the Holy Spirit—marked by God. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This refers to the saints who came to life when Jesus sat down on his throne. They sat with him and reigned with Christ over all things.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This means everyone who wasn’t a saint or holy one at the time Jesus ascended and sat on his throne is still waiting for a future judgment. That judgment will determine whether they experience eternal life or, like the dragon, are brought to life only to face judgment and be cast into the lake of fire.

The narrative continues: Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him. This is the promise and reality of the first resurrection. Those who share in it are blessed and holy because the first resurrection points forward to the ultimate, eternal resurrection—both physical and spiritual. The saints who were raised when the dragon was bound in the abyss are the ones who came to life.

There is reigning language here. These saints, these holy ones, reign with Christ. Ephesians 2 says, He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus. For Paul, resurrection is not limited to a future physical event—it begins as a spiritual reality. For Paul, you don’t need to physically die to experience the first resurrection; it’s about being spiritually resurrected.

Everyone is spiritually dead because of sin and the rebellion of Adam. Without Christ, there is no connection to God, no communion with Jesus, and no indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual death means disconnection from God. But when you come to know Jesus, you come to life. You are filled with the Holy Spirit, raised up with Christ, and seated in the heavens.

This is the incredible picture Revelation paints: the heavens torn open, the throne room of God laid bare, and those who follow Jesus seated in the heavens—not just as petitioners before the King, but as co-heirs with Christ. In God’s kingdom, you are not a peasant. The New Testament, Revelation, and Paul’s letters all speak to this reality: you are a prince or princess, reigning with Christ. You are already seated with him in eternity. This is the first resurrection.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Because Jesus gave himself for you, he now lives through you. You are seated with him, and you reign with him. The first resurrection is your new life in Christ. It is a spiritual resurrection—a life now.

So, if the first resurrection is this spiritual new life in Christ, what is the second resurrection? The second resurrection is the ultimate, final resurrection. This is described in Revelation 21 and 22, which we’ll explore over the next three weeks as we approach Thanksgiving. We’ll be diving into the nature of God’s eternal kingdom—looking at the eternity we have with Jesus.

Now let’s talk about life now. What does it mean to have this new life in Christ? The first resurrection isn’t just a future hope; it’s a present reality. The dragon has been bound. He’s locked up in chains. He no longer has the power to stand before you, breathe fire, and force you into situations where you can’t walk with Christ or live a holy life.

The dragon still speaks, though. His voice can still be heard, but he has no authority over you. Sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, you can’t seem to do the right thing. This takes us back to the story in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam and Eve one simple rule: Don’t eat the fruit from that tree. But the dragon came, dangling from the tree, speaking to Eve while Adam stood nearby. Did God really say that? the dragon asked, twisting God’s words and enticing them. It’s not unlike how someone mentions pizza, and suddenly, you can’t stop thinking about pizza. The dragon doesn’t need much to plant doubt and temptation.

Eve was deceived. She thought, “I’ve been eating fruit from other trees, and it’s good. And you’re right, Snake, that tree’s fruit does look appealing. How bad could it be? God made it, didn’t he?” The devil’s lies tempted her until she and Adam ate the fruit. That story explains the reality of sin in the human heart. It shows why humans are predisposed to rebellion against God.

If you’re a Christian, you’re meant to read that story and remember what life was like before following Jesus. It’s as if everywhere you went, there was a dragon hanging from a tree, enticing you, saying, “Look how good this fruit looks.” That’s the picture. The dragon’s goal is to take your attention away from the one true and almighty God. He doesn’t want you to find Jesus or to live under God’s authority.

Remember, we are destined to be princes and princesses in God’s kingdom. But the dragon doesn’t want that. He can’t take God’s authority, so he doesn’t want you to have it either. Instead, he entices and deceives. Many of us know what it’s like to live that life—making bad decisions, stuck in cycles of sin, and feeling like there’s no way out.

But then, coming on the clouds is one like the Son of Man—Jesus. Someone speaks into your life, telling the incredible story of God sending his one and only Son for you. Jesus steps into the middle of your story and becomes your rescue. He fills the spiritual void in your heart. Where you were spiritually dead and had nothing good in you, Jesus fills you with his Holy Spirit.

He says, “If you believe in me and follow me, you no longer have to follow the dragon.” With the Spirit filling you, you find freedom from the dragon. You no longer have to suffer under his influence. Even though your flesh and mind may struggle, you’re no longer bound by the dragon’s cycle of sin. The Spirit of the living God, who has authority over the dragon, now dwells in you.

If you follow Jesus, this is your reality. You’ve been seated with him in the heavenly places. You’re no longer playing the same game as the dragon—he has no power or rule over you. This is the simplicity of the gospel: the message of Jesus bringing forgiveness and freedom to sinners.

For anyone stuck in the cycle of sin, this is the most incredible reality. It’s not just about being forgiven for a single sin or being rescued from one pit. Many of us know the experience of being stuck in repeated cycles—where you start to walk away from the dragon, only to find yourself back in the pit with him again. You know the battle: you don’t want to sin, and yet, you find yourself drawn back into it.

If that’s your story, then forgiveness has to be bigger. The gospel has to be bigger than just “your sins are forgiven.” If something existential doesn’t change, you’ll never truly escape the dragon. The gospel isn’t just about freedom from sin’s consequences—it’s about freedom from sin’s power.

Yes, the gospel proclaims forgiveness of sins. You are no longer held accountable for your sin before God. And while you may still face earthly consequences for your actions, the ultimate and eternal consequences have been removed. Praise God for that! But for so many, the gospel also offers something more profound: freedom from the cycle of sin and the dragon’s power.

The story in Revelation of the dragon being bound speaks directly to this. Those who reject the dragon, give their lives to Jesus, and remain faithful to him receive resurrection. It’s an abstract vision, but its meaning is clear: you don’t have to keep dancing with the dragon. You don’t have to stay trapped in the cycle of sin.

The way of escape isn’t about you chaining up the dragon. It’s about what Jesus has already done. He’s the one who binds the dragon. He’s the one who offers you freedom. And through his Spirit, you are empowered to live in that freedom. The gospel is your way out, your rescue from the dragon’s grip. Jesus has already won the victory. You just have to live in it.

The way to escape is that Jesus came and chained the dragon. Because the dragon is bound, you can now walk away from him. The promise is even bigger because, in the flesh, you might still feel the pull to return to the dragon. He’s chained, locked up, but sometimes the desire to go back lingers.

Jesus doesn’t just leave it there—he pours out his Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, you receive not only a desire for righteousness but also a new identity. Righteousness becomes your purpose. By the power of the Holy Spirit, day by day, the dragon’s hold on you fades. He may occasionally surface in your thoughts, but instead of returning to him, you praise Jesus for setting you free. The Holy Spirit warns you, saying, “Pay attention—this path leads back to the dragon.” It’s the Spirit’s power that enables true rescue, something so much bigger than what we often imagine.

The gospel is not just about forgiveness from sin’s consequences. It’s freedom from sin’s grasp. The message of Jesus isn’t just about being declared righteous because you’re forgiven—it’s about resurrection, transformation, and freedom. The chains that once bound you have fallen off, and they’ve been placed on the dragon. The gospel elevates the Christian to sit with Jesus at the right hand of God, empowered by his Spirit.

But the gospel is even bigger. Revelation shows us that it’s not just about freedom for individuals but for humanity as a whole. John’s vision in Revelation shifts the focus from individual counsel, which Paul, Peter, and others provide, to the collective—the people of God and the people of the world.

As we approach chapters 21 and 22, with their picture of a new creation and eternal life, we see this corporate idea more clearly. From the beginning, God’s purpose was to create a people for his glory. When he created Adam, the command was to multiply and fill the earth. Humanity was to be God’s kingdom on earth, living in righteousness and reflecting his glory.

But sin entered, and humanity failed to fulfill that purpose. So, God sent Jesus to rescue us, to restore his kingdom for his glory. Now, as Christians, we become part of this kingdom. We join communities called churches, working together as God’s people to see others brought into his kingdom.

In the beginning, all Adam and Eve had to do was have children to expand God’s kingdom. But now, in a world marked by sin, where people are born worshiping the dragon instead of God, something must change. People need to hear the gospel. They need to be told there’s freedom from their sin, that there’s rescue, that there’s a better life now and for eternity.

The Great Commission calls us to go into the world, proclaiming the good news of Jesus, baptizing people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded. As we do this, we call people out of the dragon’s kingdom and into the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom.

The gospel is bigger. It frees individuals from sin’s consequences. It frees individuals from sin’s grasp. And it frees humanity as a whole, creating one eternal people of God.

But Revelation also offers a warning. The first and second deaths are central to this passage. Those who are faithful to Jesus will escape the second death, but those who reject him will face ultimate physical and spiritual death. There is a time coming when no one will be able to change their mind about who they follow.

This passage isn’t vague about who the people of Jesus are. The people of God are marked by three characteristics. First, they have power. They reign with Christ, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and speak the Word of God with authority. Second, they live righteously. They are called saints, meaning holy ones. They are set apart, living lives free from sin.

This doesn’t mean perfection in this life. Many who come to Christ—especially as adults—think they won’t sin anymore. But soon they realize the struggle with sin isn’t over. They wrestle with the tension of being made new in Christ while still battling old habits and temptations.

You have to war with the flesh, and sanctification is the process of becoming truly righteous. The people of God are those who realize they’re in this process. They can look back on their lives and see how they’ve been freed from sin in ways the rest of the world has not. They know the Spirit of God empowers them. They’ve been rescued from the cycles of sin, and while they still struggle and pray for deliverance in some areas, they trust in God’s power to set them free. They see that they are moving toward righteousness, living lives that, day by day, become more free.

The people of God have power. They live righteously. And they proclaim the goodness and glory of Christ to the world around them. They are the evangelists who declare, “The battle has been won. There is a new King, and his name is Jesus.” Evangelists proclaim the victory of Christ to a world still under the influence of the dragon.

The second death—the ultimate death—should make you think deeply. It’s designed to give you pause. You don’t want to suffer the second death. The story makes it clear: the devil has been given chance after chance, but there is an end. When you read Revelation, you see the finality of the dragon’s fate. The devil doesn’t get another chance. This truth should awaken a sense of urgency in you. It should drive you to make sure you are part of the second resurrection, not the second death.

To know where you stand, you must ask yourself some hard questions, which are included in the message notes. Do I have the Holy Spirit? Do I experience the peace, joy, and love that come from the Spirit—things I didn’t have before but now see in my life? Do I see the power of God working in me, changing me, enabling me to live righteously and to desire righteousness in ways I never did before?

Has Jesus changed my heart toward sin? Do I still love my sin, or do I hate it? Too many people claim to follow Christ but secretly love their sin. There’s an outward obedience—maybe because they’re afraid of hell—but righteousness hasn’t taken root in their hearts. True righteousness is heart-deep. It changes your desires so that you love what is good and hate what is evil. Ask yourself honestly: has Jesus changed your heart, or do you still secretly love to dance with the devil?

Do I truly know Jesus? Do I want to be with him? If you could spend time with anyone tomorrow, would Jesus be at the top of your list? If the thought of spending time with Jesus feels foreign or unappealing, it’s worth asking if you really know him.

If you truly know Jesus, it’s easy to tell others about him. We naturally talk about the people we know and love. If you know Jesus, sharing him with others becomes a natural extension of your relationship with him.

The second death should prompt serious self-reflection. Do you have the Spirit of God? Has Jesus changed your heart toward sin? Do you truly know him?

This also challenges how we view the world. Too often, Christians see themselves as powerless victims of the dragon. Life is hard, and persecution is real, but what if we really believed what Revelation teaches? What if we truly grasped that the dragon is bound, that he has no ultimate power over us?

What if we understood that the authority of God and the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ are in our mouths? What if we went out into the world fearlessly and boldly, knowing the dragon cannot stand against us?

Think about it: if you believe the cave is empty, you won’t fear exploring it. If you know the “monster” under the truck is just a cat with a bag of trash, your perspective changes. In the same way, if you knew the dragon had no power over you, how might that change your life?

How might it affect your fear and anxiety in difficult conversations—like at family gatherings when the topic of faith comes up? Would you still shrink back or change the subject out of fear of persecution? Or would you speak boldly about the grace and mercy of Jesus, sharing how he has changed you?

Understanding the truth of the gospel and the reality of the dragon’s defeat changes everything. It gives us courage to speak, to live differently, and to proclaim the victory of Christ without fear. The dragon’s influence in the world is real, but his power over God’s people is gone. How might that truth reshape the way you live, think, and share your faith?

How does understanding that you have the authority of Christ and that the dragon is bound change how you interact with people in your workplace, your neighborhood, or your circle of friends? How does it shape the way you carry out your personal mission as a Christian? Our mission isn’t always overseas—it’s often right in our neighborhoods.

What if we stopped treating the Christian life as just surviving—trying to live a holy life, stay out of trouble, and avoid sin? There’s so much more to this life than escaping sin for ourselves. The gospel is bigger. It’s others-focused. It calls us to action.

What would change in your life if you viewed the message of Jesus not as a defense to keep the world out, but as a weapon to go into the world? Too often, we treat our faith like a shield—hiding behind our Bibles, our church buildings, and our church friends, trying not to cause trouble during the week and retreating to the safety of Sunday worship.

But the Bible doesn’t describe the Word of God as a shield. It calls it a sword. It’s not meant to keep the world out; it’s meant to conquer the evil in the world. Years ago, I listened to a metal band called Demon Hunter. One of their albums was titled Storm the Gates of Hell, and that stuck with me. That’s what the Bible calls us to do. The Word is a weapon, not a defensive tool. We aren’t called to survive the evil around us but to conquer it.

The story of the Bible isn’t about being nice and good, hoping someone notices and asks why you’re different. That’s not how anyone in Scripture lived—not even Jesus. The story of the Bible is about conquering evil at its root—in the hearts of people and in the spiritual realms. That’s what Revelation is about.

Revelation moves us to think about faith not just as a solution to personal problems but as the answer to humanity’s core spiritual issues. It’s more than a religion or a relationship—it’s a worldview, a philosophy of human existence that permeates everything.

Let’s apply this to our community. For example, at Sunrise Church, we’ve always seen our mission field as far east Palmdale—the 93552 area. This has always been central to our identity. Today, there are over 42,000 people living in that community, and new housing tracts are being developed, meaning even more people will move in.

For years, this area was without a church, and today there’s only one church in the community—Sunrise Church. If you want to see an area where the dragon has ruled, it’s 93552.

Here’s the story of this land: over 2,000 years ago, a great battle was fought, and the king of this land—the dragon—was defeated. He was cast down, bound in chains, and locked in prison. Yet, no one has come to tell the people of this community that their king is no longer on the throne. They continue to live by the laws of the dragon, worshipping the old master, the only authority they’ve known.

What will happen when Jesus, the true King, returns on the clouds? When he comes to meet his people, what will he find? Revelation paints this picture: people still worshiping a dragon who has been bound for 2,000 years. They don’t realize the dragon has no power. No one has told them there’s a new King.

Imagine standing before Jesus on that day, giving an account of what’s happened. What testimony will be given by the people of 93552? Will they still be following the ways of the dragon because no one told them the good news?

This is the urgency of our mission. It’s not just about surviving the world or hiding from its dangers. It’s about proclaiming to everyone that the dragon is defeated, the King has come, and there’s freedom in his name. We’re called to storm the gates of hell, not cower behind them.

So, what would change in your life if you truly believed the dragon was bound? How might that reshape the way you approach conversations about faith with coworkers, neighbors, or family? Would it give you boldness and courage to share how Jesus has changed your life? Would it help you speak fearlessly about grace and mercy?

What if we realized that the power and authority of God are with us, and the gospel is our weapon to bring light into the darkest places? If the cave is empty, you don’t need to fear exploring it. If the dragon is bound, you don’t need to fear going into the world. How might that change your perspective and your mission as a follower of Christ?

The people did not know there was a new King. This King fought for their freedom—their freedom from the dragon, freedom from the sin that consumed their lives. Yet, they still followed the dragon. They continued in rebellion, unaware of the victory that had been won on their behalf.

It’s one thing for the people to ignore their new King, to remain loyal to the dragon. We see in Scripture, as with Nimrod, that those who do not follow Jesus will ultimately be cast into the pit. All who reject Christ will face judgment, and the King will show no mercy to those who remain loyal to the dragon. They will be without excuse because of their rebellion and sin.

But what about the King’s messengers? Didn’t the King, long before his return, send out his fastest messengers? Didn’t he equip them with the message of victory, letting them know about the freedom they had received? Didn’t he send them to proclaim this good news to all the people? What kind of king would fail to send messengers to announce such a victory?

But he did. The King did send messengers. And those messengers are all who are called by the name of Jesus.

You, Christian, are an ambassador of the Kingdom of God, sent to proclaim the message that there is a new King.

Did you go?

The people of the world will stand before Christ without excuse, having rejected him. But if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, what will your defense be? If you proclaim that Jesus is King—Yahweh, Lord, Master, King of Kings—and he has appointed you as his messenger, what will you say if you did not go?

Jonah fled from God and found himself in a world of trouble. Even after being rescued, he fled again. Yet God’s mission continued.

You have been sent, Christian. Who will you tell that the king of this world has fallen and that there is a merciful, gracious, and wonderful King who now reigns? His name is Jesus.

In the next three weeks, we will explore the second resurrection and the eternal hope it promises. My prayer is that you will be inspired to understand the victory you have received. And in that understanding, you will go and proclaim the new King, who is Jesus.

Let us pray.

Lord, we come before you, thankful for your Word and for the beautiful, dramatic images in the book of Revelation—especially here in chapter 20. Lord, I pray that you would break our hearts for the lost. For all those described in this chapter who are destined for the lake of fire, I realize that the book has been written and that not all can be saved. But would you make a way in our time to bring victory? Would you move to bring revival? Would you use us to see something change in our corner of the world, here in the Antelope Valley, in Palmdale, and especially in 93552?

Would you empower us by your Spirit? Fill us with your Word as we read it and hear it. Inspire us with visions of what could be so that our faith is not centered on ourselves or some abstract hope of forgiveness. Let our faith be built on conviction—on the knowledge of eternal spiritual realities.

As we look at a world still following the dragon, may our hearts break for what breaks yours. Fill us with urgency, with purpose, and with the power to proclaim your message.

Lord, make us your ambassadors, your evangelists, your footmen who run to proclaim the good news of Jesus. As we anticipate exploring the eternal kingdom in the coming weeks, I pray that we would get even a taste—a glimpse—of the indescribable glories you have prepared for us. May we, in all things, live to glorify you, our King.

We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.