1. 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 (NASB95)
12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.
Luke 21:12 (NASB95)
Lamb
Dwelling with the

2. THE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMIES OF THE LAMB
Rev we see the defeat of the agents of the Dragon
Rev 20, we see the final defeat of the dragon
Rev 21-22, we see a vision of perfect fellowship with God
THE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMIES OF THE LAMB
CHAPTERS 12-19
In this section we saw the defeat of three of the four enemies of the Lamb that were tormenting the Saints
The Beast, the False Prophet and the Harlot all fell in the overthrow of Rome
This is pictured symbolically in the battles of 16:13-16, 17:14-18, and 19:20-21
As powerful as the imagery of these victories are they still leave one burning question - what about the dragon?
REVELATION 20
In another recapitulation, John shows us the the final doom of the Dragon, Satan, the devil, Satan
Vs. 1-6 run parallel to chapter 12, thus showing us the Gospel dispensation from the standpoint of the binding of the greatest foe of the church
This binding occurs during the 1,000 year reign of the Saints alongside Christ
REVELATION 21-22
In this final vision we see we see the picture of perfect fellowship with God, absent all of the struggle that is seen on earth, in which the everything is finally just as it seems.

3. THE BINDING OF THE DRAGON
REVELATION 12
The dragon cannot reach the “male child” - he has been cast out of heaven
The dragon cannot destroy the church…
Revelation 20 offers assurance to this promise
THE BINDING, LOSING, AND TORMENTING OF THE DRAGON
A CLOSER LOOK - REV 20:1-6
In Chapter 12 we see the dragon persecuting the church, using terrible agents to carry out his persecution
The vision carries both a warning and a promise
vs. 12 warns the earth and the sea (those on earth) about the “great wrath” of the dragon
vs promises that the dragon will not destroy the church, the only reason we are given is “the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth”
This passage leaves us with several questions, not least of which is how can we be so certain that the dragon will not destroy the church?
When we follow the logic of the chapter this question becomes very reasonable
The dragon seeks to devour the child but cannot, because He is caught up to heaven
The dragon cannot reach the “male child,” because Michael cast him out of heaven - Christ and by extension the redemptive plan are out of reach
The dragon turns his attention to destroying the church - while the promise is he will fail how this is accomplished is not clearly stated
However, we are given more details in Rev 20 - the dragon is bound
Binding indicates a limitation, thus he still has a sphere of activity but it is limited

4. THE BINDING OF THE DRAGON
DETAILS ABOUT THE BINDING
He can no longer accuse the Saints - Rev 12:10
Cannot deceive the nations - Rev 20:3
Concurrent with the year reign
Details about the “binding”
12:10 - He can no longer accuse the Saints before God, because the means of their justification has been provided (Rom 8:33)
20:3 - he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the 1000 year reign is completed. It would seem that there was a particular manner in which the Devil was able to manipulate nations agains the divine plan, but with Christ seated on the throne he no longer had a means by which to deceive (Psalm 2:7,8; 72:8-11,17;1Cor 2:8)
Concurrent with the 1000 year reign
Began with the preaching of the Gospel - Luke 10:17-18
Given power with the crucifixion - Jn 12:30
Completed with the coronation of Christ - Col 2:15; Eph 1:18-22

5. THE BINDING OF THE DRAGON
DETAILS ABOUT THE BINDING
Began with the preaching of the Gospel - Luke 10:17-18
Given power with the crucifixion - Jn 12:30
Completed with the coronation of Christ - Col 2:15; Eph 1:18-22
Details about the “binding”
12:10 - He can no longer accuse the Saints before God, because the means of their justification has been provided (Rom 8:33)
20:3 - he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the 1000 year reign is completed. It would seem that there was a particular manner in which the Devil was able to manipulate nations agains the divine plan, but with Christ seated on the throne he no longer had a means by which to deceive (Psalm 2:7,8; 72:8-11,17;1Cor 2:8)
Concurrent with the 1000 year reign
Began with the preaching of the Gospel - Luke 10:17-18
Given power with the crucifixion - Jn 12:30
Completed with the coronation of Christ - Col 2:15; Eph 1:18-22

6. THE BINDING OF THE DRAGON
THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN
Only mentioned here in the entire Bible
The setting is in heaven not on earth
Concurrent with the great tribulations of the entire book
1000 YEAR REIGN - REV 20:4
Only mentioned here in the entire Bible
None of the details of the text match up with any premillennial ideas
What we know
The setting is in heaven not on earth - where the thrones are (Rev 1:4,3:21, 4:2), souls of the beheaded, where Jesus is
Concurrent with the great tribulations of the entire book
Thousand years indicates a long and complete time, the idea being that God’s entire purpose is completed and accomplished
The description offers us an understanding that they church/kingdom is more than is seen here on the earth - Heb 12:22

7. THE BINDING OF THE DRAGON
THE END OF THE DRAGON
The Dragon is loosed for a season
Deceives the nations for a time
Is finally and completely defeated
THE END OF THE DRAGON - vs. 7-9
While the dragon is indeed bound, there will be a “short season” when the dragon is released
“when the 1000 years is completed” indicates this is not successful rebellion, but within God’s purpose
during this time he will again “deceive the nations” gathering an army from all over the earth
Again we see encouragement - the dragon is finally and completely defeated - vs. 9-10; 16:13-16
Through all of this Christ is shown to be the victorious judge as we see the final doom of all whose names are not in the book of life, death itself is overthrown and the faithful see their reward

8. DWELLING WITH THE LAMB THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM
No one to open the seals - the Lamb that was slain opens them
The seals and trumpets bring suffering to the Saints - the Faithful are sealed before the Lamb
The Dragon tries to destroy the church - Saints overcame
THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM
Throughout the book we have seen desperate pictures of life on this earth for the faithful
5:4-5 - It seemed that no one could enact this divine plan, but the lamb that was slain appears to open it
7:4-8 - In the midst of the persecution associated with the seals and trumpets we see the faithful sealed before the lamb
12:11 - When the dragon seeks to destroy the church “they overcame”

9. DWELLING WITH THE LAMB THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM
New heaven, new earth, no more sea
All of these have been scenes of rebellion against God
Everything that clouds the vision of the saints is done away with
In Rev 21 we are presented with “a new heaven and a new earth…and there is no longer any sea”
All of these have been scenes of rebellion against God
The dragon rebelled from the heavens (Rev 12)
The False prophet arose from the earth (Rev 13)
The Sea has been the rebellious nations (Rev 13)
As we are introduced into the final scene of this last vision we are seeing everything that has clouded the vision of the saints done away with

10. DWELLING WITH THE LAMB EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
The final scene portrays unfettered fellowship with God and the Lamb
The suffering church is now the New Jerusalem
Eden is restored - Rev 22:1-5
EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS -
These final chapters show us scene after scene of perfect unfettered fellowship/presence with God and the Lamb
Rev 21: The church, the bride, is now seen as the New Jerusalem
The faithful of all time are represented - vs. 12, 14
The walls are “square” representing strength - vs. 16
This city is composed of enduring, pure materials - vs.19-21
Nothing that could stand between the faithful and their God exists - vs. 22
Rev 22:1-5 - Fellowship as God initially intended is restored with the faithful as “Eden” is reclaimed and exists through eternity
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
REV 22: The invitation of the Lamb is offered, will we have the faith and courage to see the blessings of life in Christ and dwell with the Lamb?