Here is the binding of the great serpent and his imprisonment for a thousand years. Also, John saw this scene: “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (20:4). After the thousand years, the serpent, Satan, would cause more destruction but his own destruction was assured as was the salvation of God’s people: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books” (20:11-12). Let no one be deceived, evil will be defeated and God’s children fully redeemed. Sometimes, it seems as this cannot be the case and never will be but, may I say it again, let no one be deceived. And this is our great hope, isn’t it, that the victory is the Lord’s and ours along with him.
Forth in the peace of Christ we go;
Christ to the world with joy we bring;
Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips,
Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
King of our hearts, Christ makes us kings;
kingship with him his servants gain;
with Christ, the Servant-Lord of all,
Christ's world we serve to share Christ’s reign. -- James Quinn (1974)
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