- Audio.
- Growth Group Study Guide.
- Sermon Notes:
“Final Jeopardy”
If you could spend 1,000 years with one famous historical person, who would it be?
[ ] Plato, the Philosopher.
[ ] Leonardo Da Vinci, the Artist.
[ ] Winston Churchill, Statesman.
[ ] Lady Gaga, Entertainer.
Did I leave anyone off the list?
A. The Final Millenia.
1. 1000 years of awesomeness.
Revelation 20:1-3, Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
2. 1000 years of reward for the Martyrs.
Revelation 20:4, Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
3. Christians enjoy the first resurrection and the Millennial Reign of Christ.
Revelation 20:5-6, This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.
B. The Final Days of Satan.
1. Satan released for one final gasp at deception.
Revelation 20:7-8, When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore.
2. Satan’s apparent advantage will evaporate suddenly.
Revelation 20:9, And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.
3. Satan’s terrible influence forever halted.
Revelation 20:10, Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
C. The Final Judgment.
1. Nowhere to hide.
Revelation 20:11, And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
2. No one excluded.
Revelation 20:12-13, I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
3. No Rescue except the Book of Life.
Revelation 20:14-15, Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
MAIN POINT: For our main point today let’s do something fun … Let’s play a quick game of FINAL JEOPARDY:
— Here is today’s category … BOOKS … take a moment to write down in the margin of your bulletin how much you wish to wager.
— Ready? Okay! Here is today’s Final Jeopardy answer, “Unless one’s name is written here, expect to be thrown into the Lake of Fire.” (the slide will automatically play the theme music.)
— Okay, contestant #1, what is your question? “What is the phone book.” No, I’m sorry, that’s not correct.
— Contestant #2, “What is Facebook?” No sorry.
— Contestant #3, “What is ‘the Book of Life’?” Yes, well done. And how much did you wager? EVERYTHING! Yes, you’ve done it … enter into your Eternal Reward!
A closing prayer … “Dear God, in a sense we live our lives in jeopardy daily, asking questions and trying to understand You as the answer. May You lead each of us to Choose the ‘Book of Life’ as our final Jeopardy answer. In Jesus’ name, amen.