Are any saints being martyred during satan's little season?

[DavidPT]

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 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.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.


Obviously, this is compressed, which should mean the details of what all this is involving, it is found elsewhere. Which could mean in the OT, the NT, and maybe even in Revelation itself.

The first thing to note, regardless where one places the thousand years, whether before the 2nd coming or after the 2nd coming, these in verse 8, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea, they are clearly alive and present during the thousand years if after the thousand years they are seen compassing the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city. They don't just come out of nowhere, right? As if during the thousand years they don't literally exist, then when the thousand years end, they all of a sudden exist. Obviously, that is preposterous, which then proves my point, they are alive during the thousand years.

The fact they attack the saints after the thousand years tell us that during the thousand years they are not among the saved. Unless one wants to argue that the saved attack the saved. As if that makes some kind of sense.

The question then is, why are these in verse 8 above only attacking the saints after the thousand years rather than during the thousand years? And does any of this involve the martyring of saints, meaning after the thousand years?

Speaking of that, if the thousand years are meaning now, and the fact saints have been martyred for the past 2000 years and are still being martyred, we are to then believe that none of these meant in verse 8 above are responsible for any of this martyrdom? Someone has to be martyring saints during the thousand years if the thousand years are now. Why not any of them, meaning those meant in verse 8 above? If not any them, who then? Obviously, satan and demons are behind martyring saints, but it still requires human hands to actually do the killing. And clearly, these meant in verse 8 above are humans.

Wherever one places the era of time involving the two Revelation 13 beasts, no one can deny that that era of time involves the martyring of saints. Obviously, the era of time involving the 2 Revelation 13 beasts involve the final days of this age, the fact when Christ returns, the beast and false prophet are cast into the LOF.

And since I already mentioned that Revelation 20:7-9 is compressed, thus the details involving all of that is found elsewhere, where are some or all of these details found? Could Revelation 13 be one of those places? Apparently, some Amils must think so. Which means they need to explain why saints are being martyred both during the thousand years and satan's little season, when Revelation 20 makes it clears, there is no battle against saints during the thousand years if after the thousand years is when there is this battle.

Keep in mind, the fact I'm Premil, I'm not coming from that perspective since it is plainly obvious that if satan's little season is after the 2nd coming, no saints are going to be martyred. Not only will no saints be martyred during satan's little season, none will be martyred during the thousand years. But what does all of this mean if the thousand years and satan's little season are before the 2nd coming rather than after? Keeping in mind, all of the things I brought up.

 

[keras]

The fact they attack the saints after the thousand years tell us that during the thousand years they are not among the saved. Unless one wants to argue that the saved attack the saved.

People can fall from grace, they can renounce their beliefs and reject Jesus.
Revelation 20:7-8 puts it plainly: Satan is released and he seduces the nations. That is: Satan gets out of the pit, Rev 20:3, and is able to deceive many people to rebel against the world rule of King Kesus.
So those rebels are no longer 'saints', and no one who keeps loyal to Jesus will be killed, as God simply send down fire to cremate Satan's army and he is flung into the Lake of Fire.

AMills and Pre-Mills, both have beliefs that involve shuffling the Revelation sequence. Not advisable!

 

[sovereigngrace]

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 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.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.


Obviously, this is compressed, which should mean the details of what all this is involving, it is found elsewhere. Which could mean in the OT, the NT, and maybe even in Revelation itself.

The first thing to note, regardless where one places the thousand years, whether before the 2nd coming or after the 2nd coming, these in verse 8, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea, they are clearly alive and present during the thousand years if after the thousand years they are seen compassing the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city. They don't just come out of nowhere, right? As if during the thousand years they don't literally exist, then when the thousand years end, they all of a sudden exist. Obviously, that is preposterous, which then proves my point, they are alive during the thousand years.

The fact they attack the saints after the thousand years tell us that during the thousand years they are not among the saved. Unless one wants to argue that the saved attack the saved. As if that makes some kind of sense.

The question then is, why are these in verse 8 above only attacking the saints after the thousand years rather than during the thousand years? And does any of this involve the martyring of saints, meaning after the thousand years?

Speaking of that, if the thousand years are meaning now, and the fact saints have been martyred for the past 2000 years and are still being martyred, we are to then believe that none of these meant in verse 8 above are responsible for any of this martyrdom? Someone has to be martyring saints during the thousand years if the thousand years are now. Why not any of them, meaning those meant in verse 8 above? If not any them, who then? Obviously, satan and demons are behind martyring saints, but it still requires human hands to actually do the killing. And clearly, these meant in verse 8 above are humans.

Wherever one places the era of time involving the two Revelation 13 beasts, no one can deny that that era of time involves the martyring of saints. Obviously, the era of time involving the 2 Revelation 13 beasts involve the final days of this age, the fact when Christ returns, the beast and false prophet are cast into the LOF.

And since I already mentioned that Revelation 20:7-9 is compressed, thus the details involving all of that is found elsewhere, where are some or all of these details found? Could Revelation 13 be one of those places? Apparently, some Amils must think so. Which means they need to explain why saints are being martyred both during the thousand years and satan's little season, when Revelation 20 makes it clears, there is no battle against saints during the thousand years if after the thousand years is when there is this battle.

Keep in mind, the fact I'm Premil, I'm not coming from that perspective since it is plainly obvious that if satan's little season is after the 2nd coming, no saints are going to be martyred. Not only will no saints be martyred during satan's little season, none will be martyred during the thousand years. But what does all of this mean if the thousand years and satan's little season are before the 2nd coming rather than after? Keeping in mind, all of the things I brought up.

The book of Revelation consists of a number of parallel recaps relating to the intra-Advent period. Each of these refer to different subjects, entities or aspects of God's unfolding plan during that time. That does not negate the fact that God's dealings with the beast mirrors that of Satan since Christ’s first Advent. For example, the 6th recap (Revelation 17-19) focuses in on Babylon, but also shows the destruction of all the wicked, the beast and false prophet been banished into the Lake of Fire. Satan is simply not the focus of that parallel. The focus of the last recap (Revelation 20) is God's dealing with Satan. Revelation 20 goes right back to the first resurrection (Christ). It finishes with Satan being banished to the Lake of Fire.

The restraint of the kingdom of darkness stays in effect until just before the second coming, when hell’s legions are collectively released – for a short season at the end. The release of Satan, beast (mystery of iniquity), and demons (scorpions) all occur just prior to the second coming. This proves that the symbolism of Revelation relates to the here-and-now.

Satan gets a little season to wreak havoc on the Church. When Satan is released for a little season then so is the beast, and Satan's minions. We see the devils in Revelation 9:2-3, the beast in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 17:8, and Satan in Revelation 9:10-11 and Revelation 20:3 all being released before the second coming for a little season.

The end of the millennium and Satan's "little season" corresponds with the end time persecution spoke elsewhere in Revelation and in other Scripture orchestrated by antichrist/the beast (described as lasting 3 1/2 years). The millennium does not follow Revelation 17-19 in time, but rather parallels it. Revelation 20 is the last of 7 recapitulations.

What happens at the end of the millennium mirrors what other Scripture tells us happens at the end of our age. There is an intense persecution at the end. Christ comes to judge as it concludes. There is much Scripture that teaches an end-time falling away and tribulation before Christ comes. Revelation 20 fits that perfectly. Satan's season mirrors 2 Thessalonians 2 and the release of the mystery of iniquity before Jesus comes. As the ESV states: “the mystery of lawlessness is …the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish.” It also mirrors the release of the beast in order to wreak havoc before Christ comes.

After Satan's last throw comes the end! Christ comes in majestic and eternal glory to overthrow the kingdom of darkness forever. The demonic realm is all killed when Satan is destroyed at the climactic second coming and from the brightness of His glory (Isaiah 26:19-27:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 19:20, 20:9-10).

What arrives at the second coming is the eternal state - perfection. The earth will be finally and wholly purged of the bondage of corruption, not as Premils argue: we are plagued with another age like ours full of sin and sinners, crying and dying, Satan and his demons. This alleged future Premil millennial kingdom ends with the wicked overrunning the age to come and surrounding Christ in all His glory and the glorified saints.