Revelation 20 - The Final Chance to Choose

This chapter describes the 1000 year reign of Christ before the final judgement. There are some really interesting things about this time:

• Before this time will be the first resurrection. This will be for those who were martyred for the gospel (In the NLT is specifies those who had their heads cut off). These people will rule with Jesus in this time. This period will be a time where the Light is the influencer. For this reason, using those whose passion for the Lord was so great that they were willing to give their lives for God to rule, means that the leadership will definitely be impassioned for Christ. Those left who are still trying to decide whose side they are on, will be exposed to this. If the passion of the martyred can't speak to them and help them to choose Christ, then, there is probably nothing that will reach them.
• Another interesting thing about this time is that Satan will be imprisoned. For this reason, evil influence will be very low. Only those people who choose to work in darkness will be left. There will not be the powers of darkness and Satan's sly character will not be around to draw people away from Christ. I think this will be interesting because we will truly see, for those people still alive, how strong they can be for good without Satan's distractions. We can certainly claim that Satan influences us/other people in today's world. We might even use Satan as an excuse for our wrongdoing, but in this time, that excuse will be taken away. It will be a time for us to see our true inner strength. I think we will find that even without Satan in the picture, we will be weak to our sin.
• The third interesting thing is that not all the dead will be a part of this first resurrection. Most of the dead will not return until the final judgement. So why won't all the dead return at this time? Certainly that is a good question, that we can't possibly know exactly, but my guess is that is goes back to setting up a kingdom where the influencers are all for the light. Bringing back all the dead, would include a mix of influences. This time, is a last and final effort to get those left to choose God. The deck is stacked (for the first time in history since Eden) toward the light. 

I am sure many of you who are reading this, would have difficulty imagining yourself as among the indecisive, but just for a moment, try. Do you think this environment would help you choose God? I am planning to reflect on that today and I encourage you to do the same. What would it take for you to choose God?