For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21.

He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9.

Work at living in peace with everyone. Hebrews 12:14.

Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place. Genesis 18:32-33.

And our chapter, Revelation 20: Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw the thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, and standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This is a chapter hard to read and without understanding God brings, we flounder. Truth is real and the truth God brings is to teach us. There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless. Proverbs 14:12, 16. If there is one thing we can learn with the history lived by all of us, it is that Satan, the deceiver, brings only destruction. Even after bound for a thousand years, Satan will come out to deceive the nations…to gather them together for war…but…the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, the second death – the lake of fire. But with Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:28. Can we look around today and see the way that seems right but that leaves us empty, broken, armed for hate and war and lies? And can we turn with open hearts humbled by our deepest need when all else is stripped away – to the love and truth Creator God brings that is our healing and redeeming and hope? We see a world darkened by the lies of the deceiver who will one day be no more. Imagine when all lies will be gone! Imagine what true joy with God will be like! His creation is good and beautiful and one day we will experience that goodness and incredible beauty in all its fullness, and we will find our true Home in Him together. This I have come to know – we can trust Him for every good thing needed in us to bring us closer to Him and one another.