As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series through the book of Revelation, he’ll be reminding you that no matter what you’re going through, there will be a Day when God Himself will wipe away every tear and there will no longer be any pain and suffering. We will dwell in Paradise with God Himself! How humbling is this heart-rending picture of God Himself reaching down in the most intimate and tender way, to brush away the tears from our faces. The image represents the Lord’s ultimate victory over our greatest enemies at the culmination of history. The final enemy—death itself—is destroyed!

As Pastor Mark teaches through Revelation today you may ask yourself: “Why will God release Satan at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ?" There are some biblical questions that we cannot answer on this side of glory because God has chosen to reserve some mysteries to Himself, and we have a finite mind. The believers who live through the tribulation will be mortal. All those who are born during the millennium will enjoy the blessings of Christ's reign on the earth, but they will still be born with a sin nature, and they will still have to repent and believe the gospel. Satan will be released to give these people a choice. 

Have you ever seen two things that, at first glance, looked exactly the same, but one was much more expensive than the other? They may be the same item, or accomplish the same task, but the expensive one has a much nicer appearance, and maybe a few other additional features. In today’s message, Pastor Mark explains that even though all who accept Jesus are saved and nothing can change that, you can add to your heavenly crown. Everyone will be clothed in clean white robes, but the more you accomplish in Christ’s name, the nicer your heavenly body will be adorned. 

Do you have a plan for the future? Many people plan for the future by setting up some sort of investment account with the goal of being financially secure. Others invest in expensive things hoping the value will increase. When you think of planning for the future, is your first concern money? For most people it is. In today’s message, Pastor Mark warns that you cannot place your hope in money and materialistic things, instead, you have to place your hope in Jesus! People spend decades trying to build riches and placing their hope in that only for it to be nothing in a moment. You should plan for the future, but don’t put your hope in riches.

Have you ever been accused of something, or have people assumed things about you because of where you live? All too often where you live or work can influence the way people see you. You may be able to convince them otherwise through actions, but many times you have to leave that place. In today’s message, Pastor Mark explains how engaging in the sins of where you live or work will result in you being punished along with everyone else. You can avoid the punishment by leaving the place and turning your back on the habits and temptations that came along with being there. 

Sometimes a small group of people can ruin things for everyone. For example, a small group of teenagers could constantly cause trouble in a shopping center, and as a result, no one under 18 is allowed in alone. Sometimes people behave so badly they are not allowed to participate in activities with others. In today’s message, Pastor Mark explains how some demons were so terrible that God had them locked up much earlier than the rest. Of all the demons this small group was held in a special cell until the time when mankind is judged. Can you imagine how bad a demon would have to be in order to be considered so bad they had a special cell? 

Have you ever had to share information with only a certain person but you knew it had to go through others? Maybe you were planning a surprise party and needed to come up with a way to make plans that only you and a select few could understand. You could have used pictures or even code words to maintain confidentiality. If you ever wonder why the book of Revelation is full of odd imagery, Pastor Mark explains why in today’s message. John knew if he spoke plainly about what he had seen the Roman guards would have stopped him from sharing. Therefore he used imagery that only people in the church would understand.

Do you know someone who seems to follow whatever the new trend is? They have to have the newest thing they saw on TV or social media only to drop it for whatever comes next. That is how many people treat religion. They jump from one religion to the next or try to combine multiple into one but are never satisfied. In today’s message, Pastor Mark warns that following other religions that worship anything other than Jesus is like spiritual adultery to God. Like someone who is sexually promiscuous, following and/or worshiping false gods is considered spiritually unfaithful, and God will punish those people accordingly.

Have you ever thought you were in control of something only to find out it was only an illusion? Maybe you had a job where you thought you had the power to make decisions or changes, but as soon as a big decision needed to be made someone came in and overturned everything you had tried to do. In today’s message, Pastor Mark reminds you that no matter how much you think you can change, God is the only one who is ultimately in control! People try so hard to change the environment or the climate, so much that they start to worship it. Those people will eventually learn who is really in control! 

Have you ever had to go through an excruciating training program in order to accomplish a goal or secure a certification of some kind? You probably knew you would have to suffer for a little while so you could do the next thing when it was over. What if the suffering never ended? Would you still want the same things? In today’s message, Pastor Mark reminds you that contrary to what some people believe, hell is not a temporary holding place. Hell is a permanent place of suffering, that is why God does not want you, or anyone, to experience it. Knowing that should be a motivation for you to continually turn away from sin.