Bible Questions and Answers

Browse all the questions that have been asked at thisisyourbible.com and see their answers, read the most recent questions and answers, or have a look at some prepared questions and answers on key Bible themes.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

From the context Armageddon occurs at the time of Christ’s return. 

This battle is for Jerusalem and the land of Israel as described in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Zechariah 12 to 14.

In Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog is the name of a man from the land of Magog.

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal...

Magog describes the country initially settled by Magog and his descendents as recorded in Genesis 10.

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras... 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Following this conflict Israel will be restored and Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem for 1000 years.

The battle in Revelation involving ‘Gog and Magog’ occurs at the end of the millennial reign of Christ when there will be a final rebellion against God.

Gog and Magog are not to be understood as literal place names but are used symbolically to denote ‘the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth’. The names are used possibly as a reminder of the folly of ‘Gog of the land of Magog’s’ fight against Christ which happened 1000 years previously.

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. 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.

‘Satan’ is not a literal supernatural entity; it is symbolic language to describe the sinful machinations of men allowed to rise to power again among the nations for a final rebellion against the righteous rule of Christ.

When this rebellion is put down a second resurrection and a final judgment will take place. 

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Those accepted will receive eternal life and those rejected will be consigned to the ‘second death’ (i.e. they will die again).

After this, all who live on will be immortal and God will dwell among them.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is no literal ‘lake which burneth with fire and brimstone’ - it signifies utter destruction. Hell (hades – the grave) and death are cast therein signifying the end of death and no further need for graves.

Paul describes in plain language what is going to happen:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Those ‘in Christ’ are those that have believed the gospel, been baptised into him and who try to live by his precepts. Their reward is eternal life in the kingdom of God on earth.

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless you,
Glenn