For ninety years the wicked live again, the gates to the new Jerusalem are opened and then later closed…

After the judgment of the wicked dead had been finished, at the end of the one thousand years, Jesus left the city, and the saints and a train of the angelic host followed Him.  {EW 291.1}

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;  12 And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 

There is the New Jerusalem, the metropolis of the glorified new earth, “a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” Isaiah 62:3. “Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:11.  {FLB 363.2} 

“And they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light.” Revelation 22:5. The light of the sun will be superseded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling, yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide. The glory of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light. The redeemed walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day.  {FLB 363.4} 

“Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after His resurrection, He ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of His return. Says the prophet: ‘The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee.’ ‘And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of O-live-s shall cleave in the midst thereof,… and there shall be a very great valley.’ ‘And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.’ Zechariah 14:5, 4, 9. As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down out of heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ, with His people and the angels, enters the Holy City.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 662, 663.

 John also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, with its twelve gates and twelve foundations, coming down from God out of heaven. He was shown that city and saw the streets of transparent gold clear as crystal. Every one that goes into that city is changed and sanctified in character here in this life. The nations that have kept the truth enter in to the city of God, and a voice is heard, clear and distinct, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” [Revelation 22:14].  {1SAT 34.2} 

The book of Revelation is a great signal, pointing to the New Jerusalem and the earth made new. Growth in character is all that hastens one along the road that leads thither. Human history has been like the ebb and flow of the tide. The waves break, break, break, on the sands; but only an occasional one reaches beyond the level of its fellows. David had a good opportunity to watch the fluctuations in human progress, and the backward steps; the stumblings led to the writing of many psalms. Thus came the prayer “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a double history; it shows the love of Jesus Christ which has met man, and the church, as it has pursued its zigzag course; and it portrays a character, that by the grace of God, made a straight path from earth to heaven. The way which He trod, is the road to the New Jerusalem. The seven churches began where His life closed, and their work closes only where the gates of the city are open to receive them. {1905 SNH, SSP 349.1}

A Little Season

Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

A season is 90 days. If Satan is loosed for a ‘little season’, how long will that be?

If we apply the day for a year principle, 90 days = 90 years.

Number 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

Ezekiel 4:6 …’And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.’

Following is a verse showing a child of ten will die at a hundred years old. They live for 90 years. Even children.

Reading from Isaiah 65:18 to 20, and Isaiah 66:24, during that period of the little season, the surroundings of the city, the people that surround the city are communicable by the people in the city as the gates are open until they are shut. Its plain rationalisation. If the gates are there, why are they open. Gods people have access outside of the city.

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 

How long is a season? 90 days… How old is a child? If a child is ten years old, they live during the period of the little season, 90 days applying a day for a year prophecy which means when the wicked are destroyed in the lake of fire, a child is then 100 years old.

These people that rise, they will be there for a season, a little season. A child being ten will die at 100 years old. Ninety years. Many people have great difficulty with this text. How can the people around the city of God die? During that season, the small season, it is another period. The wicked will fully learn Gods righteousness. Notice what they will do.

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. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

They were resurrected, God had done this earth movement and the city of Jerusalem had come down, but the rest of the planet, what does it look like? Broken down. The people who have been resurrected, what will they do? Satan goes to deceive them. He gathers them together for battle. Against what?

This description is split up into several experiences. They have ninety years to establish something. Instead of doing good what do they do? They prepare for battle. That takes a bit of time. Build living quarters, build factories. That has been given them. They will prove they are wicked by Satan and submission to him. They will bring some sort of order about to prepare for war.

Satan consults with his angels, and then with these kings and conquerors and mighty men. They look upon the strength and numbers on their side, and declare that the army within the city is small in comparison with theirs, and that it can be overcome. They lay their plans to take possession of the riches and glory of the New Jerusalem. All immediately begin to prepare for battle. Skillful artisans construct implements of war. Military leaders, famed for their success, marshal the throngs of warlike men into companies and divisions. {GC 664.2}

They are preparing for that period of time to take the city. They have to train their army. They have to build instruments of warfare, they have to eat, grow food.

There is only one statement in the words of inspiration that indicates the gates to the city of the new Jerusalem are opened in this period, it is mentioned in Great Controversy page 664.

The Gates Are Closed

By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset.” –The Great Controversy, p. 664.

Then Jesus and the holy angels, accompanied by all the saints, again go to the city, and the bitter lamentations and wailings of the doomed wicked fill the air. Then I saw that Satan again commenced his work. He passed around among his subjects, and made the weak and feeble strong, and told them that he and his angels were powerful. He pointed to the countless millions who had been raised. There were mighty warriors and kings who were well skilled in battle and who had conquered kingdoms. And there were mighty giants and valiant men who had never lost a battle. There was the proud, ambitious Napoleon, whose approach had caused kingdoms to tremble. There stood men of lofty stature and dignified bearing, who had fallen in battle while thirsting to conquer. As they come forth from their graves, they resume the current of their thoughts where it ceased in death. They possess the same desire to conquer which ruled when they fell. Satan consults with his angels, and then with those kings and conquerors and mighty men. Then he looks over the vast army, and tells them that the company in the city is small and feeble, and that they can go up and take it, and cast out its inhabitants, and possess its riches and glory themselves. {EW 293.1} 

Satan succeeds in deceiving them, and all immediately begin to prepare themselves for battle. There are many skillful men in that vast army, and they construct all kinds of implements of war. Then with Satan at their head, the multitude move on. Kings and warriors follow close after Satan, and the multitude follow after in companies. Each company has its leader, and order is observed as they march over the broken surface of the earth to the Holy City. Jesus closes the gates of the city, and this vast army surround it, and place themselves in battle array, expecting a fierce conflict. Jesus and all the angelic host and all the saints, with the glittering crowns upon their heads, ascend to the top of the wall of the city. Jesus speaks with majesty, saying, “Behold, ye sinners, the reward of the just! And behold, My redeemed, the reward of the wicked!” The vast multitude behold the glorious company on the walls of the city. And as they witness the splendor of their glittering crowns and see their faces radiant with glory, reflecting the image of Jesus, and then behold the unsurpassed glory and majesty of the King of kings and Lord of lords, their courage fails. A sense of the treasure and glory which they have lost rushes upon them, and they realize that the wages of sin is death. They see the holy, happy company whom they have despised, clothed with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, while they are outside the city with every mean and abominable thing. {EW 293.2}

When the wicked surround the New Jerusalem, intending to capture it and to destroy its inhabitants (Rev. 20:7-9), those who are inside will be no safer than those are now who put their trust in God. He serves them now, even as he will then. (See Luke 12:37.) What a wonder! The King of glory not only catering for his subjects, but himself waiting upon them at table! What more could he do? {June 1904 EJW, MEDM 195.18}

During the thousand years the righteous will be in heaven, engaged with Christ, in passing judgment upon fallen angels and wicked man. See Rev. xx. 4; 1 Cor. vi. 1-3. This period of one thousand years comprises the “many days,” at the end of which the wicked are to “be visited.” At the end of that time Satan shall be loosed from his prison, because the wicked will then be raised (Rev. xx. 5), and they will have opportunity to practise for a little season the deceptive arts which are his very life. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, will have descended from God out of heaven, and Satan will gather the hosts of the wicked round it, making them believe that they can capture it for their own. Rev. xx. 8, 9. {August 8, 1895 EJW, PTUK 501.11}

Then Jesus and all the retinue of holy angels, and all the redeemed saints, left the city. The angels surrounded their Commander and escorted Him on His way, and the train of redeemed saints followed. Then, in terrible, fearful majesty, Jesus called forth the wicked dead; and they came up with the same feeble, sickly bodies that went into the grave.  {EW 292.1}

By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset.” –The Great Controversy, p. 664.

Jesus closes the gates of the city, and this vast army surround it, and place themselves in battle array, expecting a fierce conflict. Jesus and all the angelic host and all the saints, with the glittering crowns upon their heads, ascend to the top of the wall of the city. Jesus speaks with majesty, saying, “Behold, ye sinners, the reward of the just! EW page 293.

Prior to the gates being closed, what is happening? The wicked and Satan prepare for war. It takes a long time, 90 years.

At last the order to advance is given, and the countless host moves on–an army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal. Satan, the mightiest of warriors, leads the van, and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle. Kings and warriors are in his train, and the multitudes follow in vast companies, each under its appointed leader. With military precision the serried ranks advance over the earth’s broken and uneven surface to the City of God. By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset. {GC 664.3}  

“We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” Isa. xxvi. 1. That is to say, The strength of the walls of the New Jerusalem, to protect its inhabitants from those that come against it (compare Rev. xx. 7-9; Isa. liv. 11-17), will be the saving power of God-the power of the cross. From this we know that every soul that trust in God for salvation is as safe now from every device and assault of Satan as you will be when he is actually in the New Jerusalem. “Blessed be the Lord; for He hath showed me His marvellous loving-kindness and a strong city.” Ps. xxi. 21. {June 26, 1902 EJW, PTUK 416.5}

But inside the New Jerusalem the saints of God will rest as securely as did Noah in the ark tossed by the billows. No weapon that is formed against their citadel will prosper. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” lsa. xxvi. 1. Its walls will be Salvation, and its gates Praise. Isa. Ix. 18. And here is the practical point of the whole story for us. It will be a terrible, awe-inspiring sight when the mighty host, “the number of whom is as the sand of the sea,” consisting of all the wicked who have ever lived on earth, in well-drilled and armed battalions, with Satan at their head, march up “on the breadth of the earth” and surround the city. By all human calculation, the city, whose inhabitants they will out-number a hundred times, would fall an easy prey to Satan’s army. But “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early.” Ps. xlvi. 5. The power that has kept the saints hitherto,-the power that has made them saints, will keep them still. No one in his senses can have the faintest shadow of doubt as to the outcome. But know that every person who trusts God is just as safe from the power of Satan now as the saints in the holy city will be then. The salvation which is ours now in Christ will be all that we can have then to depend on; and it will be ample, because it is all-powerful now. Therefore in anticipation of that day, we may each one apply to ourselves now the glorious exhortation: “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” {February 19, 1903 EJW, PTUK 117.2}

And again, “In that day the Lord shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them, at that day, shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them,” Zech. xii, 8. “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one,” Zech. xiv. 9 {July 1, 1841 JVHe, HST 52.7}

If the saints are seen walking among the destruction of the wicked, then would they possibly visit them during this period of ninety years?

Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 

Will you be there?

Light has been shining from the Word of God and the testimonies of His Spirit so that none need err in regard to their duty. God requires parents to bring up their children to know Him and to respect His claims; they are to train their little ones, as the younger members of the Lord’s family, to have beautiful characters and lovely tempers, that they may be fitted to shine in the heavenly courts. By neglecting their duty and indulging their children in wrong, parents close to them the gates of the city of God. These facts must be pressed home upon parents; they must arouse and take up their long-neglected work. {CG 13.2}

Over the ninety year period the gates are open.

 Jesus speaks with majesty, saying, “Behold, ye sinners, the reward of the just! And behold, My redeemed, the reward of the wicked!” The vast multitude behold the glorious company on the walls of the city. And as they witness the splendor of their glittering crowns and see their faces radiant with glory, reflecting the image of Jesus, and then behold the unsurpassed glory and majesty of the King of kings and Lord of lords, their courage fails. A sense of the treasure and glory which they have lost rushes upon them, and they realize that the wages of sin is death. They see the holy, happy company whom they have despised, clothed with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, while they are outside the city with every mean and abominable thing. {EW 293.2}

And then fire shall come down from God out of heaven and devour Satan and all his hosts. That fire shall burn as an oven and the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the fire shall burn them up, and shall leave neither root nor branch. Mal. iv. 1.