We learn in Revelation 20 that at the end of the ‘millennium’ Satan will be released for a short time. He must be released to do his worst so that evil may be fully manifested. It is God’s desire that nothing remains hidden but that everything may be brought out into the open. Paul, in his discussion of the role of God’s law in Romans 7 says that the law of God achieves this very result. It does not serve to suppress sin, rather, it brings it out into the open. This is what God wants: everything out in the light. At the end of this age God will allow evil to come out into the open and have its fullest expression so that it may be seen for what it is. God’s judgement that follows will then be fully vindicated in the sight of all mankind. God wants to bring out the best in us, but to do this he must first bring out the worst. When we give ourselves over to God to be transformed, often things get worse before they get better. The worst must be brought out so that it can be dealt with. If we will not bring our sins out before God then he will often put us in situations that make our sins come to the surface. In this way, God forces us to face the truth about ourselves. I am so thankful that God does this. He has brought out the worst in me, but only in order to deal with it so that he can then bring out the best in me.
Ask God to help you to see the truth about yourself.
Read Revelation 20:7-10
