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And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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. (Revelation 19:20-20:3)
After the miraculous and stunning defeat at Armageddon, the antichrist and the false prophet will be hunted down and cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented forever and ever. Satan will then be captured and bound, unable to tempt man, for one thousand years. After the thousand years are up, he will again be released and will deceive many.
The first thing Jesus will do is judge Israel. Although Israel is the center of attention in the Millennium, they will first have to be judged and separated. Those who were faithful to the Lord will make up the remnant and will be allowed to enter into the Millennium. Those who were not will be turned away and executed.
Following the judgment of Israel will be the judgment of the nations. This judgment is spoken of in Matthew 25:31-46.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
All resurrected and raptured saints will be a part of this judgment in some capacity. It’s not clear what part we will play but I Corinthians 6:2a states “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world”.
The criteria of this judgment will be singular. Those nations who befriended Israel during the tribulation period will be allowed to enter into the Millennium age. Those who are found to have turned their back or were enemies of Israel will be destroyed. If we go by who are Israel’s friends today to determine which nations would go into the Millennium the list would be very short. But it should be noted that the word “nations” should not be taken as whole countries, but individuals. Just as there were people during the holocaust that hid the Jews at the risk of losing their own life, there will be those who will hide them during the tribulation period. They will be judged on an individual basis, and if faithful, will be granted entrance into the Millennium age.
It’s not clear as to how many people will still be alive at this time who have taken the mark, but I’m sure there will be more than a few. Their fate will be quick. They will be brought before the Lord and immediately executed.
With these two vital criteria in mind, it’s clear that just enduring the seven-year tribulation period and refusing the mark does not ensure that a person will enter into the Millennium age. But I can’t imagine someone refusing to take the mark, especially with the threat of death hanging over their head, just because they were anti-establishment. Nevertheless, apparently there will be those who will not take the mark but will be shut out of the Millennium because they were not faithful to God or proved to not be a friend of Israel.