Revelation 20:8-9 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. 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.

“the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

That’s a huge number. It would make a lot of sense if we think over 1,000 years, these people were pent up. Arabs were angry because the Jews were in the land. Russians are communists and they also pursue conquests.

‘They’ as mentioned in Revelation 20:9 are referring to Gog, which is the Muslim nations and the communists, mainly the Russians who will gather as troops and go against the people of God.

“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about”

They will surface on the width of the earth, circling the camp of the saints and they are located in the beloved city.

Where is this beloved city?

So where exactly is the beloved city? The answer is in Roman 11.

Romans 11:28-29 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

The city is the city of Jerusalem; the land of Israel.

“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies”

This group of people cannot be saved.

“as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes”

All throughout the Bible, Jerusalem and Jews are God’s beloved. We see that clearly both the city and the people are considered beloved in God’s eyes. Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 65 provide some descriptions of the millennium.

Isaiah 11:10-12 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

“root of Jesse”

This is Jesus.

“his rest shall be glorious”

This is referring to the millennium.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

This would be gathering Israel. These verses talk about Jesus’s millennial rest as He sets up His kingdom on earth, and which are the locations (Judah) that He would focus on.

What does the millennium look like?

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them”

Can you imagine a place where you don’t need watch the kids?

We do not have to painstakingly pray for and witness to people. Everyone is going to know the Lord. Not only that everyone will live with one another harmoniously, but everyone will also come to know Jesus Christ by then. Hence no work of ministry or preaching is needed at that time. This does sound like a honeymoon period after then crazy seven years of tribulation.

Isaiah 65:9,18,20 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 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. 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.

“mine elect ”

Clearly referring to the Jews again, refer to Romans 11:28-29.

“for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.”

The age of a child is going to be considered to be 100 years old. If you die at a young age because you live wickedly, it will be at 100 years old.

This passage from Isaiah 65 also continues to describe the lifestyle condition during Jesus’s millennial reign.

Isaiah 66:10,13 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

This brings us back to Revelation 20:9 that then beloved city is referring to the city of Jerusalem at the Land of Israel.

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.

The Mosaic law will also be restored by then, and government will make worshipping God a mandatory practice. What a day to look forward to!