Grace in Focus: Three Questions About the End Times

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Sam Marr
Date: October 16, 2025
Episode Length: 13 minutes

Episode Overview

In this concise and insightful episode, Bob Wilkin and guest Sam Marr tackle three interrelated listener questions about the end times. The discussion focuses on the binding and release of Satan during the millennium, the human condition in that period, and the meaning of “the dead in Christ” as referenced in 1 Thessalonians 4. The hosts aim to clarify these eschatological concepts while maintaining a Free Grace Theology approach, offering assurance and comfort to believers regarding salvation and the future.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why will Satan be sealed away and then released?

(00:55 – 06:50)

• Millennium Context:

  • The thousand years refer to the “millennium”—the first segment of Christ’s forever kingdom on earth.
  • This period uniquely includes both believers and unbelievers, setting it apart from the subsequent new earth where all are believers.
    • [01:31] Bob Wilkin: “This is the first thousand years of the forever kingdom. But it’s different in the sense that this kingdom includes unbelievers.”

• Purpose of Satan’s Binding and Release:

  • Jesus and all glorified believers will evangelize during the millennium, and lifespans will resemble those before the flood (potentially up to 1,000 years).
  • Despite Jesus’ physical presence and the witness of Old and New Testament saints, many will still not believe.
  • Three main “enemies” of faith remain:
    • The world system
    • The flesh (sinful nature)
    • The devil (who is bound during the millennium)
  • The rebellion at the end illustrates that even without Satan's influence, humanity's inherent sinfulness (the flesh) and the persistent world system are sufficient for unbelief.
  • Binding Satan demonstrates that his removal does not alone make faith or obedience automatic—the larger spiritual struggle remains internal and systemic.
    • [05:08] Bob Wilkin: “You can realize that even if Satan were bound today, you’d still have the vast majority of people who wouldn’t believe, because you’d still have the flesh and you’d still have the world system.”

• Scriptural Admittance of Mystery:

  • The Bible gives the “what” (Satan is bound and then released), but not a full explanation of “why.”
    • [06:48] Bob Wilkin: “But having said that, the Bible doesn’t actually explain that. It just says he’s bound for a thousand years.”

2. Who are "the Dead in Christ" in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18?

(07:25 – 11:20)

• Definition and Significance:

  • The “dead in Christ” refers to all believers in Jesus Christ who have died during the Church Age—regardless of their faithfulness or sanctification.
  • The Greek word “koimao” (to sleep) always refers to believers’ deaths in the New Testament.
  • At the rapture, these believers rise first; then, living Christians are caught up with them to meet the Lord.
    • [08:23] Bob Wilkin: “The dead in Christ refers to those who are believers in Jesus Christ, whether they were faithful or unfaithful is not the point here. And all of them are going to precede us at the time of the rapture.”

• Dispelling Misconceptions:

  • There is no “partial rapture” of only the faithful; all believers are included.
  • Gentler correction of jokes/misunderstandings about denominations being “dead in Christ” by clarifying it means "all who believed."
    • [11:20] Bob Wilkin: “The issue is not some particular group. This is all who have believed in Christ and who have died.”

• Reassurance for Believers:

  • Paul’s intent is to give comfort and hope—none of the dead in Christ will miss out or be left behind when Jesus returns.
    • [11:20] Sam Marr: “The bottom line is, this is supposed to comfort us... These are for us to comfort one another.”

3. The Comfort of Rapture Truth

(11:20 – 12:46)

• Repeated Encouragement:

  • Both 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:11 urge believers to “comfort each other” with these truths.
  • The knowledge of the rapture and resurrection is meant to encourage and edify believers, not frighten them.
    • [12:09] Bob Wilkin: “That’s why Rapture truth is comforting truth...”

• Call to Watchfulness and Grace:

  • While assurance is offered to all believers, there is still a call to “stay awake” and to pursue the commendation of the Lord.
  • The episode closes with a tone of vigilance and grace.
    • [12:44] Sam Marr: “So let’s stay awake. Let’s comfort each other.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the human condition in the millennium:

  • [03:01] Bob Wilkin: “People who are born at the beginning of the millennium are going to have a thousand years of people witnessing to him or her. And Jesus himself will be present on earth... The fact that there’ll be somebody who doesn’t come to faith during the millennium is mind boggling to me.”

• On the scope of those raptured:

  • [08:23] Bob Wilkin: “All believers are going to meet the Lord in the air. All church age believers.”

• On the comfort of prophecy:

  • [11:20] Sam Marr: “This knowledge is here to comfort us, not to scare people into believing or scare believers into living in fear that they're not going to make it.”

• Closing encouragement:

  • [12:44] Sam Marr: “Let’s stay awake. Let’s comfort each other.”
  • [12:46] Bob Wilkin: “Let’s keep grace in focus.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:55 – Introduction to John’s three end times questions
• 01:31 – Discussion of the millennium and rationale for Satan’s binding/release
• 05:05 – Explanation of world, flesh, and devil as enemies of faith
• 06:50 – Transition to discussion of "the dead in Christ"
• 08:23 – Definition and significance of "the dead in Christ"
• 11:20 – Purpose of rapture teaching: comfort for believers
• 12:09 – Parallel comfort commands in 4:18 and 5:11
• 12:44 – Final encouragements and episode wrap

Episode Tone & Takeaway

Bob and Sam maintain a thoughtful, scripturally grounded, and comforting tone throughout. They stress the assurance offered to every believer regarding both the rapture and their future with Christ, discouraging fear while encouraging watchfulness and mutual encouragement. Their approach is distinctly “Free Grace,” avoiding fear-mongering and emphasizing grace, security, and the practical implications for Christian encouragement.

If you want to understand why Satan will be released after the millennium, who exactly will rise at the rapture, and what these truths are intended to stir in Christians today, this concise discussion offers a reassuring and well-grounded perspective.