| 1 | Thrones: Compare Matthew 19:8; Daniel 7:27; Revelation 3:21. |
| 2 | Power of judgment was given to them: This Greek phrase KAI KRIMA EDOTHE AUTOIS is a strong echo of Daniel 7:22 and may mean a judgment in their favor. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3. |
| 3 | These are the souls: This would have been a fine opportunity to repeat 144,000 but it does not for the sum described is larger than the 144,000. |
| 4 | Executed with the ax: The phrase is the same as that of Revelation 6:9. There seem two groups here: that one of Revelation 6:9-11 who were the martyrs; and, those contemporary with the wild Sea Beast and the Return of Christ. Compare Revelation 13:9, 11 and Revelation 15:2. In fact these represent the ancient Christians of the Church Age and those of Paul’s “we the living.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17) |
| 5 | They came to life: Or, resurrected. (compare verse 6) The Greek is EZESAN the same as verse 5 where the word is presented in the negative. If EZESAN means the “first resurrection” then OUK EZESAN means “not resurrected.” (Compare Romans 14:9; Revelation 2:8 EZESAN = resurrection) There is not a Bible text which shows any resurrection during the 1,000 Years. |
| 6 | 1,000 Years: The Saints all reign with Christ for the full period. |
We choose Revelation 20:4 as the theme verse of chapter twenty – Resurrection and Judgment. John’s attention is now directed to the imprisonment of Satan in “the Abyss.” [1-3] For one thousand years under the reign of Christ and his Church Satan will no longer “mislead the nations” who had survived the Day of Wrath. One can only imagine what an earth without the Devil will be like. Next John beholds the triumphant Saints on their thrones as “the power of judgment was given to them.” [4-6] He sees the order of the resurrection with the “first resurrection” occurring before the thousand years and the second or last resurrection taking place after the thousand years.
Without divulging any details about the thousand years we are swiftly taken to the end of the thousand years. [7-10] First Satan is released from his prison. He now resumes the misleading of the nations on earth who have likely grown in great numbers throughout the thousand years. Satan and those he misleads attack the “encampment” of the “beloved City.” However, God’s judgment falls upon these rebels and along with the Devil they are hurled into Second Death for eternal extinction. John then beholds the Last Judgment. [11-15] With the Devil and those he mislead gone forever, Messiah appears on his “white throne” and all members of humanity from the beginning are raised to their judgment. All who have come to live on earth since Adam will be “judged according to their deeds.” [Psalm 62:12] The “last enemy” [1 Corinthians 15:26] is destroyed along with all those among humanity who were “not found written in the Book of Life.”
Abba our Father bless all those found written down in the Book of Life.
