Revelation 20
DOYLY— and judgment was given unto them:] That is, they received authority to reign and govern. Danbus.
— of them that were beheaded] Of those who resisted unto blood the heathen idolatry and practices; the constant servants of Christ, who persevered until death. Dr. Hammond.
In their opinions respecting the sense of this passage, interpreters have differed very widely. Some understand the description of this verse literally to mean, a real and proper resurrection of those who in the former states of persecution were put to death for their constancy in the profession of pure Christianity; that is, the martyrs under the heathen empire, and those who were slain under the reign of the beast. Others understand this description in a figurative sense, and conceive the prophecy to intend those persons who have the true spirit and temper of martyrs, who have the like faith, constancy, and zeal, with those whom no persecutions could prevail upon to deny the truth. Those who entertain this opinion observe, that all the expressions will very well bear this interpretation; that it is more agreeable to the style of prophecy, in particular, to the style of this book, which abounds throughout in figurative descriptions; that all these expressions are used in the ancient Prophets in a figurative sense; and that unanswerable difficulties attend a literal interpretation of them. Lowman.
— and they lived and reigned with Christ] They may well be said to live and rise again, if not in a literal sense, yet in that figurative and moral sense in which the Prophets were wont to describe the church and people of God as restored to life, and rising from death, on their deliverance from captivity, false religion, or any remarkable calamity, Ezek. xxxvii. 1—3; Hosea vi. 1, 2; Ezra ix. 8, 9; Rom. xi. 15. Pyle.
— a thousand years.] Whether this be intended to denote the precise time of a thousand years, or only such a long time as will in the wisdom of Divine Providence bear a proportion to the time of the antichristian reign, it is not easy, neither is it at all necessary, to determine. Pyle.
It may seem that a literal and proper resurrection of martyrs, to live on earth before the general resurrection, is not a necessary sense of this prophecy, nor so natural and probable a sense, as the figurative; and that figurative interpretation, according to which, generally, a happy state of the church on earth is intended, well answers the whole design of the prophecy. Lowman.
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
— a new heaven and a new earth.] A happy renovation of all things, the heaven and earth refined to their utmost perfection. Bp. Hall.
The most judicious Jewish writers understand “new heaven” and “new earth” to mean a new state of happiness, in which former sorrows and troubles shall be remembered no more. Lowman.
Revelation 20:2
2.—and bound him a thousand years.] Meaning that, for this space of time, the devil, who is represented the first in the apostasy, and principal agent in the opposition to truth, righteousness, and religion, shall be fully restrained from the exercise of all influence and power, either to seduce men into error and wickedness, or to persecute men of conscience, constancy, and faithfulness. Lowman. The church was now to enjoy purity of religion in peace, without any disturbance from those old enemies of mankind working in the children of disobedience. Daubus.
Revelation 20:4
- And I saw thrones, &c.] Much has been written upon this promised millennium; yet little that can afford satisfaction to the judicious. The meaning of a prophecy of this kind can only be made manifest by the event which is to fulfil it. Before that time shall arrive, it is unsafe to conjecture after what method it shall be fulfilled; whether as some prophecies, literally, or, as others, typically; whether the departed saints and martyrs shall actually be raised in their own persons, to effect so glorious a change in religion and morals; or whether, like Elijah in the person of St. John the Baptist, and David in that of Christ, they shall, as it were, live again in the persons of other saints, who shall fulfil their characters and offices, no man may presume to determine. It is best, therefore, after the example of the wise father Irenaeus, respecting another prophecy, to ‘wait the completion of the prediction.’ Yet, if we are not permitted to descend to a special interpretation, we may receive advantage from a general view. We may confidently indulge a well-grounded expectation, that happy times, of long duration, are yet destined to the Christian church, even here upon earth. For the days will come, when, the beast and false prophet being removed, and Babylon sunk for ever, that ancient foe will be deprived of his wonted influence, and the pro-
Anno DOMINI 96. Satan let loose again. Satan let loose again. Anno DOMINI 96.
upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:5
- But the rest of the dead &c.] There will be no general resurrection of the bodies of mankind, till the glorious period of “a thousand years” is expired. “This is the first resurrection.” Pyle.
— the first resurrection.] Here figuratively used to express the flourishing condition of the church for that “thousand years.” Dr. Hammond.
Revelation 20:6
- Blessed and holy is he &c.] Blessed will those Christians be, whose lot it is to live within that reign of truth and righteousness. And blessed will be the saints and martyrs who long before shined as examples of virtue to them. They all will be in the highest esteem with their great Master; their deaths will end in everlasting life; and, as both of them will reign, in some sense or other, in the kingdom of Christ upon earth, during the “thousand years” of purity, virtue, and peace, so will they both have their share in His eternal kingdom in heaven. Pyle.
Revelation 20:7
- — Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, &c.] After the grand period above described, so favourable to the Christian cause, shall have come to its end, another apostasy will unhappily take place. This is expressed figuratively by Satan being again loosed to deceive the nations. This new rebellion against the laws of God and the easy yoke of the Redeemer is of formidable extent. “The four corners of the earth;” that is, the nations of the whole earth, are engaged in it. It is an apostasy of a new kind, different at least from the former apostasy, in which the beast and false prophet were Satan’s instruments of mischief. Beyond this we have little ground for conjecture. The enemies of the Christian church, numerous as the sands on the seashore, surround the camp of the saints, which is represented as in a state of siege. But the extinction of these enemies will be sudden, miraculous, and complete. Dean Woodhouse.
Whether the expressions here used be only figurative, or whether they contain also something literal, the substance of the prophecy will be to this purpose; that, after the “thousand years” of peace and purity, the church will once more be disturbed by persons like the barbarous northern nations, who have often disturbed the peace of the world by their invasions. But it will prove a fruitless attempt, and will end in their complete and final destruction; a day of righteous judgment will come, when true religion, peace, and happiness, will be inseparably united, to be free from any future disturbance or molestation. Lowman.
Revelation 20:8
- — Gog and Magog.] What nations are designed by these names, it is very hard to determine. Pyle. The nations of Gog and Magog figuratively describe the
The devil cast into the lake of fire. A new heaven and a new earth. Anno DOMINI 94. city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation 20:11
- And I saw a great white throne, &c.] After this last conflict, and the final defeat of Satan, there follows (ver. 11-15.) the general resurrection and judgment, represented in a vision of “a great white throne;” great, to shew the largeness and extent; white, to shew the justice and equity of the judgment; and “one sitting on it,” who can be none other than the Son of God, to whom “the Father has committed all judgment.” The dead, both small and great, (ver. 12.) of all ranks and degrees, as well those who perished at sea and were buried in the waters, as those who died and were buried on the land, are all raised, and stand before the judgment sent of God. Bp. Newton.
Revelation 20:14
- And death and hell were cast &c.] By “death and hell” being cast into the lake of fire, is meant, that temporal death, which had hitherto exercised dominion over the race of men, shall be totally abolished. Bp. Newton.
— the second death.] See note at chap. ii. 11.
Revelation 20:15
- — whosoever was not found written in the book of life] Whosoever did not appear before this impartial Judge to be a true and faithful Christian, and, as such, was registered in the rolls of the true church of Christ. Lowman.
Chap. XXI. ver. 1. And I saw a new heaven &c.] The general judgment having taken place, and the heavens and earth passed away, as described in chap. xx. 11, and also by St. Peter, (2 Pet. iii. 13.) there follow “new heavens and a new earth,” foretold likewise by Isaiah, chap. lxv, lxvi; but this prophecy of the Revelation does