In this week’s study, I continue in Chapter 20 verses 4 thru 6. Before I get into the study, I discuss the events of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, but more important who owns the building that the shooter was on.
We continue with this Chapter 20 with Yahweh’s judgments against those on the earth. The outcome of the first of these final five judgments is the binding of Satan. The judgment of the Beast and the False Prophet and their Confederacy is not enough. The one who planned all, and used all for the accomplishment of his purposes, must now be dealt with. The chief instigator of all the evil must now be deprived of all further opportunity of attempting to frustrate the counsels and purposes of Yahweh. He has been cast out of heaven: he must now be cast out of the earth.
When Satan (the devil) lost his place in heaven, he still continued to have some power over the earth. He also had power in hell; in Revelation 9:1, he has the key of the abyss, the worst part of hell. Revelation 9:11 calls him by names that mean ‘the destroyer’.
In Revelation 19:17-21, we read about the great battle at Armageddon. The devil’s forces will fight against Yahshua Messiah for control over the earth. In that battle, the devil will suffer complete defeat. He will lose all his power on earth, so that The Messiah’s rule on earth will begin.
At the same time, the devil will also suffer a similar defeat in the spirit world. That is clear because in Revelation 20:1, the devil no longer has control over the abyss. He has lost even his power in hell. Now an angel who is a servant of Yahweh holds the key to the abyss. The devil has become his prisoner, and he will remain in that place for 1000 years.
In our last study we started this Chapter 20 with verses 1 thru 3 with Satan’s punishment. I started this verse 4 last week and I will continue with the thought on this verse 4.
In this 4th verse we see the third, or central judgment of the last five differs from the two that precede and follow it, in that it is a judgment of vindication and award, and not of condemnation and punishment.
And they sat upon them = Who sat on them is not mentioned. The natural construction is, that “judges” sat on them, or that persons sat on them to whom judgment was entrusted.
And judgment was given unto them = The power of pronouncing sentence in the case referred to was conferred on them, and they proceeded to exercise that power.
And I saw the souls of them = This is a very important expression in regard to the meaning of the whole passage. John says he saw “the souls” - not “the bodies.”
That were beheaded = It properly means, “to axe,” that is, to hew or cut with an axe.
Side note: Beheading was the standard way that the Roman government of John’s Day carried out capital punishment against criminals who were Roman citizens. Therefore, one may understand “beheaded” in verse 4 as a symbol for being “executed by the ruling government “.
5 The rest of the dead = In contradistinction from the beheaded martyrs, and from those who had kept themselves pure in the times of great temptation.
lived not again = That is, they “lived” not during that period in the special sense in which it is said verse 4 that the well-known saints and martyrs lived.
thousand years should be finished. = or completed
6 Blessed = Happy. And holy; he was holy,
The first resurrection = Supposed to be that of the martyrs, mentioned above.
The second death - Punishment in the eternal world; such is the acceptation of the phrase among the ancient Jews.
Hath no power = ‘echo oo ex-oo-see-ah· Hath no authority - no dominion over him.
Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com
