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Revelation 20:4 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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4 And G2532 I saw G1492 thrones, G2362 and G2532 they sat G2523 upon G1909 them, G846 and G2532 judgment G2917 was given G1325 unto them: G846 and G2532 I saw the souls G5590 of them that were beheaded G3990 for G1223 the witness G3141 of Jesus, G2424 and G2532 for G1223 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and G2532 which G3748 had G4352 not G3756 worshipped G4352 the beast, G2342 neither G3777 his G846 image, G1504 G2532 neither G3756 had received G2983 his mark G5480 upon G1909 their G846 foreheads, G3359 or G2532 in G1909 their G846 hands; G5495 and G2532 they lived G2198 and G2532 reigned G936 with G3326 Christ G5547 a thousand G5507 years. G2094

Cross Reference

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Do ye G1492 not G3756 know G1492 that G3754 the saints G40 shall judge G2919 the world? G2889 and G2532 if G1487 the world G2889 shall be judged G2919 by G1722 you, G5213 are ye G2075 unworthy G370 to judge G2922 the smallest matters? G1646 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 we shall judge G2919 angels? G32 how much more G3386 G1065 things that pertain to this life? G982

Revelation 13:12-17 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And G2532 he exerciseth G4160 all G3956 the power G1849 of the first G4413 beast G2342 before G1799 him, G846 and G2532 causeth G4160 the earth G1093 and G2532 them which dwell G2730 therein G1722 G846 to G2443 worship G4352 the first G4413 beast, G2342 whose G3739 G846 deadly G2288 wound G4127 was healed. G2323 And G2532 he doeth G4160 great G3173 wonders, G4592 so G2532 that G2443 he maketh G4160 fire G4442 come down G2597 from G1537 heaven G3772 on G1519 the earth G1093 in the sight G1799 of men, G444 And G2532 deceiveth G4105 them that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth G1093 by G1223 the means of those miracles G4592 which G3739 he G846 had power G1325 to do G4160 in the sight G1799 of the beast; G2342 saying G3004 to them that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth, G1093 that they should make G4160 an image G1504 to the beast, G2342 which G3739 had G2192 the wound G4127 by a sword, G3162 and G2532 did live. G2198 And G2532 he G846 had power G1325 to give G1325 life G4151 unto the image G1504 of the beast, G2342 that G2443 the image G1504 of the beast G2342 should G2980 both G2532 speak, G2980 and G2532 cause G4160 that as many as G3745 G302 would G4352 not G3361 worship G4352 the image G1504 of the beast G2342 should be killed. G2443 G615 And G2532 he causeth G4160 all, G3956 both small G3398 and G2532 great, G3173 G2532 rich G4145 and G2532 poor, G4434 G2532 free G1658 and G2532 bond, G1401 to G2443 G846 receive G1325 a mark G5480 in G1909 their G846 right hand, G1188 G5495 or G2228 in G1909 their G846 foreheads: G3359 And G2532 that no G3363 man G5100 might G1410 buy G59 or G2228 sell, G4453 save he G1508 that had G2192 the mark, G5480 or G2228 the name G3686 of the beast, G2342 or G2228 the number G706 of his G846 name. G3686

Matthew 17:10-13 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Why G5101 then G3767 say G3004 the scribes G1122 that G3754 Elias G2243 must G1163 first G4412 come? G2064 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Elias G2243 truly G3303 shall first G4412 come, G2064 and G2532 restore G600 all things. G3956 But G1161 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 Elias G2243 is come G2064 already, G2235 and G2532 they knew G1921 him G846 not, G3756 but G235 have done G4160 unto G1722 him G846 whatsoever G3745 they listed. G2309 Likewise G3779 shall G3195 also G2532 the Son G5207 of man G444 suffer G3958 of G5259 them. G846 Then G5119 the disciples G3101 understood G4920 that G3754 he spake G2036 unto them G846 of G4012 John G2491 the Baptist. G910

Luke 9:7-9 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Now G1161 Herod G2264 the tetrarch G5076 heard G191 of all G3956 that was done G1096 by G5259 him: G846 and G2532 he was perplexed, G1280 because G1223 that it was said G3004 of G5259 some, G5100 that G3754 John G2491 was risen G1453 from G1537 the dead; G3498 And G1161 of G5259 some, G5100 that G3754 Elias G2243 had appeared; G5316 and G1161 of others, G243 that G3754 one G1520 of the old G744 prophets G4396 was risen again. G450 And G2532 Herod G2264 said, G2036 John G2491 have G607 I G1473 beheaded: G607 but G1161 who G5101 is G2076 this, G3778 of G4012 whom G3739 I G1473 hear G191 such things? G5108 And G2532 he desired G2212 to see G1492 him. G846

Revelation 5:9-10 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And G2532 they sung G103 a new G2537 song, G5603 saying, G3004 Thou art G1488 worthy G514 to take G2983 the book, G975 and G2532 to open G455 the seals G4973 thereof: G846 for G3754 thou wast slain, G4969 and G2532 hast redeemed G59 us G2248 to God G2316 by G1722 thy G4675 blood G129 out of G1537 every G3956 kindred, G5443 and G2532 tongue, G1100 and G2532 people, G2992 and G2532 nation; G1484 And G2532 hast made G4160 us G2248 unto our G2257 God G2316 kings G935 and G2532 priests: G2409 and G2532 we shall reign G936 on G1909 the earth. G1093

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 20

Commentary on Revelation 20 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 20

This chapter is thought by some to be the darkest part of all this prophecy: it is very probable that the things contained in it are not yet accomplished; and therefore it is the wiser way to content ourselves with general observations, rather than to be positive and particular in our explications of it. Here we have an account,

  • I. Of the binding of Satan for a thousand years (v. 1-3).
  • II. The reign of the saints with Christ for the same time (v. 4-6).
  • III. Of the loosing of Satan, and the conflict of the church with Gog and Magog (v. 7-10).
  • IV. Of the day of judgment (v. 11-15).

Rev 20:1-10

We have here,

  • I. A prophecy of the binding of Satan for a certain term of time, in which he should have much less power and the church much more peace than before. The power of Satan was broken in part by the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; it was further reduced by the empire's becoming Christian; it was yet further broken by the downfall of the mystical Babylon; but still this serpent had many heads, and, when one is wounded, another has life remaining in it. Here we have a further limitation and diminution of his power. Observe,
    • 1. To whom this work of binding Satan is committed-to an angel from heaven. It is very probable that this angel is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ; the description of him will hardly agree with any other. He is one who has power to bind the strong man armed, to cast him out, and to spoil his goods; and therefore must be stronger than he.
    • 2. The means he makes use of in this work: he has a chain and a key, a great chain to bind Satan, and the key of the prison in which he was to be confined. Christ never wants proper powers and instruments to break the power of Satan, for he has the powers of heaven and the keys of hell.
    • 3. The execution of this work, v. 2, 3.
      • (1.) He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan. Neither the strength of the dragon, nor the subtlety of the serpent, was sufficient to rescue him out of the hands of Christ; he caught hold, and kept his hold. And,
      • (2.) He cast him into the bottomless pit, cast him down with force, and with a just vengeance, to his own place and prison, from which he had been permitted to break out, and disturb the churches, and deceive the nations; now he is brought back to that prison, and there laid in chains.
      • (3.) He is shut up, and a seal set upon him. Christ shuts, and none can open; he shuts by his power, seals by his authority; and his lock and seal even the devils themselves cannot break open.
      • (4.) We have the term of this confinement of Satan-a thousand years, after which he was to be loosed again for a little season. The church should have a considerable time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials were not yet over.
  • II. An account of the reign of the saints for the same space of time in which Satan continued bound (v. 4-6), and here observe,
    • 1. Who those were that received such honour-those who had suffered for Christ, and all who had faithfully adhered to him, not receiving the mark of the beast, nor worshipping his image; all who had kept themselves clear of pagan and papal idolatry.
    • 2. The honour bestowed upon them.
      • (1.) They were raised from the dead, and restored to life. This may be taken either literally or figuratively; they were in a civil and political sense dead, and had a political resurrection; their liberties and privileges were revived and restored.
      • (2.) Thrones, and power of judgment, were given to them; they were possessed of great honour, and interest, and authority, I suppose rather of a spiritual than of a secular nature.
      • (3.) They reigned with Christ a thousand years. Those who suffer with Christ shall reign with Christ; they shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in a glorious conformity to him in wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, beyond what had been known before in the world. This is called the first resurrection, which none but those who have served Christ and suffered for him shall be favoured with. As for the wicked, they shall not be raised up and restored to their power again, till Satan be let loose; this may be called a resurrection, as the conversion of the Jews is said to be life from the dead.
    • 3. The happiness of these servants of God is declared.
      • (1.) They are blessed and holy, v. 6. None can be blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be blessed. These were holy as a sort of first-fruits to God in this spiritual resurrection, and as such blessed by him.
      • (2.) They are secured from the power of the second death. We know something of what the first death is, and it is awful; but we know not what this second death is. It must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. The Lord grant we may never know what it is by experience. Those who have had experience of a spiritual resurrection are saved from the power of the second death.
  • III. An account of the return of the church's troubles, and another mighty conflict, very sharp, but short and decisive. Observe,
    • 1. The restraints laid for a long time on Satan are at length taken off. While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be wholly destroyed; it may be limited and lessened, but he will have something still to do for the disturbance of the people of God.
    • 2. No sooner is Satan let loose than he falls to his old work, deceiving the nations, and so stirring them up to make a war with the saints and servants of God, which they would never do if he had not first deceived them. They are deceived both as to the cause they engage in (they believe it to be a good cause when it is indeed a very bad one), and as to the issue: they expect to be successful, but are sure to lose the day.
    • 3. His last efforts seem to be the greatest. The power now permitted to him seems to be more unlimited than before. He had now liberty to beat up for his volunteers in all the four quarters of the earth, and he raised a mighty army, the number of which was as the sand of the sea, v. 8.
    • 4. We have the names of the principal commanders in this army under the dragon-Gog and Magog. We need not be too inquisitive as to what particular powers are meant by these names, since the army was gathered from all parts of the world. These names are found in other parts of scripture. Magog we read of in Gen. 10:2. He was one of the sons of Japheth, and peopled the country called Syria, from which his descendants spread into many other parts. Of Gog and Magog together we only read in Eze. 38:2, a prophecy whence this in Revelation borrows many of its images.
    • 5. We have the march and military disposition of this formidable army (v. 9.): They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city, that is, the spiritual Jerusalem, in which the most precious interests of the people of God are lodged, and therefore to them a beloved city. The army of the saints is described as drawn forth out of the city, and lying under the walls of it, to defend it; they were encamped about Jerusalem: but the army of the enemy was so much superior to that of the church that they compassed them and their city about.
    • 6. You have an account of the battle, and the issue of this war: Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured the enemy. Thus the ruin of Gog and Magog is foretold (Eze. 38:22), I will rain upon him and upon his bands an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, and fire and brimstone. God would, in an extraordinary and more immediate manner, fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory might be complete and the glory redound to himself.
    • 7. The doom and punishment of the grand enemy, the devil: he is now cast into hell, with his two great officers, the beast and the false prophet, tyranny and idolatry, and that not for any term of time, but to be there tormented night and day, for ever and ever.

Rev 20:11-15

The utter destruction of the devil's kingdom very properly leads to an account of the day of judgment, which will determine every man's everlasting state; and we may be assured there will be a judgment when we see the prince of this world is judged, Jn. 16:11. This will be a great day, the great day, when all shall appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. The Lord help us firmly to believe this doctrine of the judgment to come. It is a doctrine that made Felix tremble. Here we have a description of it, where observe,

  • 1. We behold the throne, and tribunal of judgment, great and white, very glorious and perfectly just and righteous. The throne of iniquity, that establishes wickedness by a law, has no fellowship with this righteous throne and tribunal.
  • 2. The appearance of the Judge, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who then puts on such majesty and terror that the earth and the heaven flee from his face, and there is no place found for them; there is a dissolution of the whole frame of nature, 2 Pt. 3:10.
  • 3. The persons to be judged (v. 12): The dead, small and great; that is, young and old, low and high, poor and rich. None are so mean but they have some talents to account for, and none so great as to avoid the jurisdiction of this court; not only those that are found alive at the coming of Christ, but all who have died before; the grave shall surrender the bodies of men, hell shall surrender the souls of the wicked, the sea shall surrender the many who seemed to have been lost in it.
  • 4. The rule of judgment settled: The books were opened. What books? The books of God's omniscience, who is greater than our consciences, and knows all things (there is a book of remembrance with him both for good and bad); and the book of the sinner's conscience, which, though formerly secret, will now be opened. And another book shall be opened-the book of the scriptures, the statute-book of heaven, the rule of life. This book is opened as containing the law, the touchstone by which the hearts and lives of men are to be tried. This book determines matter of right; the other books give evidence of matters of fact. Some, by the other book, called the book of life, understand the book of God's eternal counsels; but that does not seem to belong to the affair of judgment: in eternal election God does not act judicially, but with absolute sovereign freedom.
  • 5. The cause to be tried; and that is, the works of men, what they have done and whether it be good or evil. By their works men shall be justified or condemned; for though God knows their state and their principles, and looks chiefly at these, yet, being to approve himself to angels and men as a righteous God, he will try their principles by their practices, and so will be justified when he speaks and clear when he judges.
  • 6. The issue of the trial and judgment; and this will be according to the evidence of fact, and rule of judgment. All those who have made a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell, shall then be condemned with their infernal confederates, cast with them into the lake of fire, as not being entitled to eternal life, according to the rules of life laid down in the scripture; but those whose names are written in that book (that is, those that are justified and acquitted by the gospel) shall then be justified and acquitted by the Judge, and shall enter into eternal life, having nothing more to fear from death, or hell, or wicked men; for these are all destroyed together. Let it be our great concern to see on what terms we stand with our Bibles, whether they justify us or condemn us now; for the Judge of all will proceed by that rule. Christ shall judge the secrets of all men according to the gospel. Happy are those who have so ordered and stated their cause according to the gospel as to know beforehand that they shall be justified in the great day of the Lord!