THRONES ON WHICH WERE SEATED / REVELATION 20:4

(KJV) Revelation 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat 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.

Those who sit on the thrones with authority to judge (or “rule”) with Christ during the thousand years are probably faithful followers of Christ from the church age (before the rapture of the church and the judgments of the great tribulation). They are the overcomers from all churches of all time (Revelation 2:7) and may also include God’s faithful people throughout the Old Testament period (Ezekiel 37:11-14; Ephesians 2:14-22; 3:6; Hebrews 11:39-40). It seems that all of these return to earth with Christ when He comes to defeat the armies of the anti-christ and establish His thousand-year reign (Revelation 19:14). Among these are Christ’s original disciples who helped establish the New Testament church; they will judge, or rule, the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30). Those who come to life after Christ’s return are said to be His faithful ones who died for their faith during the tribulation (Revelation 6:9; 12:17). They will join Christ’s faithful followers from the church age in reigning with Christ during the thousand years. John does not mention the resurrection of the faithful of Christ’s churches who have died because this occurred when Christ removed His church from the earth and took His followers to heaven prior to the great tribulation judgments (John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:51).

This thousand-year reign of Christ is sometimes called “the millennium,” meaning “a thousand Years” (mille, the Latin word for “thousand,” and annus, the Latin word for “year”). The following are some of the characteristics of this millennial reign:

1. It was predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 9:6; 65:19-25; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 4:1-8; Zechariah 14:1-9; Revelation 2:25-28).
2. This is when Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:2; Revelation 20:3).
3. Christ’s reign will be shared by His faithful followers from throughout the church age (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4), and possibly also by the resurrected Old Testament followers of God (Ezekiel 37:11-14; Ephesians 2:14-22; 3:6; Hebrews 11:39-40) and those killed for accepting Christ and remaining true to Him during the tribulation.
4. The people ruled by Christ will consist of those on earth who were faithful to Christ during the tribulation and who survived until the Lord’s coming and those born during the millennium (Revelation 14:12; 18:4; Isaiah 65:20-23; Matthew 25:1).
5. Those reigning with Christ will have a place of honor above all the nations, as they will minister to and rule both Israel and the other nations (Revelation 20:6; 3:21; 5:10; Matthew 19:28; Zephaniah 3:9-20).
6. Christ’s reign will bring drastic changes affecting society. There will be peace, safety, prosperity, justice, righteousness and knowledge of God throughout the earth (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:9-10; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 9:10; 2:5; 9:8).
7. Nature will also be restored to its original order, perfection and beauty (Psalms 96:11-13; 98:7-9; Isaiah 11:6-8; 14:7-8; 35:1-2, 6-7; 51:3; 55:12-13; 65:25; Ezekiel 24:25; Romans 8:18+23; Isaiah 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:8-15; Zechariah 14:8).
8. The nations during this reign will be privileged and grateful to follow Christ in obedience to His rule. However, even under these conditions and without Satan’s influence, human nature will still cause some to choose a path of rebellion and disobedience, leading to punishment (Revelation 20:7-10).
9. At the end of the thousand years, Jesus will turn the kingdom over to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). That will mark the end of time as we know it and the beginning of the final and eternal kingdom of God and the Lamb (Christ, Revelation 21:1-22:5).

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1. KEEP HIM FROM DECEIVING THE NATIONS ANYMORE / REVELATION 20:3
2. TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS / REVELATION 11:16
3. THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED / REVELATION 11:15
4. TERROR STRUCK THOSE WHO SAW THEM / REVELATION 11:11
5. THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH WILL GLOAT / REVELATION 11:9
6. THE BEAST … KILL THEM / REVELATION 11:7
7. OLIVE TREES … LAMPSTANDS / REVELATION 11:4
8. MY TWO WITNESSES / REVELATION 11:3
9. TRAMPLE ON THE HOLY CITY / REVELATION 11:2
10. MEASURE THE TEMPLE / REVELATION 11:1
11. BUT THE COWARDLY, THE UNBELIEVING / REVELATION 21:8
12. HE WHO OVERCOMES / REVELATION 2:17
13. A PALE HORSE / REVELATION 6:8
14. A BLACK HORSE / REVELATION 6:5
15. HORSE … FIERY RED ONE / REVELATION 6:4
16. A WHITE HORSE / REVELATION 6:2
17. A FEW PEOPLE IN SARDIS / REVELATION 3:4
18. YOU ARE DEAD / REVELATION 3:1-2
19. I WILL GIVE THE MORNING STAR / REVELATION 2:28
20. HOLD ON … UNTIL I COME / REVELATION 2:25
21. THE REST OF YOU / REVELATION 2:24
22. A MALE CHILD / REVELATION 12:5
23. WHO OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS / REVELATION 14:12
24. A MARK / REVELATION 13:16
25. REFUSED TO WORSHIP THE IMAGE TO BE KILLED / REVELATION 13:15
26. WORSHIP THE FIRST BEAST / REVELATION
27. DRAGON … BOUND HIM FOR A THOUSAND YEARS / REVELATION 20:2
28. THE GREAT TRIBULATION / REVELATION 7:14
29. THE DEVIL … THE LAKE OF BURNING SULFUR / REVELATION 20:10
30. SURROUNDED THE CAMP OF GOD’S PEOPLE / REVELATION 20:9
31. DECEIVE THE NATIONS / REVELATION 20:8
32. SATAN WILL BE RELEASED / REVELATION 20:7
33. SPIRITS OF DEMONS PERFORMING MIRACULOUS SIGNS / REVELATION 16:14
34. FROGS / REVELATION 16:13
35. WAR IN HEAVEN / REVELATION 12:7-9
36. A THIRD OF THE STARS / REVELATION 12:4
37. FALSE PROPHET … THE MIRACULOUS / REVELATION 19:20
38. THE LAMB OPENED / REVELATION 6:1
39. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Summary

Article Name

THRONES ON WHICH WERE SEATED / REVELATION 20:4

Description

Those who sit on the thrones with authority to judge (or "rule") with Christ during the thousand years are probably faithful followers of Christ from the church age (before the rapture of the church and the judgments of the great tribulation).

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name

Guided By Grace

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