The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 432

Ver. 4.-'-The blessed dead living and rei,gning with Ohrist during the thO'USllna yeara. We are compelled to differ more widely from the great bulk of exhlsi~rs in regard to this than in regard to almost any other passage in the entire Apooa ypse. It seems to us that, in order to piece out a tolerably complete theory, many interpreters do very frequently assume some matters of great magnitude for which there is no warrant ;pther in the text or the context. It is well known that this passage is the one which "ls supposed, above all others, to teach the doctrine of the personal reign of Christ upon the earth during the millennium. It is supposed that Jerusalem will be his eentral aeat of authority and power; that the righteous dead will then be raised in such bodies ae are to be inµnortal; that the saints will be Christ's attendants, and will participate with Jesus in the government of the world ; that this will last through a period of a thousand years; that during this period the world will be subdued and converted, not by such means as are now used, .but by those peou]iar to the new dispensation to be uabered in by Christ's personal refgn ; that at tne close of this period all the dead will be judged, and the affairs of· this earth consummated. Some who do not fully adopt. this view regard the first resurrection as one taking place on earth. According to some, it is a resurrection of bodies ; according to others, it is a resurrection of prin- ciples ; according to a third group, it is a resurrection of the Christian party; according to a fourth, it is one of memories and names. Others, again, regard it as a resurrection from earth, not on it; and here also we have to divide expositors into two groups-- some looking at this first resurrection as a resurrection to heaven of the martyrs only; and others, as of all the blessed dead. Amid such a confused Babel, let us, as Ridley used to say, "give ourselves up to the text, and let it lead ua by the hand.~ We see that the statement before us stands in connection with that period of a thousand ·years during which Satan is said to be bound. During this period in which the eax>th ie released to a great extent from the power of the evil one, the apostle sees a vision of aome who during that thousand years were living and rei,gning with Christ. On this statement let us ask-When? who? where? how? May be, on comparing Scripture with Scripture, we shall find more light thrown on this theme than we are prepared to expect. 1. When, "They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Whoever and wherever they were, it was apparently during the thousand year,; in which &tan was bound that they were living and reigning. 2. Who are they P Our text speak;; of two elasaes. First, of the martyrs; second, of those who had refused to succumb to the spirit of nil. These two put together make up all the faithful ones. So that we may call them the bl91188d dead, whether they quietly fell on sleep after serving their generation, or whether they were hurried off to their home in a chariot of fire. 3. Where are they Beffl1 On earth, say the great bulk of interpreters. "With (Jhnst," says the text. Ill' does not indeed specify whether in heaven or on earth, but simply that they are "wit'/,, OJ,,ris~" Is not that clear enough ? 'l'he text indicates not that Christ Ol\!DB down to - earth to live with them, but that they Innl llffll'l'ed' ttp'ffllffl to11ve and reig~ with Chris~ ·•-- . .  C11L n. l.-15.] THE :REVELATION OP' ST. JOHN T111!: DIVINE. 479