4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

— Revelation 20:4-6

2a Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

— 1 Corinthians 6:2a, 3

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

— Revelation 3:21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Revelation 20 records God’s angel imprisons Satan and seals him in the Abyss. God’s firm restraint of Satan emphasizes His sovereign powerful control over this country evil enemy. Hereafter John saw “thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.” Who are these judges? Paul wrote that the Lord’s people will judge the world. And Jesus promised his faithful believers would rule the nations. Whoever sits on these thrones, their dignity comes from their closeness to the King of Kings and their faith-filled perseverance.

John also saw before him the souls of those who had given their lives for Jesus and refused to worship the beast or take his mark. They represent all who have eternal life through faith in God’s Messiah and they will participate in the first resurrection at Jesus’s second coming. This fulfills Jesus’s promise that all His people will share in His rule and reign at this resurrection. God’s people will reign with Christ on earth for one thousand years.