Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 20
"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut [it], and sealed [it] over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time." — Revelation 20:1-3 (ASV)
Here is a vision, showing figuratively the restraints imposed on Satan himself. Christ, with Almighty power, will keep the devil from deceiving humankind as he has done until now. He never lacks power and instruments to break the power of Satan. Christ shuts by his power, and seals by his authority. The church will have a time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials are not yet over.
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." — Revelation 20:4-6 (ASV)
Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same period as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ will reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ and suffer for him will be favored. The happiness of these servants of God is declared.
No one can be blessed except those who are holy; and all who are holy will be blessed. We know something of what the first death is, and it is very awful; but we do not know what this second death is. It must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. May we never know what it is: those who have been made partakers of a spiritual resurrection are saved from the power of the second death.
We may expect that a thousand years will follow the destruction of the antichristian, idolatrous, persecuting powers, during which pure Christianity, in doctrine, worship, and holiness, will be made known over all the earth. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit, fallen humanity will be created anew; and faith and holiness will as certainly prevail as unbelief and unholiness now do. We can easily perceive what a variety of dreadful pains, diseases, and other calamities would cease if all people were true and consistent Christians.
All the evils of public and private conflicts would be ended, and happiness of every kind largely increased. Everyone would try to lighten suffering, instead of adding to the sorrows around them. It is our duty to pray for the promised glorious days, and to do everything in our public and private stations which can prepare for them.
"And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." — Revelation 20:7-10 (ASV)
While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be completely destroyed, though it may be limited and lessened. No sooner is Satan let loose than he again begins deceiving the nations and stirring them up to make war against the saints and servants of God. It would be well if the servants and ministers of Christ were as active and persevering in doing good, as his enemies are in doing mischief. God will fight this last and decisive battle for his people, so that the victory may be complete, and the glory may be his.
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." — Revelation 20:11-15 (ASV)
After the events just foretold, the end will speedily come; and there is no mention of anything else before the appearing of Christ to judge the world. This will be the great day: the Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, will then put on majesty and terror. The persons to be judged are the dead, small and great; young and old, low and high, poor and rich. No one is so lowly that they do not have some talents to account for; and no one is so great as to avoid having to account for them.
Not only those alive at the coming of Christ will be judged, but also all the dead. There is a book of remembrance for both good and bad; and the book of the sinner's conscience, though formerly secret, will then be opened. Every man will recollect all his past actions, though he had long forgotten many of them. Another book will be opened, the book of the Scriptures, the rule of life; it represents the Lord's knowledge of his people, and his declaring their repentance, faith, and good works, showing the blessings of the new covenant.
By their works men will be justified or condemned; he will try their principles by their practices. Those justified and acquitted by the gospel will be justified and acquitted by the Judge, and will enter into eternal life, having nothing more to fear from death, hell, or wicked men; for these are all destroyed together. This is the second death; it is the final separation of sinners from God. Let it be our great concern to see whether our Bibles justify or condemn us now; for Christ will judge the secrets of all men according to the gospel.
Who shall dwell with devouring flames?
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