A Study of Revelation 20 and Other Related Passages
The beauty of the flames!
Nero
Men call their sons Paul and their dogs Nero today.
J. Vernon McGee
John writes to comfort the Saints concerning their present tribulation (Revelation 1:9; 2:9), and the cataclysmic suffering about to descend upon them and the empire in which they lived (Revelation 1:3; 2:10; 6:1-17). How does he provide comfort? By declaring unto them Heaven’s perspective on these developments (Revelation 4:1-5:14), assuring them of their victory in Jesus (Revelation 7:1-17), and the future deliverance of the Saints as they overcome in Christ (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 17:14; 21:7). Revelation 20:1-15 was written as one of the most comforting passages in all of Holy Scripture. May God save us from missing the comfort amidst unnecessary confusion. The answer to one particular question brings a great deal of clarity to the chapter. Is there one or are there two resurrections? We have been working toward answering that question from Revelation 20, and have made it as far as verse four. In this verse we are told about the souls of the beheaded martyrs who did not capitulate to the beast. This summary remark can only be understood by those who have studied Daniel 7, Revelation 13 & 14 and their related passages. We have made much progress, rooting the apocalyptic metaphors of John in the prophetic visions of Daniel. We know who the Sea beast is. It is Rome, satanically empowered and personified by the emperor. This beast will serve Satan and will have success slaughtering the saints, but its assault will be stunted by the Sovereign Lord.
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Revelation 13:5-10
A time of severe persecution, followed by God’s retribution, is promised to the saints. The beast of Rome is personified by its current emperor, Nero (who reigned AD 54-68). He is given by God limited prominence and power and opportunity to make war against the saints. Unlike Job, the saints are given Heaven’s insight into the limited time of suffering and Heaven’s assurance that the wicked and evil will be fully dealt with. Suetonius reports in the summer of AD 64 that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned according to his orders. The rumors began to spread that Nero was responsible, desiring to rebuild the glory of Rome in his own image, to his own name. As popular opinion swelled against him, Nero began a disinformation campaign, blaming the fire on the Christians (a group so despised as to unite Rome in common hatred). These rumors gained traction so that late in the year the blasphemies were accompanied with the sword. The historians record this period.
Punishment [by Nero] was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.
Suetonius
Following Emperor Nero’s command, “Let the Christians be exterminated!:” . . . they [the Christians] were made the subjects of sport; they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.
Tacitus
This war against Christians persisted until Nero, haunted by comets and murders, lost power and fled Rome in early June of AD 68, killing himself with a sword. This concluded the forty-two months of persecution in fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel whose “time (1 year), times (2 years) and half a time (half a year)” corresponds exactly.* We also see Nero depicted in the prophecy as being different than the first kings of the fourth beast, coming to power only after the previous three had been “subdued” or “plucked out” (Daniel 7:8). History records they were assasinated, making way for a new emperor not of their bloodline.
“Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
Daniel 7:24-27
Although the beast holds sway for a limited time, he is ultimately undone. The saints are victorious in Christ, for their status has been established in Christ. Notice the comfort of the saints in Revelation 13:8. Our names are in the Book of Life. This is the book of those who have been raised from death in trespasses and sins. The names within are given New Life, indeed, Eternal Life. How are these names there? By what merits are our names inscribed in this wonderful book? By the slaughter of the Lamb. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. By His blood we are saved. The phrase, “From the foundation of the world” can modify either “The Lamb that was slain” or “written in the book of life.” If it refers to the Lamb, we are reminded of the eternal plan of the Godhead. All is as God purposed and ordained from before He spoke the universe into existence. We are still reminded of the eternal plan of the Triune God if the phrase refers to the names written in the book of life. In this case we recognize that our salvation is brought about through the unfailing electing grace of God.
Additional comfort is offered the saints in that God will render full justice against those who take the Saints captive and murder them (Revelation 13:9-10). They must have patience and endure by faith through this difficult period. Some saints like Paul will be beheaded and their souls will rest and reign with Christ from Heaven. Other saints like John will mourn their beloved dead and endure through the tribulation and reign with Christ on the Earth having seen His judgment coming and the bright manifestation of His kingdom (Matthew 16:28). But in either case, it must be said that their reigning with Christ equals a thousand years. This is true of all the saints, from the earliest laborer in the vineyard to the last of the elect who turns by faith to Christ just prior to His return to raise the dead (Matthew 20:1-16).
Next time we will think about the land beast, the number of the sea beast and summarize the promises and parameters of the victorious saints in Revelation 14.
*”Three and a half years” is a common timeframe in eschatological texts. The interrupted week, often expressed in terms of months and days, is a theme which reminds us that God is in charge of the timing, interrupting the rule and reign of beastly tyrants over and over again, whether Antiochus Epiphanes or Nero Caesar. The one and only King who sees His second half of the week after an interruption is Messiah (Daniel 9:24-27).
