Revelation 20:4

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, etc.] Besides the throne of God the Father, and the throne of glory, on which the Son of God sits, and the twelve thrones for the twelve apostles of the Lamb; there will be thrones set, or pitched, for all the saints, (<270709>Daniel 7:9) who will sit on them, in the character of kings, and as conquerors, and shall sit quiet, and undisturbed, and be in perfect ease, and peace, for they that sit on them are the same persons hereafter described in this verse; for after the binding of Satan, an account is given of the happiness and glory of the saints during that time: and judgment was given unto them; that is, power, dominion, regal authority,…”

“they sat--the twelve apostles, and the saints in general. judgment was given unto there--(See on Dan 7:22). The office of judging was given to them. Though in one sense having to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yet in another sense they "do not come into judgment (Greek), but have already passed from death unto life." souls--This term is made a plea for denying the literality of the first resurrection, as if the resurrection were the spiritual one of the souls of believers in this life; the life and reign being that of the soul raised in this life from the death of sin by vivifying faith. But "souls" expresses their disembodied state (compare Rev 6:9) as John saw them at first;…”

“And I saw thrones - θρόνους thronous See Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 4:3-4. John here simply says, that he saw in vision thrones, with persons sitting on them, but without intreating who they were that sat on them. It is not the throne of God that is now revealed, for the word is in the plural number, though the writer does not hint how “many” thrones there were. It is intimated, however, that these thrones were placed with some reference to pronouncing a judgment, or determining the destiny of some portion of mankind, for it is immediately added, “and judgment was given unto them.” There is considerable resemblance, in many respects, between this and the statement in Daniel…”

“And I saw thrones - Such as are promised the apostles, Mat 19:28; Luk 22:30. And they - Namely, the saints, whom St. John saw at the same time, Dan 7:22, sat upon them; and Judgment was given to them. Co1 6:2. Who, and how many, these are, is not said. But they are distinguished from the souls, or persons, mentioned immediately after; and from the saints already raised. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded - With the axe: so the original word signifies. One kind of death, which was particularly inflicted at Rome, is mentioned for all. For the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God - The martyrs were sometimes killed for the word of God in general; sometimes particularly…”

“20:4 thrones . . . people sitting on them: This portrayal of a heavenly tribunal includes the elders (4:4) on thrones (see Dan 7:9-10), the victorious martyrs (see Dan 7:22), and all God’s people. • beheaded for . . . Jesus: Beheading was a common form of execution for Roman citizens. • The faithful who resisted receiving the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-17) will judge the condemned (see 1 Cor 6:2-3) on thrones similar to those of the worshiping elders (see Rev 4:10-11; 5:8-10; 11:16).”

“thrones: Dan 7:9, Dan 7:18, Dan 7:22, Dan 7:27; Mat 19:28; Luk 22:30; Co1 6:2, Co1 6:3 the souls: Rev 6:9; Mal 4:5; Mat 17:10-13; Mar 9:11; Luk 1:17, Luk 9:7-9 beheaded: Mat 24:10; Mar 6:16, Mar 6:27; Luk 9:9 the witness: Rev 1:9, Rev 11:3, Rev 11:7, Rev 12:11 and which: Rev 13:12-17, Rev 14:11, Rev 15:2, Rev 17:8 and they: Rev 5:9, Rev 11:11, Rev 11:15; Dan 2:44, Dan 7:18, Dan 7:27; Rom 8:17, Rom 11:15; Ti2 2:12 Revelation 20:5”