Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Revelation 20:6
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Blessed - That is, his condition is to be regarded as a happy or a favored one. This is designed apparently to support and encourage those who, in the time of John, suffered persecution, or who might suffer persecution afterward. And holy - That is, no one will be thus honored who has not an established character for holiness. Holy principles will then reign, and none will be exalted to that honor who have not a character for eminent sanctity. That hath part in the first resurrection - That participated in it; that is, who is associated with those who are thus raised up. On such the second death hath no power - The “second death” is properly the death which the wicked will experience in the world of woe. See Revelation 20:14. The meaning here is, that all who are here referred to as having part in the first resurrection will be secure against that. It will be one of the blessed privileges of heaven that there will be absolute security against death in any and every form; and when we think of what death is here, and still more when we think of “the bitter pains of the second death,” we may well call that state “blessed” in which there will be eternal exemption from either. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him - notes at Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10. Section b. - Condition of the world in the period referred to in Revelation 20:4-6. I. It is well known that this passage is the principal one which is relied on by those who advocate the doctrine of the literal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years, or who hold what are called the doctrines of the “second advent.” The points which are maintained by those who advocate these views are substantially: (a)That at that period Christ will descend from heaven to reign personally upon the earth; (b)That he will have a central place of power and authority, probably Jerusalem; (c)That the righteous dead will then be raised, in such bodies as are to be immortal; (d)That they will be his attendants, and will participate with him in the government of the world; (e)That this will continue during the period of a thousand years; (f)That the world will be subdued and converted during this period, not by moral means, but by “a new dispensation” - by the power of the Son of God; and, (g)That at the close of this period all the remaining dead will be raised, the judgment will take place, and the affairs of the earth will be consummated. The opinion here adverted to was held substantially by Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and others among the Christian fathers, and, it need not be said, is held by many modern expositors of the Bible, and by large numbers of Christian ministers of high standing, and other Christians. See the “Literalist, passim.” The opinion of the Christian fathers, with which the modern “literalists,” as they are called, substantially coincide, is thus stated by Mr. Elliott: “This resurrection is to be literally that of departed saints and martyrs, then at length resuscitated in the body from death and the grave; its time to synchronize with, or follow instantly after, the destruction of the beast antichrist, on Christ’s personal second advent; the “binding” of Satan to be an absolute restriction of the power of hell from tempting, deceiving, or injuring mankind, throughout a literal period of a thousand years, thence calculated; the “government of the earth” during its continuance to be administered by Christ and the risen sain…
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