Revelation 20:4

[OneLight]

With all the discussions on the end times on what is to come, I would like to know what people think about the following:

Revelation 20:4a

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

As I hate to ask a question without providing more information, here are verses 1 to 6 so we can see how it is written in context.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is

the

Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Then

I saw

the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received

his

mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This

is

the first resurrection. Blessed and holy

is

he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

What judgment are they to perform, on whom and why? I can only "assume" that they will be judging those who have died for Christ during the tribulation. Thoughts?

[missmuffet]

Is it the Great White Throne Judgment?It is the final Judgment of God on mankind.

[OneLight]

No, that starts in Revelation 11 after the millennium.

[missmuffet]

It is refering to the tribulation martyrs.They were beheaded for refusing the Mark of the Beast.They will reign with Christ during the 1,000 year kingdom.

[ENOCH2010]

They are judging the nations

[firestormx]

If you count up all those who die during the events of revelation it comes to 3/4 of the worlds popualtion. So, by the end when Christ returns for his 1000 year reign there will still be 1/4 of the worlds population left. Now, some of these will be killed in the battle of armageddon, but the bible doesn't say all people on earth will be killed. So, I've always thought it was those who are unsaved and lived through the great tribulation. I mean, how can we live and rule with christ for 1000 years if there is nobody to rule over? Just my 2 cents.

[JohnD]

Judging can also mean leading (like the Old Testament judges the prophet Samuel was technically a judge).

[OneLight]

bopeep, that was what I was thinking, but scripture does not say.

Enoch, isn't that the Great White Throne Judgment?

Firestorm, who are they judging during the millennium?

John, what would this judging be? Do you mean the living who do wrong in any way will be judged through the millennium by those who sit on the thrones and not a civilian judge? I never considered this before.

*** edited to correct wording ***

[JohnD]

Luke 19:17 (KJV)

17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

[OneLight]

Luke 19:17 (KJV)

17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Interesting, and agreeable, but how does this apply to the millennium? Scripture states that those who died during the tribulation will be the ones mentioned to reign with Him during this time. I always thought this spoke to all who were faithful in Christ while living, and this was given during the next life. But again, to those who died, it is the next life. Do you believe this also speaks to the time of the new earth?

Edited to ask: John spoke of the thrones and those who sat on them before he spoke of those who died. How can they be the same people?