Chapter Forty/Crushing the Serpent's Head - Judges for a Thousand Years

 After the thousand years, Satan is released from the abyss for a short while. Why? Before giving the answer, John brings our attention back to the beginning of that time period. We read: "And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat on them, and power of judging was given them." (Revelation 20:4a) Who are this one sitting on the throne and ruling in the heavens with the glorified Jesus? 

They are "the holy ones" that Daniel described as ruling in the Kingdom with the One "like a son of man." (Daniel 7:13, 14, 18) They are the same as the 24 elders who sit on heavenly thrones in the very presence of Jehovah.  (Revelation 4:4) They include the 12 apostles, to whom Jesus gave the promise: "In the recreation, when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon twelve thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28) They also include Paul, as well as the Corinthian Christians who remained faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:8; 6:2, 3) They would include, too, members of the congregation of Laodicea who conquered.  - REVELATION 3:21. 

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