RSV ~ Revelation 20 Notes

Rev 20:1-6 | ISB Notes

The binding of Satan and the millennial reign of Christ. Three views of the millennium have dominated theological discussion over the centuries. (1) Premillennialism is the view that Christ, when he comes again, will establish his reign on earth for 1,000 years. Also called chiliasm (from the Greek word for “one thousand”), this interpretation was popular in the second and third centuries (e.g., St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 80). A modern version, advanced by Protestant dispensationalists, holds that the Church will be gathered into heaven at the Second Coming, after which Christ will restore the theocratic kingdom of David in Jerusalem for 1000 years and fulfill all of God’s promises to ethnic Israel. (2) Postmillennialism interprets the 1000 years as symbolizing that period of history during which the gospel goes forth and gradually has its full effect of Christianizing the world. Once this global process is complete, Christ will return in glory. Advocates generally hold that the length of the millennium is beyond our ability to calculate. (3) Amillennialism, like postmillennialism, holds to a symbolic view of the 1000 years and does not envision Christ reigning on earth in visible form. The millennium is said to represent the entire stretch of history between the First and Second Coming, that time when Christ reigns in a spiritual and sacramental way through the Church. Rising to prominence in the fourth and fifth centuries, this has probably been the most widely held view among Catholic theologians throughout history (beginning with St. Augustine, City of God 20, 9).

• The background of the millennium may be traced to the period of the Davidic covenant, which was established almost exactly 1000 years before the coming of Christ. This age began with David extending his rule over Israel and other nations (2 Sam 5-8) and with Solomon instructing the nations in the ways of righteousness (1 Kings 10:1-10, 2324). It is also a time when the faithful of Israel first experienced martyrdom for their faith (Dan 3:16-23; 2 Mac 7:1-42). The images in 20:1 also have links with Davidic traditions: the key recalls the key of David in 3:7; the pit of the netherworld was believed to be sealed off by the foundation stone of Solomon’s Temple; and the chain that prevents deception may reflect the tradition that a chain hung in Solomon’s courtroom and was used to verify the truthfulness of testimony given under oath. These and other features of the Davidic age prefigure the messianic age, during which Christ reigns over the Church and the world as the royal Davidic Messiah.

• The Catholic Church rejects all forms of millenarianism (i.e., chiliasm), which contends that Christ will come again to establish a visible kingdom on earth and to inaugurate a golden age of peace and prosperity within human history (Decree of the Holy Office, 1944) (CCC 676).

Rev 20:2 | ISB Notes

that ancient serpent: The devil as disguised in Gen 3:1-14 and exposed in 12:9.

Rev 20:4 | ISB Notes

I saw thrones: A heavenly court, or possibly the thrones of apostolic government in the Church, as in Mt 19:28 and Lk 22:28-30.

• The scene recalls Dan 7:9-11, where the beast from the sea is condemned and thrown into the fire, and Dan 7:26-27, where the kingdom of the Son of man is given to the saints.

beheaded for their testimony: Martyrs such as John the Baptist (Mk 6:27) and the apostles James (Acts 12:1-2) and Paul (Christian tradition). These and others killed for their faith reign with Christ in a special way (Rev 20:6), even though all believers share in the royal-priestly reign of Christ, whether in heaven (Rev 2:26-27) or on earth (Rev 5:10).

Rev 20:5 | ISB Notes

the first resurrection: The meaning of the two resurrections is uncertain. The first may refer to a spiritual resurrection to new life through faith and Baptism (Jn 5:25; Rom 6:3-4), followed by a bodily resurrection at the return of Christ (Jn 5:28-29; 1 Thess 4:15-16). Or perhaps both resurrections are bodily, the first being that of Christ and the saints of the OT (Mt 27:52-53) and the second involving the rest of humanity Rev (20:12-13; 1 Cor 15:22).

Rev 20:6 | ISB Notes

Blessed: The fifth of seven beatitudes in Revelation. See note on Rev 1:3.

the second death: The spiritual death of hell (20:14). The first death is bodily death (20:5).

Rev 20:8 | ISB Notes

Gog and Magog: Names that symbolize the coalition of evil nations summoned by Satan to besiege the Church of the last days. This will be the final explosion of the devil’s fury before his consignment to hell (20:10).

• The two names come from the apocalyptic war vision of Ezek 3839, where Gog and the land of Magog assemble an international army to plunder the beloved People of God. Their plans are foiled, however, when fire and brimstone rain down from the Lord and destroy them (Rev 20:9).

Rev 20:9 | ISB Notes

camp of the saints: Like the Exodus generation of Israel, the pilgrim Church on earth is still journeying toward the rest of the Promised Land.

the beloved city: Another image for the Church, this time pictured as the heavenly Jerusalem (21:2).

Rev 20:10 | ISB Notes

the lake of fire: Hell, where the devil joins his former agents, burning since 19:20.

tormented: The damned are not annihilated or disintegrated, but kept alive to be tortured for eternity (Mt 25:46; Mk 9:47-48).

Rev 20:11-15 | ISB Notes

The Last Judgment, when the souls of the dead are rejoined to their bodies (the second resurrection) to stand before Christ the Judge. Their secrets will be revealed, and every thought, word, and deed catalogued in the heavenly books will be reviewed. This is the Last Day, when both the righteous and the wicked will be raised (Acts 24:15) and sent their separate ways (Dan 12:2; Mt 25:31-46; Jn 5:29) (CCC 677, 103841).

Rev 20:11 | ISB Notes

great white throne: The judgment seat of Christ (2Cor 5:10), the description of which recalls the ivory throne of Solomon (1 Kings 10:18). Elsewhere in Revelation, Jesus appears with white hair (1:14), wears a white garment (3:5), moves on a white cloud (14:14), and rides a white horse (19:11). The angels and saints are also robed in white (4:4; 6:11; 7:9; 15:6; 19:14).

Rev 20:12 | ISB Notes

the book of life: A listing of all the saints destined for glory (3:5). It will be opened for the final roll call of the righteous at the Last Judgment, with the names of the saved read aloud (21:27) and the names of damned nowhere to be found (20:15).

• The book of life is a metaphor based on a comparison with human affairs. For it is common practice among men to inscribe in a book those who are chosen for an office. Now, since all the predestined are chosen by God for eternal life, the enrollment of the predestined is called the book of life (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I, 24, 1).

Rev 20:13 | ISB Notes

Death and Hades: See notes on Rev 6:8 and 9:1.

Rev 20:14 | ISB Notes

the second death: The state of spiritual death and damnation (20:6).