Revelation:20

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* And (note :)Now follows the third part of the prophetic history , which is of the victory by which Christ overcame the dragon , as I noted in ( Rev_7:1 ). This part must necessarily be joined with the end of the twelfth chapter and be applied to the correct understanding of it . This chapter has two parts , one of the dragon overcome , to ( Rev_20:2-10 ): the other of the resurrection and last judgment to ( Rev_20:11-15 ). The story of the dragon is twofold : First of the first victory , after which he was bound by Christ , to the sixth verse ( Rev_20:1-6 ). The second is of the last victory , by which he has thrown down into everlasting punishment , there to the fifteenth verse ( Rev_20:7-15 ). This first history happened in the first time of the Christian Church , when the dragon thrown down from heaven by Christ , went about to molest the new birth of the Church in the earth , ( Rev_12:17 , Rev_18:1 ). For which cause I gave warning , that this story of the dragon must be joined to that passage .(:note ) I saw an angel come down from heaven , having the key That is , of hell , where God threw the angels who had sinned , and bound them in chains of darkness to be kept till damnation , ( 2Pe_2:4 ) of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand . * And he laid hold on the dragon , that old serpent , which is the Devil , and Satan , and bound him (note :)The first of which (continuing this history with the end of the second chapter ) in the 36 years from the passion of Christ , when the Church of the Jews being overthrown , Satan attempted to invade the Christian church gathered from the Gentiles , and to destroy part of her seed , ( Rev_12:17 ). The thousandth year falls precisely on the times of that wicked Hildebrand , who was called Gregory the seventh , a most damnable necromancer and sorcerer , whom Satan used as an instrument when he was loosed out of bonds , from then on to annoy the saints of God with most cruel persecutions , and the whole world with dissentions , and most bloody wars : as Benno the Cardinal reports at large . This is the first victory gained over the dragon in the earth .(:note ) a thousand years , * And cast him into the bottomless pit , and shut him up , and set a seal upon him , that he should deceive the nations (note :)Namely , with that public and violent deceit which he attempted before in chapter 12 and which after a thousand years (alas for woe !) he most mightily achieved in the Christian world .(:note ) no more , till the thousand years should be fulfilled : and after that he must be loosed Which being once expired , the second battle and victory shall be ; ( Rev_20:7-8 ). a little season . * * * Blessed and holy [is ] he that hath part in the first resurrection : on such the (note :)That by this both body and soul , that is , the whole man is condemned and delivered to eternal death ; ( Rev_2:11 ).(:note ) second death hath no power , but they shall be priests of God and of Christ , A return to the intended history , by resuming the words which are in the end of the fourth verse ( Rev_20:4 ). and shall reign with him a thousand years . * * * And they went up on the (note :)As if he said , in so much that the whole face of the earth , however great it is , was filled .(:note ) breadth of the earth , and compassed the camp of the saints about , and the beloved city : and The wrath of God , consuming the adversaries , and overthrowing all their enterprises ; ( Heb_10:27 ). This is the second part mentioned {{See Rev_20:7 }}, in the overthrow of Satan . fire came down from God out of heaven , and devoured them . * * * And I saw the dead , small and great , stand before (note :)That is , Christ the judge ; ( 2Co_5:10 ).(:note ) God ; and the As it were , his books of reckoning or accounts , that is , the testimony of our conscience , and of our works , which by no means can be avoided . books were opened : and another book was opened , which is [the book ] The book of the eternal decree of God , in which God the Father has elected in Christ according to the good pleasure of his will , those that shall be heirs of life . This also is spoken according to the manner of men . of life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books , according to their works . * * * And whosoeuer was not found written in the booke of life , was cast into the lake of fire .

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