The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

calls them kings and priests. In other Scriptures they are called judges. These are not
empty titles, but are full of solemn significance and mean that those to whom they are
given, share with Christ in the administration of the government of the coming world. As
kings they are to rule, as judges they are to judge and to administer and execute justice.
(Isa. 32:1.) As kingly priests they are to be entrusted with the cares and responsibilities of a
Royal Priesthood. The Scriptures clearly teach that when the present dispensation is fully
ended, Christ will enter upon a new and particular administration of human affairs. Our
infinite God has ordained that He shall judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:31.)
"When He shall sit on the throne of His glory," then before Him, during those thousand
years, shall be gathered all the nations, and the great work of separating the "sheep" from
the "goats" shall progress until the end of the thousand years, when the work will be
finished--the "sheep" class rewarded, and the "goat" class punished. Engaged with Him in
this work will be the overcomers, the sharers with Him of His own, the First, the Chief
Resurrection. This work is that of ruling or shepherdizing the nations with a rod of iron-the
following up of the victory of the "great day of God Almighty"--enforcing the rule of
righteousness and justice in place of the iniquitous rule of the "dragon." Not only will the
survivors of the awful time that introduces the Millennial Day be dealt with, but the
residue of men who lived and died during past generations will be awakened from the
sleep of death, become enlightened concerning God's purpose for them, and be dealt with
in justice and mercy; and we have the Divine statement to the effect that "when the
judgments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness."
Coming now to the consideration of verse 7, regarding the loosing of Satan, we note in
connection with the vision of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His saints (Rev. 20:4-6)
that there is not the slightest reference to the earthly character of that reign, except that
contained in the expression that Satan was bound that he should no longer deceive the
nations until the thousand years were ended. This, of course, would imply that Christ's
reign was over the nations of the earth. The reason why the various characteristics and
details of this reign are not portrayed in the vision would seem to be that the book of
Revelation being the closing book of prophecy, the Christian student is supposed to be
familiar with the peculiar characteristics of the earthly phase of this reign which had
already been portrayed in the writings of the Prophets of Israel, as well as frequently
referred to by Christ and His Apostles. In the Old Testament prophecies the heavenly
character of this reign is implied in the wonderful changes that are described to take place
in the earth and its peoples as contrasted with present conditions. As an illustration of this,
let the reader note the wonderful prophetic picture:
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."--Isa. 11:9.
It will be seen in this quotation that the heavenly aspect of this remarkable period is veiled
in strong figurative language; the "mountain" referred to being a symbol of the Kingdom
of God. Another illustration of this will be found in the words of the Prophet which read: