Revelation 20 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

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20.4 And I saw thrones; and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to
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(...continued)
years and six months (Commentary on Apocalypse 20:3) since it was widely believed (based
on Daniel 7:25; 8:14; 9:27; 11:7, 11-12) that the period of the Antichrist’s dominion would last
three and one half years (Justin Diologue 32; Irenaeus Against Heresies 5.25.3; 5.30.4...).”
(Pp. 1084-85)
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Aune holds that this verse, 20:4, is a “doublet” of 6:9 (pp. 1087-88):
Revelation 6:9 Revelation 20:4
ei=don, I saw
kai. ei=don...And I saw
u`poka,tw tou/ qusiasthri,ou,
underneath the altar
ta.j yuca,j, the souls
tw/n evsfagme,nwn, of those
having been slain
ta.j yuca,j, the souls
tw/n pepelekisme,nwn, of those
having been beheaded
dia. to.n lo,gon tou/ qeou/
because of the word of the God
kai. dia. th.n marturi,an
and because of the witness
dia. th.n marturi,an vIhsou/
because of the witness to (or ‘of’) Jesus
kai. dia. to.n lo,gon tou/ qeou/
and because of the word of the God
h`.n ei=con
which they bore (or ‘had’)
“The couplet ‘because of the word of God and [because of] the testimony [of Jesus],’
occurs three times (1:9; 6:9; 20;4; compare 12:11)...while another, ‘those who keep the commands
of God and maintain the witness to (or ‘faithfulness to’) Jesus’ occurs twice (12:17; 14:
12.” (P. 1088)
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Aune comments that the phrase “And I saw...” introduces a “new vision report,” but
“it is not evident whether this scene takes place in heaven or on earth (for neither is mentioned
in verses 4-6), though it is usually assumed that the millennial reign of Christ occurs on the
earth. That those who were beheaded for their testimony are resurrected and reign with Christ
(verse 4b-d) suggests that the scene occurs on earth.” (P. 1086)
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Aune comments that “The 3 person plural aorist verb evka,qisan, ‘they sat,’ is used
here without a subject, so exactly who sat upon the thrones remains unspecified...At first sight,
(continued...)
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