| 676 (or the lowest) 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 a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped [worshipped] the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." We learn from the above, first, that satan will be bound that he cannot deceive the nations for a thousand years; second, that judgment shall be given to the saints, or as Daniel words it: "Judgment shall be given to the saints, of the Most High" Third, that the saints who died in the faith, and have not worshiped [worshipped] the beast nor his image, will be raised from the dead; fourth, they will be made kings and priests unto God, and shall reign with him a thousand years; fifth, the rest of the dead, that is, those that through disobedience have rendered themselves unworthy of a part in the first resurrection, will not live again until the expiration of the thousand years. To be deprived of a part in the first resurrection, and also of this rest for the people of God, is surely a severe punishment to the wicked. This explains what Paul says, which we have before mentioned; "But every man in his own order, Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." While the bodies of the wicked remain in their tombs, the saints will be shining forth in the kingdom of God.
It is evident that the saints will receive a glory as the reward for their faithfulness in the cause of God, which is past description. Indeed, then will be fulfilled the saying of Christ, in the explanation of his parable of the talents: "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord."-Matt. xxv, 21. Also the following: "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom."-Luke, xxii, 29-30. From the above it is evident that the saints will not only be made kings and priests, but that they will have authority, and dominion. It would be folly to talk about reigning, without both authority, and dominion. But says one, what will they rule over? This is not for us to say, but for God to appoint. Christ has already answered this question: "I will make thee ruler over ten cities." They are to reign as kings under Christ, and be appointed by him. Whether each will have a separate and distinct appointment, or all form a grand quorum and reign collectively, is not for us to say; but it sufficeth to say that they will reign on earth. The following shows what will be the exalted station of the saints when redeemed: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God: for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ: if so be we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory of which shall be revealed in us."-I Cor. viii, 14-18.-Christ while praying to the Father for his disciples said: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as
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