Revelation 20
In this chapter we are told
about the 1000 years of Christ’s reign.
This is one of the most controversial points of the revelation. We can spend a lot of energy focusing on the
last phrase over verse 4. This is a good
place to be reminded that the point of prophecy is not future chronology but
ethics, not “what will happen and how soon” rather, “How do I sustain my faith
until I meet Jesus face to face?”
We see in this passage
another reference to the overarching theme of the martyrdom of the Saints. But
there is an interesting and subtle nuance here. In the first part of verse 4,
there is a specific reference to those “who have been beheaded”. Let’s not pass over that phrase too quickly.
The Romans were, like most expansionist powers, experts in dealing out death.
While crucifixion was their most famous and hideous form of execution it was by
no means the only torturous death they employed. The Romans developed
death into a form of entertainment. The gladiatorial games were core to the
Roman way of life. The list of torturous forms of death that were practiced are
too numerous to mention. But some examples were people covered in oil or pitch
and burned as torches to light garden parties, sometimes they were boiled
alive, occasionally they were forced to fight animals or trained combatants and
in numerous other ways put to death recreationally. Roman citizens, however,
were exempt from any form of execution except for the sword. A Roman citizen
convicted of a capital crime could not be tortured by death on the cross they
could only be beheaded-a relatively painless way to die. So, while Peter was
crucified Paul the Roman citizen was beheaded.
In this book of
encouragement for Christians under persecution we see that even Roman elites
and citizens have begun to turn to Christ. They have declared Jesus is Lord,
which means that Caesar is not Lord and denial of Caesar’s lordship was
considered sedition and treason. These Roman Christians have paid for this with
their lives. Caesar is losing his grip
and losing it to Christ. And even death, which was one of Caesar’s most
intimidating weapons, has lost its power over the disciples.
In view of the ultimate
powerlessness of death, we face a vital question. It is the same question our early brothers
and sisters faced, “How shall we live?” We have the answer in the double
judgment described in the last paragraph of this chapter. It is a double
judgment in that everyone is judged about where they will spend eternity based
on the Lamb's Book of Life. But there is a second judgment. A judgment based on
their deeds recorded in the books-notice the plural “books” in verse 12. So this
is how we live: boldly for Christ as our Savior knowing that we are forgiven
and we live generously knowing that our deeds are recorded and remembered. When even death has lost its power we have
literally nothing to lose.
Questions to ponder
Despots and tyrants use the
power of death to keep control of their people.
What happens when a people are set free from the power of the fear of
death?
By the time the Revelation
was written and circulated the Gospel had reached every level of society,
including Roman elites. Why was their
specific inclusion of verse 4 important to the church as a whole?
