The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 20 · Part 7
Of the thouſand years.
COncerning the thouſand years ſo often expreſſed in this Chapter we ſhall make this three-fold enquiry. Firſt, How we are to take it, whether definitely or indefinitely. Secondly, If definitely, whether only one ſpace of time is intended, where a thouſand years is ſo expres'd ſix ſeveral times. And Thirdly, If ſo, when thoſe thouſand years are ſaid to begin and end.
Firſt, whether to take that number of years indefinitely for a great ſpace of time, as Pſal. 91.7. A thouſand ſhall fall at thy ſide, and ten thouſand at thy right hand. So Pſal. 90.4. A thouſand years are in thy ſight, but as yeſtarday, when it is paſt as a watch in the night for a great while, 1 Sam. 18.7. Saul hath ſlain his thouſands, and David his ten thouſands; that is, David many more than Saul, not juſt ſo many.
Or definitely, for the certain expreſs time as here mentioned? I conclude the latter for theſe Reaſons.
Firſt, Becauſe, that when there is no neceſſity to take a Scripture in a figurative ſenſe, we are to receive it in the Letter, but neither the ſcope of the place, Analogy of Faith, or other Scriptures lay any ſuch neceſſity upon us, therefore ſo to take it.
Secondly, Becauſe this ſame ſpace is ſo often repeated by the ſpirit, to which we ſhould take the more earneſt heed, as matter of inſtruction and information; for thrice it is ſaid, Satan was bound a thouſand years and afterwards looſed, 2. 3. 7. Twice it is ſaid the Saints ſhall reign a thouſand years, verſe 4.6. Once that the reſt of the dead lived not again till the thouſand years finiſhed, verſe 5. There being a thouſand years of Satans Captivity and the Reſt of dead; and a thouſand years of the Saints Reigning with Chriſt.
If ſo, then Secondly, Whether theſe intend one and the ſame ſpace of time or no;
That one and the ſame ſpace of time is hereby intended is manifeſt, as Pareus well obſerves: Becauſe in verſe 2. and 6. the thouſand years are without an Article, foreign: But four times afterwards with an Article foreign, theſe thouſand years emphatically. As if he ſhould ſay, Satans impriſonment ſhall continue a thouſand years, and during theſe thouſand years, the Martyrs ſhall live and reign with Chriſt, and afterwards he ſhall be looſed. The parts to which this number is applied, are ſo cemented together as Cauſe and Effect, diſtinction and oppoſition that they very much ſtrengthen and prove that juſt account of a thouſand years, viz. Satan is bound a thouſand years, that he ſhould not deceive the Nations, till the ſame thouſand years be fulfilled: Then the Saints lived and reigned a thouſand years with Chriſt, that ſame thouſand years: But the reſt of the dead lived not again, untill theſe thouſand years were finiſhed; whilſt the holy ones as their happineſs made Prieſts of God and of Chriſt, Reign with Chriſt a thouſand years.
And as to the third, when theſe thouſand years begin and end, we have this general account.
That it is the ſpace of time, that is bounded with two Wars, that of the great Battle of God Almighty before it begins: And that of the Battle of Gog and Magog, after it is ended, being a time of eaſe, peace and reſt as before.
A ſpace of time, that hath the Beaſts deſtruction and judgment, the Dragons overthrow, binding and impriſonment going before, and the dragons releaſe and final doom and judgment going after.
A ſpace of time containing the ſounding of the ſeventh (Rev. 11.15.) Trumpet, the new Jeruſalem the Bride of the Lamb; (21, ….) the new Heavens and the new Earth, the Palme-bearing multitude out of all Nations, Tribes, People and Tongues, Rev. 7.9. till the War and judgment of Gog, perſonal coming of Chriſt, diſſolution of Heaven and Earth, general Reſurrection and judgment.
A ſpace of time bounded with two Reſurrections, viz. the miſtical or figurative Reſurrection of the Church out of her death and ſlaughter called the firſt Reſurrection; and the Corporeal Reſurrection at the leſt day. And with two deaths, viz. that miſtical death of the Reſt of the Dead, viz. the wicked that live not all the thouſand years, and the Eternal death which will be their doom after the thouſand years; with two Lifes, the miſtical of the Church in the thouſand years, and the Eternal Life and Glory to be their portion at Chriſts perſonal coming after the thouſand years. And with two judgments, that of the Beaſt and Falſe-prophet with their followers before; and that of the Dragon and his followers with all the wicked after.
But when particularly as to preciſe time theſe thouſand years ſhall begin, is yet a ſecret the Lamb hath not diſcovered, contained in the ſealed Book; all being as yet at a loſs, as to the certain Epocha of the Apocalyptick numbers, either as to the forty two Months or 1260, days or years of the Beaſts Reign, or the Churches entring the Wilderneſs which God in his due time will diſcover.