THE SAINTS ARE EXALTED TO AUTHORITY

The Saints are Exalted to Places of Authority

vs.  4, 6

"And I saw thrones, and they 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 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."
"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."

Therefore there will be competent rulers. Thus men will no longer be able to blame the moral environment for their sin. Born again and holy. Saints which have been perfected and now able to reign with the Mediatorial Ruler in His Kingdom.

The Nature of the Millennial Government

In general, it is characterized by three expressions: First, we are told that "judgment" (krima) will be given to the enthroned saints (Rev. 20:4). Second, we learn that all who have part in the first resurrection shall be "priests" (hiereis) of God (Rev. 20:6). And, third, the same verse declares that they shall "reign" (basileusousin) with Christ. Thus the governing activities of the coming Kingdom, as indicated by these terms, will be judicial, sacerdotal, and regal.

The Identity of This Group

This Consists of all Those who Belong to the First Resurrection vs. 5

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."

Old Testament saints, church saints, tribulation saints as seen in vs. 4

The Character of This Group is Blessed (born-again) and Holy vs. 6

"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."

This marks the fact that they are born-again and that they are set aside from sin. These characteristics constitute the needed credentials for competent rulership.

The Position of This Group is That of Kings and Priests vs. 4, 6

"And I saw thrones, and they 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 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."
"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."

As priests they are the mediators between God and men. They represent people to God during this thousand years. As kings they represent God to men. They bear his word to men.

The Function of the Group is That of Judging and Reigning vs. 4, 6

"And I saw thrones, and they 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 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."
"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."

Christ is the great King and Judge. He undoubtedly delegates His work. The saints will be the subordinates in the kingdom doing the judging and reigning.

That is the brief but perfect account of the thousand years which we have come to describe as "the millennium." It is an arresting fact that in this wonderful book so little is said about that period. At the most only three verses deal with it. At the 7th verse we are at once beyond it. The glorious pictures of the last chapters are not those of the millennium, but of events following it, and a still more glorious age which is to succeed it. This is not to undervalue that period of a thousand years, but it is to draw attention to the fact that it is neither final nor complete. John was only given one version of it. He saw it as a period in which Satan would be bound, and Christ would reign in association with those who had suffered for His name, and had refused the mark of the beast. For any further interpretation of that period, we have to consult the writings of the old Hebrew prophets. The brief description, however, is sufficient to enable us to realize how wonderful a time it will be. Evil will not be absent from the earth, but it will no longer be in the ascendant, even to outward appearance. Its fountain head and center described here fully by John as "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan," will be bound, denied access to men. Men will be left to make their choice between good and evil apart from the seductions of evil spirit. What an age it will be for the preaching of the Gospel, and surely the preachers will be God's ancient people Israel! It will be the final period of preparation for the ultimate and perfected Kingdom.

Peace and righteousness will finally reign on the earth, under the iron rule of Christ and His resurrected saints (Revelation 2:26-27; 19:15; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3), and it will endure a thousand years. Furthermore, the catastrophic changes on the earth’s surface during the tribulation judgments will have restored the gentle topography and protecting vapor canopy over the earth (Isaiah 40:4; Psalm 148:4-6; etc.), so that the primeval “very good” condition of the whole world (Genesis 1:31) will be restored in large measure. Harmony also will be restored between men and animals, and people will again have only one language and will live to great ages (Isaiah 11:6-9; Zephaniah 3:9; Isaiah 65:20).
"beheaded" Evidently, those who refuse the beast’s mark will have been executed by the guillotine or the sword.
 lived. The “souls” of the martyrs of the tribulation will have been resting “under” the heavenly altar (Revelation 6:9-11) until the seven years of tribulation are done, but then will apparently be resurrected to join all the other raptured and resurrected saints of all the ages.
"reigned" The saints will all be “kings and priests” (note Revelation 20:6) under their Lord, Jesus Christ, with various degrees of authority as based on faithfulness of service while in this present life (note Revelation 1:6; 5:10; Matthew 19:28; Luke 19:17, 19).