saints will sit, occupying thrones with Him and judging the world; and this is a reign of peace, but of righteousness withal; this latter, Jewish properly: for heaven and earth meet in peace now—peace on earth—because the face of heaven, in its, own character through Christ, the mediator and the saints with Him, shines on it now.
In this part there is little mention of the nations, though it be left general; because Christ deals with the nations as identified with the earthly Jerusalem: whereas here He is looked upon as coming from heaven to act upon the main scene and agent of Satan’s hostile power—the beast and his followers. The nations at this time are more the subjects of Old Testament prophecy, which, while it recognises the fact of the Lord’s coming from heaven with all His saints, occupies itself with the earthly Jerusalem and what passes there. Here we have the display of the first resurrection, the main subject. Blessed and holy are they, they shall be priests of God and of Christ, there is their highest place; and they shall reign with Him a thousand years, for He is a priest on His throne. It would be hard to make priests of principles, though, by a figure, we might say ‘principles reign.
After this, when the nations form the body of
