We may easily perceive what a variety of dreadful pains, diseases, and other calamities would cease, if all men were true and consistent Christians. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit, fallen man will be new-created and faith and holiness will as certainly prevail, as unbelief and unholiness now do. We may expect that a thousand years will follow the destruction of the antichristian, idolatrous, persecuting powers, during which pure Christianity, in doctrine, worship, and holiness, will be made known over all the earth. May we never know what it is: those who have been made partakers of a spiritual resurrection, are saved from the power of the second death. It must be much more dreadful it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. We know something thing of what the first death is, and it is very awful but we know not what this second death is. None can be blessed but those that are holy and all that are holy shall be blessed.
The happiness of these servants of God is declared. Those who suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ, and suffer for him, shall be favoured. Verses 4-6 Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same space of time as Satan is bound. The church shall have a time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials are not yet over.
Christ shuts by his power, and seals by his authority. He never wants power and instruments to break the power of Satan. Christ, with Almighty power, will keep the devil from deceiving mankind as he has hitherto done. Verses 1-3 Here is a vision, showing by a figure the restraints laid on Satan himself. (7-10) The last and general resurrection. (1-3) The first resurrection those are blessed that have part therein.
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