Class 02 Verify Text & Translation Jeremee M. Tyler, November 15th, 2013 Section #1.

. Preliminary Passage Overview Professor Matthew Bryce Ervin, BIBL2302 - Hermeneutics

Research Component

Passage chosen: Revelation 20:1-6 Translations studied: ESV, NKJV, NLT, and NIV External Source(s) Referenced: Matthew Henry's Biblical Commentary

* Below, I have provided the ESV Version of this passage in its entirety. I only provided the entire passage in one version due to its length; however I made it a point to identify all of the variants I saw, and the differences that I found within this specific text.

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the

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Class 02 Verify Text & Translation Jeremee M. Tyler, November 15th, 2013 Section #1. Preliminary Passage Overview Professor Matthew Bryce Ervin, BIBL2302 - Hermeneutics dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years".

01) Variants and differences that I noticed: In the NKJV version in verse 3, it states that by the hands of the angel who came down from Heaven, the dragon was cast into a bottomless pit, and the angel shut him up. However, in the ESV version, it states that the dragon was shut into the pit, and sealed in. The noticeable differences are the uses of the word 'shut' in each sentence. If the reader is not aware that when the NKJV version says "shut him up", it simply means locked him in, then one might assume it means to make him quiet in the sense of the words the dragon spoke, or noises he made rather than holding him captive. Another interesting point can be made all across the board for verse 05 in all four versions; all of them make clear that they are speaking of the first resurrection in the verses that soon follow. In verse 06, there are no clear variants that can be found between the NIV, and the NLT Version which was quite interesting to see. Both versions make known that those who share (are a part of) the first resurrection are not only blessed, they are Holy as well. Verse 06 finishes with a very interesting statement, it lets the reader know that in Christ the second death has no power over them whatsoever, and on top of this, they will be Priests of God, and of Christ, who will reign with him for a thousand years.

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Class 02 Verify Text & Translation Jeremee M. Tyler, November 15th, 2013 Section #1. Preliminary Passage Overview Professor Matthew Bryce Ervin, BIBL2302 - Hermeneutics

02) Summarization: In Revelation 20:1-6, we receive a clear depiction based upon a vision given of just how restricted Satan is. Due to the unmatched power of Jesus Christ, there is no evil that will be able to overcome the will of God. Christ's supreme authority provides the power to not only shut Satan into captivity for all of eternity, but to seal him in the pit to guarantee he will never return to earth. The saints will reign, and there will be mass amounts of prosperity in the church, but since this is the first resurrection, it is important to keep in mind that all trials will not cease in existence just yet. The second death appears to be one of agony, the first resurrection is life. During the second death, it appears that false teachers will be all the more exposed, and while this is taking place, God's glory will be even more evident to both Christ-followers and those who deny God. The Holy Spirit will be flooding the world as well. Faith and holiness will win against any, and all demonic forces that try to overtake that which God Himself has set into place. Although there is no need to fear as a believer in this world today, the manifestation of God's Spirit at work will solidify to an even higher degree within our hearts just how fearless we can be in Christ.

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Class 02 Verify Text & Translation Jeremee M. Tyler, November 15th, 2013 Section #1. Preliminary Passage Overview Professor Matthew Bryce Ervin, BIBL2302 - Hermeneutics 03) Summarization pertaining to my current understanding of this passage: In summary, I came to understand that The Lord has an incredibly, beautifully orchestrated plan for all of His followers. At times in this life, we can tend to worry about the little things that should not matter so much. We can also tend to cause internal division within the body, when we should be reminding ourselves, and one another that some things just aren't worth arguing over, we should let the minors be the minors, and focus in the majors. Remembering that this life is but a vapor and all of this will soon fade is so crucial in this life. Reading Revelation reminds me of how important it is to keep the right perspective, and trust God with the future. The prophetic statements made not only in Revelation 20, but in the entire book of Revelation shows us that we can, and we will overcome because the battle is already won. The victory is set in stone, and God's world reveals this to us.

04) Doctrinal presupposition I had when approaching this passage: My presupposition coming into this passage was the thought that God's plan for His saints will be revealed, this is why the entire book is titled Revelation. Based upon the title that my ESV version provides, "The Thousand Years", I assumed initially that the vision would be cast by the author of this passage, along with illumination of God's word the more that I meditate, and request God's wisdom, and His discernment so that I may receive the understanding of what is being stated within the text. Every time I read scripture, I have a goal to comprehend it on a very deep intellectual level so that when I share it with the students I preach

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Class 02 Verify Text & Translation Jeremee M. Tyler, November 15th, 2013 Section #1. Preliminary Passage Overview Professor Matthew Bryce Ervin, BIBL2302 - Hermeneutics to, they understand it, and I live to preach the truth over tickling ears for the sake of popularity. I would rather die in faith, and live a life that reflects Jesus' life and when doing so, I want to share His word in a practical way that is easy to understand; although I have my own presupposition, I never base my understanding entirely off of that because like with anything, something cannot be understood without thorough investigation, or full comprehension of what is being said. It is wise to remember that we are not always going to get it right; however, there is also wisdom in seeking truth rather than being dependent upon our own thoughts.

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