20:2 - And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III
-indicating that sin, which was set up and spread out against man, and which rendered him subject to death, should be deprived of its power, along with death, which rules [over men]; and that the lion, that is, antichrist, rampant against mankind in the latter days, should be trampled down by Him; and that He should bind "the dragon, that old serpent"[461]Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh
and that the beast Antichrist with his false prophet may wage war on the Church of God; and that, after the casting of the devil into the bottomless pit for a while,[175]
20:3 - And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Tertullian Against Hermogenes
-having been first "cast into the bottomless pit; "[110]
20:4 - 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.
Dialogue of Justin
And further, there was a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation that was made to him, that those who believed in our Christ would dwell[325]Cyprian Treatise XI Exhortation to Martyrdom Addressed to Fortunatus
" And when he had placed those who were slain in the first place, he added, saying: "And whosoever had not worshipped the image of the beast, neither had received his mark upon their forehead or in their hand; "all these he joins together, as seen by him at one time in the same place, and says, "And they lived and reigned with Christ."[116]Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon
Habib said: Those who die for the sake of the name of Christ, and worship not those objects that are made and created, will find their life in the presence of Cod;[22]
20:5 - But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus
but is trusted as a virgin; and salvation is manifested, and the Apostles are filled with understanding, and the Passover[71]Didache
in heaven; then the sign of the sound of the trumpet; and the third, the resurrection of the dead; 7. yet not of all, but as it is said: The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him.[151]The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs XII
Then shall we also arise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of heaven, who appeared upon the earth in the form of a man of humility. And as many as believed on Him on the earth shall rejoice with Him;[7]
20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V
Again John also says the very same in the Apocalypse: "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection."[307]Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
And John says, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power."[166]Methodius Discourse IX. Tusiane
Such fruit it is necessary that we bring when we come to the judgment-seat of Christ, on the first day of the feast; for if we are without it we shall not be able to feast with God, nor to have part, according to John,[13]
20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh
If sorrow, and mourning, and sighing, and death itself, assail us from the afflictions both of soul and body, how shall they be removed, except by the cessation of their causes, that is to say, the afflictions of flesh and soul? where will you find adversities in the presence of God? where, incursions of an enemy in the bosom of Christ? where, attacks of the devil in the face of the Holy Spirit?-now that the devil himself and his angels are "cast into the lake of fire."[449]
20:11 - And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V
For after the times of the kingdom, he says, "I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat upon it, from whose face the earth fled away, and the heavens; and there was no more place for them."[326]Tertullian Against Hermogenes
"and there was found no place for them,"[365]Dubious Hippolytus Fragments
From Thy presence the whole earth fleeth away,[132]
20:12 - And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V
Moreover," he says, "the book of life was opened, and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works; and death and hell were sent into the lake of fire, the second death."[327]
20:13 - And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Methodius From the Discourse on the Resurrection
Consider, he says, whether too the blessed John, when he says, "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it: and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them,"[105]
20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V
"And if any one," it is said, "was not found written in the book of life, he was sent into the lake of fire."[329]Shepherd of Hermas Vision First
Cease not therefore to admonish your sons; for I know that, if they will repent with all their heart, they will be enrolled in the Books of Life with the saints."[25]