A Study of Revelation 20 and other Related Passages
I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joy and riches of the world, even if it lasted for thousands and thousands of years.
Martin Luther
Christ is the desire of nations, the joy of angels, the delight of the Father. What solace then must that soul be filled with, that has the possession of Him to all eternity!
John Bunyan
Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.
Thomas Watson
We return from our extended studies in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13-14 to our main study in Revelation 20. Revelation 20:4 has proven to be a keystone verse for the interpretation of this chapter. Our stated goal is to answer the question, “One or Two Resurrections?” This is, of course, more involved than just providing a number. That there is a “first” resurrection indicates that there is a second. The concern of the Bible’s student is to ascertain the nature of these resurrections as set forth by the good news of Jesus Christ. Having established the meaning of Revelation 20:4, we should now read that verse in close connection to the following two verses. Interpreting these three verses together will prove critical to answering our main question.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over 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.
Revelation 20:4-6
Verse five is translated in two sentences. Each serves a different, though related purpose. The first sentence of verse five enhances the description of the blessed state of those who reign with Christ for a thousand years. This enhancement is made by way of contrast. We have already identified those who sit on the thrones as the “nations” of verse 3. Emphasized among the nations who reign with Christ are those who were beheaded for their faithfulness. This emphasis shows the degree of victory in Jesus. Not even beheading by the beast undoes their life in Christ.
Now comes a contrast to those who live and reign with Christ for a thousand years, even though they have died. The first sentence of verse five reads, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” The rest of the dead are in contrast to the dead already considered. The nations sitting on thrones in Heaven (Revelation 4-5, 7) live and reign in Christ and with Him for a thousand years. They have already died physically, but they still live eternally (John 11:25). Not all of them were killed by beheading. Some among them were, but these are mentioned for a vital emphasis. Now the rest of the dead are considered. These do not sit on thrones. They do not live and reign with Christ. They have no life in the midst of their death. They are not part of the first resurrection. They are hopelessly, lifelessly dead and they do not “live again” until the completion of Christ’s thousand year reign. This expression, “live again” translates a term used elsewhere in the New Testament for the resurrection from the dead (Luke 15:24, 33; Romans 14:9). While these dead (who do not sit on thrones reigning with Christ) will not be raised until after the thousand years, those who do reign with Christ live all the while. This contrast shows what a blessed grace it is to die in Christ and yet live and reign with Him for the entirety of His Kingdom.
The second sentence of verse 5 sums up the blessed state of those who reign with Christ. “This is the first resurrection.” This summary also serves as an introduction into verse 6. This statement does not describe “the rest of the dead.” at the beginning of verse 5. Those dead are contrasted with those who live in verse 4. The resurrection of the rest of the dead in the first half of verse 5 is only mentioned to enhance the genuine life enjoyed by the dead in Christ. The resurrection at the end of the thousand years is not the first resurrection. It is the second, one which all people participate in, sinners and saints (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50; 25:14-46; John 5:21-30; Acts 26:15). How do we know the second sentence in verse 5 does not directly call the “raising to life of the rest of the dead” in the first sentence of verse 5 the “first resurrection”? Because it summarizes the entirety of the blessed state of the saints in verse 4, which is enhanced by the contrast beginning verse 5. This is made clear by what this short sentence introduces in verse 6. We should read them together.
This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over 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.
We have here a general statement followed up with further summaries of the blessed nature of the first resurrection. Notice that the “first resurrection” refers specifically to those who “reign with Christ a thousand years” NOT to “the rest of the dead” who do not “live again” until after the thousand years. All the dead are considered by John in this apocalyptic vision both here in verses 4-6 and later in verses 11-15. There is a difference between the dead. Although all men die (the first death), some yet live and reign with Christ a thousand years (the first resurrection). Although all men will be raised for Judgment day (the second resurrection) there are some who are subject to the lake of fire (the second death). Those who have part in the first resurrection are not subject to the second death (Revelation 20:11-15). Although the beginning portion of verse 5 focuses only on “the rest of the dead” there is no reason to then extrapolate that those who reign with Christ in verse 4 have no part in the second resurrection. That statement is there simply to serve as an emphasis by way of contrast, showing how blessed it is to be in Christ, since those outside of Christ have no portion in the first resurrection.
As Christians we believe “there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:15b.) Jesus states that the resurrection of all the dead happens at one occasion and both the righteous and the wicked are raised at the same time. When John 5:24-29 is read alongside Revelation 20:4-6 great clarity is afforded the believer. Furthermore, in Jesus’ many kingdom parables, as He clarifies how everything turns out, He continually affirms the spiritual blessedness of those who are alive in Him, while assuring us that the finale of His kingdom will center on a sifting judgment (tares, bad fish and goats vs. wheat, good fish and sheep). Never are we told that God removes the good first, but both are handled together. This is emphasized so as to hone our expectations. Why then do the Scripture’s authors use the language of “first resurrection”?
The meaning of the first resurrection is rather simple. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead IS the first resurrection. We are told in Colossians 1:18 “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Paul clarifies in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 that when Christ rose from the dead HE was the “set apart first” or “aparche” from the dead. This term is translated as “firstfruit” from the dead. Why “firstfruit?” The term “fruit” is not in the original Greek. It receives this gloss because in the LXX* in Exodus 23:19 the same Greek word covers the Hebrew words for “head/chief” and “firstborn” which speak to harvest.** The term literally refers to a distinguished first, or a set apart and elevated first. This is Paul’s labor in 1 Corinthians 15 to root the hope of our bodily resurrection (which is the second resurrection in Revelation 20) in the spiritual life and power of Christ’s resurrection (which is the first resurrection in Revelation 20).
It is vital to see from 1 Corinthians 15 that the reality of the first resurrection in Christ means everything in the present for those who have hope of the future second resurrection also in Christ. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. To believe in Him is to partake in the first resurrection. Even though we die, yet we live and reign with Him for a thousand years awaiting the second resurrection which coincides with the last enemy being defeated and the end of the world (John 11:20-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26).
We should finally notice in Revelation 20:6 that the blessings these saints enjoy are entirely wrapped up in Jesus’ resurrected glory. They are priests with Him. They reign with Him. They have life in Him. Absent from their bodies they are present with their Lord. Indeed, those of us who are made priests in this life in Him, know eternal life in the now and have hope of it in the not yet. Those of us who even now participate in victory in Christ our King, we too are blessed to partake in the First Resurrection. Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
*Septuagint. The Greek translation of the Old Testament which the Apostles used.
** “reshit bikur” or “rosh = head/chief” + “bikur from bakar which means “firstborn.”
