REVELATION 20:4-6
THE FIRST RESURRECTION
Revelation 20:4-6 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God (believers), and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
These thrones that John speaks of are heavenly thrones. The scene here is heaven not earth.
John does not say how many thrones there were or who sat upon them. But at the end of the verse he speaks of those slain for Jesus’ sake as reigning during the 1,000 years, and so we presume it is these who sit on the thrones. Authority to execute judgment was given to them Jude 14-15.
Christ is not unmindful of his persecuted disciples. He sustains them in order that they may remain faithful to the end.
A few years of suffering on earth cannot be compared to the better land above where they who trust in Christ will reign with Christ “a thousand years.” What a comfort!
Now, in connection with the “thousand year reign” of verses 4-6 I will seek to answer three questions.
1. Where does it take place?
2. What is its character?
3. Who participate in it?
First, where does the 1000 year reign take place? According to the passage which we are considering it takes place:
1. Where the thrones are, for we read: And I saw thrones and they that sat upon them. Now, according to the entire book of Revelation the Throne of Christ and of His people is in heaven.
2. Where the disembodied souls of the martyrs are, for we read, “And I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus.”
John sees souls, not bodies. He is thinking of souls without bodies, for we read: of them that had been beheaded. Paul says in 2 Corinthian 5:8 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (in heaven).
In this entire passage there is not a single word about a resurrection of bodies. The distinction between soul and body is even emphasized: the souls of them that had been beheaded. Their souls went to be with Jesus.
The souls reign during this entire present dispensation until Christ’s second coming. Afterward, it is no longer the souls that reign. Then, body and soul are together again. Then, the saints reign; not for a limited though lengthy period—a thousand years—but “forever and ever,” Revelation 22:5.
3. Where Jesus lives, for we read: And they lived and reigned with Christ… The question, accordingly, is: where, according to the Apocalypse (Revelation), is the place from which the exalted Mediator rules the universe? Where does Jesus live? Clearly, in heaven!
It is in heaven that the Lamb is represented as taking the scroll out of the hand of him that sat on the Throne, Revelation 5 & 12 clearly states that Christ was caught up to God and to His Throne…Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell there.
Second, what is the character of the 1000 year reign? The nature of this reign is summarized as follows:
It is judging with Christ.
It is living and reigning with Christ
It is a sharing of royal glory with Christ
Third, who participates in this 1000 year reign? Remember, this takes place at the first resurrection.
The first resurrection has reference to the souls of the martyrs; those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and all other believers who died in their faith: such as worshipped not the beast, (Roman Emperor).
Note: For this period of a 1,000 years the souls of the martyrs and other believers who died in the Lord reign with Christ in heaven awaiting their resurrected bodies when Christ returns to gather all the saints and judge the wicked.
The short sentence “This is the first resurrection” should be seen as the conclusion to verse 4, where the enthroned saints in heaven reign with Christ. The first resurrection, then, is a spiritual resurrection much the same as the second death is a spiritual death. The first one means eternal life in the presence of God, the second, complete separation from God.
There is no doubt that the second resurrection, which John omits from this discussion, is a bodily resurrection. And by comparison, if the second death is a spiritual death for the unbeliever, then the first death, which is not mentioned, refers to the physical death of the believer.
The unbelieving dead—do not come to life until the thousand years are finished. When that period is finished, then there is a change.
Then they enter punishment; not only for the soul but now also for the body. The change is not for better but for worse.
The first resurrection is the spiritual resurrection of the soul which applies only to believers. (John 11:25; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:22-24)
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
We need not infer a first spiritual resurrection of the unbeliever, for without regeneration they remain dead in their transgressions and sins (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13). Their second spiritual death is in effect their eternal death, since they are forever cut off from God’s grace extended to them during their life on earth.
Those who belong to Christ die once but rise twice (spiritually and physically), whereas those who have rejected Him rise once but die twice (physically and spiritually).
Those who have part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy and the second death (eternal separation from God) has no power over them, but they will be priest of God and of Christ and reign with Him for a thousand years (till His return when they will take part in the second resurrection and receive a new body.)
NOTE: The second resurrection (if there is a first then there has to be a second) would have to be the resurrection of the body of both believer and unbeliever which will take place at Christ’s return. (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Acts 24:15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
