The First Resurrection

[49]

Revelations 20 verses 4-6 have been confusion for me since first reading them years ago, and my leaving God for 32 years did not help me to understand them any more. Mainly verse 5: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

In verse 4 John writes of seeing thrones and those sitting on them given judgment. He also saw the souls of them beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Then in verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years".

My questions are:

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Thanks.

 

[Magenta]

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Thanks.

Yes. The second death pays the wages of sin. Eternal life is found only in Him

 

[Ahwatukee]

Revelations 20 verses 4-6 have been confusion for me since first reading them years ago, and my leaving God for 32 years did not help me to understand them any more. Mainly verse 5: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

In verse 4 John writes of seeing thrones and those sitting on them given judgment. He also saw the souls of them beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Then in verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years".

My questions are:

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Thanks.

Hello 49,

First of all those are great questions. I hope that the following helps answer them:

Q: 1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

A: The rest of the dead who do not come to life at the first resurrection, will be the unrighteous dead, which is the reason why they will not be partaking in the first resurrection. These are those who will have been accumulating in Hades since mankind has been on the earth. Because they are not worthy of the first resurrection, the second death has power over them. They are all the unrighteous dead from the beginning of history who will be resurrected out of Hades and will stand before God at the great white throne judgment and will be accountable for their own sins.

Q: 2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4?

A: Those who are sitting on thrones will most likely the faithful, that is, the church and possibly the OT saints, as can be seen from the following scripture:

"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels?

Q: Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

A: I believe that those who are sitting on the thrones and those who are beheaded are two separate groups. That the scripture shows that they were beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and the word of God and because they had not worshiped the beast, his image nor had they received his mark, demonstrates that this group will have been living during the time of the beasts reign and therefore, this puts them as being killed during that last 3 1/2 years, which would make them the great tribulation saints (GTS) introduced in Rev.7:9-17. In fact, everywhere that you see the word "Saints" from Rev.4 onward is in reference to the GTS, which many erroneously apply to as being the Church.

Q: 3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

The second death is the another name representing the lake of fire, as can be seen from the following:

"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev.20:14-15)


Hope this clears some things up.

 

[crossnote]

Hello 49,

First of all those are great questions. I hope that the following helps answer them:

Q: 1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

A: The rest of the dead who do not come to life at the first resurrection, will be the unrighteous dead, which is the reason why they will not be partaking in the first resurrection. These are those who will have been accumulating in Hades since mankind has been on the earth. Because they are not worthy of the first resurrection, the second death has power over them. They are all the unrighteous dead from the beginning of history who will be resurrected out of Hades and will stand before God at the great white throne judgment and will be accountable for their own sins.
.

But v.5 says this is the first resurrection.

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

???

 

[Ahwatukee]

But v.5 says this is the first resurrection.

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

???

Hi crossnote,

The NIV and other translations give a better understand as the following demonstrates:

"They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection."

"This is the first resurrection" is referring back to those who came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years and not to those who come to life at the end of the thousand years.

"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them"

Those who come to life at the end of the thousand years are shown to be the unrighteous dead, that and the fact that their spirits are being released out of Hades.

 

[birdie]

Revelations 20 verses 4-6 have been confusion for me since first reading them years ago, and my leaving God for 32 years did not help me to understand them any more. Mainly verse 5: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

In verse 4 John writes of seeing thrones and those sitting on them given judgment. He also saw the souls of them beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Then in verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years".

My questions are:

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Thanks.

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

The dead are the 'dead in Christ'. When Christ died for our sins, it was just as if we had died but he took our place. We are dead with him in that respect (Romans 6:4, Col 2:12). It is not describing the unsaved. That is why the dead are said to live again. The unsaved never live again. When the verse says that the dead live again it means that they are born again to a new life in Christ. It means they become saved. The first resurrection is when Christ rose from the dead. He was the first to rise. When he did so he led captivity captive and gave gifts of new life to men he planned to save. The verse talks about the time period when Satan is bound. Satan is bound during the church age so that he cannot deceive those who are to be saved from believing. The Holy Spirit is the seal that prevents Satan from deceiving people away from salvation at that time. The Holy Spirit allows those who are saved to stay saved. They have a part in the first resurrection (the resurrection of Christ) because it was his atoning death and resurrection which gave them new life in Christ. They are blessed (meaning saved) and holy (meaning Christ paid for their sins). The church age is described as a period of a thousand years, the time when Satan is bound. The thousand years is not a literal thousand years any more than the parable of the ten virgins is a picture of only 5 persons who will ever be saved or 5 who will not. Rather, like the parable of the virgins, numbers have parable meanings in the Bible and are not always literal. The ten virgins were a picture of many persons and the thousand years is simply a particular time period. In the same book of Revelation there are 2 witnesses. This number also is a parable number describing more true believers than just two persons, if you see what I mean.

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.

The thrones that you ask about is simply saying that those who are saved rule and reign with Christ in the spiritual sense as soon as they become saved. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We do not worship the God of false religion, but the real God.

The talk about beheading that you ask about is describing how Satan enters into the people of the congregations of the church age and proclaims himself as the head of the congregations and his idea of the Bible and the gospel is what is followed. He rejects true believers and their true gospel and so the Bible uses the terminology of removing the head, Christ, from the true believers. Of course, they still have Christ as their true head, despite being rejected by the congregations. In much the same way, this terminology is used for John the baptist, whose actual head was removed to illustrate this.

The second death that you ask about is describing how those persons who are unsaved (who have already died spiritually once like all people as a result of man's sin) die later when they are permantly destroyed (cease to exist). It is as if fire burns up the people and they are no more. Fire is a parable word in the Bible for God's judgment rather than life. Jesus himself was a burnt offering in that sense. Anyhow, those who are saved once they are born again, never die again, so there is no destruction for them afterwards, no second death. Sure, their physical body may die at whatever age they live to be, but the real born again them goes on and on forever amazingly, thanks to Jesus who ever lives to interceed for them.

 

[birdie]

Q: 1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

A: The rest of the dead who do not come to life at the first resurrection, will be the unrighteous dead, which is the reason why they will not be partaking in the first resurrection. These are those who will have been accumulating in Hades since mankind has been on the earth. Because they are not worthy of the first resurrection, the second death has power over them. They are all the unrighteous dead from the beginning of history who will be resurrected out of Hades and will stand before God at the great white throne judgment and will accountable for their own sins.

The rest of the dead means the remaining people who are to be saved during the time after the church age. They are born again (come to life) after the thousand years (after the church age). This is what can be called the little season, the time of great tribulation. They also have part in Christ's life (Christ's resurrection is called the first resurrection). They are a part of the first resurrection just as the church age saved persons are a part of the first resurrection.

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

 

[Dan58]

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?
Its simply referring to the spiritually dead, the unsaved who live the millennium.

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?
I believe its the 24 elders; "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold" (Revelation 4:4). Also Daniel 7:9. It doesn't specify who, but I believe the 24 are the 12 Patriarchs and 12 Apostles.


3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire? Yes

 

[Ahwatukee]

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?
Its simply referring to the spiritually dead, the unsaved who live the millennium.

Hi Dan58,

Just FYI, those in verse 5 could not be the unsaved who live the millennium and that because this resurrection takes place when Jesus returns to end the age and which also takes place at the beginning of the millennial kingdom. It also identifies them as those who would not worship the beast, his image nor would they receive his mark. Since the reign of the beast takes place prior to the millennial period, this group are those who come out of the great tribulation period.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Correction on what I said: Those in verse five who come to life at the end of the thousand years, will be those who have been accumulating in Hades from the beginning of history. I originally thought you were talking about those who were beheaded.

 

[Porter]

Revelations 20 verses 4-6 have been confusion for me since first reading them years ago, and my leaving God for 32 years did not help me to understand them any more. Mainly verse 5: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

In verse 4 John writes of seeing thrones and those sitting on them given judgment. He also saw the souls of them beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Then in verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years".

My questions are:

1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Thanks.

Rev. 20:5 is an spurious passage. Some translations of the Scriptures do not include it or put foot notes indicating it was not found in the original Greek manuscripts.

spurious Text Frames

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[TD="width: 88%"]
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[49]

Thank you all for the replies. It seems there are different understandings from these verses, and am looking forward to discuss further as this is something that has caused confusion in my understanding as originally posted. Getting ready for work, all have a great day.

 

[valiant]

Revelations 20 verses 4-6 have been confusion for me since first reading them years ago, and my leaving God for 32 years did not help me to understand them any more. Mainly verse 5: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".

The first resurrection was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was the One 'first raised from the dead.' All who come to Him and believe in Him partake in that first resurrection (Eph 2.5-6; Col 3.1). Jesus spoke of it clearly in John 5.24-25. 'The hour is coming and NOW IS when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live'. He expected it in the near future ('now is'). It was a spiritual resurrection of all who believe in Jesus Christ. This is in contrast to the second resurrection, the BODILY resurrection, of John 5.28-29, which is in the future. At THAT resurrection both righteous and unrighteous will be raised at the same time in 'the hour that is coming'.

Today we who are Christ's are risen with Him (Rom 6.2-22; Eph 2.5-6 with 1.19; Col 3.1). It was because the SOULS of those who were with Him in Heaven ('they lived and reigned with Him') had partaken of that first resurrection that they could reign with Him in Heaven.

In verse 4 John writes of seeing thrones and those sitting on them given judgment. He also saw the souls of them beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads nor in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

All those who had physically died, both those who had been beheaded, and those who had not received the mark of the Beast, lived and reigned with Christ in Heaven because they had partaken in His resurrection, the FIRST resurrection. These are the spirits of just men made perfect of Heb 12.20-22 who are on the heavenly Mount Zion in the heavenly Jerusalem .

Then in verse 6, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years".

As Revelation makes clear. WE are priests of God (Rev 1.6; see also 1 Peter 2) and we will reign with Him (Rev 1.6; 5.10). Because through His resurrection we have received resurrection life in Christ the second death (the final end of the unsaved) will have no power over us. We have eternal life.

My questions are:
1. Who are the rest of the dead that are mentioned in verse 5?

They are the unsaved.

2. Who are those sitting on the thrones in verse 4? Are they the souls of those beheaded or are they some other?

They are the SOULS (bodiless living beings - compare Rev 6.9) of martyrs and of all who do not receive the mark of the beast (unbelief and idolatry). They are now at this time living and reigning with Christ over the undetermined long period of time (the thousand years).

3. The second death, is that the casting of unbelievers into the lake of fire?

Yes.

 

[dcontroversal]

I like post three except the erroneous statement about the saints not being members of the Lord's churches...in this age, the saints are members of the Lord' s churches...unto the Saints at Ephesus, Called to be saints at Rome, the saints at Phillipi etc....the words saints and elect are applied unto believers in any age and is indicative of two things....one describes being chosen and the other describes positioning as holy....Jesus told the faithful church and all churches that he would KEEP them from then hour that will try the whole earth...the word KEEP means to hedge about, protect, guard from loss...it does not mean remove.....the Lord will use the great tribulation to purify Israel and the laxadasical Churches that have become worldly....Post tribulation pre wrath gathering of the saints.......

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

.
The new birth is not a resurrection.

The first resurrection was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was the One 'first raised from the dead.' All who come to Him and believe in Him partake in that first resurrection (Eph 2.5-6; Col 3.1). Jesus spoke of it clearly in John 5.24-25. 'The hour is coming and NOW IS when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live'. He expected it in the near future ('now is'). It was a spiritual resurrection of all who believe in Jesus Christ. This is in contrast to the second resurrection, the BODILY resurrection, of John 5.28-29, which is in the future. At THAT resurrection both righteous and unrighteous will be raised at the same time in 'the hour that is coming'.

Today we who are Christ's are risen with Him (Rom 6.2-22; Eph 2.5-6 with 1.19; Col 3.1). It was because the SOULS of those who were with Him in Heaven ('they lived and reigned with Him') had partaken of that first resurrection that they could reign with Him in Heaven.

 

[valiant]

.
The new birth is not a resurrection.

'we were buried with Him therefore by baptism unto death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father WE ALSO might walk in newness of life (Rom 3.4). Is that not new birth? It is also resurrection.

If we have been united with Him in His death we shall be also in His resurrection (Rom 6.5).

He made us alive together with Christ, -- and raised us up together with Him, and made us sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2.5-6).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above (Col 3.1).

You may not have been 'made alive' in Christ and raised with Him but I have

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

'we were buried with Him therefore by baptism unto death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father WE ALSO might walk in newness of life (Rom 3.4). Is that not new birth? It is also resurrection.

If we have been united with Him in His death we shall be also in His resurrection (Rom 6.5).

He made us alive together with Christ, -- and raised us up together with Him, and made us sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2.5-6).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above (Col 3.1).

You may not have been 'made alive' in Christ and raised with Him but I have

The spirit's been revived, but the body hasn't. Therefore, the new birth is not a resurrection.

 

[valiant]

Originally Posted by valiant

'we were buried with Him therefore by baptism unto death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father WE ALSO might walk in newness of life (Rom 3.4). Is that not new birth? It is also resurrection.

If we have been united with Him in His death we shall be also in His resurrection (Rom 6.5).

He made us alive together with Christ, -- and raised us up together with Him, and made us sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2.5-6).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above (Col 3.1).

You may not have been 'made alive' in Christ and raised with Him but I have

The spirit's been revived, but the body hasn't. Therefore, the new birth is not a resurrection.

So poor old Paul got it wrong again? He called it a resurrection. To come alive after being dead in sins IS a resurrection. It is simply not a BODILY resurrection. It is indeed 'the first resurrection' for it was the result of our participation in the first resurrection, Christ's resurrection. Our bodily resurrection will be the second resurrection.

Jesus made this clear in John 5.25-26 (first resurrection) and in John 5.28-29 (second or general resurrection).

Forget your prejudices, believe Jesus and Paul

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

So poor old Paul got it wrong again? He called it a resurrection. To come alive after being dead in sins IS a resurrection. It is simply not a BODILY resurrection. It is indeed 'the first resurrection' for it was the result of our participation in the first resurrection, Christ's resurrection. Our bodily resurrection will be the second resurrection.

Jesus made this clear in John 5.25-26 (first resurrection) and in John 5.28-29 (second or general resurrection).

Forget your prejudices, believe Jesus and Paul

Paul didn't call it a resurrection; you do. The resurrection in Romans 6:5 is future tense, which means it's not the new birth which has already happened.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, we also will be of the resurrection: Romans 6:5​

 

[valiant]

Originally Posted by valiant

'we were buried with Him therefore by baptism unto death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father WE ALSO might walk in newness of life (Rom 3.4). Is that not new birth? It is also resurrection.

If we have been united with Him in His death we shall be also in His resurrection (Rom 6.5).

He made us alive together with Christ, -- and raised us up together with Him, and made us sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2.5-6).

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above (Col 3.1).

You may not have been 'made alive' in Christ and raised with Him but I have

Paul didn't call it a resurrection; you do. The resurrection in Romans 6:5 is future tense, which means it's not the new birth which has already happened.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, we also will be of the resurrection: Romans 6:5​

Why pick out one verse? The others too much for you? The whole of Rom 6.2-22 is about PRESENT experience 'As Christ was raised from the dead -- that we too might walk in newness of life. ' Isn't that clear enough for you.?

Reckon yourself to be dead to sin but ALIVE TO GOD through Jesus Christ our LORD (Rom 6.11). To become alive after death is RESURRECTION.

If you have been RAISED WITH CHRIST (Col 3.1). Who does this refer to?

Just admit it, you're wrong (some hopes on here lol)