Hi Willie T,
I have wondered if it refers to people who have been persecuted/tortured for their
faith, who did not defile themselves by throwing aside their first love of Jesus.
Maybe Steven as an example or even those who Paul persecuted.
Peter tradionally was crucified upside down etc.
Then there are verses like these.
Revelation 20:4-5 NKJV
[4] 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.
[5] But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection.
I’ve also seen comments that they are the “first fruits” who evangelised
and brought the multitude to Christ spreading the word.
I have wondered if it refers to people who have been persecuted/tortured for their
faith, who did not defile themselves by throwing aside their first love of Jesus.
Maybe Steven as an example or even those who Paul persecuted.
Peter tradionally was crucified upside down etc.
Then there are verses like these.
Revelation 20:4-5 NKJV
[4] 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.
[5] But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection.
I’ve also seen comments that they are the “first fruits” who evangelised
and brought the multitude to Christ spreading the word.