THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Revelation Revealed Chapter 20 v1-6 [The First and Second Resurrections]
THE FIRST RESURRECTION… and ruling with Jesus Christ for 1000 years.
Revelation 20:1-6…. Scripture clearly defines here a certain prophesied time of a Millennial/1000 year period, that period of time of great joy and peace, although clearly is not yet the Eternal sinless Age that follows it. For it is an age still subject to sin and death Isaiah 65:20.
This period, or age, being the 7th Millennium since “Re-Creation”… The Age that accompanies and finishes The Sabbath Rest of ReCreation. It is the Sabbath that all other Sabbath’s point towards.
The referenced 1000 year Kingdom period, which commences with the First Resurrection and closes with the 2nd Resurrection, is substantiating previous Scriptural allusions to it (Psalm 1:5,6; Job14:12; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:25-29) along with its different aspects being also further clarified. They are briefly:
- “…..Satan is bound …a thousand years.”
- Concurrently recompense was appointed to certain ones who had been “….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 an reigned with Chris a thousand years (Though it is the intense heat of the End Times here to referred to, this inheritance within the First Resurrection would of course include the “Overcomers” of this Age of Grace and Mercy as previously promised in Revelation 2:11 26,27… and extend to all other Ages as well).
- Also concurrently “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
- “This is the first resurrection.”… That transpires 1000 years before the 2nd Great White Throne Resurrection of Revelation 20:11.
So it is stated clearly that there is a Millennial Period that those who will be honored to be apart of shall also reign…leaving those Christians who are not so honored un-resurrected until after that 1000 year period. These then to be among all the wicked dead to be resurrected…. thus “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
That some would maybe admit not all Christians shall reign, but all will be resurrected in the First Resurrection…But it is clear here in Scripture that all that were resurrected reigned…. “and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” …..Therefore they who are not found worthy to reign will not be then raised, …thus some of those “….rest of the dead” shall include Christians who were not apart of the First Resurrection (compare Greek literal translation being “out from among the dead” of Luke 20:35 Philippians 3:11).
It is worthiness in moral character that matters in Christ’s Words of Luke 20:35 and Luke 21:34-36. Those NC Scripture references refer to the First Resurrection individuals personal righteousness… as it could not then possibly relate to imputed righteousness with the gift and promise of eternal salvation based upon faith in Christ’s Righteousness, which is not in question, but a personal righteousness based upon self realized and incorporated Kingdom worthy morals of Christ commands worked into the fabric of our lives.
It is the possibility of missing the First Resurrection, and reigning in the Millennial Kingdom in the heavens above and on the earth beneath that explains all the many warning Words of Christ to His disciples (Matthew 5:19,20 25:1-30; Luke 14:16-24; Luke 19:15-26) and the continuing imperative of Paul’s teachings, that believers can be disinherited from the KINGDOM of Christ and God (1Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5).
Prayer for Believers can add nothing to their “justification by faith”…. but prayers do help and strengthen fellow Believers to walk morally in witnessing character, to the end they might be found worthy for the First Resurrection.
This the recompense for entering into the sufferings of denial after the nature of Christ (Romans 8:17) that we might also be glorified with Him in the First Resurrection and rule in His Kingdom. There is a great type here in Jonathan and David…. In that Jonathan loved David and declared David’s right to rule as King in the Kingdom and his desire to be next to him in authority … “….thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; …” yet Jonathan did not enter into the sufferings of David’s rejection… “And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.” 1Samuel 23:16-18.
Being found worthy for the First Resurrection means inheritance of authority and power in His Kingdom.
Subjects are not heirs. Opportunity to be heirs as rulers appears to pass with exclusion from the First Resurrection…but does not eliminate from being a subject of that Kingdom.
Another great type is the right of the Firstborn. Esau was the rightful heir of the firstborn inheritance of Isaac, but he forfeited it. Although Esau did not lose his son-ship or his life through his sin, but he lost the preeminent status of ruling the clan, additionally the accompanying dignities of being the priestly leader, as well as the double portion of the inheritance as the First Born son (comp Revelation 1:6).
It is Revelation 20:4-6 that brings clarity to Hebrews 4 “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,…” this rest can not be referring to eternal life rest as this rest is one that is attained by labour…. as the example warning to Christians. It is here understood that the Israelites did not labor in their redemption from Egypt but contrastingly were to be fully engaged in the battle to inherit the Promised Land (comp Hebrews 4 with 1Corinthians 10).
Their redemption was strictly in answer to the Promise to Abraham.
As Right to Title to the Promised Land was through the grace afforded and provided through being the seed of Abraham… but possession would require acts of faith, which they were unwilling to make. “… but in the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were strewn in the wilderness, 6and those things became types of us, for our not passionately desiring evil things, as also these did desire.” (Young’s Literal Translation).
Scripture is clear; there is the assurance of the free gift of eternal life …that is obtained by faith in the Atonement of Christ (Roms 6:23)…but it is equally clear that attaching the same security to post-redemption privileges is wrong…the final realities are here in Revelation 20:6 most defined for us…
“..blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection” as “they” are the they of “…..And I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment was given them.” This post-conversion honor is in answer to Christ’s Words of Rev 3:21 & 2:26,27 which are further amplifications of Daniel 7:18,22,27 read.
“The fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” Revelation 19:7,8…. (The Bride has arrayed herself and has found favor above all the other virgins Esther 2 with Matthew 25:1-13)… this is not that imputed righteousness based upon Christ’s Righteousness in which all “saved” persons share equally through faith apart from works, but personal righteous acts in obedience to the Words of Jesus Christ revealed progressively to the heart by and through the Power of The Holy Spirit.
“Not that I have already obtained (the prize) or am already made perfect; but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12.
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