Understanding the The 1000 Year Millennium in Prophecy

[3 Resurrections]

Not a short time. . to a timeless eternal one.

To him a 24 hour day is as if a thousand literal years.

You are also using the typical cop-out. God was not speaking to Himself in Revelation. He was speaking to His servants to show them what would "shortly" come to pass - for them in their own generation. Those prophecies God said were "AT HAND", which means PRESENTLY in the process of fulfillment for THEM in the first century. God defined what He meant by an "AT HAND" prophecy in Ezekiel 12:21-28. That kind of prophecy was not "prolonged" into "times that are far off". God would not only "speak" the "at hand" prophecy, but He would also "perform" it "in your days" for the ones first receiving that "at hand" prophecy.

Paul had written to the Romans that God was going to crush Satan under their feet "shortly". That did not mean several thousand years would pass before Satan was crushed. Written around AD 60, Romans 16:20 was meant to encourage those Roman believers who were about to pass through the most intense persecution of the saints for 42 months in AD 64 under Nero's pogrom against the Christians. In spite of that blistering persecution from late AD 64 to early AD 68 just before Nero died, God was going to crush Satan under their feet "shortly" in AD 70.

You also need to learn how to understand time-relevant terms in scripture.

 

[Red Baker]

You also need to learn how to understand time-relevant terms in scripture.

Still very sick, but I'll post as I'm able.

Revelation 1:3​

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

Revelation 22:6​

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”

All in between these two bookends of end time prophecies that shall shortly be done~includes the Great White Throne Judgment, that's yet to take place, yet shall take place shortly as far as God judges time and as we as well! What's two thousand years? Nothing in comparison to eternity!

 

[3 Resurrections]

Revelation 22:6​

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”

All in between these two bookends of end time prophecies that shall shortly be done~includes the Great White Throne Judgment, that's yet to take place, yet shall take place shortly as far as God judges time and as we as well! What's two thousand years? Nothing in comparison to eternity!

You are engaging in circular reasoning here, Red. This is what all pre-mil dispensationalists do, and you don't want to go there. You start with a preconceived opinion about a Great White Throne Judgment - presuming that God has designed for this to occur on one occasion ONLY in our future (which scripture never says is limited to one time only). From that presumption, you then attempt to prove that the Great White Throne Judgment happening "shortly" can't possibly mean "shortly" in the normal sense in which this term is to be understood. As I emphasized above, God was not speaking to Himself in Revelation: He was revealing things to his servants which could be understood from THEIR perspective as humans and how they ordinarily relate to time-relevant terms. "Short" is NOT long. "Near" is NOT far off. "Quickly" is NOT slowly. "About to be" is NOT way, way, way off down the road in the distant future.

Moreover, God has laid out a detailed explanation of what He means by an "AT HAND" prophecy in Ezekiel 12:21-28. An "at hand" prophecy is NOT "prolonged" into "times that are far off". God explained through Ezekiel that an "at hand" prophecy is fulfilled "in YOUR days" for those to whom that "at hand" prophecy is first delivered. All those prophecies in Revelation that were described as being "at hand" were then starting to unfold in John's days, and in his generation - not ours. Some of those Revelation prophecies described past events, some were happening as John was writing, and some were "about to be hereafter" (Rev. 1:19).

The Rev. 20 millennium was one of those past things for those to whom John was then writing. And it doesn't take extended pages of commentary to prove this either.

 

[Mr GLee]

You are also using the typical cop-out. God was not speaking to Himself in Revelation. He was speaking to His servants to show them what would "shortly" come to pass - for them in their own generation. Those prophecies God said were "AT HAND", which means PRESENTLY in the process of fulfillment for THEM in the first century. God defined what He meant by an "AT HAND" prophecy in Ezekiel 12:21-28. That kind of prophecy was not "prolonged" into "times that are far off". God would not only "speak" the "at hand" prophecy, but He would also "perform" it "in your days" for the ones first receiving that "at hand" prophecy.

Paul had written to the Romans that God was going to crush Satan under their feet "shortly". That did not mean several thousand years would pass before Satan was crushed. Written around AD 60, Romans 16:20 was meant to encourage those Roman believers who were about to pass through the most intense persecution of the saints for 42 months in AD 64 under Nero's pogrom against the Christians. In spite of that blistering persecution from late AD 64 to early AD 68 just before Nero died, God was going to crush Satan under their feet "shortly" in AD 70.

You also need to learn how to understand time-relevant terms in scripture.

Shortly God does not give number people or days. Shortly a thousands years a unknown. No need to know. Satan the king of lying signs to wonder after rather than prophecy

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.


Two generations that we must concern oneself .The generation of Adam all die and that of Christ the born again generation all live forever.

 

[Red Baker]

You are engaging in circular reasoning here, Red. This is what all pre-mil dispensationalists do, and you don't want to go there. You start with a preconceived opinion about a Great White Throne Judgment - presuming that God has designed for this to occur on one occasion ONLY in our future (which scripture never says is limited to one time only). From that presumption, you then attempt to prove that the Great White Throne Judgment happening "shortly" can't possibly mean "shortly" in the normal sense in which this term is to be understood.

Circular reasoning does not provide any justification for the conclusion~By saying the Great White Throne Judgement takes place at the end of this world is biblical, so, you cannot label my use of those two scriptures and the final judgment being at hand as circular reasoning, unless you reject the the great White Throne Judgement taking place at the end of this world. But seeing you now call my understanding preconceived opinion, when the scriptures are very clear as to when this take place. So, you and your preterist friends just create another time along with Revelation 20:11-15, in order to cover your bases.

So, show me from the scriptures where The Great White Throne Judgement is not on the last day, since you said it was a preconceived opinion, and added that the scriptures never said that this day is limited to one time only.

Acts 17:31​

“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

2 Timothy 4:1​

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”

Matthew 25:31-32,~"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:" Tons of more scriptures.

The Rev. 20 millennium was one of those past things

We shall see as we hope to get finish with this soon.

 

[Red Baker]

VERSE FOUR

• "And I saw thrones, and they set upon them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither has received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years".

In verse 4 John tells us that he saw the souls of the martyrs who did not worship the beast, nor receive his mark. First of all, notice that John does "not" say he saw the martyrs, nor does he say that he saw their bodies, or the persons, or he saw souls (which could be illustrating people). He is very specific! He saw the souls "of" those that were beheaded for the witness of God. The souls of them, nothing more! Again, this is the Spiritual picture that the Lord is giving us. First the angel comes from heaven and binds Satan that the New Covenant Church can be built, and then John sees the souls of those martyred raised up to reign with Christ on thrones. In other words, they are made kings and Priests unto God after Christ binds Satan. If you look at verse 5 you'll see that this (the souls of these martyrs up on thrones) is called The First Resurrection. It's now a simple matter of Biblical deduction to discover exactly when and what was "The First Resurrection?"

Again, fitting perfectly into place we see that it was at the cross! These Souls were raised up to reign with Christ because of the work at the cross and Christ's resurrection thereafter. Christ is the "First" Resurrection. Those who have part in the first resurrection are all the True Believers who have part in Christ's First Resurrection. They are the First Resurrection (the second being at Christ's return). Those who have died in Christ have gone to be with the Lord, having been raised with Christ to reign. That's the First Resurrection these martyrs have part in, which precludes the second death.

The very fact a first resurrection is spoken about, indicates that there is a second. And the second resurrection is at Christ's return. This is at the time of the Rapture when when the rest of the dead will be raised to stand for Judgment. And then there will be the second death, of which those who have part in the First Resurrection (raised with Christ) have no need to worry about. Likewise, the very fact that a second death is spoken about, implies that there is a first death.

Romans 5:12-14

• "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
• (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
• Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."

The first death is our death in Adam. For in him we are all dead in tresspass and sin. As God told Adam, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." And in Adam, we all die, which means that we are all dead in trespass and sin. This is that first death.
1st Corinthians 15:21-22

• "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
• For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Did Adam die when he ate of the tree? Yes, but not physically, he died spiritually. Therefore the first resurrection from the dead is not physical, but spiritual. It is in Christ, the firstfruit. And we shall 'realize' that eternal life resurrection at his coming.

Do not be confused by this First and Second Resurrection, and the First and Second Death. This is the way the Lord writes things that His sheep 'alone' will receive it. Just as in the parables He told. If we look at these verses carefully and objectively, we can see that the thousand years are not literal. These souls are those of the martyrs in heaven. It says these are those beheaded because of the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and are those who didn't receive the mark of the beast in their foreheads (sign of bondage to Satan).

And we read the rest of the dead lived not again for 1000 years (verse 5). This also illustrates that this is not speaking about a future first resurrection, for there is one future resurrection of the just and the unjust. And it is not (nor can it be) the first. If this were indeed a literal number of years, then even all of the "rest of those who died" would have all had to die on the same year. Else they could not have died and not lived again for that literal thousand years. Did everybody (the rest of the dead) all die the same year? ..see how convoluted this gets? Likewise in the 1000 years the believers who died lived and reigned with Christ, is it the same thousand years satan is bound? If so, how can the souls of the dead be reigning with Christ in heaven when Christ is (supposedly) reigning with men here on earth in literal jerusalem in the middle east? Moreover, if the rest of the dead for a thousand years refers to the same thousand literal years Satan is bound, then when Satan is loosed after the thousand years, these "rest of the dead" must also live again, and we have a world with dead people walking around, because scripture emphatically says they lived again after the thousand years? Does Satan have an army of "literal" dead people helping him deceive the nations and coming against the camp of the Saints? For the rest of these dead live after this thousand years, and Satan is loosed after a thousand years. On and on this inconsistency and torture of scripture is endless in the premillennialist doctrine. If we just bother to look at it carefully we understand that it simply cannot be literally a thousand years.

 

[Red Baker]

But here is the truth of the matter. We should understand that everything in this Revelations chapter 20 is going along in a logical chronological progression. The angel, comes down from heaven with this Key (Christ is the one with the Keys to Hell and death -Rev. 1:18) and great chain and lays hold on Satan and bounds him 1000 year (the fullness time for the Lords purpose) so that He can free Satan's prisoners and populate Christ's Kingdom with the spoil. He shuts Satan up in this spiritual prison symbolized by the fathomless abyss where he can't deceive the world to the degree he had in the past, and prevent the Lord's plan to build His Temple by spoiling Satan's house! God sets a seal on him (indicating that He assures this). This is God's "signification" of security that no one can loose Satan but God who bound him. He will not be not loosed until the fullness of time is accomplished (spiritually, 1000 years). So after Satan is bound, John sees the souls of the martyrs then living and reigning on thrones. This is consistent with scripture of the binding of Satan, and the work of Christ on the cross which allows these souls to have been raised up from the dead to "live" and reign with Christ! They are kings and Priests unto their God having had part in Christ's Resurrection. These are those who are not servants of Satan (received his mark of servitude), but they are/were martyred because of their witness and for the Word of God they brought. And they all live and reign (spiritually) 1000 years with Christ. And it is by the work of this messenger of the Covenant that they can be translated into the Kingdom and live and reign with Christ.

Ephesians 2:5-7

• "Even when we were Dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ, by Grace ye are Saved,
  
  
• and hath Raised us up together, and made us to sit in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus".

What raising up or resurrection from the dead is this? If it's not the "first" then all scripture is untrustworthy and nothing to be believed! Because God says Christ is the First born from the dead, that in all things he might have preeminence. Is that true or not? These souls reigning with Christ reign because they were in Christ when He went to the cross and they were raised up with Him (The First Resurrection) to be seated in heavenly places having the Judgment of God with Power, because God dwelleth within them. Anyone who tries to tell you that the first resurrection hasn't happened yet, either doesn't know the scriptures very well, or is deliberately ignoring them.

If you recall when Mary's brother Lazarus died, Jesus came to her and she said, I know he will be raised at "The Last Day". Well, the last day is the day of the Rapture, but it's the second resurrection, not the first! But Jesus made it perfectly clear to her of another Resurrection. The First! Consider wisely..

John 11:25

• "Jesus said unto her, I Am The Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,
  
  
• and whosoever that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"

Perhaps we should ask the Theologians of the Premillennialist Churches today if Jesus indeed was the Resurrection, because it doesn't appear that they believe this is true. Jesus was telling her, the first Resurrection unto Life is in Me, it's right here! I Am the Resurrection! He that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die! In other words, neither Lazarus nor you have have to die physically and wait until the end of the world (The resurrection at the Last Day as Martha says) to be Resurrected. In fact, if you do wait till that time to be resurrected, you won't see life! The First resurrection is right here and now and without it, you are subject to the second death! But if you have part in this First Resurrection (in Christ) the second death hath no power over you. And that is exactly what Revelation 20 said about the First Resurrection.

He that liveth and believeth is Resurrected in Christ so that he'll never die (physical death yes, the second death, No). And he that is dead (as these martyred souls John saw), don't really die, because they had part in that 1st Resurrection in Christ. i.e., as Christ said, the true Believer will never die! That scenario is only possible if they have part in the First Resurrection, which is in Christ. When a believer is martyred, his soul leaves the body, and he goes to live and reign with Christ forever (Symbolized by the number 1000 years). Because He had part in the First Resurrection. And that of course is what John was talking about in Revelation 20. Souls of the Martyrs, not people reigning on earth. John, seeing those souls in heaven, sees the First Resurrection.

Symbolism
Thrones = Reigning
Beheaded = Martyrdom for Christ
Beast = The Kingdom of Satan (as a Ravenous beast to devour)
Mark of the Beast = Signifies coming into Servitude to Satan's Kingdom
Forehead = The Mind in agreement with
Hand = fellowship

Because of the angel came and bound Satan, these souls of believers can go to live and Reign with Christ, "because" He has made them the First Resurrection, that they would never truly die..................Which brings us perfectly to the next verse.

 

[3 Resurrections]

So, show me from the scriptures where The Great White Throne Judgement is not on the last day, since you said it was a preconceived opinion, and added that the scriptures never said that this day is limited to one time only.

I have never denied that there is a Great White Throne judgment at the culmination of fallen mankind's history on this planet in our future. There is. The Full Preterists as a general rule do NOT acknowledge that truth, but I do. But this still doesn't limit God's Great White Throne judgment of mankind to one occasion ONLY.

Red, you need to check your own definition of what the "last day" actually is. The last day of WHAT? You are presuming that scriptures' mention of the "last day" is at the close of fallen mankind's history on this planet, but that is not what it was speaking about. There was a "latter end" predicted for the people of Israel all the way back in the "Song of Moses" in Deuteronomy 32, predicting God's judgment of His people in the days of vengeance for the ethnic nation of Israel, even before they entered the promised land. Their participation in God's plans as an ethnic people ended when God "shattered the power of the holy people" in the AD 70 period (as Daniel 12:7 also predicted).

This is why Peter wrote that "the END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND" as he was writing that statement around AD 65 in 1 Peter 4:7. It is also why John wrote to the believers that "the last HOUR" had already arrived when he was writing 1 John 2:18. "Little children, IT IS the LAST HOUR...". Paul also wrote that "the ENDS OF THE AGES" had come upon them at that time (1 Cor. 10:11). A certain set of ages was coming to an end in the first century, and there would be a "last day" for the ethnic people of Israel at the end of those ages. James 5:1-9 also spoke about the rich men who at that time were then heaping up treasure "IN THE LAST DAYS", when the coming of the Lord had drawn near, with the judge standing before the door. A Great White Throne Judgment was staged in AD 70 when all those who had died up until that point were judged.

But there were also "the ages to come" which Paul also wrote about in Ephesian 2:7. History continued to flow AFTER Christ's return in AD 70, as Zechariah 14 clearly proves with its "year to year" progress of human history following Christ second coming to the Mount of Olives. Of necessity, there must be yet another Great White Throne Judgment of all those who will have died since AD 70. "We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ", and that applies to all those who will have died since the AD 70 GWT judgment as well.

None of the verses you supply above are limiting a GWT judgment to a single occasion ONLY. In fact, the 2 Timothy 4:1 you gave is one of my favorite texts proving an AD 70 judgment. "I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is ABOUT TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD at his manifestation and his reign." (YLT). That was the soon-coming AD 70 GWT judgment, as Paul was writing to Timothy around AD 67, just before Paul's martyrdom.

 

[3 Resurrections]

Christ is the "First" Resurrection. Those who have part in the first resurrection are all the True Believers who have part in Christ's First Resurrection. They are the First Resurrection (the second being at Christ's return).

You are confusing the believers sharing in the benefits of Christ's work in the First resurrection with actually being physically raised from the dead in that First Resurrection. Only Christ and the Matthew 27:52-53 saints were bodily raised from the dead on that same day. THEY were the "remnant of the dead" which John wrote about who came to life again as composing the "First resurrection" event (which was when the millennium ended).

You are complicating the simple, Red. Less is more.

 

[Red Baker]

You are confusing the believers sharing in the benefits of Christ's work in the First resurrection with actually being physically raised from the dead in that First Resurrection. Only Christ and the Matthew 27:52-53 saints were bodily raised from the dead on that same day. THEY were the "remnant of the dead" which John wrote about who came to life again as composing the "First resurrection" event (which was when the millennium ended).

You are complicating the simple, Red. Less is more.

I'm not confusing~I'm speaking from what the scriptures teaches, that in God's view, legally we were in Christ and that which happened to him legally God considered the same as though it happen to us, of course legally speaking.

The first resurrection actually comprise of two parts, vitally when one is born again, and legally when Christ arose from the dead so did all of the elect in him! Ephesians 1:19-2:5,6 addresses both parts of the first resurrection.

 

[3 Resurrections]

I'm not confusing~I'm speaking from what the scriptures teaches, that in God's view, legally we were in Christ and that which happened to him legally God considered the same as though it happen to us, of course legally speaking.

You and I both share in the belief of the various stages of salvation as laid out in Romans 8:30: predestination, calling, justification, and a final glorification in a bodily resurrection. Also the sanctification process in this life, in which we are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling". But the legal phase of our salvation is NOT what John was referring to in Revelation 20:5.

In the way that you are speaking, ALL the children of God share in the benefits of the First resurrection in a legal sense. This is absolutely true. But John was NOT speaking of ALL the children of God in Revelation 20:5. He was speaking of ONLY "THE REMNANT OF THE DEAD" which came to life again when the millennium ended. THIS event was called "the First resurrection": a single event in time which did NOT involve ALL the children of God at one time. ONLY a "remnant of the dead". This tells you that John was not speaking in terms of our legal salvation from the dead in Rev. 20:5, but was describing a PHYSICAL BODILY resurrection event at a single, particular point on the chronological timeline when the millennium came to an end.

That single event of only a remnant fraction of the dead coming to life again when the millennium ended was Christ and the Matthew 27:52-53 saints. They were only a comparatively small sample of what all the rest of the believers would experience in a bodily resurrection to glorification themselves, because (as you yourself also recognize) all of the saints were legally entitled to eventually share in all the benefits of the complete salvation process from beginning to end.

That means the millennium is past history, ending when Christ and that "remnant of the dead" came to life again in the First resurrection in AD 33.

 

[Red Baker]

In the way that you are speaking, ALL the children of God share in the benefits of the First resurrection in a legal sense. This is absolutely true. But John was NOT speaking of ALL the children of God in Revelation 20:5. He was speaking of ONLY "THE REMNANT OF THE DEAD" which came to life again when the millennium ended. THIS event was called "the First resurrection": a single event in time which did NOT involve ALL the children of God at one time. ONLY a "remnant of the dead". This tells you that John was not speaking in terms of our legal salvation from the dead in Rev. 20:5, but was describing a PHYSICAL BODILY resurrection event at a single, particular point on the chronological timeline when the millennium came to an end.

That single event of only a remnant fraction of the dead coming to life again when the millennium ended was Christ and the Matthew 27:52-53 saints. They were only a comparatively small sample of what all the rest of the believers would experience in a bodily resurrection to glorification themselves, because (as you yourself also recognize) all of the saints were legally entitled to eventually share in all the benefits of the complete salvation process from beginning to end.

That means the millennium is past history, ending when Christ and that "remnant of the dead" came to life again in the First resurrection in AD 33.

3 R's you are wrong, and in addressing my next verse I shall prove it. Verse 5 is next.

The rest of the dead are all of the unregenerate, who did not have part in the first resurrection! I'm amaze you you are missing this truth. Yes they are raised at the end of the thousand years ~ when all that are in the graves shall come forth, some to life eternal. others to shame and eternal death~perishing in the lake of fire. which is the second death for the wicked.

Later....RB

 

[Red Baker]

VERSE FIVE

• "But the rest of the dead, lived not again until the 1000 years were finished. This is the First Resurrection".

Some Premillennial Theologians use this verse as support for the idea that there are at least two physical resurrections with a literal earthly millennial reign in between. However, scripture clearly teaches "one" future resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. exhibit A:

John 5:28-29

• "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
  
  
• And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

This is the second Resurrection (not the first in Christ) and this is what is described in Revelation 20:12. The First resurrection is in Christ. This verse of Revelation is conclusive proof that this is speaking about the souls of those martyred who were Saved, and who died physically as it's contrasted against the souls of "the rest of the dead" (the unsaved, who died physically). As believers in Christ those martyred, in their souls go immediately to live and reign with Christ after they die. They are living and reigning with Christ every since He went to the cross to make that possible. We live and reign with Christ in heaven in our souls, even though our bodies decayed, yet we live. That's exactly what the verse is talking about. Believers who die, yet their souls living and reigning with Christ, while unbelievers (the rest of the dead) who die, don't live again until the second resurrection.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

• "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it".

2nd Corinthians 5:8

• "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord".

When believers leave this body to dust, our spirits go to be with the Lord. But the rest of the dead, they lived not until after this present millennial reign. These unsaved weren't raised up from death to new life in the first Resurrection in Christ, therefore they cannot go to live and reign with Christ after death. That is the contrast here. In other words, they had no part in the First Resurrection with Christ! And so when they died, they don't live until raised at "The last day" to stand for judgment. That will be the Second Resurrection. Again, spoken of as, "after the thousand years" (indicating once again that it is not to be taken as literally a thousand, because the rest of the dead die at all different times). Lets take a look at what it says here, and what is meant by it.
1st Resurrection:

Every single believer who has been raised up in Christ to new life, hath part in this 1st resurrection. Remember the scriptures talk of Christ as the "FIRST BORN FROM THE DEAD." If that's not the 1st Resurrection from the dead, the new birth in Christ, then nothing is. He is the Resurrection as He told Martha, and all those raised WITH HIM hath part in that first Resurrection. They are the Church of the firstborn. On these, the second death hath no power. Of course not, for they never die again! ..He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

2nd Resurrection:

The second coming, at the last trumpet, at the last day, when we that are alive will be raised up to meet Jesus in the air, and Judgment day when the rest of the dead (unsaved who have died) are all are raised up to stand for Judgment.

1st Death:

The death in Adam which all of mankind has suffered and which if they are not resurrected in Christ from that death, they shall suffer the judgement in the second resurrection.

2nd Death:

The Judgment that is meted out By GOD upon the unrighteous. Lake of fire There shall be weeping and grinding of teeth! This is the death that the wages of sin brings forth. It's punishment. The 1st Resurrection (Those raised in Christ) have no need to worry about this, as the power of the Cross of Christ (1st Resurrection) has taken away the sting of death.

We see these thousand years are different for each group, and cannot logically or rationally be the same thousand years if that means literally a thousand. Simply put, verse five tells us that the rest of the dead, those who weren't Saved by having part in Christ's Resurrection (The First) remained dead, and they didn't live again until after the thousand years. That's not speculation, that's what the scriptures clearly say. And after the fullness of God's purpose, which is a different length of time for each of the dead, then they will be raised to stand for Judgment. Those who make the claim that the first Resurrection is not in Christ are contradicting God's Word. God tells us point blank that Christ is the First Resurrection. And he who hath an ear, let him hear and receive it.

Acts 26:23

• "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the First Resurrection from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles".

So then, who are we going to believe, God or man? His interpretation, or our own? So there should be no debate but that Christ's raising from the dead is the 'First Resurrection,' according to God's Word. This is not an interpretation, or my spin on it, it's a direct unadulterated "Quote." That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the 'First Resurrection' from the dead. And we, raised up in him have part in that First Resurrection. We are the Church of the Firstborn from the dead.

Colossians 1:18

• "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence".
  

Hebrews 12:23

• "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect"

These are the souls of believers, the First Resurrection, upon which the second death has no power, they live, while the unsaved dead do not. It all fits when the thousand years is not forced to mean something God never intended it to mean. It will never fit when it's forced to mean literally a thousand years. The ones raised up in Christ lived and reigned with him through the thousand years as the Church is being built, but the "rest" of the dead (Unsaved dead) didn't live Again until after the thousand years, when Christ returns to rapture his Church and raise these dead to stand for Judgment.

Remember what the "souls" of those under the altar cried in Revelation 6:10, and Remember God's reply to them? His reply was that they should rest for a season, for there were more people to be martyred. You see, these are the "souls" reigning a thousand years in heaven, not "men" reigning on earth with Christ in a earthly city jerusalem as some Theologians surmise. Christians who have died (physically) and gone to heaven, yet living and Reigning with Christ in their souls existence! God will not Judge till the fullness of His martyrs have come in. He will not loose the judgment of Satan till His set time. Not until His Church is come to the full. This is the marvelous truth of God's Word. And the sad contradiction to those who try and make these souls of 1000 years speak of a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on this sin cursed earth with men.

One more thought before moving on.

VERSE FIVE

• "But the rest of the dead, lived not again until the 1000 years were finished. This is the First Resurrection".

Go back to verse four of Revelation 20! What John saw in this vison he said that this IS the first resurrection! Souls reigning with Christ is all part of the first resurrection!

Revelation 20:4~"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."

Yes, this IS the first resurrection all made possible by Christ's resurrection!

 

[3 Resurrections]

The rest of the dead are all of the unregenerate, who did not have part in the first resurrection! I'm amaze you you are missing this truth. Yes they are raised at the end of the thousand years ~ when all that are in the graves shall come forth, some to life eternal. others to shame and eternal death~perishing in the lake of fire. which is the second death for the wicked.

No, Red, "the remnant of the dead" who composed the "First resurrection" and took part in it were all "blessed and holy", according to Revelation 20:6. There was not a single unregenerate one among that "First resurrection" who were bodily raised from the dead during that event. Nothing but saints were raised from the grave in the group of Matthew 27:52-53 who came out of their graves that day and went into the city of Jerusalem.

I am amazed that you miss this point.

 

[Red Baker]

VERSE SIX

• "Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection, on 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".

Proof once again that this first resurrection refers to Christ's, because it is Only those who are raised in Christ's Resurrection, on whom the second death has no Power. That was the whole purpose of the death and resurrection of Christ. No other Resurrection Qualifies!

Romans 8:2

• "For the law of the Spirit of Life in Jesus Christ hath made me Free from the law of sin and death"

We are free from the law of death that hangs over man because of being raised up in life with Christ. No other Resurrection qualifies. Revelation chapter twenty, verse six tells us that these that hath part in the 1st Resurrection are Blessed (true Believers) Holy (true Believers), and on such the second Death hath no part (true Believers). It can only be this way because they have part in the First Resurrection with Christ. They've already been raised up so that if they live and believe they shall never die, and if they die, yet shall they live. They are Priests of God (true Believers - Revelation 1:6) and Live and reign with Him for the fullness of time, symbolized by 1000 years. All pointing to our resurrection in Christ, not a future event.

Another clear indication that this thousand years cannot be understood literally is that it says these live and reign with Christ 1000 years. The fact is, these Martyrs, whoever people may claim they are, are true believers, and as Such will live and reign with Christ Forever not literally only 1000 years! And so again it doesn't make any sense in a literal 1000 years. Are these souls living and reigning with Christ 1000 years, and then Christ declares, time to loose Satan, and they can't live and reign with Him anymore because your "literal" 1000 years to reign is now up? The answer of course is, "that's silly!" But if This 1000 years is literal, that is exactly how you would have to understand it. These souls literally lived and reigned with Christ 1000 years. Not 2000, not 5000, not forever, but 1000 years. Literal just does not add up. It won't stand the test of accuracy, it won't stand the test of context, it won't stand the test of content, it won't stand the test of faithfulness, and most important, it won't stand the test of Biblical consistency. It is blatantly contradictory with other scripture if we understand it as literal. It is no more a literal number than when God says He owns the sheep on 1000 hills means they are the only ones who are His. He owns them all. And this 1000 years is symbolic of that fulness. It's the time of the fulfilling of God's purpose for the Church.

It says they are Priests of God. Again, it's us. Having been raised up in Christ, we are all now Priests of God, through Christ.

Revelation 1:5-6

• "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
  
  
• And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen".

He has given us rule as Kings and made us Priests unto God. Not will in the future, but has done this by shedding His blood, and that is what this verse is saying. We are those this calls Blessed, we are those made Holy by being washed from our sins in His blood. Born again from above, raised up from death unto life in His First Resurrection.

Summary of Revelation 20:6:

Here is a great key to the whole chapter, for it describes blessings taught elsewhere in the Bible.

What “first resurrection” is a blessed event that makes men holy, makes them kings and priests of God and of Christ, makes them members of God’s kingdom, and saves them from a second death?

We choose John’s own comparison of two resurrections in John 5:25-29 for regeneration. This new birth makes all the difference in the world according to John (John 1:12-13; 3:1-8). We choose Paul’s detailed and perfect description of regeneration’s effect in Ephesians 2:4-7. John has already declared to his readers that he and they are kings and priests of God (Rev 1:6). It is translation from the kingdom of darkness to Christ’s kingdom taught here (Col 1:12-13). And Peter also declared this emphatically to the Jewish audience he addressed (I Pet 2:4-10). A man that is born again has a new man created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24). This new man can neither sin, or die. They live and reign with Christ per Revelation 20:4, etc.

 

[3 Resurrections]

• "Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection, on 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".

Proof once again that this first resurrection refers to Christ's, because it is Only those who are raised in Christ's Resurrection, on whom the second death has no Power.

Of course this "First resurrection" included "Christ the First-fruits" bodily resurrection. That "remnant of the dead" (not ALL of the dead) which also BODILY came to life again that same day as Christ did at the end of the millennium had at one time "reigned with Christ" at various points of the literal thousand-year millennium during their natural lifetime on earth. Once these righteous Matthew 27:52-53 saints were resurrected at the end of the millennium in AD 33, they were "sealed", showing that the conditions of the second death / Lake of Fire soon to come in the city of Jerusalem were not capable of harming those bodily-resurrected saints in any way.

The literal thousand-year time limitation is NOT on the reign of Christ (which is forever), but was a time limitation put only upon Satan's deception of the nations. That millennium of Rev. 20 was a literal segment of time which came to an end in AD 33, and was only a part of the perpetual reign of Christ.

Another clear indication that this thousand years cannot be understood literally is that it says these live and reign with Christ 1000 years. The fact is, these Martyrs, whoever people may claim they are, are true believers, and as Such will live and reign with Christ Forever not literally only 1000 years! And so again it doesn't make any sense in a literal 1000 years. Are these souls living and reigning with Christ 1000 years, and then Christ declares, time to loose Satan, and they can't live and reign with Him anymore because your "literal" 1000 years to reign is now up

As I wrote above, the literal thousand years of Satan's deception being chained was only a segment of time which took place during the perpetual reign of Christ. Those saints did not cease to reign once the literal thousand years of Satan's deception had "expired" and was "finished". During their natural lifetime on earth, that particular remnant of dead saints had "lived and reigned with Christ" during the literal thousand years, and they also continued to reign with Christ after that, only in their bodily-resurrected state. Christ's reign did not cease when Satan's deception of the nations was renewed for that "short time" back in the first century after AD 33's "First resurrection" of Christ and the Matt. 27:52-53 saints.

 

[Red Baker]

Of course this "First resurrection" included "Christ the First-fruits" bodily resurrection. That "remnant of the dead" (not ALL of the dead) which also BODILY came to life again that same day as Christ did at the end of the millennium had at one time "reigned with Christ" at various points of the literal thousand-year millennium during their natural lifetime on earth. Once these righteous Matthew 27:52-53 saints were resurrected at the end of the millennium in AD 33, they were "sealed", showing that the conditions of the second death / Lake of Fire soon to come in the city of Jerusalem were not capable of harming those bodily-resurrected saints in any way.



As I wrote above, the literal thousand years of Satan's deception being chained was only a segment of time which took place during the perpetual reign of Christ. Those saints did not cease to reign once the literal thousand years of Satan's deception had "expired" and was "finished". During their natural lifetime on earth, that particular remnant of dead saints had "lived and reigned with Christ" during the literal thousand years, and they also continued to reign with Christ after that, only in their bodily-resurrected state. Christ's reign did not cease when Satan's deception of the nations was renewed for that "short time" back in the first century after AD 33's "First resurrection" of Christ and the Matt. 27:52-53 saints.

3 R's~I will only point out a problem you have as I move on to the next verse. The reign of Jesus Christ did not start until his bodily resurrection, and you have the thousand year reign beginning around the time Solomon!

Acts 2:30-36~"Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

This is the beginning of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ, with all of his chosen people, and will last until Christ returns the second time, and truly takes control of all of the kingdom of this world. Daniel 7:27. etc.

 

[Red Baker]

VERSE SEVEN

• "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison".

When God's purpose for binding Satan is over (after the Church is complete and it's testimony finished -Rev. 11) then God will lose him out of his spiritual prison and iniquity will again abound. This verse tells us that it's God's purpose that near the end of time, God has predetermined that Satan be unsecured from his prison and will deceive the Gentiles again. The Apostasy which was prevalent at Christ's first coming, will be prevalent at His second coming. the fall of the congregation at Christ's first advent, is mirrored in His second advent! This is the judgment of God, as plagues poured out on man.

His loosing is the opposite of his binding – he will be free to blind and deceive nations once again. The very next verse describes his activity after loosing – he goes out to deceive nations to war.

The thousand years is used loosely, for it ended for Satan, but not for saints living and reigning! How long will he be loosed? Not long. It is called a little season before his final destruction (20:3).

What will Satan do? He will use his little season to oppose the saints of God (Revelation 13:7)!

Revelation 13:7​

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

He was upset when cast out of heaven, but now he is more upset knowing judgment is near!

We are living in this little season at this present time. Are we prepared and arm? Instead of thinking about a flesh and blood battle, see increased spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12).

The prophecies about the antichrist/man of sin (Dan 7; 2nd Thess 2:1-4) are clearly here. There is an increase in Satanism, Eastern religions, Islam, New Age movement, the word of faith movement (Charismatics) and so forth. There is an increase in paganism, witchcraft, murder, abortion, sexual perversion, etc., etc. There is an increase in rebellion, hatred, variance, and strife against legitimate authority. There is an increase in obsession with materialism and apathy toward truth and the true God. There is an increase in the hatred and intolerance of the world for true Bible Christianity. There is an increase in the ignorance and compromise of so-called Christianity with the world. There is an increase in self-love, self-will, and deception to perilous degrees (II Timothy 3:1-5). What was born in the mid 19th century? The SDA’s, the JW’s, Mormons, Darwinism, Communism, Socialism, Textual Criticism, Modernism, Bible Perversions, etc., etc. Is this the little season? Yes, indeed. The little season as far as I see it, started around the 1850 plus or minus, to where we are today, apostate religions ruling in the temple of God! How much worse can it get before Christ's returns to destroy his enemies and ours. That's hidden from us. Shall the Son of God find faith when he does comes? Very little, I'm convinced. May the Lord save us from being deceived like most of the world will be should be our daily prayer.

 

[Alive]

VERSE SEVEN

• "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison".

When God's purpose for binding Satan is over (after the Church is complete and it's testimony finished -Rev. 11) then God will lose him out of his spiritual prison and iniquity will again abound. This verse tells us that it's God's purpose that near the end of time, God has predetermined that Satan be unsecured from his prison and will deceive the Gentiles again. The Apostasy which was prevalent at Christ's first coming, will be prevalent at His second coming. the fall of the congregation at Christ's first advent, is mirrored in His second advent! This is the judgment of God, as plagues poured out on man.

His loosing is the opposite of his binding – he will be free to blind and deceive nations once again. The very next verse describes his activity after loosing – he goes out to deceive nations to war.

The thousand years is used loosely, for it ended for Satan, but not for saints living and reigning! How long will he be loosed? Not long. It is called a little season before his final destruction (20:3).

What will Satan do? He will use his little season to oppose the saints of God (Revelation 13:7)!

Revelation 13:7​

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

He was upset when cast out of heaven, but now he is more upset knowing judgment is near!

We are living in this little season at this present time. Are we prepared and arm? Instead of thinking about a flesh and blood battle, see increased spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12).

The prophecies about the antichrist/man of sin (Dan 7; 2nd Thess 2:1-4) are clearly here. There is an increase in Satanism, Eastern religions, Islam, New Age movement, the word of faith movement (Charismatics) and so forth. There is an increase in paganism, witchcraft, murder, abortion, sexual perversion, etc., etc. There is an increase in rebellion, hatred, variance, and strife against legitimate authority. There is an increase in obsession with materialism and apathy toward truth and the true God. There is an increase in the hatred and intolerance of the world for true Bible Christianity. There is an increase in the ignorance and compromise of so-called Christianity with the world. There is an increase in self-love, self-will, and deception to perilous degrees (II Timothy 3:1-5). What was born in the mid 19th century? The SDA’s, the JW’s, Mormons, Darwinism, Communism, Socialism, Textual Criticism, Modernism, Bible Perversions, etc., etc. Is this the little season? Yes, indeed. The little season as far as I see it, started around the 1850 plus or minus, to where we are today, apostate religions ruling in the temple of God! How much worse can it get before Christ's returns to destroy his enemies and ours. That's hidden from us. Shall the Son of God find faith when he does comes? Very little, I'm convinced. May the Lord save us from being deceived like most of the world will be should be our daily prayer.

I think you may be right. No question the spirit of antichrists have been on the increase. I am waiting for a broad apostasy to emerge, a whole lot of Jews to turn to Christ and the final appearance of the “man of sin” and his turning en masse on the true Christians who have not, as Christ said, been deceived. And that time will not last long. Christ will return and destroy Him.

 

[3 Resurrections]

3 R's~I will only point out a problem you have as I move on to the next verse. The reign of Jesus Christ did not start until his bodily resurrection, and you have the thousand year reign beginning around the time Solomon!

LOL, no Red, that isn't what I wrote. Christ as the second person of the Trinity has always reigned, even before the foundation of the world ("Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth" - Ps. 96:10). That PERPETUAL reign I wrote about in my comment #196 was manifested in different ways throughout the course of human history. When He was manifested in the role of our Great High Priest, that phase of His perpetual reign began at Christ's resurrection-day ascension. But His reign has ALWAYS been a continual reality - before, during, and after Satan's deception of the nations was bound during the literal millennium years from 968 / 967 BC until AD 33. Only Satan had a literal thousand-year limitation put upon him - not Christ's reign.

You are getting thrown off-track by the use of the term "Christ". John's use of this title in Rev. 20:4 doesn't mean that the millennium cannot have taken place before the Word was made incarnate as Jesus Christ the Son of God. We have Hebrews 1:1-2 that describes the Son of God making the world, when you and I both know that in real time, the incarnate Son had not yet come into the world until He was conceived in the womb of Mary.

We also have the Revelation 13:8 text which speaks of the saints' names being "written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". But you and I both know that in real time, Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God was not slain until His actual crucifixion.

These texts are both cases of an "anachronism", which refer to the second person of the Trinity as the "Son" and the "Lamb" performing actions even before Creation week under a title which would not be fulfilled in real time until much later in human history.

It is the same with John saying that the saints had "lived and reigned with Christ" at some point during the thousand-years period (which lasted from Solomon's temple foundation stone being laid in 968 / 967 BC until AD 33 when Christ became the spiritual foundation stone of the temple not made with hands). These OT saints were considered to be "in Christ", even though in real time, the second person of the Trinity had not yet been manifested as the incarnate Son of God.

It has ALWAYS been the case for the saints from Creation forward that it must be "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). During their natural lifetime on earth, that "remnant of the dead" OT saints "reigned with Christ" at some point during the literal thousand years just as surely as any saint has been able to "reign in life by one, Christ Jesus" after those literal millennium years expired back in AD 33. That "remnant of the dead" came to life again in AD 33 when the literal millennium years of Satan's deception of the nations being bound had "expired" and were "finished". That bodily-resurrected "remnant of the dead" (Matt. 27:52-53 saints) composed the "First resurrection" event with Christ the First-fruits.