Revelation 20:4-6 The Millennium and the First Resurrection

While different, both of them believe that Christ returns before the Millennium and establishes a physical kingdom on the earth that has a real-life, widespread impact on the world.

Next, you have Amillennialism which says that the Millennium is not a physical, earthly kingdom, but rather a spiritual kingdom where Christ reigns spiritually over Heaven and earth with the saints in Heaven and in the hearts of His people, the Church.

Therefore, the Amillennialists believes that the Millennium is symbolic for the entire church age between Christ’s first and second comings.

Finally, there’s Postmillennialism, that’s my position.

Postmillennialism is the middle position that, like Amillennialism, says that Christ reigns spiritually with His people and His Millennial Kingdom spans the entire church age, but like Premillennialism, His Kingdom will not be merely spiritual but have a real-world, widespread impact through the preaching of the gospel.

That as the gospel goes forward, Christ’s Kingdom will grow and grow and grown until eventually it transforms the whole world when a vast majority of people in the world are saved and discipled to do all things to the glory of God.

Well which one is right? How do you know?

That’s not as simple as a question as it might seem because all four views are held by godly and biblical Christians and every one of them will point to the Bible to support their view.

How do you make sense of it all?

We’ve been studying Revelation 20 asking what does the Bible say?

Is there any way we can make sense of all this, by following two simple rules:

First, Scripture interprets Scripture.

And Second, we interpret less clear, more difficult passages of Scripture in light of those passages that are clear and not the other way around.

And using those rules, I’ve been trying to argue that all the promises of the Millennium in Revelation 20 are present spiritual realities and we are in the Millennium now.

First, we looked at the thousand years and showed how it can be, but doesn’t have to be literal.

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). He is faithful to a thousand generations (Deut. 7:9).

Literally, those verses would be saying that God doesn’t actually own everything or that he’s not faithful to every generation which would be the opposite of what those verses are trying to say.

A literal approach to the Bible tries to read the Bible to understand what the author intended to communicate.

And that opened up the door for us to say the Millennium could actually span over the entire church age.

Then, we looked at Matthew 12:25-29 to see that the binding of Satan that kicks off the Millennium happened in the first century.

Christ said He bound the Strong Man in His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, and now Christ is plundering his house.

He is saving the nations and bringing them into His Kingdom.

And this week we are going to look at the other hallmark of the Millennium from Revelation 20. Something John calls the First Resurrection.

What is it, and is it a future bodily resurrection like Premillennialists say or is it a spiritual resurrection in line with A and Postmillennialists?

And as we study this I want you to remember those two rules.

This is one of the most difficult sections, in one of the most difficult chapters, in one of the most difficult books of the entire Bible.

And remembering that Scripture interprets Scripture and that we interpret less clear texts in light of more clear texts will guide us like the North Star to the clear teaching and authority of God’s Word instead of just what we think Scripture is saying.

So let’s start in Revelation 20:4-6 with the First Resurrection.

I. Who’s on the Thrones?

Revelation 20:4-6 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

So before we get into what this passage means, lets just look at what it says.

All of these verses describe what John calls the First Resurrection.

And the first resurrection doesn’t include everyone because the rest of the dead did not come to life until the end of the thousand years.

But the ones who did come to life sat on thrones and were priests of God and of Christ. They were Kings and priests. A royal priesthood.

And we are also told that the first resurrection is a blessing because the second death has no power over those who share in the first resurrection.

So just by looking at it there are a few obvious characteristics of the First Resurrection.

Those who share in the First Resurrection:

Are a Royal Priesthood. They sit on thrones reigning with Christ.

They are alive, blessed and holy.

And they are victorious over the second death.

Who’s on the Thrones

Now I think the key to unlocking this passage is understanding what John means by the First Resurrection, I think it would be helpful to answer the question, who are on the thrones.

John doesn’t tell us explicitly. All he says is I saw thrones and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.

Well why doesn’t John tell us? Is he just trying to be confusing?

Or rather, does he not tells us because we should already know who they are?

Throughout Revelation the word “throne” is used 47 times, most often associated with the throne of God but sometimes with the throne of Satan and the throne of the beast.

But the plural “thrones” is only used two other times in all of Revelation. And both times they are associated with the same people. The 24 Elders from Revelation 4:4.

In Revelation 4 John sees a vision where he sees the Throne room of God.

And in the vision their are 24 Elders sitting on thrones around The Throne worshiping God whose throne is surrounded by a rainbow, flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, and four angelic creatures who day and night never cease to say Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty (Revelation 4:2-8).

These 24 Elders are clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads, and when the four living creatures cry out they cast their crowns before the throne and worship the LORD.

Well who are they?

Their crowns show that they are royal kings. But they are kings who reign under the great King because they cast their crowns before his thrown.

Their white garments tell us they are righteous and holy and in Revelation 5:8 they offer incense to the LORD just like a priest would.

What does that tell you? The 24 Elders are a royal priesthood just like the ones who sit on thrones in Revelation 20.

They are one and the same.

Well that still doesn’t answer the question. Who are the 24 elders?

Who else do we know is a royal priesthood? The Church!

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

So I think those seated on the thrones in Revelation 20 are the 24 Elders

And the 24 Elders are the royal priesthood. The People of God. The True Israel. All of God’s elect who trust in the Messiah from both the Old Covenant and the New.

That’s what the number 24 is all about. Old Covenant: 12 Tribes of Israel. New Covenant: 12 Apostles.

So this is everyone in Christ.

John continues with verse 4. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Now some take this to mean that only the Martyrs and the Faithful Persecuted are the ones reigning with Christ.

But I don’t think that’s exactly right for two reasons.

Like I said, the thrones in Revelation 20 are connected to the 24 Elders in Revelation 4 who represent everyone who trusts in Christ.

The second reason is because Revelation 20 is talking about the First Resurrection, and John explicitly says everyone who shares in the first resurrection is free from the power of the Second Death.

In other words. they are free from Hell which just 9 verses later John says is true for everyone whose name is written in the book of life.

That would be all Christians.

So here’s what John is doing by highlighting the Martyrs and the Faithful Persecuted.

I saw all the saints of Christ, the royal priesthood, seated on thrones reigning with Christ, and I even saw the Martyrs who had died, and the Faithful Persecuted who never turned their back on Christ living and reigning too.

John’s main point is that even though they died. Even though they suffered for the Lord, these Martyrs and Suffering Saints were not defeated. They were victorious.

Like Revelation 12:11 said They have conquered Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Why does he do that? Because in the background of Revelation is the persecuted church.

The church in John’s day is being persecuted by the Jews and the Rome government, squeezed on every side.

So John highlights the Martyrs to say they are not forgotten.

Just because they died. Just because they suffered, does not mean they stopped living and reigning with Christ.

What a comfort that would have been to the churches and what an encouragement to obey what Jesus told them to do over and over and over again.

Overcome. Conquer. Don’t give up.Don’t turn back. Be faithful unto death.

He even tells the church of Laodicea To the one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3:21).

That’s what we are seeing in Revelation 20.

Summary

Now I don’t want you to get lost. So here’s where we are.

I believe Revelation 20, verses 1-6 are describing the entire church age.

Christ bound Satan in the 1st Century kicking off the Millennium.

During this time all the saints who trust in Christ reign with Christ as a royal priesthood.

When Christ ascended He sat down at the right hand of the Father to reign and rule over all things as King of kings and Lord of lords until all His enemies would be put under His feet (Psalm 110:1).

And now we, all the saints of history reign with Him.

Revelation 20 is not describing Christ’s Kingdom in the future. Its describing Christ’s Kingdom now.

And if you want the real kicker, I can show you that John believed that he and all the churches of Revelation were even in that Kingdom when he wrote revelation.

Look at Revelation 1:4-6.

Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. [Christ has a Kingdom] To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood [That’s the cross] and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. [That’s Revelation 20].

Speaking in the first Century, John says Christ had made them a Kingdom and Priests. Past tense.

He and all the churches of Revelation had already been made a kingdom and priests just like Revelation 20 was talking about.

Now. I know this seems crazy. Are we really in the Millennium?

And if you’re paying attention you're probably asking a few questions.

I thought the thrones of the 24 Elders were in Heaven around the throne of God.

I’m not sitting on a throne in Heaven. I’m right here!

Also, what about they came to life and the first resurrection.

If this is the resurrection body, I’d hate to see what the body of death looks like.

How can I be saying Revelation 20 is not describing some future Kingdom but is describing the present church age until Christ returns?

This is where we focus in on the First Resurrection.

II. The First Resurrection

That is the key to this whole passage.

If we can answer what is the First Resurrection, the rest of the passage will click into place.

By calling it the first resurrection, John is trying to grab your attention.

If he had just said, the resurrection, what would you have thought of?

The resurrection! The one where Christ returns and we are glorified in new resurrected bodies.

In fact, every time the Bible uses that word its always about the bodily resurrection.

But by calling it the first resurrection, John’s saying, “No. Not that one.Not the bodily one. The other one.”

Well what do you mean? There is no second bodily resurrection. What in the world is John talking about?

Let me ask it this way? What would be the first resurrection for a Christian?

Now before we answer that, remember our two rules.

Scripture interprets Scripture.

And We interpret less clear, more difficult passages of Scripture in light of those passages that are clear and not the other way around.

When you read Revelation, you really, and I mean really, need to know you’re Bible.

It is steeped in the Old Testament. It has more references and allusions than the rest of the NT combined.

But there are two other books that I think are key to interpreting certain parts of Revelation.

Ephesians and the Gospel of John.

The book of Revelation was written to 7 churches all located in the same region of the Roman Empire.

The idea is that these churches were at least close enough where you could get a letter or book of the Bible from one church to another.

And one of those 7 churches was the church of Ephesus. Here’s why that’s so important.

We know that by the time John wrote Revelation, Paul had already written the Letter to the Ephesians.

What’s also interesting is that John was a pastor in Ephesus which means they would have also been familiar with John’s Gospel.

And it just so happens that those books are extremely helpful in understanding Revelation 20.

Look at Ephesians 2. Paul writes...

Ephesians 2:1, 4-6 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...

What do you call that?

A resurrection! But its not a bodily resurrection. Its a spiritual resurrection!

You have been raised from Spiritual death to Spiritual life through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What does that mean? That you’ve come to life!

Being born again is a resurrection. And it is a resurrection that is a miraculous work of God’s mighty power and grace.

That’s exactly what Paul says a few verses earlier Ephesians 1:19-20.

Our spiritual resurrection is accomplished by the same mighty power of God that raised Christ from the dead.

What that means is your spiritual resurrection is as much of a resurrection as Christ’s own bodily resurrection because it took the same mighty power of God to raise both.

So let me ask it like this.

Revelation 20 is talking about the First Resurrection...

And John calls it the first resurrection because he knew his original audience would’ve automatically assumed he was talking about the future bodily resurrection...

So put yourself in their shoes.

Ok. What is John talking about? What is the first resurrection for the believer?

Didn’t Paul say something about that?

Its regeneration. Being born again. Passing from death to life through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

The first resurrection for the believer is not a resurrection of the body.

Its a resurrection of our soul when all of our sins are forgiven and we are given eternal life.

John called it the First Resurrection because he was writing in a language he knew they would understand.

He was hoping they would remember The letter to the Ephesians.

But, wait a second you might say. Didn’t we say the thrones of 24 Elders were in heaven surrounding the throne of God?

I’m not on a throne in heaven. I’m right here. If the saints are reigning with Christ on thrones in heaven, then this can’t possibly be talking about a spiritual resurrection!

Paul continues...

But God…mad us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Where is Christ seated?

Again Ephesians 1:20-21. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.

He’s reigning over all things.

And here Paul says that God has seated us with Him in the heavenly places. Same place. Past tense. That was true for Paul when Paul first wrote it.

So yes! According to Ephesians you are seated with Christ in the heavenly places.

And if Christ is seated on the Throne, ruling and reigning over all things, then we reign with Him, a royal priesthood, raised from death to eternal life.

Remember our rules.

If we let Scripture interpret Scripture, and if we interpret less clear passages in light of more clear passages, especially when we know the churches in Revelation had the letter to the Ephesians as a sort of dictionary to help them understand what John was saying...

It seems clear what the First Resurrection of Revelation 20 actually is.

It is the spiritual resurrection of the Christian where they pass from spiritual death to spiritual life.

Interchangeable Meaning

Ahhh....but here is a key objection. And we need to deal with this.

In Revelation 20 verse 5, John says The rest of the dead, meaning unbelievers, did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

But he used the same Greek word, ζάω, in verse 4 to the saints came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Unbelievers are not raised spiritually...

And then here’s more, every time the word resurrection, ἀνάστασις, is used, it always refers to a physical bodily resurrection.

Doesn’t all that mean John cannot be talking about a spiritual resurrection, but he has to be talking about a physical resurrection or else this passage wouldn’t make sense? What do we do with this?

Well, literally they came to life could be translated they lived as in past tense. So the saints lived and reigned with Christ and the rest of the dead lived not. That would be a literal translation.

And that’s true. Everyone in Christ lives, and everyone outside of Christ is spiritually dead and stays spiritually dead. They live not.

But here’s where it gets interesting. In the Bible, ζάω can be used interchangeably to talk about either spiritual life or physical life.

And even more interesting, when ζάω is used along with ἀνάστασις, or resurrection, it can actually switch between those two meanings all in the same passage.

And if that weren’t enough, one such passage is in John 5, written by the same man that wrote Revelation 20 giving us another dictionary the original audience of Revelation would have been able to use to interpret this passage.

Turn to John 5:24-29. I think this passage is absolutely key to understanding Revelation 20.

John 5:24-29 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

What Jesus is talking about here is the gospel.

He’s says Truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and is now here, where those spiritually dead, will hear the voice of the Son of God - they will hear the gospel - and they will spiritually live.

This is a resurrection. A passing from death to life. That’s exactly what Jesus says it is because he says...

Whoever hears my word and believes does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

This is clearly talking about a spiritual resurrection because Jesus says that the hour is now here.

It was happening then, and its happening still today as the gospel goes forth to all the nations and the sheep hear His voice.

Christ continues...

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming [But notice this time, he doesn’t say and now is. This is something for Jesus that is still in the future] when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Read this carefully.

An hour. A particular point in time. When all who are in the tombs. Every last one of them. Everyone who has ever lived.

Will hear his voice and come out. Some to the resurrection of life, some to the resurrection of Judgment.

There’s a shift here. Now we are talking about bodily resurrection that takes place before the Day of Judgment when Christ returns.

So in John 5, Jesus talks about a spiritual resurrection and then a physical resurrection all in the same passage using the words same words from Revelation 20 ζάω and ἀνάστασις.

This would explain why John says in that passage the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

Those who did not hear Christ’s voice were were spiritually dead and they stayed spiritually dead.

But when Christ returns, everyone will be raised.

Those in Christ will be raised to the resurrection of eternal life. The rest of the dead will be raised for the resurrection of eternal judgment, or what John calls the second death.

Against Premillennialism

Now I want to pause right there, because what I just said has huge implications for determining a biblical eschatology.

This is where Premillennialism and Dispensationalism both run into some major problems.

Here’s why.

Both Premillennialism and Dispensationalism look at Revelation 20 and say that the first resurrection is the physical, bodily resurrection of believers that takes place when Christ returns.

He establishes His Kingdom, and a thousand years later, the rest of the dead, unbelievers, are raised for the final judgment.

But look at what we just read.

And I really need you to engage and stick with me here because we are going to connect a lot of dots.

John 5 clearly says that believers and unbelievers will be raised together when Christ returns.

An hour is coming. A single point in time. When all, that’s everyone, righteous and unrighteous, who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.

Come out for what? The Final Judgment. Some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of judgment.

The Bible consistently teaches that there is only one physical resurrection at the end of history.

Acts 24:15 even says there will be a resurrection, just one, of both the just and the unjust.

There is no room for a thousand year gap between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of everyone else.

When Christ returns its the end. The Day of Judgment and the beginning of the eternal state.

Jesus himself confirms this in John 6. Four separate times Jesus promises to raise believer quote on the last day (John 6:39-40, 44, 54).

Well the last day of what? The last day of human history.

And we know that because Jesus specifically ties the last day to the Day of Judgment in John 12:48.

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

So let me say it clearly and explicitly.

Biblically speaking there is just simply no room to have a 1000 year Kingdom after Christ returns where all the saints are raised to reign with Christ and then a thousand years later, the rest of the dead are raised for the Final Judgment.

That would make Revelation 20 contradict the clear teaching of other passages of Scripture on the resurrection.

When Christ returns that’s the end. Every trace and stain of sin will be removed and he will usher in the eternal state.

I want to show you a key passage, that always seems to get ignored when we talk about eschatology, where Paul lays that out as clearly as it can be.

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:22-26.

This is just straight forward teaching on the resurrection. There’s no symbolism or imagery, just uncut truth.

1 Corinthians 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Notice Paul says we will be raised at his coming which John tells us is the Last Day.

Now you might say, But Paul’s not saying anything about unbelievers. That’s right.

Pauls point in 1 Corinthians 15 is to talk about the resurrection of life.

Those who are in Christ. He’s not talking about those who are in Adam.

Then look what Paul says. Christ returns, we are raised at His coming...

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Christ returns, then comes the end. Not a thousand year kingdom.

The end is actually the beginning. Its the beginning of the eternal state because Paul defines the end as when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father.

Remember the core promise of all of God’s covenants. I will be their God and they will be my people.

When Christ delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, God will dwell with us forever and ever in a completely restored New Heavens and New Earth just like He did in the Garden of Eden.

That’s why in one of the very first sermons of the Church, Peter said in Acts 3:21 heaven must receive [Jesus] until the time for restoring all things.

Christ returns for the Final Judgment and the beginning of the eternal state.

And then, as if it could not be any clearer, Paul says the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Well, when is death destroyed? In the context of 1 Corinthians 15 its when we are resurrected.

Verse 54 and 55 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

If death is defeated when we are raised when Christ returns how can the last enemy to be defeated be death if Satan is unleashed at the end of the thousand years to lead a rebellion against Christ?

That would make the last enemy Gog and Magog. Not death.

Summary

So when we ask the question will Christ return before or after the Millennium, and you take all the relevant passages following our two rules where we let Scripture interpret Scripture, I think you have to say after.

Any Eschatology that says Christ returns before the Millennium, raises believers, reigns for a thousand years, and then then after the 1000 years raises unbelievers for the Final Judgment, just doesn’t square with the rest of Scripture.

Because what does the Bible say:

An hour is coming when all in the tombs will hear his voice and come out those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

There’s one resurrection. Everyone is raised at the same time.

And this resurrection happens when Christ Returns on the Last Day and then the end will come.

Christ will judge the nations and usher in the eternal state.

There is simply no room, biblically speaking, for a thousand year gap between the return of Christ and the Final Judgment because unbelievers and unbelievers will be raised together on the last day, not a thousand years apart.

And that’s not new. That has been the predominate view throughout church history.

If you read all the major creeds and confessions from the early church and the Reformation there is an implicit rejection of Premillennialist eschatology because all of them tie the return of Christ to the Day of Judgment.

The Apostles’ Creed , Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed, Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Westminster Confession of Faith, and 1689 London Baptist Confession all agree that Christ sits at the right hand of the Father today and will return, on the last day, to judge the living and the dead.

So given all of that, when you take all the relevant passages of Scripture, I don’t think Premillennialism or Dispensationalism are viable options for a biblical eschatology.

And what’s ironic, Premillennialists and Dispensationalists point to Revelation 20 and say their whole system must be true because it is clearly taught in this one passage of Scripture.

But I hopefully have shown that when you use careful exegesis and you let Scripture interpret Scripture, interpreting less clear passages in light of more clear passages, then Revelation 20 doesn’t prove that Christ comes back before the Millennium at all and there is actually good reason to think it proves the opposite.

As we’ve seen, all of the promises and blessings of the Millennial Kingdom are present spiritual realities of the church today.

Satan has been bound. Jesus defeated Him at the cross, bound the strong man, and has sent us into the world to plunder His house.

To take the gospel to the nations and Satan is absolutely powerless to stop it.

And the First Resurrection for the Christian, is not a bodily resurrection but a spiritual resurrection where we are raised with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places.

And from there we reign with Him, kings and priests, a royal priesthood.

And finally, because we share in the First Resurrection, because Christ died on our behalf so that in our spiritual resurrection we are forgiven of all our sins, the second death, eternal conscious torment under God’s wrath, has no power over us.

And that’s where I want to end today.

Application

Because here’s the thing. God did not give us Revelation 20 to argue about it. He gave it to us so that it would be profitable for our worship of God and life in Christ.

If all we do with Revelation 20 is argue about Eschatology, we’ve missed the point.

So here’s what I want to do with the last bit of this sermon. What practical difference does Revelation 20 make in our lives today, especially if I’m right and we are living in the Millennium now?

We could go a lot of directions with this.

We could talk about how the Great Commission is guaranteed to succeed because Satan is bound and Christ is with us to see it through.

We could talk about how Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords and Genesis 49:10 to Him belongs the obedience of the peoples.

That’s us. We should be living all of our lives as a living sacrifice to glorify God.

And that’s all the nations. We have a responsibility as a royal priesthood to teach everyone to obey the word of God.

But let’s look at what John says to close out this section of Revelation 20. Verse 6.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

This is where I want you to remember the difference between principles and particulars.

You don’t have to agree with me that the First Resurrection is our spiritual resurrection because whatever you think about the First resurrection, we all agree its about Christians.

And I want to make application here first to believers, then to nonbelievers, people who don’t yet trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Believers

If you are in Christ. You share in the first resurrection.

And the Bible says because of that you are blessed and holy.

Holy

Holy means set apart. Consecrated to God.

You belong to Him. And because of that, we should live like it. God says, “Be holy for I am holy.”

It should be our desire and our purpose to obey God and walk in godliness because Jesus has saved us from our slavery to sin and death and made us slaves of righteousness.

Blessed

Most importantly though, we are blessed.

Blessed means joyful or happy. We are joyful and happy because God’s favor and grace rest on us because of Christ and his sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection.

The second death has no power over us.

There is therefore now no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12).

And though our sins were like Scarlet, he has made us wide as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

This blessing, the blessing of salvation, of the first resurrection should drive deep in our soul thankfulness that wells up and overflows in a life of worship.

To live for Christ and seek first His Kingdom.

We have been raised with Christ. Do we live like it?

Nonbelievers

Finally, if you are here and you have not put your faith in Christ. If you have not repented of your sins or you are still trusting in your good works hoping God will understand...

You are dead in your sins. But the good news of the gospel is that Christ can save you.

The only way you can be saved from the second death, from suffering under the wrath of God for all eternity, is if Jesus pays for your sins.

You must be born again. Die to yourself and come to Christ. Trust in Him and Him alone and he will cleanse you from your sins and you too can share in His resurrection.

If you believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took on human flesh and lived a perfect and sinless life.

That He died on the cross in your place for your sins and rose again three days later.

And if you follow Him as King and Lord all the days of your life, you will be saved.

You will be blessed and holy, saved from the second death because your name will have been written in the book of life.

And Jesus promises that anybody’s name written in the book of life will be clothed in white garments, in the righteousness of Christ, and he will never blot their name out of the book, but will raise them up on the last day (Revelation 3:5).

Let’s Pray

Scripture Reading

John 11:25-26 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

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