Bible quotations are from
the English Standard Version (ESV) (Crossway. ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers, 2008.)
This
post studies Revelation 20:4-6. As a
simplified organization, I shall ask and answer a series of questions.
THE
QUESTIONS
1.
What all is covered under “I saw” of verse
20:4? This is not a
critical question in the analysis. John
begins chapter 20 with “And I saw an angel…” In 20:4, he announces, “And I saw
thrones…” In 20:11, he states, “And I
saw a great white throne…” In chapter
21, verse 1, he says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…”The phrase/clause
“I saw” is a prevalent introduction to material throughout the book, as
follows.
a.
In
chapter 5, he says: “then I saw in the
right hand…a scroll…”
b.
Chapter six begins (in Greek): “And I saw…”
c.
Chapter 7 begins: “After this I saw four angels…”
d.
The second verse of chapter 8
begins: “Then I saw the seven angels…and
seven trumpets were given to them…”
e.
Chapter 9 tells how, after the fifth
trumpet is blown, John “saw a star fallen from heaven to earth…”
f.
Chapter 10 relates how John “saw another
mighty angel…”
g.
This pattern is broken in succeeding
chapters, but chapter 12 begins with “a great sign appeared in heaven…” which
is an implication of the process of “seeing.”
h.
Chapter 13 begins: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea…”
i.
Chapter 14 contains implications of
seeing:
i.
14:1 is the image of the 144,000
ii.
14:6 begins “Then I saw another angel…”
j.
Chapter 15 begins “Then I saw another
sign…” (This begins the narrative of the
seven last plagues which continues through chapter 16.)
k.
In 17:3, John, in the Spirit, says: “and I saw a woman…” (This begins the account of Babylon and its
fall, which carries through chapter 18 and into chapter 19.)
l.
Chapter 19:11 begins “then I saw heaven
opened, and behold, a white horse!” Thus
begins the description of the Battle of Armageddon.
m. So,
the pattern throughout the book is an ACCOUNT OF WHAT JOHN SAW. Revelation begins: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God
gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take
place. He made it known by sending his
angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the
testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.” (1:1-2, emphasis
added)
n.
Throughout the book almost every new
topic is introduced by John’s relating that he saw something. This reminds us that John had a series of
visions. So, chapter 20 begins with
John’s seeing the angel that captured Satan.
Then, in verse 4, John saw the thrones.
He is changing the topic to the thrones and those who sat upon
them. Everything that follows in 20:4-6
is the vision of those on the thrones.
John SAW it all.
2.
Who are included among those who were
beheaded and how are they connected to those who sat on the thrones? Note the categories that are
listed.
a.
In the Greek these categories are as
follows:
i.
Those who sat on the thrones
ii.
The souls of those who were beheaded on
account of the testimony about Jesus and the word of God
iii.
Whoever did not worship the Beast nor his
image and did not accept the Mark on their forehead or their hands
b.
The Greek does not carefully group these, but
it is logical to group these as follows:
i.
I saw:
all of the groups
1.
Those beheaded: probably this group includes
all that follows
ii.
So we could indicate the inclusiveness of categories, as
follows: I saw: Those on thrones to whom judgment was
given, including those who were beheaded
1.
On account of the testimony about Jesus
2.
On account of the word of God
3.
Because they did not worship the Beast or his
image
4.
Because they did not receive the Mark on
their forehead or their hands (although it is possible that the last two groups
were not among the beheaded)
3.
What is the “First Resurrection?” I believe that this is one
of the crucial questions in the interpretation of this passage. First, we need to divide the question into
two parts: (a) How should verse 20:5 be understood? (b)
How does the first resurrection compare with the data in I Corinthians
15, I Thessalonians 4, and John 5?
a.
How should verse 20:5 be
understood? Verse
5 begins by stating that the “rest of the dead did not come to life” until
after the thousand year period. Then,
there follows: “This is the first
resurrection.” The question would
be: “Is the ‘first resurrection’ that
which takes place when the ‘rest of the dead’ come to life?” The arrangement of the clauses, including
those in verse 20:4, could imply this.
This is because the statement on the “first resurrection” is delayed
until after the statement on the resurrection of the “rest of the dead.” However, if one counts, in order, the
resurrections, there are two and the first is described in verse 20:4. Despite the insertion of the statement about
the “rest of the dead,” it is logical to infer that the “first resurrection” is
that of the martyrs of verse 20:4 (as well as all other Christians of other
ages—see below). We then must
conclude that the sentence regarding the “rest of the dead” is parenthetical. Although, to my knowledge, Greek did not have
parentheses, parenthetical material does not seem to be totally
unexpected. This parenthesis is a brief
explanation that helps the reader keep track of all the cast of characters and
events. It also is further explained in
verse 20:6. I shall discuss that later.
b.
How does the “first resurrection”
compare with the data in I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4, and John 5? There are three major
descriptions of the resurrection in the New Testament. I shall consider them out of order. Each serves a different purpose.
i.
I Corinthians 15 is
Paul’s in-depth discussion of the resurrection that ties Christ’s resurrection
to the salvation and to the resurrection of all the righteous. It goes on to give some understanding of the
physical/metaphysical nature of the resurrection. It goes on to introduce the rapture of living
Christians as an adjunct to the resurrection.
This powerful presentation was written to the church at Corinth and
includes admonitions that are applications of the truth of the resurrection. Paul calls his readers to join him in facing
persecution with confidence in the resurrection (15:30-32), to live sober lives
as reflections of the truth of the resurrection, to be “steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain” in the light of the resurrection. Note that Paul is presenting the
resurrection as the certain future of Christians of the first century (and
beyond) and not only the martyrs of the last days.
ii.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is
Paul’s answer to those who are concerned about their loved ones who have
died. He wants them to know that they
will be reunited with those loved ones in the resurrection/rapture. He describes that set of events in the
following order: (1) a complex of almost
simultaneous events consisting of a “cry of command, with the voice of the
archangel,” “the sound of the trumpet of God,” and the descent of the Lord from
heaven; (2) the resurrection of the “dead in Christ”; (3) living Christians are
“caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (the
Rapture). (4) And “so we will always be with the
Lord.” This is written as an
encouragement to Christians (of the first century and beyond) about their loved
ones who have died (verse 4:13 and 4:18).
It describes their resurrection at the coming of Christ. They certainly would not be among the
last-day martyrs.
iii.
John 5 (especially 5:19-29) After
Jesus healed the man born blind, which is related in John 5:1-17, Jesus spoke
to his Jewish opponents in a lengthy discussion (5:19-47) regarding his divine
nature, power, and prerogatives. It
comes out of this comment by John (5:18b):
“…not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his
own Father, making himself equal with God.”
Jesus began (5:19-29) by focusing on the power to raise the dead that is
possessed by the Father and the Son. (5:21) Associated with the power of resurrection is
the prerogative of judgment (5:22), because the outcome of judgment is either life
or death. For example, Jesus said in
5:24: “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.” Jesus goes
on to specify the ultimate separation in association with resurrection
(5:25): “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.”
He expands and explains this further (5:28-29): “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming
when all who are in the 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.” Jesus is dividing
all humanity into two camps: those who
hear his “word and believe him who sent me” (5:24) and “those who have done
evil (5:29). The category of the
righteous is not limited to last-day martyrs.
In fact martyrdom is not the ultimate criterion for the “resurrection of
life.” Rather, saving faith in Jesus
Christ is the deciding factor.
iv.
In conclusion, the “first resurrection”
of Revelation 20:5 includes all the righteous dead who are raised at
Christ’s return, as related especially in I Thessalonians 4. It also includes those who are raptured in
that same complex of events. Since the
martyrs during the reign of the Beast (a period often referred to as the
Tribulation) would be included among the righteous dead, they would join the
righteous of previous centuries in this great gathering together of those who
experience the “resurrection of life.” (John 5:29)
4.
Who will reign with Christ for 1000
years? (verse 20:6)
a.
There are two groups who are said to
reign with Christ. The first is the group
of martyrs that are listed in verse 20:4.
They are as follows.
i.
They proclaimed the testimony of Jesus
ii.
They proclaimed the word of God
iii.
They had refused to worship the Beast or
its image
iv.
They had not received the Mark of the
Beast
v.
These all are said to come to life and
reign with Christ
b.
The second group is defined in 20:6 as those
who experience the first resurrection. In
my discussion above, I conclude that this group includes all the righteous
dead. They will be from all generations. (I’ll discuss the “Old Testament” righteous
elsewhere.)
c.
I conclude that those who reign with
Christ will be all the righteous dead.
Yet, a special place of honor seems to be reserved for the last-day
martyrs. They are defined by their
verbal witness, their defiance of the order to worship the Beast and his image,
and their refusal to receive the Mark of the Beast.
d.
I believe that the message to all
Christians of all ages is to follow the example of these last-day martyrs. There may not be a Beast demanding worship
and loyalty overtly as is the case of the Beast of the last days. However, there are always pressures to go
along with whatever this world is currently holding up as worthy of
worship. It may be a teen-age idol, the
latest fashions, some video game that has created a sensation. It may be abortion rights or the homosexual
agenda. It may be a harsh dictator. It may be those powerful temptations that I
John 2:14 lists that have always drawn people away from loyalty to the Father
and the Son. In every case there are
consequences to refusing to worship the gods of this world. The consequence may not be to experience a
martyr’s death; it may simply to be shunned or to find one’s career is in
jeopardy. The martyrs of the early
Christian centuries as well as those who suffer today, especially in North
Korea, China, and Muslim countries—all of these serve as examples for us to
follow. Finally, we have the example of
the last-day martyrs. Let us pray for
faithfulness and courage and deep love for God to be worthy fellow servants
with all of these heroes of the faith.
5.
What is the “second death” (verse 20:6)? This question is answered
directly in 20:14: the second death is
to be thrown into the Lake of Fire. This
topic will be discussed in another post when I consider 20:11-15. In a previous post, I diagrammed how all (or
most) humans experience a “first death.”
Those who are saved experience also a “first resurrection.” The rest experience a “second resurrection”
and a “second death.” This will be
expanded in the material on 20:11-15.
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