THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Part 42
The Millennial Reign of Christ
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I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given
authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because
of their Testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ 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 are those who have
part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but
they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a
thousand years.
Rev 20:4-6 NIV
The saints will reign with Christ for 1000 years.
This is known as “The Millennial Reign.”
The saints taken at “the Rapture,” and all the
saints that come out of “the Great Tribulation,” including God's two witnesses
who were killed in Revelation 11—all form part of what the Bible calls the
First Resurrection (read Rev. 11:3-12).
All who are part of “the First Resurrection” will
reign with Christ for a thousand years while the devil is bound up in the
abyss, before he is released for a short time. This resurrection includes all
“the glorified saints” in Heaven up to the time of Christ’s return [The Second
Coming].
But, all the people who died in the Earth not
finding their rest in Christ—the ungodly—will not be risen at that time—not
until the thousand years are ended. The rest of the dead did not come to life
at this time, for “the First Resurrection is of those who will reign with
Christ in The Millennium.
The second death has no power over those who have
part in “the First Resurrection” (v.6).
“… He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Rev
2:11NIV).
“The tribulation saints” will also not be hurt by
the second death; they were slain for the Word of GOD and for the Testimony
they bear for Jesus in “the Fifth Seal” (6:9).
The lake of fire is the second death (Rev. 20:14).
Surely, there will be “the resurrection of Life”
only for those who hear “the Voice of the Lord” [“the Voice of the Arch-Angel”]
and also, “the resurrection of damnation” to the ungodly.
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 (John 5:28-29 KJV).
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that
there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (Acts
24:15 KJV).
In Hebrews 11:35,
“the First Resurrection” is referred to as “a better resurrection.” The
righteous people of God will be raised to Eternal Life, but others to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the Earth will awake: some
to Everlasting Life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:2 NIV
In Luke 14:14, the
Lord Jesus referred to the First Resurrection as “the resurrection of the
just.”
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou
shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Luke 14:14 KJV