The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1912 Rev. kc 52-1
 

Understand that John was taken spiritually to the Millennium!
Where there are no more flesh and blood people!

Next we will learn what reward comes with being part of the first resurrection.

Rev. 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.

(1) The first group are the martyrs down through the ages, those who have been beheaded, i.e. killed or executed for the (a) the witness of Jesus, and (b) for the Word of God. It would include the two witnesses also.

(2) The second group are those of this final generation who had the seal of God in their foreheads and who overcame the beast.

Note: In our previous studies we've covered in great detail the beast (Satan), his image (role as Jesus), his mark upon their foreheads (deception), and his mark in their hands (doing his work).

Now, did you read the last phrase in verse 4, "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years"? What an honor and a privilege! If you ever are in want of some encouragement to continue to fight the good fight, then just refer to Rev. 20:4.  For if you are one of God's elect then you will be part of the first resurrection at His coming, and you will reign with Jesus Christ for the entire 1000 years during the Millennium.

[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Let's now go back to Rev. 20:5. Understand that we are now in the Millennium! There are no more flesh people! Everyone has been changed. And John is telling us what's going on! The first death (of the flesh) and the first resurrection (to eternal life) is over! So the "dead" (who are alive in their spiritual bodies) in the Millennium means those who are "spiritually dead". To "live" then is to receive "eternal life". So the "dead" cannot "live" until the thousand years are finished, i.e. none of them can receive the gift of eternal life until judgment day following the Millennium, which is the second resurrection! If you don't quite understand yet, wait until we finish this chapter and it should become clear in your mind regarding the "dead".

Let's go one more verse to conclude today's study:

Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Now read again verse 20. Since eternal life is granted to those who are part of the First Resurrection, then the second death, the lake of fire, does not apply to them!Their souls cannot be destroyed because they have already received the gift of eternal life. And they shall be PRIESTS and REIGN with Christ throughout the Millennium.

In our next study we will document from the Old Testament and see in greater detail the reign of these Priests of God and of Christ.But for now, just stop everything and take a deep breath and consider the following:

If you have eyes to see and ears to hear then you have been and will be reading about YOU, a participant in the first resurrection! And if you can only even briefly comprehend the enormous reality of all this, that it WILL HAPPEN TO YOU as it is written, then your faith will be greatly increased, your fears and anxieties will be greatly decreased, and you will be overcome with love and thankfulness for our Father who loves His children so much.

In this study we continue in what is often called the Millennium Chapter, because the events that are being described are happening during and after the 1000 year reign of Christ and His saints which commences with the sound of the 7th Trump.

We had concluded earlier, by learning in Rev. 20:6, that those who are part of the first resurrection will be Priests of God and shall reign with Christ during the 1000 years. But once again, as we have seen throughout Revelation, this is not new knowledge if you are familiar with all of God's Word. You see, the last 8 chapters of the Book of Ezekiel contain more information about the Millennium than does the Book of Revelation. And so we can read even more detail about the 1000 year reign of God's elect, who are called the "zadok" in Hebrew, which means the "just" or "justified ones" (Rom. 8). Here's Ezekiel's account in chapter 44 concerning the Priests during the Millennium:

Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

[24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

[25] And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

But, if at the end of the Millennium, after being tested by Satan when he is released for a short time, they are found to have now learned the diference between what is holy and what is profane and passed the testing, having now proven, beyond a shadow of doubt, to be faithful to the Lord, will be granted eternal life. This is the second resurrection.

Let's review what we have learned

Ezekiel concerning the Millennium and what the "Zadok", or justified ones, will be doing during those 1000 years..
Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.Ezekiel 44:24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
The preachers and teachers, during the flesh age period of grace, obviously didn't teach them to discern between the false messiah and the true Messiah, the profane and the holy, before the 7th Trump sounded, did they?

Here's the Millennium. The Lord's day. 1000 years without Satan's evil influence.
. Rev. 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Here's the "zadok", the flesh age Christians who endured until the end and were part of the "First Resurrection".
Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Here's "the dead", the remainder of flesh age professing Christians, who didn't endure until the end and those brothers and sisters, fellow human beings,  who just didn't bother or were too busy with other earthly things to acknowledge God during their flesh and blood experience here on earth.
Rev.20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Yes, this is the first resurrection, but did you notice what the beginnibng of verse 5 tells us? You can still be granted eternal life at the end of the millennium based on your works. Verse 13 tells us that! Rev. 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

If you are not part of the first resurrection then you are part of "the remainder" who are called "the dead" and you must wait until the end of the Millennium for a chance at eternal life. You will then be tested that short season by Satan who will be released temporarily, and then you will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment when the books are opened (vs. 12).

Great White Throne Judgment
Rev. 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev. 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The "Book of Life", if your name now appears there.
Only then can you be part of the Second Resurrection and receive eternal life. Until then you are called "dead" because you are still subject to the second death, which is the destruction of your soul in the lake of fire (vs. 14).