Who are they ? Revelation 20:4-6

_Dave_

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So what became of all those Christians who were beheaded for refusing to worship the image of the emperor?

God says: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ..." 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Their bodies are still in their graves until the rapture. Their spirits are already with Jesus.
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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A favorite Bible teacher of mine used to say that if we are currently in the Millennium then Satan's chain must be too long.

What I say is that if we are currently in the Millennium then Satan must have taken leg bail to wreak havoc on the nations; which means God is pretty ineffective at restraining anybody. Hmmm.

It's a worse false teaching than even that! If we are in the Millenium, the Jesus Christ is a LIAR. He said Satan would be bound in Hell under lock and key so that he cannot even tempt the nations. Since Satan is still in the world tempting the nations, it is one of MANY proofs we are NOT in the Millenium.
 
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_Dave_

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It's a worse false teaching than even that! If we are in the Millenium, the Jesus Christ is a LIAR. He said Satan would be bound in Hell under lock and key so that he cannot even tempt the nations. Since Satan is still in the world tempting the nations, it is one of MANY proofs we are NOT in the Millenium.
The Bible teacher and myself were being facetious, of course.

But I agree that there are further considerations. For one, it would make God a breaker of promises.

For example, several places in Scripture God says that Jesus will sit on the Throne of David during the Millennium. The throne does not exist, and hasn't for almost 3,000 years.

And if Jesus is sitting on the throne currently, it's a well-kept secret where the throne is, and it would make Jesus an ineffective ruler of the nations.

No, the Millennium is yet future.
 
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HTacianas

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God says: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ..." 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Their bodies are still in their graves until the rapture. Their spirits are already with Jesus.

That their spirits are with Jesus is what we are discussing. :)
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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That their spirits are with Jesus is what we are discussing. :)

Yes. Their bodies are in the grave, but their souls are with God in Paradise. Those who are asleep (dead) in Christ will have their bodies resurrected first.
 
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Dave L

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The angel = Greek for messenger

the chain = the message (gospel); The gospel sent to the whole world.

the 1000 years = Satan bound from deceiving the elect. The saints rule over him. the 1000 years end = Satan loosed.

Note the 1000 years are not the kingdom. Satan attacks the kingdom when they end and he is loosed.

Satan loosed = the Post Christian era (we now live in = immanent return of Christ) the gospel message falls on deaf ears, the world assails the Church from all quarters ushering in the end.

“Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:30–31)

So in essence, Revelation 20 is a panorama of the entire New Covenant era. Not a physical kingdom of the future.
 
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TribulationSigns

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A question for those who believe the 1000 year reign is past or current. Who are they ? The beheaded ones who came to life and reigned with Christ a 1000 years.

Revelation 20: 4 to 6

4Then 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 a thousand years 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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

God is not talking about "literal one thousand year "physical" reign of Christ on Earth. It is symbolic that represents the time between Pentecost when Church started her Great Comission until all Elect are secured by the testimony prior to Second Coming. After this thousand year is finished, there will be a little season where Satan is loosed from the bottomelss pit and goes forth deceiving the nations "BEFORE the Second advent.

So during this period, when Christians who have experienced born again (First Resurrection) physically died, their SOULS will immediately go up into heaven to reign. However the "rest of the dead" are the ones who have not yet born again, dies and their souls will remain in the grave until the Judgment day... after the thousand years.
 
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Berean Tim

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God is not talking about "literal one thousand year "physical" reign of Christ on Earth. It is symbolic that represents the time between Pentecost when Church started her Great Comission until all Elect are secured by the testimony prior to Second Coming. After this thousand year is finished, there will be a little season where Satan is loosed from the bottomelss pit and goes forth deceiving the nations "BEFORE the Second advent.

So during this period, when Christians who have experienced born again (First Resurrection) physically died, their SOULS will immediately go up into heaven to reign. However the "rest of the dead" are the ones who have not yet born again, dies and their souls will remain in the grave until the Judgment day... after the thousand years.
Those beheaded came to life. They were not born again after they died.
 
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TribulationSigns

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Those beheaded came to life. They were not born again after they died.

Incorrect. Please try at least read Scripture.

Revelation 20:6
  • "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 in order, and what is meant by it.

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 judgment in the second resurrection.

1st Resurrection:
However, every single believer who has been raised up in Christ to new life, hath part in this First Resurrection. Remember the Scriptures talk of Christ as the "FIRSTBORN 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. Selah! 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 without First Resurrection) are all are raised up to stand for Judgment. This is the Second Resurrection (of the Dead).


2nd Death:
The Judgment that is meted out By GOD upon the unrighteous. HELL! 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? These are the same exact Greek words used in Revelation chapter twenty (First Resurrection). 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.

Death and Resurrection
The Biblical Concepts

chart.png

Symbolism
Rest of the Dead
= the unsaved who have died (without the First Resurrection)
First Resurrection = Christ, and all raised up with Him (Born Again)!

Revelation 20:6
  • "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.
 

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setst777

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So what became of all those Christians who were beheaded for refusing to worship the image of the emperor?

Google "the error of chiliasm".

Can't be an error because the Millennial Golden Age is prophesied all over the Old Testament -

*the lion laying down with the lamb,
*making weapons into farming equipment,
*people living a very long time,
*the nations bringing their wealth to Israel,
*burying the millions who died in the battle of Armageddon, *Satan released one last time after a thousands years,

and so much more.

Also, remember that Prophesied events of the end times all center around Israel and the nations that surround her. We are seeing this all play out today. The nations that surround Israel are all Islamic. Note that Islam uses beheading to kill all unbelievers and hypocrites. Christians and Jews have become Islam's most serious enemies. Islam has been stepping up its preaching of death to Israel and the West while at the same time infiltrating the West politically and socially to use the laws of the West against them in allowing Islam to grow strong in foreign lands - the enemy within our walls.
 
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Berean Tim

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Incorrect. Please try at least read Scripture.

Revelation 20:6
  • "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 in order, and what is meant by it.

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 judgment in the second resurrection.

1st Resurrection:
However, every single believer who has been raised up in Christ to new life, hath part in this First Resurrection. Remember the Scriptures talk of Christ as the "FIRSTBORN 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. Selah! 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 without First Resurrection) are all are raised up to stand for Judgment. This is the Second Resurrection (of the Dead).


2nd Death:
The Judgment that is meted out By GOD upon the unrighteous. HELL! 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? These are the same exact Greek words used in Revelation chapter twenty (First Resurrection). 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.

Death and Resurrection
The Biblical Concepts

chart.png

Symbolism
Rest of the Dead
= the unsaved who have died (without the First Resurrection)
First Resurrection = Christ, and all raised up with Him (Born Again)!

Revelation 20:6
  • "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.
No. I won't hit on all your post but
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. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.This is the first resurrection.
This is the first resurrection -
refers to the martyrs not the rest of the dead. I've never read or heard your opinion the "rest of the dead" is the first resurrection.
1st Thess 4:16
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. This is the first not second resurrection.

Once again , They came to life after they were beheaded they must have been born again before they were martyred.
 
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Monk Brendan

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A question for those who believe the 1000 year reign is past or current. Who are they ? The beheaded ones who came to life and reigned with Christ a 1000 years.


Revelation 20: 4 to 6

4Then 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 a thousand years 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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
St. John said he saw the SOULS of those beheaded during the Tribulation.

Consequently, this reign is taking place in HEAVEN and not on earth.

Furthermore, both the Psalter and ST. Peter warn us that we are NOT to interpret 1000 years according to how human beings experience time.
 
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eleos1954

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Revelation 20:4-5 The only people Jesus Christ starts the 1,000 year reign with are those who are resurrected. "This is the first resurrection". The rest are NOT resurrected until after the 1,000 year.

We are not in the 1,000 year reign because the Word says satan will be locked in Hell during this time, and I have personally met Satan at least 4 times and neither of us were in Hell. Satan is currently roaming the earth. He is not in Hell.

The 1,000 year reign begins when Jesus returns, and those include the saved living at the time and the saved dead are resurrected and all are taken to heaven together. The unsaved on the earth are destroyed by the brightness of His coming. Satan is bound to a desolate earth for the 1,000 years ie ... in prison because he has nobody to tempt. After the 1,000 years the 2nd resurrection happens and then things proceed from there on.

2nd Thessalonians 2

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Job 4:9
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

Thessalonians 4 -
The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Revelation

4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them (1) had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their 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 hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (first resurrection)

5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share 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.

(1)

1 Corinthians 6:3

…2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will
judge
angels?

We are made privy to the records of all the lost during the 1,000 years in heaven and before the GWTJ takes place.

Revelation 20

7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

will stop here for now
 
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Jonathan Mathews

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The 1,000 year reign begins when Jesus returns, and those include the saved living at the time and the saved dead are resurrected and all are taken to heaven together. The unsaved on the earth are destroyed by the brightness of His coming. Satan is bound to a desolate earth for the 1,000 years ie ... in prison because he has nobody to tempt. After the 1,000 years the 2nd resurrection happens and then things proceed from there on.

2nd Thessalonians 2

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Job 4:9
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

Thessalonians 4 -
The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Revelation

4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them (1) had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their 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 hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (first resurrection)

5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share 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.

(1)

1 Corinthians 6:3

…2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will
judge
angels?

We are made privy to the records of all the lost during the 1,000 years in heaven and before the GWTJ takes place.

Revelation 20

7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

will stop here for now

This is fantastic! Almost entirely correct! You got it 95%! . There are only a few things I see incorrect or out of order. Please don't hate me for fine tuning what you've written!

The order is this (Revelation 19:19 - Revelation 20:4):
1) AntiChrist is revealed,
2) Jesus Christ returns with the clouds, throws the AntiChrist and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire,
3) kills everyone else with the Sword from His mouth,
4) locks Satan in Hell (off the earth),
5) and then raised the dead (1st resurrection) and reigns for 1,000 years

NOTE on #1) the lawless one who is to be revealed in the AntiChrist. He is revealed BEFORE Jesus Christ's 2nd coming to earth. He is defeated AT Jesus' 2nd coming to earth.

NOTE on #4) During the 1,000 satan is not bound to a desolate earth or allowed to roam it. He is bound in Hell itself, sealed and locked. (Revelation 20:2-3) Jesus Christ will be the World Ruler during the 1,000 years. Satan is not allowed on the Earth during the 1,000 so that He cannot tempt man, but even then, many who see Jesus Christ rule on the earth will still not receive and obey Him.
 
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Berean Tim

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The angel = Greek for messenger

the chain = the message (gospel); The gospel sent to the whole world.

the 1000 years = Satan bound from deceiving the elect. The saints rule over him. the 1000 years end = Satan loosed.

Note the 1000 years are not the kingdom. Satan attacks the kingdom when they end and he is loosed.

Satan loosed = the Post Christian era (we now live in = immanent return of Christ) the gospel message falls on deaf ears, the world assails the Church from all quarters ushering in the end.

“Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:30–31)

So in essence, Revelation 20 is a panorama of the entire New Covenant era. Not a physical kingdom of the future.
The angel = Greek for messengerCould be human or an Angel. In this case John sees an Angel coming from heaven. Most likely a sprit being

the chain = the message (gospel); The gospel sent to the whole world.

– I have no idea what it would take to bind Satan. He is "chained" and also placed in the abyss which is shut and sealed. I read this as an assurance he is bound and can’t deceive the world during this time.


the 1000 years = Satan bound from deceiving the elect. The saints rule over him. the 1000 years end = Satan loosed.- agree

Note the 1000 years are not the kingdom. Satan attacks the kingdom when they end and he is loosed.– Not the everlasting kingdom but a thousand year long reign

Satan loosed = the Post Christian era (we now live in = immanent return of Christ) the gospel message falls on deaf ears, the world assails the Church from all quarters ushering in the end.-At the end of the thousand years Satan is loose but fire comes from heaven and destroys his army. Jesus has already returned at this point

“Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:30–31)

So in essence, Revelation 20 is a panorama of the entire New Covenant era. Not a physical kingdom of the future.– A lot of OT verses prophecy this kingdom

This is the way I see it
 
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eleos1954

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This is fantastic! Almost entirely correct! You got it 95%! . There are only a few things I see incorrect or out of order. Please don't hate me for fine tuning what you've written!

The order is this (Revelation 19:19 - Revelation 20:4):
1) AntiChrist is revealed,
2) Jesus Christ returns with the clouds, throws the AntiChrist and False Prophet into the Lake of Fire,
3) kills everyone else with the Sword from His mouth,
4) locks Satan in Hell (off the earth),
5) and then raised the dead (1st resurrection) and reigns for 1,000 years

NOTE on #1) the lawless one who is to be revealed in the AntiChrist. He is revealed BEFORE Jesus Christ's 2nd coming to earth. He is defeated AT Jesus' 2nd coming to earth.

NOTE on #4) During the 1,000 satan is not bound to a desolate earth or allowed to roam it. He is bound in Hell itself, sealed and locked. (Revelation 20:2-3) Jesus Christ will be the World Ruler during the 1,000 years. Satan is not allowed on the Earth during the 1,000 so that He cannot tempt man, but even then, many who see Jesus Christ rule on the earth will still not receive and obey Him.

Hell is the grave ...

The word for “bottomless pit” in the original Greek is “abussos,” or abyss. That same word is used in Genesis 1:2 in the Greek version of the Old Testament in connection with the creation of the earth, but there it is translated “deep.” “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.” The words “deep,” “bottomless pit,” and “abyss” here refer to the same thing—the earth in its totally dark, disorganized form before God made order of it. Jeremiah, in describing this earth during the 1,000 years, used virtually the same terms as these in Genesis 1:2: “without form, and void,” “no light,” “no man,” and “black” (Jeremiah 4:23, 25, 28). So the battered, dark earth with no people alive will be called the bottomless pit, or abyss, during the 1,000 years, just as it was in the beginning before Creation was completed. Also, Isaiah 24:22 speaks of Satan and his angels during the 1,000 years as “gathered in the pit” and “shut up in the prison.”
 
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keras

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3) kills everyone else with the Sword from His mouth,
What 'book' do you get that from?
Scripture says Jesus will destroy the attacking armies at Armageddon, that's all. Revelation 19:17-21
Why should He destroy any more? He has come to rule over them with His rod of iron and as we see in Zechariah 13:16, they will come to worship Him in Jerusalem.
 
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eleos1954

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A question for those who believe the 1000 year reign is past or current. Who are they ? The beheaded ones who came to life and reigned with Christ a 1000 years.


Revelation 20: 4 to 6

4Then 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 a thousand years 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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

It's all the saved living at the time and those (saved) from the 1st resurrection that Jesus will be taking with Him to heaven. The 1,000 years occurs in heaven ... after the 1,000 years the the 2nd resurrection (the lost) happens and things move on from there.
 
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