It probably isn't a physical statue, yet that is beside the point. The point is, per the martyrs recorded in Revelation 20:4, which had not worshiped his image, it is meaning the image of the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And none of you have provided the Scriptures that refute that. Where are those Scriptures if nothing in Revelation 13 are those Scriptures that tell us which image to the beast those recorded in Revelation 20:4 did not worship?
Either, Scripture interprets Scripture or it doesn't.
which had not worshipped the beast---Revelation 13 explains this
neither his image---Revelation 13 explains this
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands---Revelation 13 explains this
If you disagree that Revelation 13 explains that, then produce the Scriptures that do explain this. It is ludicrous, that when the saints recorded in Revelation 20:4, which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, that this is not meaning during the era of time Revelation 13 is involving. Until the beast rises out of the pit first, meaning it is not active in the earth while it is in the pit, no one is going to refuse to worship it, refuse to worship his image, in the meantime. That only makes sense once it has ascended out of the pit and that it then demands worship of itself otherwise death to those that refuse to worship it. Here's an idea then. Why don't we just throw Revelation 13 out the window altogether since it is useless Scripture, since none of it can explain the martyrdom per Revelation 20:4?
Rev 20:4
(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.
In verse 4 John tells us that he saw the
souls of the martyrs who did not worship the beast, nor receive his mark. First of all, notice that John does "NOT" say he saw the martyrs, nor does he say that he saw their bodies or the persons, or he saw souls (
which could be illustrating people). He is very specific! He saw the souls "
of" those that were beheaded for the witness of God. The souls of them, nothing more! Again, this is the Spiritual picture that the Lord is giving us. First, the Messenger of the Covenant comes from heaven and binds Satan so that the New Covenant Church can be built which obviously took almost 2,000 years since Pentecost, and then John sees the souls of those martyred that raised up to reign with Christ on thrones. In other words, they are made kings and Priests unto God after Christ binds Satan. If you look at verse 5 you'll see that this (
the souls of these martyrs up on thrones) is called "
The First Resurrection." It's now a simple matter of Biblical deduction to discover exactly
when and
what was "The First Resurrection?"
Again, fitting perfectly into place we see that it was at the cross! These Souls were raised up to reign with Christ because of the work at the cross and Christ's resurrection thereafter. Christ is the "First" Resurrection. Those who have part in the first resurrection (being born again) are all the True Believers who have a part in Christ's First Resurrection. They are the First Resurrection (
the second being at Christ's return). Those who have died in Christ have gone to be with the Lord, having been raised with Christ to reign. That's the First Resurrection these martyrs have part in, which precludes the second death!
The very fact a first resurrection is spoken about indicates that there is a second. And the second resurrection is at Christ's return. This is at the time of the Rapture when the
rest of the dead who did not born again (first resurrection) will be raised to stand for Judgment. And then there will be the second death, of which those who have part in the First Resurrection (
raised with Christ) have no need to worry about. Likewise, the very fact that a second death is spoken about, implies that there is a first death.
Romans 5:12-14
- "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
- (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
- Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
The first death is our death in Adam. For in him we are all dead in tresspass and sin. Not physical death, but spiritually death, being separated from God. As God told Adam, "
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." And in Adam, we all die, which means that we are all dead in trespass and sin. This is that first death! So we need the first resurrection to raise from THAT death. Not physical death. Spiritual! Consider wisely how we all raised up:
1st Corinthians 15:21-22
- "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
Did Adam die the moment he ate off the tree? Yes, but not physically, he died spiritually! Selah! Therefore the first resurrection from THAT death is NOT physical, but spiritual! It is in Christ, the firstfruit. And we shall 'realize' that eternal life resurrection at his coming.
Look, do not be confused by this First and Second Resurrection, and the First and Second Death. This is the way the Lord writes things that His sheep 'alone' will receive it. Just as in the parables, He told. If we look at these verses carefully and objectively, we can see that the thousand years are not literal. These souls are those of the martyrs (who have died before us) in heaven. It says these are those beheaded because of the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and are those who didn't receive the mark of the beast in their foreheads (a sign of bondage to satan).
And we read the
rest of the dead lived not again for 1000 years (verse 5). This also illustrates that this is not speaking about a future first resurrection, for there is one future resurrection of the just and the unjust. And it is not (nor can it be) the first. If this were indeed a literal number of years, then even all of the "rest of those who died" would have all had to die in the same year. Else they could not have died and not lived again for that literal thousand years. Did everybody (
the rest of the dead) all die the same year? ..see how convoluted this gets? Likewise in the 1000 years the believers who died lived and reigned with Christ, is it the same thousand years satan is bound? If so, how can the souls of the dead be reigning with Christ in heaven when Christ is (supposedly) reigning with men here on Earth in literal jerusalem in the middle east? Moreover, if the rest of the dead for a thousand years refers to the same thousand literal years Satan is bound, then when Satan is loosed after the thousand years, these "rest of the dead" must also live again, and we have a world with dead people walking around, because scripture emphatically says they lived again after the thousand years? Does Satan have an army of "literal" dead people helping him deceive the nations and coming against the camp of the Saints? For the rest of these dead live after this thousand years, and Satan is loosed after a thousand years. On and on this
inconsistency and
torture of scripture is endless in the premillennialist doctrine. If we just bother to look at it carefully we understand that it simply cannot be literally a thousand years.
But here is the truth of the matter. We should understand that everything in this Revelations chapter 20 is going along in a logical chronological progression. Christ, The Messenger of the Covenant, Comes down from heaven with this Key (
Christ is the one with the Keys to Hell and death -Rev. 1:18) and great chain and lays hold on Satan and bounds him 1000 year (
the fullness time for the Lords purpose) so that He can free Satan's prisoners and populate Christ's Kingdom through the church with the spoil. He shuts Satan up in this spiritual prison symbolized by the fathomless abyss where he can't deceive the world and prevent the Lord's plan to build His Church by spoiling satan's house! God sets a seal on him (
indicating that He assures this). This is God's "signification" of security that no one can loose Satan but God who bound him. Satan will NOT be loosed UNTIL the fullness of time is accomplished (spiritually, 1000 years). So after Satan is bound, John sees the number of souls of the martyrs then living and reigning on thrones. This is consistent with scripture of the binding of Satan, and the work of Christ on the cross which allows these souls to have been raised up from the dead to "live" and reign with Christ! They are kings and Priests unto their God having had part in Christ's Resurrection. We, Christians, are made kings and Priests the moment we got born again, and working in the Lord's kingdom right now.. in the church! We are those who are not servants of Satan (
received his mark of servitude), but they are/were martyred because of our witness and for the Word of God they brought. And we all live and reign (spiritually) 1000 years with Christ. And it is by the work of this messenger of the Covenant that they can be translated into the Kingdom and live and reign with Christ.
Eph 2:5-6
(5)
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
(6) And
hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
See? What raising up or resurrection from the dead is this? If it's not the "first" then all scripture is untrustworthy and nothing to be believed! Because God says Christ is the First born from the dead, that in all things he might have preeminence. Is that true or not? These souls reigning with Christ reign because they were in Christ when He went to the cross and they were raised up with Him (
The First Resurrection) to be seated in heavenly places having the Judgment of God with Power, because God dwelleth within them.
Anyone who tries to tell you that the first resurrection hasn't happened yet, either doesn't know the scriptures very well, or is deliberately ignoring them.
If you recall when Mary's brother Lazarus died, Jesus came to her and she said, I know he will be raised at "The Last Day". Well, hello? The last day is the day of the Rapture, but it's the second resurrection, not the first! But Jesus made it perfectly clear to her of another Resurrection. The First! Consider wisely... if you read slowly...
Joh 11:25-26
(25) Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and
the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Perhaps we should ask the Theologians of the Premillennialist Churches today if Jesus indeed was the Resurrection, because it doesn't appear that they believe this is true. Jesus was telling her, the first Resurrection unto Life is in Me, it's right here! I Am the Resurrection! He that liveth and believeth in Me shall never die! In other words, neither Lazarus nor you have to die physically and wait until the end of the world (
The resurrection at the Last Day as Martha says) to be Resurrected. In fact, if you do wait till that time to be resurrected, you won't see life! The First resurrection is right here and now and without it, you are subject to the second death! But if you have part in this First Resurrection (born again
in Christ) the second death hath no power over you. And that is exactly what Revelation 20 said about the First Resurrection!!
He that liveth and believeth is Resurrected in Christ so that he'll never die (physical death yes, the second death, No). And he that is dead (as these martyred souls John saw), don't really die, because they already had part in that 1st Resurrection in Christ. For example, as Christ said, the true Believer will never die! That scenario is only possible "IF" and only if they have a part in the First Resurrection, which is in Christ. When one is BORN AGAIN! So, when a believer is martyred (or dead in any way), his soul leaves the body, and he goes to live and reign with Christ forever (Symbolized by the number 1000 years) while the Church is still working on Earth. Because He had a part in the First Resurrection. And that of course is what John was talking about in Revelation 20. They are "SOULS" of the Martyrs, not people reigning on earth. John, seeing those souls in heaven, sees the First Resurrection. So get that part right first.
Symbolism
Thrones = Reigning
Beheaded = Martyrdom for Christ
Beast = The Kingdom of Satan (as a Ravenous beast to devour)
Mark of the Beast = Signifies coming into Servitude to Satan's Kingdom
Forehead = The Mind
Hand = The Will
Because this messenger (Christ) came and bound satan, these souls of believers can go to live and Reign with Christ, "because" He has made them the First Resurrection, that they would never truly die.
