Bible Question: On Revelation 20:1-6 it talks about the thousand year reign. A question I have is whether all believers take place in this dead and living or whether it will be just the believers that are alive on earth at the time. It seems like that is the first resurrection according to verse 5. My guess from reading this is that all saved believers in Jesus will be present for the 1,000 year reign. Does anyone have any information or insight into this. |
Bible Answer: Hi Beana, I would suggest you examine I Thess. 4:13-18 while studying Rev. 20. To answer your main question 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." Which would seem to indicate that those alive at Jesus' coming, together with the resurrected saints, will reign with Christ for the 1,000 years. Since this is the "first" resurrection then there would be none before it. The second resurrection would take place after the 1,000 years. Read I Thess. 4:13-18 again and tell me - is this the 1st or 2nd reserrection spoken of here? Obviously this takes place at the 2nd coming of Jesus and marks the beginning of the 1,000 years. Notice that the saints "meet the Lord in the air". Where (anywhere in the Bible) does it indicate the 1,000 year reign actually takes place on the earth? If the saints are taken off the earth as indicated in I Thess. 4 and this is the "first" resurrection of Rev. 20 then the 1,000 year reign must take place somewhere else, I would assume in heaven. After the 1,000 years is over Jesus comes back bringing with Him all the saints (Jude 1:14-15) and the evil dead are raised to face judgement and destruction (the 2nd resurrection). |