Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Revelation 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 20:5 The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. |
Bible Question: Your answer suggests there is a definite 1000 year separation between the resurrection of the just and the unjust. Where else in the Bible does it clearly state there will be two resurrections; and how does this square with John 5:28 and 29? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Isabel! The answer to your question about the number of resurrections is found in Rev. 20:5 and Rev. 20:12-13. Rev. 20:5 clearly states that there will be more than one resurrection. Those who are a part of the first resurrection reign with Christ for a thousand years. Rev. 20:12-13 deals with the "rest of the dead", who do not reign with Christ and are subject to the second death. In actuality, there are several resurrections. The "first" of Rev. 20:5 seems to be in relationship to the last resurrection of Rev. 20:12-13, not 'first' in a chronological sense. I say this because the evidence for the following resurrections. a) The resurrection of Christ and the Old Testament saints - 1 Cor. 15:23 and Mt. 27:52-53. b) The resurrection of dead saints and the translation of living saints at 13-18. c) The resurrection of the two witnesses in Rev. 11:3-11. (This may be a subset of the rapture!) There are probably more references, but this is just a quick list that I threw together. Concerning the relationship of multiple resurrections to John 5:28-29, I think that John 5:28-29 is an example of prophetic telescoping. In prophecy, several distant (in time) events are often telescoped together in such a way that they appear as a single event. Thus, John 5:28-29 is concerned with the reality of resurrection and judgement, not necessarily with giving an indepth description of how it occurs. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |