STUDY IN REVELATION 34
The first resurrection &
The 1000 year reign of Christ
Revelation 20: 4-6
Imagine a time when there is no more war, no more killing, no more assaults or abuse. A day when the homeless will have a home, the unemployed will find work. A day when there is no more hunger and hurt. A day with no more drug dealers and pimps, no more fear.
According to the Bible a day just like that and more is coming. A day when Christ shall rule the earth and Satan shall have no control.
Let’s see what that day looks like.
v. 4 Who will be there?
John sees thrones and people sitting on them. He also notices that “judgment was given unto them”
Judgment means that they were given authority to rule and to judge.
He also sees those who were beheaded or killed for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God.
John takes special notice of this group of people. Who do you think they are? ____________
Think about what we have been studying and what has happened during the great tribulation.
These are those who refused to worship the beast or his image. They also refused to take his mark on their foreheads or their hands. So now who do you think they are?
Who is missing? I’ll give you a hint. He’s a little “tied up” for the moment. ________________
v. 5 This resurrection will be for believers only.
“The rest of the dead”
š were made to sit quietly and watch while we enjoy ourselves šwere made to serve us šstayed dead
I have heard of children who, because they had been bad, were made to sit and watch as their siblings enjoyed a special treat. What if you had to bring your siblings ice cream, knowing you would get none? Would there be any peace?
The only people who will be a part of the first resurrection will be those who know Jesus Christ
v. 6 Six privileges are given to the resurrected believers.
1. They will be extremely blessed.
“Blessed” [makarios] means joy and satisfaction; complete and fulfilled; secure and peaceful. It means to have purpose.
2. They will be holy.
The believers will be totally separated from the world and brought into the likeness of Christ Himself. We will finally be like Him.
Ph. 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3. They will never see the second death.
What is the second death? The first death is when we leave this world and enter the next world.
The second death will be a final and eternal death. The one who faces this second death will forever be separated from God. They will be put into a different place away from the presence of God.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Regardless of what we may deserve, those of us who surrender to Christ will forever be with God. Not because of who we are but whose we are and not because of what we’ve done but what He has done.
1Cr 15:26 The last enemy [that] will be destroyed [is] death.
1Cr 15:54-58 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
O Death, where [is] your sting? O Hades [grave], where [is] your victory?"
The sting of death [is] sin, and the strength of sin [is] the law.
But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].
4. They will become a priest of God and Christ.
When you think about the idea of becoming a priest, we think of the fact that we will no longer need a mediator; that person who goes to God on my behalf. Then you may say “WAIT a minute!! I thought that when Jesus died on the cross I no longer needed a priest to stand in my place!”
Well it took a minute for this to sink in for me but think about how we come before God and Christ, today.
When we approach God today, we come into His presence through prayer.
But there is coming a day when we will approach Him face to face. Now, does that make you feel better?
1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Rev 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
5. They will reign [rule] with Christ.
STUDY IN REVELATION 34
The first resurrection &
The 1000 year reign of Christ
Revelation 20: 4-6
Imagine a time when there is no more war, no more killing, no more assaults or abuse. A day when the homeless will have a home, the unemployed will find work. A day when there is no more hunger and hurt. A day with no more drug dealers and pimps, no more fear.
According to the Bible a day just like that and more is coming. A day when Christ shall rule the earth and Satan shall have no control.
Let’s see what that day looks like.
v. 4 Who will be there?
John sees and people sitting on them. He also notices that “j was given unto them”
Judgment means that they were given to rule and to judge.
He also sees those who were or killed for their witness of J and for the of God.
John takes special notice of this group of people. Who do you think they are? ____________
Think about what we have been studying and what has happened during the great tribulation.
These are those who refused to worship the or his . They also refused to take his on their or their hands. So now who do you think they are?
Who is missing? I’ll give you a hint. He’s a little “tied up” for the moment. ________________
v. 5 This resurrection will be for only.
“The rest of the dead”
š were made to sit quietly and watch while we enjoy ourselves šwere made to serve us šstayed dead
I have heard of children who, because they had been bad, were made to sit and watch as their siblings enjoyed a special treat. What if you had to bring your siblings ice cream, knowing you would get none? Would there be any peace?
The only people who will be a part of the first resurrection will be those who know Jesus Christ
v. 6 Six privileges are given to the resurrected believers.
1. They will be extremely .
“Blessed” [makarios] means and satisfaction; and fulfilled; secure and peaceful. It means to have purpose.
2. They will be .
The believers will be totally separated from the world and brought into the likeness of Christ Himself. We will finally be like Him.
Ph. 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3. They will never see the .
What is the second death? The first death is when we leave this world and enter the next world.
The second death will be a final and eternal death. The one who faces this second death will forever be separated from God. They will be put into a different place away from the presence of God.
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Regardless of what we may deserve, those of us who surrender to Christ will forever be with God. Not because of who we are but whose we are and not because of what we’ve done but what He has done.
1Cr 15:26 The last enemy [that] will be destroyed [is] death.
1Cr 15:54-58 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
O Death, where [is] your sting? O Hades [grave], where [is] your victory?"
The sting of death [is] sin, and the strength of sin [is] the law.
But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].
4. They will become a of God and Christ.
When you think about the idea of becoming a priest, we think of the fact that we will no longer need a mediator; that person who goes to God on my behalf. Then you may say “WAIT a minute!! I thought that when Jesus died on the cross I no longer needed a priest to stand in my place!”
Well it took a minute for this to sink in for me but think about how we come before God and Christ, today.
When we approach God today, we come into His presence through .
But there is coming a day when we will approach Him to . Now, does that make you feel better?
1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Rev 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
5. They will [rule] with Christ.
