ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (11/10/90)
Requested notes of Revelation Chapters 20 and 21. These are in response to a request for verification of an earlier posting I made to this newsgroup. And I saw (a)thrones and (1)they sat upon them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the (2b) souls of those who had been beheaded because of the (c)testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and (3)who did not (d)worship the beast nor his image, and did not receive the (e)mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they (4)lived and (f)reigned with (5)christ a thousand years. (1) "They" are the overcomers. They are now sitting upon thrones, and authority to judge has been given to them. having authority to judge means having the kingdom (cf. Dan. 7:10, 18,22). This indicates that they have received the kingdom and are enjoying it. (2) These are the martyrs throughout the church age, as mentioned in 6:9. (3) These are the martyrs in the great tribulation (13:7, 15). (4) "Lived" here and in verse 5 means that they were resurrected. (5) Gk. the Christ. (a) Matt. 19:28; Rev. 3:21 (b) Rev. 6:9 (c) Rev. 1:2 (d) rev. 13:15 (e) rev. 13:16-17 (f) Rev. 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:12; heb. 2:5-8; Psa. 2:8-9; cf. Rev. 22:5 5 The (1a)rest of the dead did not live until the thousand yeaars were completed. This is the (2b)first resurrection. (1) These are the unsaved who will participate in the resurrection judgment after the millennium (John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:23-24; Rev. 20:12). (2) or, best. "The first resurrection" is the best one. It is not only the resurrection of life (John 5:29; 1 Cor.15.24; 1 Thes. 4:16), but also the resurrection of reward (Luke 14:14), the ex-resurrection, i.e., the extraordinary resurrection which the Apostle sought for (Phil. 3:11), the resurrection of kingship as a reward to the overcomers (vv. 4,6). Hence, "blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection" (v. 6). (a) 1 Cor. 15:23-24 (b) Luke 14:14; 20:35-36; John 5:29; Phil. 3:11. 6 (1a)Blessed and (b)holy is he (2) who has part in the first resurrection: over these the (3)second death has no authority; but they shall be (4d)priests of God and of (5)Christ and shall reign with Him (6)a thousand years. (1) Or, happy. (2) Not only the resurrected overcomers, such as the man-child in 12.5 and the later martyrs in 15:2, but also the raptured living ones such as the firstfruit in 14:1-6, have "part in the first resurrection." (3) Due to the fall and the entering in of sin, every man must die once (Heb. 9:27). This first death, however, is not the final settlement. All the dead will be resurrected and pass through the judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millemium, i.e., at the conclusion of the old heaven and old earth, except those who through faith in the Lord Jesus have been recorded in the book of life. As a result of this judgment, they will all be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death as the final settlement (Rev. 20:11-15). Hence, the second death is God's dealing with man after man's death and resurrection. Since the overcomers have overcome death through their faithfulness unto death under persecution and have left nothing requiring further dealing by God after their resurrection, they will be rewarded with crown of life and will not be touched, or "hurt," any more by the death after resurrection, which is the second death. (4) the overcomers "shall be priests" to contact God, and co-kings with Christ to reign over the nations in the millennium (2:26-27; 12:5). As priests they shall bring man in his need to God and minister God to man, and as Kings they shall bring God in His authority to man and represent God to shepherd man. This is a reward to them. The believers who are defeated in this age will forfeit this reward. However, after being dealt with by the Lord in the millennium, they will participate in the service of God and in the kingship in the new heaven and new earth for eternity (22:3, 5). (5) Gk. the Christ. (6) Some ancient authorities have the definite article, the. (a) Rev. 1:3 (b) Rev. 3:7; 22:11 (c) Rev. 2:11; 20:14 (d) Rev. 1:6 ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.