Expert: Patricia Burns - 11/12/2008

Question
In verse 4: "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded....(etc)...and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years"
In verse 5: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years was finished. This is the first resurrection."
Verse 6: Blessed and holy...(etc)...and shall reign with Him for 1000 years.

Q. I am confused about the (2) thousand year periods talked about in verses 4 and 5 and then again (IT SOUNDS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS LATER) in verse 6.
I've not heard about this until I just recently read it.  Nor have I encountered this scripture in books, TV evangelist, end-time prophesy teachers, etc. I've only heard about the (1) thousand year period. I'm wondering why.
Thanks for you help! Jill

Answer
The thousand years of Revelation 20:4 are the thousand years the bride of Christ will LIVE and REIGN with Christ throughout the Millennium.

The thousand years of Revelation 20:6 are the thousand years those who are raised AFTER the Millennium will be PRIESTS of God AND of Christ, in the “new” earth (2 Pe.3:10-13 below).

These are two separate one-thousand year periods.


Re.20:4      And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and JUDGMENT WAS GIVEN UNTO THEM (Dan.7:22, 1 Cor.6:2-3 above): 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.   

Re.20:5      But THE REST OF THE DEAD LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED.  This is the first resurrection (Re.20:6 below).

Re.20:6      Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection (Re.20:5 above): on such the second death (Re.20:14) hath no power, but they shall be priests of God AND of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  


2 Pe.3:10   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which THE HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, THE EARTH ALSO and the works that are therein shall be burned up (Re.20:11, Dan.2:35).

2 Pe.3:11   Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2 Pe.3:12   Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervant heat.

2 Pe.3:13   Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for NEW HEAVENS and A NEW EARTH (Re.21:1 below), wherein dwelleth righteousness.



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