Revelation #64

Moving on in Chapter 20 this morning....great news for those who serve Christ!



Revelation 20:4-6



4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.



In verse 4 John says he sees thrones in heaven and seated on them are those who are given authority to judge! On these thrones are the twelve disciples look at Matthew:



Matthew 19:28



28Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.



The disciples will have the job of judging Israel! Wow that is a very important job!



John also says he sees the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God! AND those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark. This is very important for us to understand that souls will be saved during the tribulation for trusting in Jesus and not doing what the anti-Christ demands....but let me warn you now this will be very very difficult as everything will flow through the anti-Christ to survive like food and water....the basics!The remainder of this verse tells us these souls came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years just like the rest of the saints...praise the Lord! Verse 5 tells us the rest of the dead did not come alive until the thousand years was ended and this is the first resurrection. What does this mean? There are two judgements....one is immediately after the rapture which is for the saved and them alone. The second is for the lost and will occur at the end of the end of the thousand year reign. The first resurrection is referring to of the tribulation period. Verse 6 says blessed and holy are those who are in this first resurrection of the tribulation for the second death which is separation from God for eternity will have no power over them and they will be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him for a thousand years. What a place of honor they will have by serving as priests.



All this living with Christ brings a smile to my face and I praise God even now for those who will come to faith during the tribulation!



Tom