Quick Notes on the Two Resurrections in Revelation 20
·
Introduction:
o
Scripture until this point seems to indicate that there’s one
resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous (Dn 12:2; Jn 5:28–29; Acts
24:15). Remember, though, that we
believe in progressive revelation; two events that can be linked in idea or time
are expanded later (like the first coming of Christ and the end of the
age). With the book’s focus on the end, Revelation
20 demonstrates that this resurrection is divided into two stages.
·
The First Resurrection
o
Rv 20:4–6—“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
given to them. And I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of
the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and
had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to
life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life
until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in
the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will
be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
o
Amillennialists (those who reject the idea of a thousand year reign of
Christ on earth) will say this is a spiritual reality. Perhaps this passage speaks of someone being
born again, or perhaps it refers to a believer dying and entering into
heaven. Either way, it requires a
complete allegorization and re-write of the passage. We’re not saying that they are teaching some
damnable heresy; in fact, these brothers craft a view of this passage that will
be consistent with what other passages of Scripture teach on salvation—just
passages unrelated to this subject matter.
o
The term “resurrection” (ἀνάστασις) is
typical of the physical raising of the dead, not the spirit. This was expected throughout the Old and New
Testaments. There is only one instance
where it means “a change for the better in status,”[1]
where there is no mention of death, unlike here (Luke 2:34). Everywhere else, it either refers to the
post-grave Christ or an eschatological expectation. It never refers to simple salvation. Considering the context of martyrdom and
death, John’s meaning of bodies being raised from their graves seems plain.
o
The concept of “thrones” fits what Jesus said was coming,
something they were still looking forward to throughout the New Testament.
o
The instances of “a thousand years” give the indication of measurable
time.
·
The Second Resurrection
o
In Rv 20:5a, we see that some of the dead of the past remained as they
are until after the thousand year reign of Christ. Unfortunately, this resurrection is to
judgment.
o
Vv. 11–15 refer to the Great White Throne judgment. In v. 13, we see a clear description of the
dead coming to life. “And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were
in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.” Whether they were in their graves or in sea,
they came back to life.
o They receive new bodies as well as those in the first resurrection. In this case, though, the Potter has prepared these vessels for destruction.
[1] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker,
et al., A Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 71.
