Revelation 20:4-6 – I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They 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 a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.” First John sees the thrones. Where the thrones are is not expressed. Some think they are in heaven, others think they are on earth. Of those who believe the thrones are in heaven they point to the fact that, except for when speaking of the throne of Satan (Revelation 2:13) and of the throne of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:2, 16:10), that all the other thrones mentioned appear to be heaven. So, they believe these thrones are in heaven. Those who believe they are on earth cite that the thrones are for the ones who have been given authority to judge the inhabitants of the earth. Since they will be ruling with Christ on earth, it seems likely the thrones would be on earth.
Here there is no mention of how many thrones there will be.
“And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.” In Revelation 6:9 those who had been martyred in Christ and had maintained their testimony of faith in Jesus, were told to wait for the full number of martyrs to happen and then they would be avenged. Now their blood is avenged and they are receiving the reward God will give them for being faithful. These did not compromise, they did not back down, but held to their love of Jesus and were not ashamed before the world to call Him Savior and Lord. They did not back apologize or back down from their allegiance to the Word of God or from their allegiance to the God who gave the Word to man. In the face of their death, and the death of their family, they did not compromise, they did not back down, but they loved Jesus more than their own lives, and more than the lives of their family. Family, those who express this kind of love for Jesus express the only kind of love that Jesus expects (Matthew 10:-39). Jesus must come before all else, whether self or any person, place or thing. God must be number one in our lives and He must have no rivals in our hearts or minds. Idols of any kind are unacceptable. We worship God, we cling to God and we worship God and we cling to no others.
“They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.” Here the Word seems to specifically state that it is the martyrs of Christ who will reign with Christ for the thousand years. This verse appears to say that only the martyrs will reign with Christ for a thousand years. Based on this verse, there is some disagreement about whether the rest of the saints, those who did not die a martyr’s death, will also rule and reign with Jesus during the millennium. One may note that in these verses it does not say that only the martyrs will rule and reign with Him during the millennium. Revelation 2:26 states “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.” So the promise to rule with Jesus was given to all who do the will of God. In Revelation 3:21 Jesus promises that the one who is victorious (through Him) will be given the right to sit with Him on His throne, meaning we will reign under and with Him. It would seem that those who stand strong in the Lord during the Great Tribulation will be added to the rest of the saints who have faithfully lived in Christ.
The first resurrection is not one resurrection, but several, at times determined by God. The first resurrection is the raising up of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Our resurrection to eternal life is possible only because Jesus rose from the dead. V23 “But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him,” reveals that after Christ, we are resurrected in Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 clearly states the dead in Christ will rise before those who are alive at His return (this verse referring to the “rapture.) So we see that the dead are translated before those who are alive at that time. Then we read that the martyrs are raised before the thousand year reign on earth. These are all part of the “first resurrection.” There is a second resurrection which the people of God are not a part of. It is the resurrection of all who have died outside the grace of God. They are resurrected to face the judgment of God and to be sentenced to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.
Family, the prophecies of the End Times are, as we have seen, very terrifying to those who perish. But to all who love God, it is great time of admiration of the Lord and of praising Him. It is the children of God coming into their inheritance. It is us coming into our inheritance. Nothing compares with it (Romans 8:18). Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.