The Saints Reign with Christ For 1000 Years (verses 4-6)

4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” [NOTE: See the end of this lesson for a further explanation of “the first resurrection” in verses 5 and 6.]

John sees thrones and throne occupants with judgment given to them. And we see in the latter part of verse 4 who these ones are. Notice with me again, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and hand not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years,” [verse 4].

Well, who are these ones? Some would limit those being mentioned here to the martyrs only, those who had been beheaded. By the way, that is a literal term. The term in the original language is accurate because, indeed, there were many who were martyred in the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries who were beheaded. That was one of the favorite ways that ancient Rome had in dealing with people of this ilk. So, some would say that it was only these ones who died in this way, who died in the fashion of a martyr, if you will.

But to limit it only to those who died in that way overlooks the fact that the faithful Christians who came through trials and difficulties and tribulations of all kinds without being martyred—and there were many like that—were also overcomers, and they share in the reign with Christ, as well.

We can see several references to this already made here in the book of Revelation. For example, if we go all the way back to chapter 2, we notice in chapter 2 and again in chapter 3 that there is mention of this. Revelation 2:26-28: “26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ — as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.” Well, it doesn’t say anything about martyrs here, does it? It is those who have overcome. Now, notice over in chapter 3, verse 21: “21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” See also Revelation 5:9-10: “9 And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’”

Again, we see that apparently what John has in view is not simply the ones who had been martyred, but rather, Christians who had overcome, who had lived faithfully in this life. They are ones who had already died. They are described as “souls,” and while this word can sometimes be used to represent, or used to mean, individuals, it is most often used, particularly in John’s writings, in the sense of life as described by a disembodied soul. In Revelation 6 and verse 9, the “souls” are seen underneath the altar, thus being sacrificed lives [“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held.”]. These are the ones who have been “beheaded” for their Testimony and for the Word of God. And by the way, these were the same two reasons that John, as he wrote this, was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. The reason for his exile was for the Testimony which he held and for the Word of God [Revelation 1:9: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ.”].

Well, this group that is in view here includes those who have not submitted themselves to the worship of the beast, nor do they bear the mark or his image upon themselves [“…who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.” verse 4.]. It appears, then, more likely that we are to regard these as ones who have been faithful Christians—some who were indeed martyred— who, in their death, are sharing with Christ the glory of His triumph.

The context here in Revelation, chapter 20, would appear to describe the glorious reign of these ones with Christ after death. I wonder if that may have been what Paul had in mind when he said in Philippians, chapter 1, verse 23, that for him to depart and be with Christ would be far better [Philippians 1:21-23: “21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”.]

Well, where is this? Where is this being accomplished? Where is this reign, underway? It’s not clear; we don’t really see anything in this context which addresses that. But I think the only conclusion that we can draw is that it is in the Hadean realm; it is in the realm of the dead; it is in the realm of the unknown. And we see this realm elsewhere in the Scriptures. For example, in Luke, chapter 16, where Jesus tells us the story about Lazarus and the rich man, we saw that after death Lazarus was resting on the bosom of Abraham, a place in the Hebrew mind that was a place of comfort, a place of peace, a place of consolation [Luke 16:22-23: “22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”]. In another example, Jesus told the thief on the cross that “Today, you’ll be with me in Paradise,” [Luke 23:40-43: “40 But the other [thief], answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ 42 Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ 43 And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”].