Bible Basics

The First Resurrection

Towards the end of John’s great vision he sees Satan bound in a bottomless pit for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1), while Christ and “the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus” reign for that same period of time (Rev. 20:4-6). It’s important to remember this vision is written in symbolic language (Rev. 1:1) familiar to Christians of the first century as similar figures were used in the apocalyptic language of Ezekiel and Daniel. The contrast in John’s vision between the “binding” of Satan and the “reigning” of Christ is obvious. Interestingly, John refers to the reign of Christ and these martyrs as “the first resurrection” (20:5). Does this imply there is more than one resurrection from the dead? Many believe this to be so. Jesus, however, clearly taught there would be only one literal resurrection of the dead from their graves (John 5:28-29), and Paul says, “that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:15). In the vision of John, “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God” were “under the altar” when the fifth seal was opened (Rev. 6:9). They cried out, “How long . . . until You judge and avenge our blood” (v. 10). Now in Rev. 20:4-6, we see these slain martyrs being raised from under that altar to reign with Christ. “This is the first resurrection” (20:5).

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics