Read Rev 20:1–15
Rev 20:4-6 Then 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. (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 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.
Chapter 20 of Revelation is another depiction of the end of the word. It’s timeline begins with the ministry of Jesus. The first few verses are a repeat of what we saw in chapter twelve. It is also recorded in the gospels: Luk 10:18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Now this thousand year reign of Christ is not a literal thousand years. It is symbolic of the fullness of time. A thousand is made of up of the number ten cubed. Ten is the number of completion. A cube is a perfect object. 10x10x10, completeness and perfection together is shown here. St. Paul tells us, Eph 1:7-10 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,… (9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
This first resurrection is our baptism. Rom 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” 1Pe 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…”
The reign of Christ is his ascension to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33, Rom. 8:34, Col. 3:1) and our rule is currently with Christ having Eph 2:6 “seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,…”
Rev 20:11-12 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. (12) And I saw the dead, … before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” The dead are simply those who are raised on the last day who do not have faith in Christ. (Eph. 2:1) They reject the grace of God and seek to be judged according to what they have done. They will get their wish. The living are those who have faith in Christ and their names are written in the book of life. (John 11:25, 26). Believe in Jesus and you have eternal life.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the gift of eternal life and seating us with you in the heavenly places. Do not blot our names from the book of life but ever keep us faithful to the end. Amen