What does Revelation 20:5 mean?

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:5

Explanation

Revelation 20:5 is a portion of a more extensive prophetic vision concerning the end times, as revealed to the Apostle John. This verse states, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” The verse implies that after a thousand-year reign of Christ, known as the Millennium, those who had not been part of the “first resurrection” would come back to life. The first resurrection refers to the rising of the believers in Christ, who will live and reign with Him during the Millennium. The “rest of the dead” mentioned here likely refers to the non-believers, who are not resurrected until the Millennium concludes.

Historical Context

The Apostle John wrote Revelation while exiled on the island of Patmos, probably around A.D. 95. The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature, full of symbols and imagery, meant to convey hope to Christians suffering persecution and to affirm that God’s justice will prevail. John’s vision reflects a mixture of Jewish apocalyptic thought and early Christian beliefs about the end times, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions have varying interpretations of this verse:

• Pre-millennialism: This viewpoint holds that the second coming of Christ will precede the thousand-year period, after which the rest of the dead will be resurrected for judgment.
• Post-millennialism: Adherents believe that Christ’s reign occurs through the church’s influence on earth before His return, and the resurrection follows this period.
• Amillennialism: This perspective interprets the thousand-year reign symbolically, not literally, and sees the first resurrection as the spiritual rebirth of believers at conversion. The final resurrection happens at Christ’s return.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire Christians to consider their own resurrection hope and to prioritize spiritual rebirth and living in a way that honors Christ. It challenges believers to remain faithful, given the promise of participating in the first resurrection and reigning with Him.

Cross-References

• Revelation 20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God…”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
• Daniel 12:2 – “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, “lived not again” is translated from “εζήσαν” (ezēsan) and “οὐκ” (ouk), meaning “they did not live.” It suggests an absence of life or animation until a set time. “Ανάστασις” (anastasis), which means “resurrection,” typically refers to rising from dead, emphasizing a physical or literal rising.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of resurrection appears in other ancient cultures and religions, but often with different implications. For example, the Egyptian religion speaks of an afterlife journey rather than a resurrection. In contrast, Greek mythology describes an underworld without the concept of a bodily resurrection. The Judaic belief in resurrection was also diverse, with some sects like the Sadducees rejecting the idea, while the Pharisees accepted it.

Scientific Perspectives

The resurrection, a cornerstone of Christian eschatology, concerns metaphysical beliefs rather than empirical science. As such, the concept of a bodily resurrection and a millennial reign is a matter of faith rather than scientific inquiry, and it stands outside the purview of scientific validation or refutation.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer various insights into Revelation 20:5. Some conservative scholars interpret the first and second resurrections literally, viewing them as separate events divided by a literal thousand-year period. Liberal theologians often view these resurrections metaphorically, suggesting that the “first resurrection” represents the new spiritual life of a Christian, and the “second” as a future promise of eternal life. Dispensationalist commentators might argue that this verse delineates clear phases in God’s plan for the end times. The diversity of interpretations attests to the complexity and the rich symbolism inherent in the Apocalypse.