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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 77

TITLE: THE RESURRECTION AND REIGN OF THE SAINTS

TEXT: REVELATION 20:4-6

INTRODUCTION: (1) REVELATION 20:4-6 SPEAKS OF PEOPLE WHO REIGN WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.

* THESE VERSES ARE OFTEN SAID TO SET FORTH OR COMMUNICATE WHAT IS CALLED THE MILLENNIAL RULE OF CHRIST OR THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST ON THE EARTH.

** NOW THE DEBATE IS “WILL THERE BE A LITERAL KINGDOM ON EARTH WITH CHRIST RULING IN IT AT A FUTURE TIME?”

*** WELL, THE ANSWERS BY GOOD BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS IS YES AND NO.

**** FOR SOME COMMITTED CHRISTIAN PEOPLE BELIEVE THERE WILL NOT BE A LITERAL THOUSAND YEAR RULE OF CHRIST ON THE EARTH.

(2) WELL, OUR POSITION AS A CHURCH IS, THERE WILL BE.

* WE TAKE THE TEXT OF REVELATION 20 AND OTHER BIBLICAL PASSAGES THAT SPEAK OF AN EARTHLY KINGDOM AT FACE VALUE.

** AND BEYOND THE O.T. AND N.T. PROPHECIES OF A COMING KINGDOM ON EARTH WHICH I WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME TODAY TO DEVELOP, FOR WE ARE DOING A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

*** AND IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THERE ARE AT LEAST 5 REASONS FOR AN EARTHLY FUTURE REIGN OF CHRIST.

**** AND I WILL ELABORATE ON THESE 5 REASONS TAKEN FROM MATTHEW WAYMEYER’S BOOK, “REVELATION 20 AND THE MILLENNIAL DEBATE.”

(3) NO. 1 REVELATION 5:10 IN SPEAKING OF CHRIST AND HIS PURCHASING PEOPLE FROM EVERY TRIBE OF THE WORLD AND SAVING THEM SAYS:

* “YOU HAVE MADE THEM TO BE A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD; AND THEY WILL REIGN UPON THE EARTH.”

** NOW WHERE WILL THESE PURCHASED PEOPLE, WHERE WILL THE SAINTS REIGN? THE ANSWER IS “UPON THE EARTH.” NOT THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH TALKED ABOUT IN REVELATION 21&22, BUT UPON WHAT WE KNOW AS THE EARTH TODAY.

*** NO. 2 WHEN THE SEVENTH TRUMPET SOUNDS IN REVELATION 11:15, HEAVENLY VOICES PROCLAIM, “THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD HAS BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.”

*** AND WHAT WAS SAID IN REVELATION 11:15 BY WAY OF ANTICIPATION IS REALIZED IN REVELATION 20:4-6.

**** NO. 3, THE ELIMINATION OF SATAN’S ACTIVITIES AND INFLUENCE ON EARTH, WHICH WE LEARNED ABOUT IN REVELATION 20:1-3 IN THE FUTURE BINDING OF SATAN, IS PART OF WHAT MAKES THE MILLENNIAL RULE POSSIBLE FOR THE BINDING OF SATAN IS UNNECESSARY FOR A MILLENNIAL REIGN THAT TAKES PLACE IN HEAVEN.

(4) NO. 4, REVELATION 19:11-21 TEACHES THAT CHRIST WILL RETURN TO THE EARTH TO DEFEAT “THE BEAST AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH” (REV. 19:19), AFTER WHICH HE WILL REIGN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS IN REVELATION 20:4-6.

* AND NO. 5 REVELATION 20:9 INDICATES THAT THE SAINTS WHO REIGN FOR A THOUSAND YEARS ARE “ON THE BROAD PLAIN OF THE EARTH.” AND JERUSALEM THE BELOVED CITY IS TALKED ABOUT IN THAT VERSE WHICH IS THE JERUSALEM OF THE EARTH NOT THE NEW JERUSALEM IN REVELATION 21&22.

** NOW THOSE SCRIPTURES IN REVELATION AND MANY OTHERS IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, LIT. COMMUNICATE THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL REIGN ON DAVID’S THRONE ONE DAY.

*** AND THOSE VERSES IDENTIFY WHERE THE EVENTS TALKED ABOUT IN OUR TEXT TODAY IN REVELATION 20:4-6 WILL TAKE PLACE, THE EARTH.

**** AND WITH THAT BACKGROUND IN OUR VIEW, WE COME TO REVELATION 20:4-6, WHICH I’VE TITLED THE RESURRECTION AND REIGN OF THE SAINTS.

(5) FOR IN THIS TEXT, THE PHRASE FIRST RESURRECTION IS USED TWICE, REIGNED AND REIGN FOR A TOTAL OF TWO AND A THOUSAND YEARS IS USED TWICE.

* AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS CHRIST’S KINGDOM, OUR FOCUS TODAY WILL BE THE PEOPLE IN IT AND NOT IN IT.

** SPECIFICALLY NO. 1 THE RESURRECTION PEOPLE IN V. 4; NO. 2 THE REMAINING PEOPLE IN V. 5; AND NO. 3 THE REIGNING PEOPLE IN V. 6.

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR MAP TODAY, WE’LL LOOK AT THE RESURRECTION AND REIGN OF THE SAINTS ON THE EARTH. AND TO BEGIN WITH, LOOK AT V. 4 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE RESURRECTED PEOPLE.

I. THE RESURRECTED PEOPLE, (READ V. 4)

A. NOW THE FIRST THING THAT JOHN SEES IN V. 4 ARE THRONES.

* AND THIS PARTICULAR GREEK WORD IS USED 61 TIMES IN THE N.T. AND LIT. MEANS A THRONE SEAT, A CHAIR OF STATE NORMALLY ASSIGNED TO KINGS WHICH THESE THRONES DISPLAYED THEIR ROYAL POWER AND AUTHORITY.

** NOW AFTER JOHN SEES THESE THRONE SEATS, HE SAW THE PEOPLE SITTING ON THEM AND SAYS JUDGMENT WAS GIVEN TO THEM, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE AGAIN THESE ARE CHAIRS OF AUTHORITY.

*** AND THE PEOPLE SITTING ON THESE ROYAL CHAIRS WILL BOTH BE RULING AND JUDGING, TO ENFORCE GOD’S WILL AND TO ADJUDICATE – TO SETTLE OR DETERMINE ISSUES BY MAKING DECISIONS.

**** NOW THESE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE UNDER CHRIST ACCORDING TO HIS LAW AND I HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THESE THINGS TALKED ABOUT HERE TAKE PLACE ON EARTH, IN AN EARTHLY KINGDOM WHERE CHRIST IS KING AND SITS ON THE THRONE OF DAVID.

1. AND THIS WAS PROPHESIED IN THE O.T. AND N.T. THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD RULE ON EARTH ONE DAY AND WOULD BE THE RIGHTFUL HEIR OF DAVID’S THRONE AND WOULD INHERIT THE PROMISES OF THE COVENANT MADE TO DAVID IN II SAMUEL 7:12-16, AS GOD TOLD DAVID IN II SAMUEL 7:16 THAT: “YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR KINGDOM SHALL ENDURE BEFORE ME FOREVER; YOUR THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOREVER.”

* NOW WE SEE THIS ALSO IN VERSES WE SOMETIMES USE AT CHRISTMAS TIME IN ISAIAH 9:6&7, FOR ISAIAH 9:6 SAYS: (READ IT).

** VERSE 7 – “THERE WILL BE NO END TO THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT OR OF PEACE, ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM, TO ESTABLISH IT AND TO UPHOLD IT WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THEN ON AND FOREVERMORE. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS.”

*** NOW WE ALSO SEE THIS IN THE N.T., LUKE 1:31-33 WHERE THE ANGEL GABRIEL ANNOUNCES THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO MARY WHERE HE SAID:

V. 31 – “AND BEHOLD, YOU WILL CONCEIVE IN YOUR WOMB AND BEAR A SON, AND YOU SHALL NAME HIM JESUS.”

V. 32 – “HE WILL BE GREAT AND WILL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH; AND THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID;”

V. 33 – “AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER, AND HIS KINGDOM WILL HAVE NO END.”

**** NOW LET ME PAUSE HERE AND SAY, JESUS WAS LITERALLY CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MARY’S WOMB – RIGHT?

2. AND THIS BABY WAS LIT. NAMED JESUS –RIGHT?

* AND JESUS WAS LIT. THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD-RIGHT?

** AND WILL NOT JESUS ALSO LITERALLY REIGN ON DAVID’S THRONE? RIGHT? YES.

*** AND MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN THIS PASSAGE BE INTERPRETED BOTH LITERALLY AND NOT LITERALLY BY SOME? IT IS AN INCONSISTENT HERMENEUTIC THAT DOES THIS, INCONSISTENT METHODS OF INTERPRETATION.

**** NOW ONE OTHER QUICK PASSAGE, AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND RIGHT BEFORE HIS ASCENSION, CHRIST PROMISES THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN FULLNESS TO HIS DISCIPLES AFTER HE DESCENDS.

3. BUT NOTICE IN ACTS 1:6&7 THAT THE DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES WHO WERE DIRECTLY TAUGHT BY CHRIST THAT THEY HAD A CLEAR AND PROPER EXPECTATION OF A LITERAL KINGDOM ON EARTH, RESTORING IT TO ISRAEL.

** FOR ACTS 1:6&7 SAYS:

V. 6 – SO WHEN THEY HAD COME TOGETHER, THEY WERE ASKING HIM, SAYING, “LORD, IS IT AT THIS TIME YOU ARE RESTORING THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?”

V. 7 – HE SAID TO THEM, “IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW TIMES OR EPOCHS WHICH THE FATHER HAS FIXED BY HIS OWN AUTHORITY.”

** NOW JESUS DOES NOT DENY THAT THE KINGDOM IS COMING, HE DOES NOT CONDEMN THEM, HE JUST REMINDS THEM IT’S NOT FOR THEM TO KNOW THE EXACT TIME WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN WHICH THE FATHER HAS ORDAINED-FIXED IN HIS AUTHORITY.

*** NOW GOING BACK TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION, JESUS REMOVES ALL HIS EARTHLY ENEMIES AT HIS RETURN IN REVELATION 19 INCLUDING THE BEAST-ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET.

**** AND HOW DOES HE COME BACK, AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. AND THE ULTIMATE KING COMES BACK TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM.

4. AND IN REVELATION 20:1-3, HIS FINAL ENEMY IS BOUND FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE WILL RULE ON THE EARTH-1,000 YEARS UNTIL A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH AND A NEW JERUSALEM COME FORTH IN REVELATION 21&22.

* AND AS CHRIST RULES AND REIGNS BEGINNING IN REVELATION 20:4, HIS SAINTS FROM THE O.T., THE N.T., INCLUDING THE 12 APOSTLES, HIS ARMY THAT RETURNS WITH HIM IN REVELATION 19.

** NOW, FOR INTEGRITY’S SAKE, THE OCCUPANTS WHO SIT ON THESE THRONES THAT JOHN SEES ARE NOT IDENTIFIED IN THIS TEXT, THOSE WHO WILL RULE AND REIGN WITH CHRIST.

*** BUT OTHER SCRIPTURE IDENTIFY THEM AS O.T. SAINTS IN DANIEL 7:27 WHICH SAYS: “THEN THE SOVEREIGNTY, THE DOMINION AND THE GREATNESS OF ALL THE KINGDOMS UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE HIGHEST ONE; HIS KINGDOM WILL BE AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND ALL THE DOMINIONS WILL SERVE AND OBEY HIM.”

**** AND THEN IN THE N.T., JESUS PROMISED THE APOSTLES THAT THEY WOULD SIT UPON 12 THRONES JUDGING THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

5. FOR MATTHEW 19:27&28 SAYS:

V. 27 – THEN PETER SAID TO HIM, “BEHOLD, WE HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED YOU; WHAT THEN WILL THERE BE FOR US?”

V. 28 – AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, “TRULY I SAY TO YOU, THAT YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED ME, IN THE REGENERATION WHEN THE SON OF MAN WILL SIT ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE, YOU ALSO SHALL SIT UPON TWELVE THRONES, JUDGING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL.”

* SO THE 12 APOSTLES WILL JUDGE AND RULE WITH CHRIST.

** AND THEN IN I CORINTHIANS 6:2 WE SEE THAT THE N.T. SAINTS, N.T. BELIEVERS WILL RULE WITH CHRIST FOR I CORINTHIANS 6:2 SAYS: “OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE SAINTS WILL JUDGE THE WORLD? IF THE WORLD IS JUDGED BY YOU, ARE YOU NOT COMPETENT TO CONSTITUTE THE SMALLEST LAW COURTS?”

*** AND BEYOND THAT TEXT IN REVELATION 2:26&27 THE LORD SAYS TO THE LIT. CHURCH AT THYATIRA:

V. 26 – “HE WHO OVERCOMES, AND HE WHO KEEPS MY DEEDS UNTIL THE END, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;”

V. 27 – “AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, AS I ALSO HAVE RECEIVED AUTHORITY FROM MY FATHER.”

**** SO THE O.T. SAINTS, THE APOSTLES, AND THE N.T. SAINTS WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST ONE DAY ON THE EARTH.

6. NOW THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF BELIEVERS THAT WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST AND THEY ARE INTRODUCED TO US IN THE NEXT PHRASE IN REVELATION 20:4.

* “AND I SAW THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN BEHEADED BECAUSE OF THEIR TESTIMONY OF JESUS AND BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND THOSE WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPPED THE BEAST OR HIS IMAGE, AND HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD AND ON THEIR HAND; AND THEY CAME TO LIFE AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.”

** NOW CLEARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THIS NEXT GROUP WHICH IS INTRODUCED BY THE PHRASE “AND I SAW” ARE MARTYRED SAINTS – BELIEVERS FROM THE TRIBULATION.

*** AND CLEARLY THESE MARTYRS COME OUT OF THE TRIBULATION FOR THE BEAST, HIS IMAGE AND HIS MARK, THE MARK OF THE BEAST ARE ALL BROUGHT UP.

**** AND THEY WERE MARTYRED BECAUSE OF THEIR TESTIMONY FOR JESUS AND KEEPING THE WORD OF GOD AND BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE THEY WERE CONVERTED THEY WON’T WORSHIP THE BEAST OR RECEIVE HIS MARK WHICH WOULD BRING ABOUT DEATH.

7. BOTH BY BEING BEHEADED AND DYING FOR THEIR FAITH FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY OR SELL.

* NOW GET THIS AT THE END OF V. 4, AND “THEY” THESE TRIBULATION MARTYRS “CAME TO LIFE.”

** NOW THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN A LITERAL ONE THOUSAND YEAR KINGDOM-CALLED AMILENNIALISTS, SAY THIS PHRASE MEANS THEY WERE SAVED, THAT THIS PHRASE REPRESENTS REGENERATION OR THE NEW BIRTH WHICH ENABLES A DEAD PERSON SPIRITUALLY TO COME TO LIFE.

*** NOW I BELIEVE IN REGENERATION, THE NEW BIRTH, THAT QUICKENING MUST TAKE PLACE BY THE SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD FOR A PERSON TO BE SAVED, FOR DEAD PEOPLE CANNOT BELIEVE.

**** BUT CLEARLY THAT’S NOT WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE.

8. FOR THESE TRIBULATION MARTYRS WERE ALREADY SAVED, THEY WERE ALREADY SPIRITUALLY ALIVE, FOR THAT’S WHY THEY WERE WILLING TO BE MARTYRED, BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, BECAUSE OF THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS AND THE WORD OF GOD, BECAUSE THEY KNEW CHRIST THEY WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE BEAST AND RECEIVE HIS MARK.

* BELOVED, THE MARTYRS COMING TO LIFE MAKES REFERENCE TO BODILY RESURRECTION WHICH IS CALLED THE FIRST RESURRECTION IN VV. 5&6.

** AND CONTEXT IS CLEAR HERE, YOU DON’T HAVE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION IN V. 4 AND PHYSICAL RESURRECTION IN V. 5.

*** FOR IN V. 5 THE REST OF THE DEAD, WHICH WILL SEE ARE THE UNSAVED DEAD “DID NOT COME TO LIFE UNTIL THE 1,000 YEARS WERE COMPLETED.”

**** AND THE UNSAVED’S PHYSICAL RESURRECTION DOES NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL AFTER THE 1,000 YEARS AS THEY ARE RESURRECTED FOR THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT. IN THE MEANTIME THEIR SOULS ARE IN HADES-HELL.

**** AND HERE JOHN SEES THE SOULS IN HIS VISION OF SAVED MARTYRS IN V. 4 AFTER HE SEES OTHER PEOPLE SITTING ON THRONES, AND THEY ARE RESURRECTED LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESURRECTED WHO ARE SITTING ON THE THRONES, AND THEY WILL JOIN IN REIGNING WITH THE O.T. SAINTS, THE N.T. CHURCH SAINTS AND THE APOSTLES.

9. FOR AT THE END OF V. 4, THEY ALSO WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST FOR ONE THOUSAND YEARS.

* SO THE ONES SITTING ON THE THRONES HAVE NO NEED OF RESURRECTION, BUT JOHN SEES THE SOULS OF THE MARTYRS AND THEY NEED TO HAVE A NEW BODY FOR THEIR SOULS AND THEY CAME TO LIFE, ARE RESURRECTED AND JOIN THE REST IN REIGNING WITH CHRIST.

** SO IN SUMMARY IN V. 4 WE SEE RESURRECTED PEOPLE.

*** BUT MOVING ON AND I’LL CLARIFY MORE ABOUT THE FIRST RESURRECTION IN V. 5 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE REMAINING PEOPLE. LOOK AT V. 5 PLEASE.

II. THE REMAINING PEOPLE, (READ V. 5)

A. NOW THE REST OF THE DEAD, SPEAKS OF THE UNSAVED DEAD.

* AND JOHN WILL CLARIFY WHO IS RAISED IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION.

** FOR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL RESURRECTION FOR THE SAVED AND UNSAVED AT ONE BUT NOT SO.

*** FOR THE REST OF THE DEAD, THE UNSAVED DEAD WILL BE RESURRECTED TO THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION AND EXPERIENCE THE 2’D DEATH.

**** FOR AS YOU GO BACK TO V. 4, THE RESURRECTION OF THE MARTYRED BELIEVERS IN THE TRIBULATION COMPLETES WHAT IS CALLED THE FIRST RESURRECTION OR THE RESURRECTION THE JUST.

1. BUT THE REST OF THE DEAD, THE UNBELIEVING DEAD FROM ALL AGES, O.T, N.T. AND TRIBULATION WILL BE RESURRECTED IN VV. 11-15 OF THIS CHAPTER, WHERE THEIR SOULS BROUGHT UP FROM HADES AND THEIR BODIES ARE RESURRECTED, AND THEY WILL BE JUDGED AND CAST INTO ETERNAL HELL, THE LAKE OF FIRE. (LOOK DOWN TO V. 13 PLEASE, THEN READ VV. 13-15.)

* SO WHEN WILL THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST TAKE PLACE? WHEN THE THOUSAND YEARS ARE COMPLETED, IT WILL BE A SECOND RESURRECTION, THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNSAVED.

** NOW AT THE END OF V. 5, JOHN GOES BACK AND TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST RESURRECTION, THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST TALKED ABOUT IN V. 4 AND AS WE’LL SEE IN V. 6.

*** SO THE FACT THAT SOULS LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS IS NOW EXPLAINED AT THE END OF V. 5 IN ONE BRIEF STATEMENT, THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.

**** AND THAT A RESURRECTION IS CALLED THE FIRST IMPLIES ONE TO FOLLOW, JUST AS THE 2’D DEATH IN V. 6 IMPLIES A FIRST DEATH.

2. AND THE FIRST DEATH IS PHYSICAL DEATH THAT TAKES PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, NOT ALL AT ONE TIME, BUT THE 2’D DEATH TAKES PLACE FOR ALL UNSAVED PEOPLE, WHICH IS ETERNAL DEATH SEPARATED FROM GOD IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER.

* AND THIS FIRST RESURRECTION IS FOR ALL BELIEVERS, AND IS A RESULT OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION FOR I CORINTHIANS 15:20 SAYS: (READ IT).

** NOW AFTER CHRIST’S RESURRECTION WE SEE SAINTS RISE IN STAGES, SOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS RESURRECTION IN MATTHEW 27:52&53.

*** AND THEN AT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH DEAD SAINTS RISE FIRST AND THEN LIVING FOLLOW.

**** AND THEN AT CHRIST’S SECOND COMING TO EARTH IT APPEARS THE TRIBULATION SAINTS WILL RISE.

3. SO THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS A RESURRECTION OF LIFE, CALLED THAT IN JOHN 5:29, CALLED THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS IN LUKE 14:14 AND ACTS 24:15 AND A BETTER RESURRECTION IN HEBREWS 11:35.

* SO THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS NOT A ONE TIME EVENT, BUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS AT DESIGNATED TIMES, IN STAGES, WHEREAS THE 2’D RESURRECTION IN ORDER, FIRST-RIGHTEOUS, SECOND-UNRIGHTEOUS FOLLOWS IN REVELATION 20:11-15.

** NOW THE BLESSING OF PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS BROUGHT FORTH IN V.6 AS BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST. SO LOOK AT V. 6 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE REIGNING PEOPLE.

III. THE REIGNING PEOPLE, (READ V. 6)

A. NOW HERE WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE 5TH OF SEVEN BEATITUDES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, BEATITUDE OR BLESSED MEANING HOW HAPPY.

* THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION ARE HAPPY AND HOLY-THEY ARE BLESSED AND HOLY.

** AND BLESSED TELLS OF THEIR CONDITION AND HOLY SPEAKS OF THEIR POSITION IN CHRIST, THEY HAVE BEEN MADE HOLY, SET APART BY CHRIST, SET APART BY HIS GRACE FOR SUCH A BLESSING.

*** AND BELOVED, FOR ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, THE FIRST RESURRECTION, A RESURRECTION TO LIFE AND RECEIVING A GLORIFIED BODY LIKE CHRIST MEANS WE WILL NEVER BE CONDEMNED OR EXPERIENCE THE 2’D DEATH.

**** ROMANS 8:1 SAYS: (READ IT).

1. AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE 2’D DEATH HAS NO POWER OVER US, NO HOLD, NO INFLUENCE, NO RIGHT, NO GRIP OVER US.

* AND THE 2’D DEATH WHICH IMPLIES A FIRST DEATH WHICH IS PHYSICAL, BUT THE 2’D DEATH DEFINED IN REVELATION 20:14 AS THE LAKE OF FIRE, ETERNAL HELL WILL NOT BE OUR LOT OR DESTINY.

** AND TRUE GENUINE GODLY HAPPINESS COMES FROM THE TRUTH THAT NO TRUE CHILD OF GOD WILL EVER FACE GOD’S ETERNAL JUDGMENT AND WRATH. WE HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM GOD’S WRATH, READ ROMANS 5:9 AND I THESS. 5:9.

*** AND CAN THERE BE ANY BLESSING FOR A CHRISTIAN AS GREAT AS THIS?

**** WELL, MAYBE ONE MORE, FOR AT THE END OF V. 6 IT SAYS THAT BELIEVERS WILL BE PRIESTS OF CHRIST AND REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS.

2. MEANING, RESURRECTED SAINTS ARE INVOLVED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM AND WILL ACT IN A MEDIATORIAL CAPACITY AS PRIESTS OF GOD AND CHRIST.

* AND BELIEVERS ARE ALREADY A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD ACCORDING TO I PETER 2:9 AND WILL SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY AS PRIESTS IN THE MILLENNIUM.

** BUT NOT ONLY AS PRIESTS, BUT WE WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. SO IN A SENSE BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST WE WILL BE ROYAL PRIESTS.

*** AND THEN AT THE END OF V. 6 THE PERIOD OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM IS RESTATED AS A THOUSAND YEARS.

**** AND WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THAT GOD’S KINGDOM IS ETERNAL AND THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM ISSUES INTO THE ETERNAL STATE IN REVELATION 21&22 WHERE WE GO FROM THE PRESENT EARTH WHERE THE CURSE IS REVERSED TO A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH AND A NEW JERUSALEM.

3. SO IN FACT, WE WILL REIGN FOREVER WITH CHRIST FOR REVELATION 22:5 SAYS IN THE NEW JERUSALEM, “THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY NIGHT; AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE NEED OF THE LIGHT OF A LAMP NOR THE LIGHT OF THE SUN, BECAUSE THE LORD GOD WILL ILLUMINE THEM; AND THEY WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.”

* BELOVED, THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS: (1) I WANT TO BRING ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL TRUTHS DOWN TO WHERE WE LIVE.

* AND I WANT TO GO TO II TIMOTHY 2:8-13 WHERE IT SAYS:

V. 8 – REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST, RISEN FROM THE DEAD, DESCENDANT OF DAVID, ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL,

V. 9 – FOR WHICH I SUFFER HARDSHIP EVEN TO IMPRISONMENT AS A CRIMINAL; BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT IMPRISONED.

V. 10 – FOR THIS REASON I ENDURE ALL THINGS FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO ARE CHOSEN, SO THAT THEY ALSO MAY OBTAIN THE SALVATION WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS AND WITH IT ETERNAL GLORY.

V. 11 – IT IS A TRUSTWORTHY STATEMENT: FOR IF WE DIED WITH HIM, WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM;

V. 12 – IF WE ENDURE, WE WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM; IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US;

V. 13 – IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, HE REMAINS FAITHFUL, FOR HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF.

** NOW THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IN APPLICATION IS, IF WE ENDURE, WE WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM.

*** AND I REALIZE WE PERSEVERE AND ENDURE BY GOD’S GRACE WHICH GIVES EVIDENCE OF GENUINE SALVATION.

**** BUT IN THIS TEMPORARY SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN FOR A FEW YEARS, MAYBE EVEN 80 OR 90 OR MUCH LESS, NOW IS THE TIME OF THE CROSS, NOT THE CROWN.

(2) AND SOMETIMES WE GET THE IDEA THAT TO BE HAPPY WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS OR THAT, GOOD HEALTH, NO PROBLEMS, PLENTY OF MONEY, A KILLER CAREER, WHEN NONE OF THESE THINGS BRING HAPPINESS.

* IN FACT, FOR THE CHRISTIAN, THIS IS A TEMPORARY TIME OF SUFFERING, WE HAVE CONTINUAL TRIALS AND PAIN AND PROBLEMS, TO MAKE US SHINE FOR CHRIST AND REFLECT HIS LIKENESS AND GLORY.

** AND BELIEVER MY POINT IS PSALM 144:15 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** AND I REMIND YOU UNTIL CHRIST’S KINGDOM COMES, UNDER HIS SPIRITUAL RULE NOW, AS WE SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST, AS WE LOOK AT THE TRUTHS OF HIS WORD AND TRUST IN HIS HIGHER WAYS, WE SHOULD HAVE GREAT JOY AND HAPPINESS THAT DOESN’T GROW IN THE CURSED EARTH. FOR THE TREE OF HAPPINESS DOESN’T GROW IN THE CURSED EARTH -

I HEARD THAT YEARS AGO FROM MY FAVORITE BIBLE TEACHER.

**** BUT THAT’S A TRUE STATEMENT. FOR THINK OF YOUR CURRENT TRIALS, YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT’S DYING OR HURTING, YOU’RE HURTING IN PAIN, YOU ARE LAID OFF, YOU HAVE A TERRIBLE DISEASE, YOU’VE RECENTLY LOST A LOVED ONE.

(3) ALL THESE THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND TRIALS.

* BUT NONE OF THOSE THINGS AS TERRIBLE AS THEY ARE CAN COMPARE TO THE HAPPINESS TO KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT FACE THE 2’D DEATH AND WILL RISE WITH CHRIST.

** I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE, 70 OR 80 YEARS OF WEALTH, HEALTH AND NOTHING GOING WRONG AND DYING AND GOING TO HELL OR WHATEVER TIME WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE AS FAR AS TIME GOES, WITH MANY TRIALS AND GO TO HEAVEN.

*** WELL, THERE IS NO COMPARISON. SO AS YOU’RE GOING THROUGH TRIALS TODAY AND KNOW CHRIST BY FAITH ALONE IN HIM, REJOICE.

**** FOCUS ON THE TRUTH YOU ARE BLESSED AND REMEMBER REVELATION 20:6: (READ IT).