Revelation 20 5

Revelation 20:5 kjv

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

Revelation 20:5 nkjv

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:5 niv

(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:5 esv

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:5 nlt

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 5 Meaning

Revelation 20:5 clarifies the timing of the resurrection for different groups of deceased individuals within God's redemptive plan. It states that the "rest of the dead"—those who were not part of the initial group resurrected in Revelation 20:4—will not come to life again until the period of a thousand years has concluded. The verse then definitively identifies the resurrection described for the martyrs and believers reigning with Christ (Rev 20:4) as "the first resurrection." This establishes a chronological sequence of resurrections: an earlier resurrection of believers before the millennium, and a later resurrection of the non-believing dead after it.

Revelation 20 5 Context

Revelation chapter 20 presents a critical segment of end-times prophecy, primarily detailing the millennial reign of Christ. Verse 5 follows the description of Satan being bound for a thousand years and a specific group of believers—martyrs and those who did not worship the beast—being brought back to life to reign with Christ during that period (Rev 20:1-4). This verse thus clarifies that only this specific group experiences resurrection before the thousand-year period ends. It explicitly contrasts them with "the rest of the dead," asserting their deferred resurrection. The declaration, "This is the first resurrection," is John's definitive statement, distinguishing it from any other resurrection events, particularly the general resurrection unto judgment described later in the chapter (Rev 20:11-15). Historically, the early church generally anticipated a literal resurrection, a teaching that distinguished them from certain philosophical currents of their time which either denied bodily resurrection entirely or viewed the physical body as inferior or evil. John's vision affirms the reality and specific timing of bodily resurrections.

Revelation 20 5 Word analysis

• The rest (λοιποί - loipoi): This Greek term signifies "the remainder," "those left behind," or "others." Here, it clearly differentiates from the "blessed and holy" group mentioned in Revelation 20:4. It implies that a large majority of deceased humanity did not participate in the prior resurrection, encompassing all unbelievers and potentially believers who died outside the context of martyrdom or specific covenant witness detailed in Rev 20:4, although interpretations vary significantly.

• of the dead (τῶν νεκρῶν - tōn nekrōn): This is a generic plural noun referring to all those who have physically died. The phrase emphasizes the universality of death but highlights a distinct separation among the deceased in terms of their resurrection timing.

• lived not again (οὐκ ἔζησαν - ouk ezēsan): Ouk is the strong negative, meaning "not" or "did not." Ezēsan is from the verb zaō, "to live," often used for physical life but can also refer to spiritual life. In this eschatological context, following the reference to "coming to life" (ἔζησαν) in Revelation 20:4 for the martyrs, it refers to a literal physical resurrection or revival from death. The emphatic negative clarifies that their return to physical life does not occur before the specified time.

• until (ἄχρι - achri): This Greek preposition denotes a temporal boundary, a point in time up to which an action or state continues, implying a change afterward. It means "up to the point that," "as far as." This indicates that once "the thousand years were finished," the "rest of the dead" would then live again. This aligns with the later description of the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), where "the dead" (all categories) are resurrected for judgment.

• the thousand years (τὰ χίλια ἔτη - ta chilia etē): This phrase refers directly to the millennial period described in the preceding verses. The exact interpretation (literal 1000 years, symbolic period) significantly impacts the timing of eschatological events, but regardless of interpretation, it denotes a definite, lengthy, and significant period in God's redemptive timeline. It emphasizes the sequential nature of resurrections relative to this reign.

• were finished (τελεσθῇ - telesthē): This is from the verb teleō, meaning "to bring to an end," "to complete," "to accomplish." It highlights the definite termination of the thousand-year period, triggering the next major event: the resurrection of "the rest of the dead."

• This (αὕτη - hautē): A demonstrative pronoun, grammatically feminine, referring back to the "living again" and reigning of those described in Rev 20:4, which is the immediate antecedent and focus of John's commentary. It points to the preceding specific event as being defined.

• is the first resurrection (ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡ πρώτη - hē anastasis hē prōtē): This is a declarative statement, making the definition explicit.

  • ἀνάστασις (anastasis): Literally means "standing up again" or "a raising up." It implies a bodily resurrection, the physical coming to life after death, consistent with Jewish and Christian understanding of resurrection.
  • πρώτη (prōtē): Means "first," indicating precedence in time or rank. In this context, it clearly marks it as the initial resurrection of the righteous dead, distinct and prior to the general resurrection for judgment. The "first" here has a powerful qualitative and chronological significance: it leads to blessedness (Rev 20:6) and exemption from the second death.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished": This phrase precisely defines the timing of the resurrection of the non-righteous dead. It implies a significant gap between the resurrection of the saints (Rev 20:4) and the resurrection of all others. This "gap" is the millennium. The emphasis on "not again until" highlights the distinct timing and segregation of resurrections based on one's relationship with Christ. This stands against universalist ideas that all might eventually experience the same fate immediately after death, instead affirming distinct destinies and resurrections.
  • "This is the first resurrection": This categorical declaration defines the event just described (the resurrection and reigning of martyrs/saints) as the first in a sequence. It establishes the theological framework for understanding eschatological resurrection, differentiating it from a later, general resurrection for judgment. This is a foundational phrase for premillennial eschatology, asserting a specific, bodily resurrection for believers before Christ's millennial reign. The concept of "firstfruits" (1 Cor 15:20) connects to this idea of an initial, select harvest.

Revelation 20 5 Bonus section

The concept of a "first resurrection" (ἀνάστασις ἡ πρώτη) distinct from a later general resurrection is primarily drawn from Revelation 20. While the Old Testament and other New Testament passages speak of resurrection (Dan 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), Revelation 20:4-6 explicitly presents it as a segmented event. This distinct phrasing ("first resurrection") forms the basis for different eschatological interpretations, particularly premillennialism, which understands a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth preceded by a resurrection of believers. Other views like amillennialism or postmillennialism tend to interpret the "first resurrection" more symbolically as spiritual regeneration (Eph 2:5-6) or the intermediate state of believers with Christ. However, the precise linguistic construction and John's immediate follow-up in verse 6 strongly suggest a physical bodily resurrection distinct from mere spiritual new life. Furthermore, this "first resurrection" signifies participation in the special reign with Christ, whereas the resurrection of "the rest of the dead" (Rev 20:12-13) leads to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), underscoring vastly different eternal destinies.

Revelation 20 5 Commentary

Revelation 20:5 is a pivotal verse in eschatology, serving as John's inspired clarification of the resurrection events around the millennium. It distinctly outlines two phases of bodily resurrection for humanity. The first phase, labeled "the first resurrection," involves only the faithful—specifically those described in Revelation 20:4 who reigned with Christ. This is not a general resurrection but a specific one unto life and co-reigning, guaranteeing escape from the "second death" (Rev 20:6). Conversely, "the rest of the dead," comprising all who were not part of this "first resurrection" (primarily unbelievers, but also all non-martyred righteous depending on interpretation), are explicitly stated to not experience resurrection until the thousand-year reign has concluded. This emphasizes the blessed and preferential status of those who partake in the "first resurrection" and highlights the delayed and differing fate awaiting the unrighteous. This sequential view implies different purposes and outcomes for these resurrections: the first leads to blessedness and rule, while the later resurrection leads to final judgment.