How does Revelation 20:6 define the concept of being "blessed and holy"? Scriptural Text “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6) Immediate Context: The First Resurrection Verses 4–5 describe martyrs and faithful saints who, after bodily death, “came to life and reigned with Christ.” John calls this “the first resurrection,” distinguishing it from the later resurrection of the unredeemed (Revelation 20:12–13). Being “blessed and holy” is inseparable from participation in this first resurrection. The Blessing: Participation in the First Resurrection 1. Vindication—Earthly tribunals may condemn Christ’s witnesses, yet God reverses the verdict (cf. Daniel 7:22). 2. Restoration—Physical life is restored, signaling the Creator’s triumph over death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). 3. Reward—Reigning “with Him” honors faithfulness; compare the parable of the minas (Luke 19:17). The Holiness: Separation Unto God The resurrected saints are called priests, echoing Exodus 19:6. Their holiness is positional (declared righteous in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21) and experiential (perfected in resurrection bodies incapable of sin, 1 John 3:2). Holiness here is both status and environment—no uncleanness exists in the millennial court of the Messianic King (Isaiah 4:3). Freedom from the Second Death The “second death” is defined in Revelation 20:14 as “the lake of fire.” Over the resurrected saints it “has no power”—a double negative in Greek stressing absolute immunity. This fulfills Jesus’ promise: “He who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:26). Priestly Reign with Christ The dual office—priests and co-regents—combines access to God (Hebrews 10:19) with delegated authority (2 Timothy 2:12). As priests, they mediate worship; as rulers, they administer divine justice on a restored earth (Isaiah 65:20–23). Their ministry anticipates the eternal state when “they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Eschatological Implications • Millennium as literal thousand-year period (Revelation 20:2–7) anchors the promise in real history, paralleling early church writers such as Papias and Irenaeus. • Sequence: first resurrection → millennial reign → final judgment → new heaven and earth, displaying coherent biblical chronology. Cross-Biblical Parallels • First resurrection hinted in Daniel 12:2 (rise “to everlasting life”) and affirmed in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (“the dead in Christ will rise first”). • Immunity from second death parallels John 5:24; Romans 8:1. • Priestly kingship fulfills Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6. Ethical and Practical Applications Assurance—Believers possess present security (John 10:28) anticipating bodily resurrection. Holiness—Current sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3) foreshadows future perfection; thus, “everyone who has this hope purifies himself” (1 John 3:3). Mission—Confidence in ultimate reign fuels proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 28:18–20). Pastoral Comfort and Hope Persecuted believers receive specific encouragement: martyrdom is not defeat but a prelude to enthronement (Revelation 6:9–11). Suffering “for a little while” (1 Peter 5:10) contrasts with a thousand-year reign, underscoring Paul’s calculus: “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy” (Romans 8:18). Historical Reception in the Church Premillennial expectation dominated sub-apostolic writers; Augustine’s later amillennial reading did not erase the early consensus that the saints’ resurrection precedes final judgment. Confessions such as the Second London Baptist Confession 31.2 explicitly echo the twofold resurrection motif. Summary Definition In Revelation 20:6, “blessed and holy” designates those who share in the first resurrection: forgiven, consecrated, immune from the lake of fire, invested with priestly intimacy and royal authority, and destined to rule with Christ during His millennial kingdom—assured by God’s immutable promise and verified by the empty tomb of Jesus, the firstfruits of that resurrection. |
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