Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.Blessed and holy is he who has part 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 one thousand years.Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
6 sermons cite this verse
… Everything he has just described in verse four, and he adds this word, blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over 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. Here, John introduces an important concept to understand in the Bible. There are two resurrections. The first resurrection is the resurrection of saved people, and they are raised to experience God's blessing for eternity. But the second resurrection is a resurrection of the unsaved. They are raised from the dead to experience God's torment forever and ever. And that's why John says blessed, happy is the person who's a part of the first resurrection. Let's in closing look at this first resurrection for just a moment. Who does it encompass and how does it work? Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 20 to 24. He says, but now Christ has been raised from the dead and the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive, but each in his own order. If you are in Christ, you're going to receive a brand new body, but you have to wait your turn. There is an order to which people will receive their new bodies. …
12. Meantime “the meek shall inherit the earth.” Such is the foolishness of worldly wisdom! The wise of the world had warned them again and again, — that if they did not resent such treatment, if they would tamely suffer themselves to be thus abused, there would be no living for them upon earth; that they would never be able to procure the common necessaries of life, nor to keep even what they had; that they could expect no peace, no quiet possession, no enjoyment of anything. Most true, — suppose there were no God in the world; or, suppose he did not concern himself with the children of men: But, “when God ariseth to judgment, and to help all the meek upon earth,” how doth he laugh all this heathen wisdom to scorn, and turn the “fierceness of man to his praise!” He takes a peculiar care to provide them with all things needful for life and godliness; he secures to them the provision he hath made, in spite of the force, fraud, or malice of men; and what he secures he gives them richly to enjoy. It is sweet to them, be it little or much. As in patience they possess their souls, so they truly possess whatever God hath given them. They are always content, always pleased with what they have: It pleases them because it pleases God: So that while their heart, their desire, their joy is in heaven, they may truly be said to “inherit the earth.” 13. But there seems to be a yet farther meaning in these words, even that they shall have a more eminent part in “the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness;” in that inheritance, a general description of which (and the particulars we shall know hereafter) St. John has given in the twentieth chapter of the Revelation: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, — and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, — and bound him a thousand years. — And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and of them which had not worshipped the Beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again, until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” [Rev. 20:6] …
resurrection and we're going to enter into the millennium and reign with Jesus a thousand years. The rest of the dead won't be raised until the millennium is over, a thousand years from the time Jesus comes at the rapture. Now let's talk thirdly about the when. The when. W-H-E-N. It is a sudden moment. A sudden moment that is both close and certain. Now you say pastor you say it is close. How do you know it's close? It may be a hundred years from now. It doesn't make any difference. It's still close. We are living on the edge of eternity. When I say it is close I'm saying what the Bible is saying. The time is near. Even the Apostle John before he left this earth said, little children, it is the last hour. Christians always are living on the edge of eternity. The time is always near. The Apostle Paul in this passage of Scripture said, then we which remain in our life. Paul was expecting Christ in his lifetime. Was he wrong? No, he was absolutely right. Nobody can set the date, but we know the date is coming in the twinkling of an eye. Put these Scriptures down. Matthew 24 verse 36, but of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Now if any Bible teacher comes along and sets a date, you have a right to say he's a heretic. If one of them guesses the right date, if I …
… This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such the second death hath no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years. We're going up in the first resurrection and we're going to enter into the millennium and reign with Jesus a thousand years. The rest of the dead won't be raised until the millennium is over. A thousand years from the time Jesus comes at the rapture. Blessed and holy is he that hath part on the first resurrection. If you're in the first resurrection you'll not face the second death. The second death hath no power over you. Your body may die but your spirit cannot die. But the second death is for those who've never been saved. The second death is the lake of fire. So blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. Those who have part in the first resurrection are those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. …
Whatever He has there promised, it shall be said of it, by-and-by, "and it was so." We learn that there is to be a wide spread of the Gospel. It is written, "All flesh shall see the salvation of God." "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." Therefore be assured that it shall be so! Let the missionary toil on and the devil rage on if he will—the devil shall be disappointed and the servant of God shall have his heart's desire! God will honor His Church when she has faith enough to believe in His promises. There is to be, in the fullness of time, a Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. He who went up from Olivet sent two of His angelic servants to promise that in the same manner as He went up into Heaven, He would return again. He shall surely come. Virgin souls who are awake and watching for the midnight cry will hear it before long. And when He comes, "the dead in Christ shall rise first"—there shall be a resurrection of the just at His appearing. So He has promised" and, "blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power." There are no bonds of death that can hold the saints in their graves when the Lord descends at the sound of the archangel's trumpet! God has said that they shall arise—and it shall be so. They shall, everyone of them, return from the land of the enemy and then will follow the millennial glory—we will not explain that splendor—but we know that it is promised, and that whatever has been foretold by God shall surely be! The saints shall possess the Kingdom and shall reign with Christ! …
You say, Pastor, do you really believe that Jesus is going to rule and reign here upon this earth? Yes. Yes. Now think about it. How many times have you prayed,