Revelation 20:5 Meaning and Explanation
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The rest of the dead do not live again until the thousand years are complete; the raising of the faithful is named the first resurrection.
What Does Revelation 20:5 Mean?
John pauses to set the reigning company apart from everyone else. The rest of the dead remain until the thousand years are finished, while those raised to reign with Christ belong to what he calls the first resurrection. The phrase distinguishes an earlier raising from a later one, ordering the great events of the end.
To share in the first resurrection is to belong to the company of the redeemed who rise to life with Christ. The word first carries hope: it implies that death does not have the final word and that God raises His own in due order. For the reader who has buried loved ones in the faith, this single sentence holds a promise larger than the grave.
Revelation 20:5 in the Original Language
anastasis (ἀνάστασις), 'resurrection' -- a standing up again, the raising of the dead to renewed life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 20:5
What does Revelation 20:5 mean?
The rest of the dead do not live again until the thousand years are complete; the raising of the faithful is named the first resurrection.