Revelation Journey · Revelation 20:4–6
The Thousand Years: The First Resurrection
John sees thrones, and people seated upon them. Authority to judge is given to them.
Then John sees the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.
These faithful witnesses had refused to worship the beast or its image.
They had not received the beast's mark upon their foreheads or their hands.
John says they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.
John calls this the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection.
The second death has no power over them.
They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.
What is the first resurrection?
Revelation 20:4–6 describes faithful people coming to life and reigning with Christ.
John calls this the first resurrection.
Christians differ on how to interpret it.
Some understand it as a future bodily resurrection of believers.
Others understand it as the heavenly life and reign of believers who have died in Christ, or in relation to spiritual life received through Him.
The exhibit follows John's description without declaring one disputed interpretation to be the only possible one.
Who reigns with Christ?
John sees people seated upon thrones with authority to judge.
He specifically describes those who suffered death because of their witness to Jesus and God's word.
They refused to worship the beast, its image, or receive its mark.
Christians differ on whether this passage describes only these faithful martyrs or a wider company of believers.
The central point is that faithfulness to Christ is honored, even after suffering and death.
What is the second death?
John says the second death has no power over those who share in the first resurrection.
Later, Revelation 20:14 identifies the second death with the lake of fire.
The passage distinguishes ordinary physical death from the final judgment represented by the second death.
Those described as blessed in the first resurrection are not subject to that second death.
What happens during the thousand years?
Revelation 20:4–6 describes those who reign with Christ for a thousand years.
They are also described as priests of God and of Christ.
The passage does not give a detailed description of ordinary daily life during this period.
It does not specify the architecture of the thrones, the appearance of the surrounding cities, or the political boundaries of the reign.
Christians disagree on whether the thousand years are literal or symbolic, and on how the reign relates to Christ's return.
Pause and notice
What does John see at the beginning of this vision? Why had the faithful witnesses suffered? How long do they reign? What has no power over those sharing in the first resurrection?
Look back at the passage
John sees thrones and people given authority to judge. Faithful witnesses had suffered for Jesus and God's word. They reign with Christ for a thousand years. The second death has no power over them.
Explore the Scripture and artwork
The thrones, Christ's reign, and the faithful gathered in white illustrate themes from Revelation 20:4–6.
The painting shows a radiant ruler, a peaceful landscape, gardens, animals, and a shining city.
These environmental details are artistic choices. Revelation 20:4–6 does not specifically describe gardens, waterfalls, animals, or a golden city.
The artwork combines the reign of Christ with imagery of peace and restoration found elsewhere in biblical prophecy.
The painting should not be understood as a literal photograph of the thousand years or as proof of one interpretation of the millennium.
Read Revelation 20:4–6 ↗Scripture opens in a new tab.
John has seen the faithful reigning with Christ for a thousand years. But when that period is completed, Satan is released from his prison and again deceives the nations. Continue into Revelation 20:7–10.
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