Revelation 20:1-6
First Resurrection
Refuting Preterist Lies About The Millennial
By Pastor G. ReckartRevelation 20:1-6 and the resurrections there are no mystery. They need no spiritualizing.
Resurrection can only concern the dead. Those alive and who remain when Jesus comes will not be resurrected: But they will be changed.
Both will have the same glorified body but one is not a resurrection.
Commentary by Pastor Reckart:
Verse 1:
The setting is preparation of the devil being bound for 1,000 years. The angel has the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. Key here means the same as in Peter given keys to the kingdom: first authority; and second power to accomplish that determined by God. The timing of this angel and his work will be just prior to the 1,000 years which is to be introduced shortly as the span of time the devil will be bound. If the 1,000 years is not future then the work of this angel must be in the past. The devil bound in the past. If in the past, then before whatever time period is spiritualized to be the 1,000 years. Preterist say the 1,000 years of the devil being bound begins at either Calvary or 70AD. Which ever of the two theories, the angel in this verse would have his ministry and work BEFORE either Calvary or 70AD. But if this event is futuristic, then it has not come yet.
Verse 2:
The angel grabs the devil who is here called the "dragon, serpent, and satan" and binds him with the chain for 1,000 years. Some think this chain is spiritual but why cannot it be literal? There are other items seen in heaven that are literal, for instance the throne. This chain is spiritual in reality but it is real. Whatever its substance in the spirit dimension, the devil has no power to free himself from it. William Cox, a Preterist says this happened at Calvary but the devil was let out on probation and that is why after Calvary he is still in the world deceiving people. Where is this probation theory found in this text? It does not exist! Satan is bound 1,000 years. This is future.
Verse 3:
The devil is cast into the bottomless pit, and he is shut up. Now does this mean he is sealed up or his mouth is shut up? Since he will not be allowed to speak to mankind by any means, voice or temptations, he is shut up. The accuser cannot accuse any more for 1,000 years. The tempter cannot tempt for 1,000 years. In fact all the work of the devil stops during his imprisonment. The nations are not deceived by him during this time. Has this ever happened? Did it occur at Calvary or in 70AD? Can we look back for 2,000 years and say there is evidence the devil was bound and shut up? The answer is no! The devil is still going to and fro seeking whom he may devour. He is still possessing people as a demon spirit. He is still deceiving and if possible the very elect. Now if he is bound right now the Saints have no fear of ever being deceived because the deceiver's mouth is shut up. No, this is future! Then after the 1,000 years is up satan will be loosed from this pit for a little season.
Verse 4:
Now our attention is taken from the bottomless pit back to the heavenly court. John sees thrones, seats of high honor, and those sitting upon them he calls "they". Who are these "they"? They are the Apostles sitting on 12 thrones as promised them by Jesus in Matthew 19:28. There in the midst of the thrones John sees souls of them who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, who were killed for the Word of God, who had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark in their foreheads or hands. Here they are in a post resurrection event standing midst the presence of the 12 Apostles. The text says they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. John did not see dead people here. He saw resurrected people here. John did not see dead souls still in their earthly graves waiting on the resurrection. He sees them there in heaven and they are to live 1,000 years and reign with Christ. Now if this 1,000 years begins at Calvary as some claim, then these died before Calvary and the beast, his mark, and his image are before Calvary. If this 1,000 years begins in 70AD, then the same applies. In which ever case, these would be resurrected before the 1,000 years would begin. This is future. It has not taken place yet. To avoid a future occurance of this text, Preterist have the thrones and these martyrs before Calvary or 70AD. Since they cannot, they must spiritualize this text to be the spiritual resurrection of rebirth at the time of water baptism. But how are these martyrs born again if they lived and died before Calvary or 70AD? No, these are real people upon the thrones and real souls who stand there in the vision. John is seeing the future when he writes this text. These John sees live and reign with Christ for 1,000 years.
Verse 5:
Now the rest of the dead remain in their graves until the 1,000 years expires. Who are these dead? These are those not resurrected at the coming of the Lord. After the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1 there is no resurrection without the visible and bodily coming of Jesus. There is no coming of Jesus that fulfills his second advent that does not occur at the same time as the resurrection. Our text in 1Cor 15 and in first and second Thessalonians verify this. The hope of the saints is projected to the appearing of Christ. That blessed Hope has not taken place yet. It is future. When the resurrection and coming of Jesus occur it concerns only the redeemed, the saved, the righteous, and the holy. Those alive who are lost when Jesus comes have no part in his coming. These will die and go into hell's torments to wait until the 1,000 years are up to be resurrected to go to the judgment and into the Lake of Fire. Those lost between Calvary and the second coming of Jesus who died without salvation no part in his coming and also will be resurrected at the end of the 1,000 reign of Christ. These have no part with the elect and so cannot be in the first resurrection. These rejected the grace of Acts 2:38 salvation and will burn in hell and then burn in the Lake of Fire. These who are lost are not resurrected at the coming of Christ. Only the dead in Christ shall arise. So the rest of the dead (lost sinners) must remain in their graves and there in hell's torment await the day of the great White Throne Judgment. So, John says the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1,000 years are expired. What does "lived again" mean? It does not mean salvation as some Dominion Preterist claim. No, these are dead without Christ, cannot live and reign with him 1,000 years and are doomed to the future Lake of Fire. They shall live again in a resurrection, but a resurrection unto eternal damnation. What a great pity it is that so many souls will not be ready for Jesus at his first coming and must go to hell and the Lake of Fire at the end of the world.
Verse 6:
As we observed in the prior verses there is no mention of those who did not suffer a martyr's death. If these are not mentioned how will they be in a resurrection if these martyrs are resurrected at the coming of Jesus? Is there a separate resurrection for the martyrs and a different one for those not martyred? These questions are answered in this verse. John does not end his revelation with the post-tribulation resurrection of the martyrs only. In this text he tells us: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." This tells us that those who did not die a martyr's death are still resurrected and have part with the martyrs in the resurrection. To have part in the resurrection applies to those dead in Christ. Those who are alive and remain are not resurrected so they do not have part in the resurrection only part in the rapture. They only have part in the coming of Jesus when his elect are gathered from the four corners of the earth. Those who do not die do not prevent those who are dead from rising first from their graves. Those who are alive and remain are changed in the same instant of the resurrection and we have PART in the actual event that is both resurrection and being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. As individuals you are either a part of the martyrs resurrected, a part of the others who are dead in Christ, or a part of those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. This is all that the words "HATH PART" implies. Anyone who says "part" is a division of the first resurrection being those in the pre-trib resurrection; those in the mid-trib resurrection; and the Jews in the post-trib resurrection; are teaching a dispensational falsehood. The phrase "hath part" means to be joined in the same company at the same time as the martyrs who were resurrected. There is no physical bodily resurrection without the coming of Jesus. And Jesus is coming back ONE TIME and it is after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29). Therefore the word "PART" does not mean different resurrections at different times but all still called the first resurrection or Jesus is coming back several times to get each "part" and this is not scriptural.
We have the promise that all who are in the first resurrection and who have part, upon them will NOT COME THE SECOND DEATH. This second death is being cast into the Lake of Fire at the great White Throne Judgment. We are promised that all future wrath of God has been propitiated by the sacrifice of Jesus Messieh. Our salvation by grace through faith as found in Acts 2:38 is a treasure not to be played with. Certainly not to compromise, ecumenicalize, and changed by false doctrine. If we value our future in eternity we should be very careful how we interpret the Word of God and how we treat Men of God who are called in these last days to reach the nations with the Light of this Glorious Messianic restoration. Those claiming we are a cult because of our stand on this first Messianic resurrection are in great danger of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
Yes, the Church is Jewish Messianic and all who are grafted into this olive tree partake of the root and fatness thereof. We may be Gentiles by first birth but we are Jews by our second birth and religion. Christainty that is truely from Jesus and the Apostles is a Jewish Messianic religion. It is the only valid Judaism in the world. It is the Kingdom of God and upon the throne of his Majesty sits Jesus the lion of the tribe of Judah, a Jew! In this Sonship as a Jew he will reign for ever and ever. There is no end of his Kingdom. We who are in him, are Jews by choice and we are Abraham's seed.
Elect of God, beware of dogs and the concision. They have but one purpose and that is to attack, decieve, and destroy. That is why Pastor Reckart is the target of so many hatemongers. I will bring out their identity as antichrist when they oppose this pure doctrine. They cannot hide themselves. They will feel compelled that they must attack me, decieve others about what I teach, and then attempt to destroy all I am trying to do for the Kingdom of God.
Here I stand, a Man of God in these days declaring the Truth.
I choose to "have part" in the first resurrection and the coming of Jesus my Lord. Come join me. Why be fearful? Why be afraid to identify yourself? All the great Men of God will step forth. I am calling you out. Now the decision is yours!