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The First Resurrection 
Rev. 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and 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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 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. That is, his condition is to be regarded as a happy or a favoured one. This is designed apparently to support and encourage those who in the time of John suffered persecution, or who might suffer persecution afterwards.
And holy. That is, no one will be thus honoured who has not an established character for holiness. Holy principles will then reign, and none will be exalted to that honour who have not a character for eminent sanctity.
That hath part in the first resurrection. That participated in it; that is, who is associated with those who are thus raised up.
On such the second death hath no power. The "second death" is properly the death which the wicked will experience in the world of woe. See
Revelation 20:14. The meaning here is, that all who are here referred to as having part in the first resurrection will be secure against that. It will be one of the blessed privileges of heaven that there will be absolute security against DEATH in any and every form; and when we think of what death is here, and still more when we think of "the bitter pains of the second death," we may well call that state "blessed" in which there will be eternal exemption from either.
But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him.
Revelation 1:6; 5:10.
(*)-Condition of the world in the period referred to in
Revelation 20:4-6.
I. It is well known that this passage is the principal one which is relied on by those who advocate the doctrine of the literal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years, or who hold what are called the doctrines of the "second advent." The points which are maintained by those who advocate these views are substantially,
(*) that at that period Christ will descend from heaven to reign personally upon the earth;
(*) that he will have a central place of power and authority, probably Jerusalem;
(*) that the righteous dead will then be raised, in such bodies as are to be immortal;
(*) that they will be his attendants, and will participate with him in the government of the world;
(*) that this will continue during the period of a thousand years;
(*) that the world will be subdued and converted during this period, not by moral means, but by "a new dispensation"-by the power of the Son of God; and
(*) that at the close of this period all the remaining dead will be raised, the judgment will take place, and the affairs of the earth will be consummated.
Revelation 1:5-7 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the Kings of the earth. Unto him that love us and washed us from our sins in his blood, and hath made us kings and prie unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him; and all kingreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen.
Colossians 1: 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 
I Corinthians 15:20 – 23 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Hebrews 1: 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
In the Greek word Strong
4416, the word (
Pro - toot - ok’ - os). meaning this word, first born, first begotten, Firstborn is used (
1) of Christ as born of the Virgin Mary (
Mt. 1:25; Lk. 2:7). (
2) of his relationship to the Father, expressing his priority to and preeminence over creation, not in the sense of being the first to be born. (
cf .
Exo. 4:22; Deut. 21:16-17) (
3) Chronologically, the four passages relating to Christ as firstborn, first begotten, may be set forth thusly; (
3a)
Colo. 1:15, Where His eternal relationship with the Father is in view, and the clause means both that He was the
firstborn before all creation and that he Himself produced creation (the genitive case being objective as
v.16 makes clear); (
3b)
Colo. 1:18 And
Rev. 1:5 In reference to His resurrection; (
3c)
Rom. 8:29 His being firstborn among those living by faith alone in God the Father;
(3d)
Heb. 1:6.
First begotten, stresses His superior positive, His preeminence over all; His second advent in contrast to His first advent, at His birth implied.
We read in
Psalm 76:10 for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (
Jesus) neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of body, the church; who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
I Corinthians 15:20-22 But no is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Psalms 23:4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 48:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, fear not Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.
Ruth 1:16-17 And Ruth said, intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will lodge thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; Where thou diest will I die and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also if ought but dead part thee and me.
Psalms 48:11-14Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
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Judgment begin in the house of God: The second death?.
The second death?.
...Who are these, "the rest of the dead"?..
...this is a question I have had for a very long time...and I am glad you brought it up here...just something I was wondering in my thoughts...Love
The First Resurrection
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