Revelation 20:6 –
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.
This part confuses me since there is a 1000 years where there will be relative peace on earth. It’s not clear what actually happens during this time since Satan is bound in prison.
Also, it’s not clear if the majority of the vision happens before or after Satan is bound. Also, if we look at what happens in verse 4 the resurrection of these priests allows them to reign 1000 years. That is mind boggling to me since 100 seems old!!
I wonder if this is a metaphorical description of life after death, where they will enjoy heaven with Jesus. I can imagine these frail human bodies lasting 1000 years even in ideal conditions. Also, are there others who live on this earth with these priests? Oh the questions that abound when one is reading the book of Revelation! If we try to apply these readings to history one could go nuts. It doesn’t make sense but again John was clear in stating we will not know the time or day when this happens.
The one thing I did notice in reading was it appears that the first resurrection is of people who did not take the “mark”. Where were they before this happened? In heaven or what some describe as “purgatory”? If we are not in or past the “end times” are we destined to wait in a “holding cell” until God’s judgment comes? This is the most bothersome part of reading this book since that picture is not clear. Sure the end is all sunshine and blue skies, but how long do we have to wait for that? I guess we will find out when we die, since it’s not clear on when we are “free” to spend eternity with God.
In more applying these writings to today I have heard many describe todays Gog and Magog as the nations of Iran and Russia. If you then use these two as examples one will quickly see these nations are forming an alliance while the rest of the world is ready to battle them. If that is truly the case, that means we have been living the last 1000 years without Satan’s rule over the earth! That includes the crusades, the holocaust, the atomic bombs, terrorists, Charles Manson and the like who then did this all without the help of Satan! So again don’t sweat the details, what happens, happens! Just live your life worthy of God’s grace and blessing.