Revelation 20:6
“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.”
King James Version
The blessing on those who share the first resurrection — untouched by the second death — who reign with Christ as priests for the thousand years.
Fulfillment References
Revelation 20:4 1 Corinthians 15:23 Revelation 5:10 Daniel 12:2
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThose raised in the first resurrection 'reign with him' — the one Lord sharing His priestly reign with His redeemed.
JewishThe hope of resurrection and reign (cf. Daniel 12:2), read of the righteous in the age to come.
CatholicThe blessedness of the redeemed who reign with Christ; the millennium read largely amillennially.
ProtestantThe 'first resurrection' and millennial reign — its nature (bodily/future vs. spiritual/present) divides the millennial views.
OrthodoxThe redeemed reign with Christ; the second death has no hold on them.
DispensationalA literal bodily first resurrection of the saints, who reign with Christ in the earthly millennium.
AcademicWhether the 'first resurrection' is bodily (premil) or spiritual (amil) is the exegetical crux of the millennial debate.
Scholarship & Sources
Revelation 20:4-6 is the exegetical heart of the millennial debate: premillennialists take the 'first resurrection' as bodily and future; amillennialists as the believer's spiritual resurrection now. See 'The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views' (ed. Clouse).
Open the full interactive entry →Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.