In Revelation 20:4, we see those who were martyred for their faith during the time of the "beast" and the implementation of his "image." The text says that they "lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." This quote is from the New King James, but translations like the ESV say that they "came to life and reigned..." This translation is why some would argue that their resurrection was at this point in time; and this is an argument against a PreWrath or Post-Trib rapture, because why were they resurrected at this point in time and not with those resurrected at the end of the Great Tribulation in a PreWrath or Post-Trib rapture scenario?
The text identifies them as "souls," and I see no reason not to see them as those identified earlier in the 5th seal of Revelation 6.9-11. Those souls in the fifth seal were martyred for their faith, and there were more to come, and I can't see why they are not the same as the souls of Revelation 20.4.
The word "souls" in Revelation 20.4 surely reminds the reader of those previously mentioned in the fifth seal. At this point in the vision, which John is receiving, special attention and recognition are given to these souls. I think that the designation "souls" doesn't have to mean disembodied spirits that still need to be resurrected, but particular people who are seen and remembered and now comforted about their future. It's not that they were resurrected as a distinct group apart from others, but they are given special attention at this point in the vision, and their status is revealed.
Translations make it sound like they are resurrected at the time of Revelation 20.4, which would be an argument against a Prewrath or Post-Trib rapture view, because if the rapture was Post-trib, why weren't they resurrected with the dead believers at the end of the Great Tribulation? I believe they were resurrected then, but they receive particular attention and recognition at that point in the vision.
The word translated "lived" in the NKJ is the same as the word "reigned" in tense, being indicative/ aorist / active, and they both speak of their fate, being they "lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." This is in contrast to the unsaved who do not live again until after the thousand years: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." 20:5 NKJ The verb "live" in verse 5 is also the same Greek tense. The Martyrs will both live and reign with Christ for a thousand years, while the unsaved will not even live during the thousand years.
Revelation 20.5 also says that "This is the first resurrection." The first resurrection would be the one preceding the Rapture. The Martyrs were part of that Resurrection, and they will both live and reign with Christ. The unsaved will be resurrected later, and they will not live until after the Thousand years.
I think that a Post-trib view has a little advantage over the PreWrath view in this, because the Prewrath view has an undetermined amount of time between the end of the Great Tribulation, when the resurrection and rapture happens, and the end of the 70th Week or the Bowls' judgments, which they usually put beyond the 70th Week. For what of any new believers who possibly die as Martyrs, as these need to be accounted for? But I'm not sure if PreWrathers are seeing the Martyrs of Revelation 20:4 as a very specific group between the Rapture at the end of Great Tribulation and the final defeat of the Beast by Christ. I think the Martyrs of Revelation 20:4 are the same as the fifth seal Martyrs.
It makes sense to me that the "souls" of Revelation 20:4 are the fifth seal Martyrs who are resurrected at the end of the Great Tribulation, and those particular individuals get special attention and recognition: they will both live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6
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