Rev 20 is not about Jesus rising from the dead. Rev 12:5 is.
Not true! Revelation 20 is showing the potent after-effects of Christ's resurrection from the grave. We see the blessing, impact and change this had upon the redeemed and the defeat it wrought upon Satan. This is a narrative of victory, power and authority. Christ is depicted as a conquering king. He came to deliver His own and subjugate the devil. The spiritual chains that bound the Gentiles has not been placed upon Satan.
Many overlook the phrase
"hath part." Whatever that refers to will seal this debate. The unfortunate thing for Premils is that it is present tense. So whatever resurrection it is speaking of, believers currently have their "part" in it. Whatever “the first resurrection” is, participation in it qualifies humans’ to escape the horrors of eternal punishment (the second death). In this experience Christians identify with Christ’s victorious resurrection.
The Greek for “that hath part” is
echo méros. The Greek verb
echo correctly interpreted
“that hath” in the King James Version is written in the present tense and in the active voice. Therefore, we can view the relevance and vitality of “the first resurrection” as being both current and ongoing. Christ’s victory over death is not simply a past event that has no active bearing upon what we are today; it is ongoing reality in the lives of God’s people. The Greek word translated “part” in the text is the word
meros meaning
share, allotment or portion. This reading tells us that all those that have come to the joy of saving faith in Christ have become partakers in the resurrection life, and through this will escape the horrors of the second death – eternal wrath.
This passage is describing the reality and result of our mystical union with Christ. The expression “in Christ” [Gr.
en Christo] is found 216 times in the New Testament and refers to our federal and covenantal standing. It shows us that our spiritual status is totally derived from and dependent upon relationship with Christ. Upon salvation we are united to Christ. He is the head we are the body. The blessing, decisions and authority come through the head.
This matter is absolutely crucial to understanding Revelation 20 and conclusively damning for the Premil doctrine. That is why Premils duck round it.
When we get saved we become one with Jesus Christ spiritually. We identify with Christ and the victory He won over sin, death and the grave. As He died, was buried and conquered death, we also have our “part” in His success.
This is supported by Revelation 2:11, which similarly says:
“He that overcometh (present active particle)
shall not be hurt of the second death.”
The word “overcometh” here is actually written in the present active particle meaning it relates to the here-and-now. It is an experience that is realized in life. When you have "eth" in the KJV it means it is a present reality.