Rev 20:4 and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.
IOW, your interpretation denies that the following has happened to this particular group of saints, thus why John sees the souls of them as well.
Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
These saints---those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands---let's ask some questions concerning them. Let's call them B) for simplicity sake.
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.
Are B) also deceived by these miracles? No.
saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live
Regardless what this looks like when being fulfilled, does B) also think this is a great idea? No.
and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Does he also cause B) to worship the image of the beast? No.
What then is B)s' fate for refusing to worship the image of the beast?
Is it not this?
and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads
Does he also cause B) to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads? No.
How then can B) in Revelation 20:4 not be any of the souls John initially sees before he then sees them coming to life again and reigning with Christ a thousand years? IOW, a transition happens. They go from a disembodied state to a bodily state. Except Amil ignores this transition and has them remaining in a disembodied state throughout the entire thousand years.
Per Amil, something like the following.
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 still in a disembodied state they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
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 still in a disembodied state shall reign with him a thousand years.
Vs. how Premil understands this.
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(which had the wound by a sword, and did live), neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and now no longer being in a disembodied state, thus are in a bodily state instead, they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
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 now no longer being in a disembodied state, thus are in a bodily state instead, shall reign with him a thousand years.
Obviously, B) can't be martyred for the reasons they are unless the beast has ascended out of the pit first, and a 2nd one out of the earth. Except Amil doesn't have the beast ascending out of the pit until after the thousand years expires. Which then makes nonsense of group B) in verse 4, the fact the beast has to ascend out of the pit first before they can be martyred for the reasons they are. Premils clearly understand that B) can't be martyred for the reasons they are unless the beast has ascended out of the pit first.
Amils do not understand this. They don't get this otherwise they would be like Premils instead, thus someone agreeing with the text here rather than disagreeing with it. Look at all the gymnastics Amil has to pull in order to make it appear their position is the correct one here. While Premil, OTOH, simply sticks to the text here. Thus no gymnastics necessary.
