Revelation 20:5; But the Rest of the Dead

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Revelation 20:5 (KJV)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

The fifth verse accounts for the one not raised at this time and furnishes a title for this resurrection of the martyrs – But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

The rest of the dead, being unbelievers, did not live again until the finish of the thousand years. on other words, they had no part in the first resurrection.

“The first resurrection” applies most directly to the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of v4, but it does not exclude earlier phrases of resurrection from its scope.

Revelation 20:4 (KJV)  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 they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

For example, the resurrection of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is not the same as the resurrection of the martyrs here, but by implication must be an earlier phase of the first resurrection because it too will be “first”.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

So the first resurrection is inclusive and must be the same as the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14; Acts 24:15), the resurrection from among the dead (Luke 20:34-36), the resurrection of life (John 5:29), and the resurrection to everlasting list (Daniel 12:2) (Bullinger).

Luke 14:14 (KJV)  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Acts 24:15 (KJV)  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 

Luke 20:34-36 (KJV)  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

John 5:29 (KJV)  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Daniel 12:2 (KJV)  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 418-419]