February 3: A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
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 20:6
The first resurrection is exclusively for the redeemed. To emphasize their blessedness, John was led to highlight the fact that the second death has no power over them. This is the second mention of the second death. Its mention implies a first death: the death that everyone dies in a world of sin (see Romans 6:23). Death will not have a permanent hold upon the redeemed, by virtue of the righteousness of Christ that covers them.
The first mention of the term second death was made by Jesus in His letter to the church at Smyrna (2:8-11). There is no rebuke in His message to Smyrna, only encouragement. This period of the young, New Testament church, would be subjected to acute persecution from 303 to 313AD under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. “Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days (a prophetic ten years). Be faithful until [the first] death, and I will give you the crown of life…He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (vv. 10b,11b) This period of persecution was ended by Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313 which declared religious toleration.
In his earlier years, Constantine had accompanied Diocletian on some of his expeditions to eliminate undesirable sects from the empire, and he marveled at the courage and unbreakable unity exhibited by Christians. After his victory at Milvian Bridge and his subsequent consolidation of Roman power under himself, he viewed the unity of Christians as a kind of glue that could hold his newly unified empire together. If Christianity became the state religion, he believed, they would be as fiercely loyal to him as they had been to their crucified Master. FINAL EMPIRE (p.59) by Shawn Boonstra
They shall be priests of God and of Christ… This brings to mind instructions for Old Testament priests: You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave upon it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD (Exodus 28:36). One by one, the people of God are made kings and priests through salvation (see Revelation 1:6 and 5:10; compare to Ezekiel 28:17).
They shall reign with Him a thousand years. During the thousand-year period that we call the millennium, the service as priests in Heaven will be rendered collectively for the purpose of judging. This is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise in Revelation 3:21: To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Jesus said to [His disciples], “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 (see also 8:11; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:2)
Today’s title is inspired by 1 Peter 2:9