Bible Strands
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John, under divine revelation, addresses the assembled churches. The moment is the eschatological sequence between the first resurrection (v. 5) and the close of the millennium (v. 7).
The words — meros (μέρος) means "a part" or "a portion," not the whole; the condition is having a share in the first resurrection. Makarios (μακάριος) frames the statement as a declared blessing on a specific group.
The thread — The priestly identity echoes Revelation 1:6, where the redeemed are made "a kingdom, priests to His God and Father." The promise to reign with Christ parallels 2 Timothy 2:12, and the exclusion from the second death answers the warning in Revelation 2:11.
Why it lands — The verse draws a hard line: those with a meros in the first resurrection are set apart from "the rest of the dead" (v. 5). It asks the reader to identify which group they belong to, with no middle position offered.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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 shall reign with him a thousand years.
Cross-references
- Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
- Revelation 1:6 who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
- 2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Revelation 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
- Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
- Daniel 12:12 Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
- Romans 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”
- Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.