20:5. [But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.]—“These words are not found in the oldest and most reliable Greek MSS., the Sinaitic, Vatican Nos. 1209 and 1160, nor the Syriac MS. However, the repudiation of this clause is not essential to the ‘Plan’ as herein set forth; for the rest of the dead—the world at large—will not live again in the full sense, in the perfect sense that Adam lived before he sinned and came under the sentence ‘dying thou shalt die.’ Perfect life without weakness or dying is the only sense in which God recognizes the word life. From His standpoint all the world has already lost life, is dying, and might now be more properly described as dead than as alive.”—2 Cor. 5:14; Matt. 8:22.
“The word resurrection (Greek, anastasis) signifies raising up. As related to man, it signifies raising up man to that condition from which he fell, to full perfection of manhood—the thing lost through Adam. The process of resurrection will be a gradual one, requiring the entire Age for its full accomplishment; though the mere awakening to a measure of life and consciousness, as at present enjoyed, will of course be a momentary work. And since anything short of perfect life is a condition of partial death, it follows that, although the above words are no part of the inspired record, it would be strictly true to say that the rest of the dead will not live again (will not regain the fulness of life lost) until the thousand years of restitution and blessing are complete.”—A. 288.
This is the First Resurrection.—“It is impossible for the tongue to describe this great honor and dignity.”—1 Cor. 2:9; Pastor Russell.
20:6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection.—“ ‘We shall be like Him [the glorified “changed” Jesus], for we shall see Him as He is.’ He is a Spirit Being, ‘the express image of the Father's person,’ ‘far above angels, principalities and powers, and every name that is named,’ and hence, far above perfect manhood. If we shall be like Him and share His glory and His nature, it means that we too shall be images of the Father's person, ‘whom no man hath seen nor can see, dwelling in light which no man can approach unto;’ but to whom we can approach and whom we can see as He is, because we have been ‘changed.’ (1 John 3:2; 1 Tim. 6:16, 1:17; Exod. 33:20.) Lest any should misunderstand him, the Apostle guards the above language by adding, ‘As we [the Church] have borne the image of the earthly [one], we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly [One].’ It is not the Apostle's thought that all shall bear the image of the Heavenly One, in this sense, ever. Such [pg 306] was not the design of our Creator. When He made man He designed to have a fleshly, human earthly being, in His own likeness [mentally, morally], to be the lord and ruler of the earth, as the representative of His Heavenly Creator.” (Gen. 1:26-28; Psa. 8:4-7; F. 722.) “If we know how to reproduce the human voice, it gives us a little illustration of how God, with His unlimited Power, can preserve everything recorded by the convolutions of our brain, and of how these could be preserved in the future absolutely—everything by which we could know ourselves in the future.”—Z. '14-315.
On such the Second Death hath no power.—Aside from the Father and the Son, these are the only ones in the Universe that will forever be beyond the possibility of death.—Rev. 2:11; Rom. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:16.
But they shall be priests.—“The antitypical consecrating of the antitypical priests is confined to the present Gospel Age. It has progressed steadily since our Lord and Forerunner ‘offered up Himself’—and will be complete before this Age has fully ended. And if we fail to be among the priests now, during the time of consecration, we cannot be of them when they begin their service for the people in the Kingdom, when these same priests (now despised of men, but a ‘sweet savor to God’) will have the title of King added, and will, with their Head, Jesus, rule and bless all nations.”—T. 47; 1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10.
Of God and of Christ.—“No mention is made here of being priests of the Holy Ghost as it would undoubtedly have been mentioned if it had been the third person of the ‘trinity.’ ”
And shall reign with Him a thousand years.—“The ‘kingdoms of this world,’ even while being crushed by the Kingdom of God, will be quite ignorant of the real cause of their downfall,—until, in the close of this ‘day of wrath,’ the eyes of their understanding shall open, so that they will see that a New Dispensation has dawned, and learn that Immanuel has taken to Himself His great power, and has begun His glorious and righteous Reign.”—C. 129; Rev. 20:4.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.—“It will be for only a little season; for, his heart remaining unchanged, he will soon see a new avenue to the success of his long-cherished ambition. He will see not merely a perfect human pair with power to produce a mighty race destined to live forever, but a race restored to life and vigor. His thought will be, ‘If I can win this mighty race to my standard, my triumph and exaltation will be speedily accomplished.’ [pg 307] Again, therefore, he will figure as a leader, though, as now, unrecognized by men. Doubtless the temptation will again rest upon his old doctrine—that they shall not surely die, even if they do disregard the will of God.”—Z. '94-251.
20:8. And shall go out to deceive all the nations.—“At the close of the Millennial Age there will be a 'harvest' time, for sifting and separating amongst the billions of human beings then living, each of whom will have enjoyed a full opportunity of attaining perfection. The Harvest of the Millennial Age will witness the complete separation of the ‘goats’ from the ‘sheep.’ ” (D. 644.) “While the blessing of the Lord will provide an abundance for all, nevertheless we may safely assume that the provision will be in the hands of their fellows. It will be the 'sheep' that will be especially interested in, praying for and preparing for, those who are in the great prison-house of death. And by so engaging their time and energy these ‘sheep’ will be manifesting a purpose, a will, in harmony with that of the Creator. (John 5:28, 29.) Any one not interested in that work will be lacking in God's Spirit; and this is what is charged against the goat-class.”—Z. '14-268.