Revelation 20:5 (KJV)

What does Revelation 20:5 mean?

Revelation 20:5 says that the rest of the dead—those not included in the “first resurrection”—do not come back to life until after the thousand-year period is over. The verse identifies the “first resurrection” as a distinct event, setting it apart from any later resurrection.

In the book of Revelation, John is describing a vision about the end times. Here, he explains that after some are raised to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years, the remaining dead are not raised until those thousand years finish. This verse helps clarify the sequence of events in John’s vision, showing a separation between those who are part of the first resurrection and those who are not.

The Greek behind Revelation 20:5

• ἀνάστασις (anastasis, “resurrection”): This Greek word means “rising up” or “standing up again” and is used here to mark a specific event—the “first resurrection”—that is distinct from any later resurrection.
• λοιποί (loipoi, “rest”): This word means “the remaining” or “the others,” making clear that not all the dead are raised at the same time; some are specifically left until later.
• ἔζησαν (ezēsan, “lived”): This verb means “came to life” or “lived again,” emphasizing that the dead mentioned here will experience life again, but not until after the thousand years.

Why Revelation 20:5 matters

• Revelation 20:5 clarifies that there are at least two separate resurrections in John’s vision, which helps readers understand the timeline described in this chapter.
• The verse highlights a distinction between those who participate in the “first resurrection” and “the rest of the dead,” which is important for understanding the broader message of hope and judgment in Revelation.
• By specifying that the rest of the dead do not live again until after the thousand years, the verse sets up the events that follow in the chapter and helps explain the structure of the final judgment.