Revelation 20 presents a striking sequence in God’s plan for humanity:
Christ returns and establishes His kingdom
He reigns with His saints for **a thousand years**
During this reign, the **first resurrection occurs** — the **144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel**, called **firstfruits** (Rev 7, Rev 14)
**After the thousand years**, Scripture states:
> “The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” (Rev 20:5)
This sequence raises profound questions about how God has managed humanity across history.
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**OLD COVENANT & THE FIRSTFRUITS**
The 144,000 are explicitly **Jewish, drawn from the twelve tribes**, and designated firstfruits — a term that implies a larger harvest yet to come.
Hebrews 11 shows that many faithful Israelites **died in faith without receiving the promises**, while Matthew 27:52–53 records saints raised at Christ’s resurrection.
This suggests God **preserved the faithful across generations**, preparing them for their appointed moment in covenantal history. Life for Old Covenant Israel may have been structured in stages — each generation lived and died, awaiting Christ’s fulfillment of the Law, culminating in the first resurrection.
As Jesus said:
> “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 19:30)
This principle indicates a divine ordering in which the firstfruits fulfilled their role first, but a larger harvest awaits those who were not part of that initial stage.
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**THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM**
During Christ’s thousand-year reign:
* The firstfruits reign with Him
* Israel’s covenantal promises are fulfilled
* God’s kingdom operates under His righteous and just rule
The firstfruits’ participation demonstrates God’s covenantal design: select faithful ones are raised at the appointed time, fully participating in the kingdom, while the rest of humanity remains in preparation.
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**POST-MILLENNIAL STAGE & MODERN HUMANITY**
After the thousand years, Revelation 20 indicates that **the rest of the dead will live again**, entering the next stage of God’s plan.
The early Church succeeded in spreading the gospel to the ends of the Earth and accomplished its mission. But after the faithful were raptured and the rebellious were left behind, humanity was left **without the Church**. The gospel, in its full transformative power, is now **hidden from the world**, and people live unaware of what was lost.
Jesus Himself declares:
> “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
In light of Jesus’ teaching — **“the last will be first, and the first will be last”** — those who were not part of the firstfruits, or who came after the rapture of the faithful, may now be positioned to participate in God’s plan in a new and restored way.
Could it be that humanity today is in a **preparatory stage**, “living again,” awaiting the Church to be remembered and the gospel fully revealed?
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**PRE-BIRTH & EMBODIMENT**
Certain passages hint at continuity of existence prior to physical life:
* John 9:2 shows the disciples assuming moral agency **before birth**
* Wisdom of Solomon 8:19–20 describes the body as something a soul **enters**, not originates in
These ideas suggest that life may occur in **divinely orchestrated stages**, aligned with God’s timing and covenantal plan. This supports the concept that “living again” is purposeful and covenantal, rather than random or endless cycles.
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**THEOLOGICAL & PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS**
Considering the sequence as a whole:
* The **Old Covenant stage** preserved Israel until Christ appeared in the flesh
* The **first resurrection** demonstrated God’s fulfillment of covenantal promises with the firstfruits
* The **millennial reign** established His kingdom and allowed firstfruits to participate fully
* The **post-millennial phase** shows humanity now existing without the Church, awaiting its restoration and the full revelation of the gospel
* **Pre-birth and embodiment** concepts suggest life is structured and purposeful, staged according to God’s plan
Together, these elements present humanity as **progressing in stages**, covenantally timed, and awaiting the appointed moment to encounter Christ fully.
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**THE CENTRAL QUESTION**
After the thousand-year reign of Christ, the rest of the dead will live again. Considering:
* The preservation of Israel and the firstfruits
* The millennial kingdom and Christ’s reign
* The rapture of the faithful and the current absence of the Church
* Pre-birth existence and the orderly structure of life
* Jesus’ declaration that **no one comes to the Father except through Him**
* The principle that **the last will be first, and the first will be last**
We arrive at the key question:
> Could it be that **we now exist in this stage**, living again in preparation for Christ’s full revelation, awaiting the Church’s restoration and the gospel being fully spread?
Are we, in other words, **the rest of the dead who shall live again**, positioned to finally encounter Him fully and participate in God’s covenantal harvest?
I’d love to hear thoughts on this possibility.
