Revelation 20 – The first resurrection and the first and second death. It is crucial to understand.

Rev 20:5
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

This passage should be read in conjunction of the previous verse.

Rev 20:4-5 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

The first resurrection is when one dies to sin, reigns with Messiah and lives according to Torah. The rest of the dead (those who do not die to sin) do not come to life until after the thousand years (short time) is completed. There is only one physical resurrection. It is a resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous at one time.

John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, 29and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Dan 12:1-3 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3“And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Rev 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Blessed and holy are those who have a part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. It does not say they will not die. It says that for those who have Messiah and live holy (set-apart), over these, the second death has no power. Paul says this same thing about the second death.

1 Cor 15:51-56 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;