Who reigns with Christ, and who are "the rest of the dead"?

[Isidore]

Is Rev 20:4 really saying that only martyrs who were "beheaded for their testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God" will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years?

And when it says "the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished," is it really saying that ALL the rest will be on the outside looking in?

[englishman]

Hi Isodore, the way I see it 1 Thessalonians 4: 15 we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. Revelation 5:8 the twenty four elders are before the throne I believe are a representation of the OT and New saints 2 X12. v. 9 they sing a song you are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, I dont believe this has happened yet, it will be castrophic the 4 horsemen and a quarter of the mankind on earth dying, as from Revelation 6.

So I believe many of what the dispensationlists believe that, many are alive before the rapture but will be joined with those of the first resurection these are made alive or have life, immotality in perfect bodies and the rest of the dead who are raised in the millenium have not come to put on immortality this will not happen until the end of the thousand years. Not only will the saints rule over the resurected but those who come out of the great tribulation. I have found strengths and weaknesses in all the eschalotogy and think we should retain a fluidity and keep looking, to me the truth only develops over time and who really know s all the details of ow it will all pan out  :Chinscratch: