The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

through resurrection or restitution to life all that was lost is to be restored to all who, when
they know and have opportunity, gladly obey. 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. Consequently it will not be until the thousand years are finished that
the race will have fully attained the complete measure of life lost in Adam. 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 fullness of life lost) until the thousand
years of restitution and blessing are complete."
"Blessed and holy is he who has a portion in the First Resurrection; over these the Second
Death has no authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Anointed, and shall
reign with Him a thousand years."
These words scarcely require any comment. They . . .
". . . show the holiness as well as blessedness of all that reigning company. Another
thought is suggested by the fact that these shall be priests to teach, as well as kings to
reign. They will not only see to the execution of God's laws, but will give instruction and
assistance to mankind, such as will enable them to render obedience."
"The call of spiritual Israelites to joint-heirship with Jesus in His spiritual Kingdom
belongs to this Gospel Age only. The Church's change of nature from human to Divine
begins with the begetting of the Holy Spirit and will be completed in the resurrection
change. St. Paul explains this and declares, 'Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of
God.' (1 Cor. 15:50.) He also tells us that the earthly rulers of the future cannot be perfected
until after the Church's resurrection. (Heb. 11:38-40.) So also Jesus declared that the least
one in the [spiritual] Kingdom would be greater than John the Baptist, the greatest of the
Prophets.--Matt. 11:11."
Those who have come to see that the subjects of the First or Chief Resurrection comprise
the overcomers of the Gospel Age, who with Christ are called the Seed of Abraham (Gal.
3:16,29) through whom all others of mankind are to be blessed, have no difficulty in
understanding the fact that their resurrection and exaltation to power must precede all
others. All this is implied in the statement of St. John: "They shall be priests of God and of
the Anointed, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." As the above writer has said:
"Theirs is the First Resurrection. (Rev. 20:5.) The great work before this glorious anointed
company--the Christ--necessitates their exaltation to the Divine nature; no other than
Divine power could accomplish it. Theirs is a work pertaining not only to this world, but
to all things in heaven and in earth--among spiritual as well as among human beings.--
Matt. 28:18; Col. 1:20; Eph. 1:10; Phil. 2:10; 1 Cor. 6:3."
The simple statements of this Scripture in themselves teach that the subjects of this "First"
Resurrection have a very exalted place and occupation during the thousand years. St. John