CrazyGuy:
That is a very interesting verse you pointed out (Rev 20:4). The enumeration of who "reigned with Christa thousand years" is as follows:
(1) "those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God"
(2) and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.
Revelation 6:9-11 has executed "souls" asking how long until justice is carried out. The response is that they have to wait "until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been." Revelation 7:1-8 then enumerates on this with the number of 144,000 (whether symbolic or literal).
But notice who else above "reigned with Christ": "Those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands."
In all of the other references to these things in Revelation there is no numerical limit:
Rev 13:3-10 refers initially to 'worshiping the wild beast.'
Rev 13:11-17 refers initially to 'worshiping the image of the beast and receiving the mark of the beast.'
But notice who is enjoyned not to do these things:
Rev 13:9,10, in giving warning about worshiping "the wild beast," the warning is addressed to "anyone."
Rev 14:9-12 also gives warning: "And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath . . . and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
As in chapter 13, it is "anyone" who is warned not to do these things.
Rev 16:2 has the results of the "1st bowl of God's anger": "So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image."
Here, the results of the bowl are upon "the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image" So far, there is a clear demarcation. You are either one or the other (contra the WT's idea that there are 3 parties: the 144,000 who rule, a great crowd who don't but still don't engage in the idolatry of the 3rd group).
Rev 19:20-1 has the wild beast and the false prophet who initiated the idolatry put away, and "the rest" (contextually, those who were misled) put to the sword:
"And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse . . ."
Again, there is only an indication of two parties: Those who worship the beast/image, and those who don't.
It is on the heals of these verses that Rev 20:4 speaks of those executed for their faithfulness and those who don't worship the beast/image or receive the mark who are said to 'reign with Christ for 1000 years.'
Bobcat
