1. Who reigns with Christ ? The text says it…

1. Who reigns with Christ ? The text says it is those who had been beheaded ( Killed ) because of their testimony of Jesus and because they would not worship the beast. We have seen these people before. We met them first in Rev.6.9 where they were asking ‘’ How long ?’’ and when they received a white robe. Then we saw them in chapter 7 where they were wearing their white robes and serving before the throne of God. By chapter 14, they had been joined by more martyrs, the 144,000, and these all followed he Lamb and sang the song only they could sing. In chapter 15 these same martyrs were gathered around the heavenly sea where they sang the song of Moses and the Lamb and were identified as those who were “ victorious over the beasts. In chapter 19 they shout , ‘’ Hallelujah! ‘’ because the harlot has been judged, and then they join Christ as He rides in victory over the two beast. These are the martyrs of the Roman persecution, beheaded for their testimony and because they would not worship the beast. These same ones seen throughout the book are now said to reign with Christ for a 1000 years. The story of Revelation is their story. The book was sent to the seven churches, those about to undergo this terrible persecution, and as they passed through their fiery trial, they were killed for refusing to worship the beast. These are the heroes of the story and it is they alone whom the text says will reign with Christ for this 1000 years. So, who reigns ? The martyrs of the Roman persecution. Nothing is said in these verses about any one else reigning with Christ during this time.