Revelation 20:4 is a resurrection to earth. Has nothing whatsoever to do about going to heaven or resurrected in heaven.
Then Jesus assuring his apostles that he was “going to prepare a place” for them in heaven and was then “coming again” to take them there, flies in the face of what you just said.
There are two resurrections for two completely different groups of people. The “first resurrection” is first in time and first in importance because those resurrected to heaven at the Lord’s return were to set up the Kingdom of God, taking their positions during these last days, (Revelation 20:6) ready to take over as earth’s only governing body, replacing all failed human rulership under satan’s dominion, which God’s kingdom will destroy. (Daniel 2:44)
The general resurrection of the dead includes those who may never have even heard of God or his son. Jesus calls all the dead from the same place....their graves. (John 5:28-29) Paul too spoke of these ones. (Acts 24:15)
Resurrected into heaven is an ongoing phenomenon every time a soul leaves this corruptible body and enters the permanent one in Paradise. 2 Corinthians 5. Jesus claims all since the Cross would never taste death. So life is instant when the souls leaves this dead body.
No resurrection to heaven was to take place until Christ’s return according to Paul. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) All were to “sleep” until Jesus came to gather them. Those long dead had not gone anywhere, nor would they be aware of how long they had been sleeping in their graves. But they were all resurrected from that time onward. Paul spoke of that time in 2 Corinthians 5 with a full understanding about what would happen, but not when it would take place. He addressed those with “the heavenly calling”. (Hebrews 3:1)
Only after Christ’s return was there to be no need to “sleep” in death....then there was to be an instantaneous resurrection. In these “last days” Christ is already here directing his disciples through these perilous times and seeing to it that the preaching about “the good news of the Kingdom” is accomplished world wide. (Matthew 24:3-14; Matthew 28:19-20) Only when all the features of the “sign” that Jesus gave to indicate his “presence” at the beginning of “the time of the end” are fulfilled, will “the end” of this present world system in the hands of the devil, come.
This physical life is death. The soul is bound by the death passed on by sin from Adam's punishment.
That is not what the Bible teaches.
There is no teaching of an immortal soul anywhere in the Bible. Death is the cessation of life, not a continuation of it. Adam was not told that he would go to heaven or hell, but simply that he would go back to the dust from which he was created. There is no “soul” that departs from the body because an animated soul is one that breathes. A soul that breathes is alive and a soul that is not breathing is dead. (Ezekiel 18:4) A “soul” in the Bible’s definition of the word ceases to exist at death. But God promises them a resurrection. Do we know what a resurrection is? Jesus demonstrated one very famous one...his friend Lazarus. Where did Jesus say that Lazarus was?
John 11:11-15...
“After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” (ESV)
Did Jesus haul Lazarus’ soul out of heaven and put it back into his lifeless body? Or did Jesus restore his life by putting the breath back in his lungs? After 4 days his body would have started to decompose (as his sister mentioned) but a whole and healthy Lazarus came out of his tomb with his memories intact and grateful to be back with his family and friends. He made no mention of being anywhere.
As the church we are Ambassadors, not kings. This world is still under the rule of sin and death. We are definitely not the priest and kings of Death. We should represent what the Resurrection and the Life is in an ungodly world.
Ambassadors are representative of a government, outside of their homeland. Whilst still on earth, Christ’s “elect” act as ambassadors, but once they are resurrected to heaven, they become “kings and priests” who will serve God in that capacity until the Kingdom (which rules for 1,000 years) has accomplished its goal, to reconcile sinful mankind back into a relationship with their Creator by eliminating the cause of their alienation, sin and it’s resulting death. Jesus’ sacrifice accomplishes this, paying a ransom that no sinful human could provide.
Revelation 20:4 is still a future event. It happens after the battle of Armageddon. It happens after Satan is bound, and the FP and beast are cast into the lake of fire. It applies to those beheaded in the previous 42 months.
Yes, this is when authority to judge is given them, when they come to life and rule with Christ in his Kingdom. This is a heavenly government with earthly subjects.....