2024/03/11

134. The Rest of the Dead

Let us continue the previous discussion. "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection" (Revelation 20:5). Here, the 'rest of the dead' have no 'soul', so these dead are those who have died and not come back to life. 

However, since it says, "until the thousand years were ended," it is suggested that they may be brought back to life once the 'thousand years,' i.e. the liturgy of the Mass, are over. This fact shows that the statement "This is the first resurrection" refers to the state of everyone involved in the Mass liturgy, who will eventually be brought back to life. That is because there is an awareness of the day when the mission entrusted to the Holy Spirit and the work of the Christians will be accomplished. 

In order to share in this awareness, believers must be accompanied by the fifth 'blessedness' in the verse that follows: "Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years" (20:6). 

When they practice the training of Revelation, the seven 'blessedness', placed at pivotal points in the Book of Revelation, will accompany them. The fifth 'blessedness', which appears here, accompanies the trainees of Revelation, and goes into the very heart of the spirituality of the Holy Spirit (cf. 20:6-22:6). To receive the spirituality of the Holy Spirit sent in the name of Jesus, it is essential to have the worldview of Jesus Christ. 

The Church can implant in the memory of believers the worldview of Jesus Christ, which the first disciples of Jesus unconsciously possessed, by leading them to the training of Revelation. It contains the memory of the Mass liturgy enhanced to the spirituality of the Holy Spirit as imagined by Jesus. It is what Jesus did not tell his disciples the full story at the Last Supper because the Holy Spirit had not yet descended. That is just as Jesus said, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:12-13). 

In addition, the Church must complete the Mass liturgy so that all believers may become those described as "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years." The fulfilment of the following words of Jesus depends on it: "I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16). So much perfection is expected in the completion of the Mass liturgy. That is because Jesus prepared everything for it. 

Therefore, once the complete Mass liturgy is celebrated, the only "the rest of the dead" who do not come to life until it is over will be the evil spirits.

Maria K. M.