Revelation 20:4-6

Then I saw thrones. Note that the Second Coming of Christ does not take place until Revelation 20:11. In the vision, John sees the souls (not bodies) of those who have killed (executed) for their work of proclaiming the Good News (Truth). A thousand years. Symbolic of a long indefinite period of time (compare 2 Peter 3:8). Here it stands for the Gospel Age - that period of time from the Cross to the Second Coming. They came to life. This passage speaks only of souls of those who were killed because of their proclaiming the Good News of Christ. No mention here of a bodily resurrection. Where do these souls rule as kings with Christ? In heaven! [Paradise, see note at end of Luke 16:31.] They "sit by him on his throne" (Revelation 3:21); they "stand with him on Mount Zion" (Revelation 14:1); they "stand facing the throne, and sing a new song" (Revelation 14:3; Revelation 15:3). Happy and greatly blessed! See note on Revelation 14:13. This first raising of the dead. Note that the "second death" has no power over these. It must refer, then, to those who are completely removed from this world scene. Since it is a resurrection of the soul, it speaks of the transfer of the SPIRIT (soul) from this sinful earth [which is under the curse, Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-21] to heaven (in the sense of paradise, see notes on Luke 16:19-31). The second raising of the dead will come when Christ returns (Revelation 20:11) and all the dead will be raised both body and spirit (soul)l See notes on Revelation 20:12-13. They will rule with him for a thousand years. Not only shall these souls rule with Christ, they will also worship God in Christ as priests all during the thousand years (gospel age). See Revelation 1:6; Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 7:15; Revelation 14:4.