Hi John,
I thought there were a couple of explanations on the internet that were helpful.
Revelation 20:5 -- "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." These words were added at a time when the church claimed to be fulfilling scriptural promises concerning the thousand-year reign of Christ. The dead were not being raised during this pseudo-millennium, so it was convenient to make the inspired record teach that the resurrection should not be expected until the close of the thousand years.
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The Sinaitic MS., remarkable as being the oldest as well as for its completeness and accuracy, is therefore the only Greek authority on Revelation ante-dating the fifth century: and it does not contain the clause, of Rev. 20:5, [[But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.]]. Mr. Tischendorf prepared and published, in 1869, the common version of our English New Testament, with foot-notes showing all instances in which it varies from the three oldest Greek MSS.--the Sinaitic, and Vatican, above mentioned, and the Alexandrine, a later and less accurate MS. (site info not allowed)
It was Tischendorf that discovered the Codex Sinaiticus at St. Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai. He made a life work of searching the old manuscripts so he could produce an edition of the Bible as close to the original text as possible.
Here is where Ray speaks about this Scripture is Revelation 20:5.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.20.html -----
Rev 20:4 …And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
v. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Both of these verses can not be true, there is a problem here. I racked my brain, in my spare time, but I kept it in the back of my mind for a long time. There is a problem, that won’t work and I can’t make it work. It doesn’t fit, there is no way to make this thing fit. Then some months ago, now I know why it, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” won’t fit. It’s not Scripture! Tischendorf has it right there.
-Rev. 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...
It’s not in the Sinaiticus. So I said, okay now we’re moving again. We’re a little closer to the Truth.
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mercy, peace and love
Kat