Revelation 20:1-22:15
New King James Version
Satan Bound 1,000 Years
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, (A)having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of (B)the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and (C)set a seal on him, (D)so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years
4 And I saw (E)thrones, and they sat on them, and (F)judgment was committed to them. Then I saw (G)the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, (H)who had not worshiped the beast (I)or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they (J)lived and (K)reigned with Christ for [a]a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such (L)the second death has no power, but they shall be (M)priests of God and of Christ, (N)and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Satanic Rebellion Crushed(O)
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out (P)to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, (Q)Gog and Magog, (R)to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 (S)They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (T)where[b] the beast and the false prophet are. And they (U)will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face (V)the earth and the heaven fled away. (W)And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, (X)small and great, standing before [c]God, (Y)and books were opened. And another (Z)book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged (AA)according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, (AB)and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. (AC)And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then (AD)Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. (AE)This is the second [d]death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life (AF)was cast into the lake of fire.
All Things Made New
21 Now (AG)I saw a new heaven and a new earth, (AH)for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, [e]John, saw (AI)the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared (AJ)as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, (AK)the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 (AL)And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; (AM)there shall be no more death, (AN)nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then (AO)He who sat on the throne said, (AP)“Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [f]to me, “Write, for (AQ)these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, (AR)“It[g] is done! (AS)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (AT)I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes [h]shall inherit all things, and (AU)I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 (AV)But the cowardly, [i]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in (AW)the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem(AX)
9 Then one of (AY)the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [j]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you (AZ)the [k]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away (BA)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (BB)the [l]great city, the [m]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 (BC)having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with (BD)twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 (BE)three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and (BF)on them were the [n]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me (BG)had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand [o]furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 (BH)The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve (BI)pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. (BJ)And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The Glory of the New Jerusalem
22 (BK)But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 (BL)The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine [p]in it, for the [q]glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 (BM)And the nations [r]of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor [s]into it. 25 (BN)Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (BO)(there shall be no night there). 26 (BP)And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into [t]it. 27 But (BQ)there shall by no means enter it anything [u]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s (BR)Book of Life.
The River of Life
22 And he showed me (BS)a [v]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 (BT)In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was (BU)the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were (BV)for the healing of the nations. 3 And (BW)there shall be no more curse, (BX)but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His (BY)servants shall serve Him. 4 (BZ)They shall see His face, and (CA)His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 (CB)There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor (CC)light of the sun, for (CD)the Lord God gives them light. (CE)And they shall reign forever and ever.
The Time Is Near
6 Then he said to me, (CF)“These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the [w]holy prophets (CG)sent His angel to show His servants the things which must (CH)shortly take place.
7 (CI)“Behold, I am coming quickly! (CJ)Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 Now I, John, [x]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, (CK)I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me, (CL)“See that you do not do that. [y]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 (CM)And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, (CN)for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him [z]be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and (CO)My reward is with Me, (CP)to give to every one according to his work. 13 (CQ)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the [aa]Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 (CR)Blessed are those who [ab]do His commandments, that they may have the right (CS)to the tree of life, (CT)and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 [ac]But (CU)outside are (CV)dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Footnotes
- Revelation 20:4 M the
- Revelation 20:10 NU, M where also
- Revelation 20:12 NU, M the throne
- Revelation 20:14 NU, M death, the lake of fire.
- Revelation 21:2 NU, M omit John
- Revelation 21:5 NU, M omit to me
- Revelation 21:6 M omits It is done
- Revelation 21:7 M I shall give him these things
- Revelation 21:8 M adds and sinners,
- Revelation 21:9 NU, M omit to me
- Revelation 21:9 M woman, the Lamb’s bride
- Revelation 21:10 NU, M omit great
- Revelation 21:10 NU, M holy city, Jerusalem
- Revelation 21:14 NU, M twelve names
- Revelation 21:16 Lit. stadia, about 1,380 miles in all
- Revelation 21:23 NU, M omit in it
- Revelation 21:23 M very glory
- Revelation 21:24 NU, M omit of those who are saved
- Revelation 21:24 M of the nations to Him
- Revelation 21:26 M adds that they may enter in.
- Revelation 21:27 NU, M profane, nor one who causes
- Revelation 22:1 NU, M omit pure
- Revelation 22:6 NU, M spirits of the prophets
- Revelation 22:8 NU, M am the one who heard and saw
- Revelation 22:9 NU, M omit For
- Revelation 22:11 NU, M do right
- Revelation 22:13 NU, M First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
- Revelation 22:14 NU wash their robes,
- Revelation 22:15 NU, M omit But
Revelation 20:1-22:15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Satan Bound
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss(A) and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan,[a](B) and bound(C) him for 1,000 years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it(D) so that he would no longer deceive the nations(E) until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.
The Saints Reign with the Messiah
4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge.(F) I also saw the people[b](G) who had been beheaded[c] because of their testimony about Jesus(H) and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands.(I) They came to life(J) and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed(K) and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death(L) has no power[d] over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years.(M)
Satanic Rebellion Crushed
7 When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth,(N) Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle.(O) Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven[e] and consumed them.(P) 10 The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are,(Q) and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.(R)
The Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.(S) 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.(T) Another book was opened, which is the book of life,(U) and the dead were judged according to their works(V) by what was written in the books.
13 Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades(W) gave up their dead; all[f] were judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.(X) This is the second death, the lake of fire.[g] 15 And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
The New Creation
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,(Y) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed.(Z) 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(AA) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.(AB)
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:[h]
Look! God’s dwelling[i] is with humanity,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,(AC)
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.[j]
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(AD)
Death will no longer exist;(AE)
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,(AF)
because the previous things[k] have passed away.(AG)
5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words[l] are faithful and true.”(AH) 6 And He said to me, “It is done!(AI) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(AJ) the Beginning and the End.(AK) I will give water as a gift to the thirsty(AL) from the spring of life.(AM) 7 The victor(AN) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.(AO) 8 But the cowards, unbelievers,[m] vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,(AP) which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues,(AQ) came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit[n](AR) to a great and high mountain(AS) and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory.(AT) Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.(AU) 14 The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod(AV) to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.(AW) 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia.[o] Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:(AX)
the first foundation jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third chalcedony,
the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx,
the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth,
the twelfth amethyst.
21 The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street[p] of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.(AY) 24 The nations[q] will walk in its light,(AZ) and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[r](BA) 25 Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.[s](BB) 27 Nothing profane will ever enter it:(BC) no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.(BD)
The Source of Life
22 Then he showed me the river[t] of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb(BE) 2 down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life[u] was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.(BF) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, 3 and there will no longer be any curse.(BG) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,[v] and His slaves will serve Him. 4 They will see His face,(BH) and His name will be on their foreheads.(BI) 5 Night will no longer exist,(BJ) and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
The Time Is Near
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.(BK) And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,[w] has sent His angel to show His slaves what must quickly take place.”[x](BL)
7 “Look, I am coming quickly!(BM) The one who keeps the prophetic words of this book is blessed.”(BN)
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”(BO) 10 He also said to me, “Don’t seal the prophetic words of this book, because the time is near.(BP) 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being made filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.”(BQ)
12 “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me(BR) to repay each person according to what he has done.(BS) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(BT) the First and the Last,(BU) the Beginning and the End.(BV)
14 “Blessed(BW) are those who wash their robes,[y] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.(BX)
Footnotes
- Revelation 20:2 Other mss add who deceives the whole world
- Revelation 20:4 Lit souls
- Revelation 20:4 All who had given their lives for their faith in Christ
- Revelation 20:6 Or authority
- Revelation 20:9 Other mss add from God
- Revelation 20:13 Lit each
- Revelation 20:14 Other mss omit the lake of fire
- Revelation 21:3 Other mss read from heaven
- Revelation 21:3 Or tent, or tabernacle
- Revelation 21:3 Other mss omit and be their God
- Revelation 21:4 Or the first things
- Revelation 21:5 Other mss add of God
- Revelation 21:8 Other mss add the sinful
- Revelation 21:10 Or in spirit
- Revelation 21:16 A stadion (sg) = about 600 feet; 12,000 stadia = 1,400 miles.
- Revelation 21:21 Or The public square
- Revelation 21:24 Other mss add of those who are saved
- Revelation 21:24 Other mss read will bring to Him the nations’ glory and honor
- Revelation 21:26 Other mss add in order that they might go in
- Revelation 22:1 Other mss read pure river
- Revelation 22:2 Or was a tree of life, or was a tree that gives life
- Revelation 22:3 Lit in it
- Revelation 22:6 Other mss read God of the holy prophets
- Revelation 22:6 Or soon
- Revelation 22:14 Other mss read who keep His commands
Revelation 20:1-22:15
New Life Version
Satan Is Chained for One Thousand Years
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had in his hand a key to the hole without a bottom. He also had a strong chain. 2 He took hold of the dragon, that old snake, who is the Devil, or Satan, and chained him for 1,000 years. 3 The angel threw the devil into the hole without a bottom. He shut it and locked him in it. He could not fool the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were completed. After this he must be free for awhile.
4 Then I saw thrones. Those who were sitting there were given the power to judge. I saw the souls of those who had been killed because they told about Jesus and preached the Word of God. They had not worshiped the wild animal or his false god. They had not received his mark on their foreheads or hands. They lived again and were leaders along with Christ for 1,000 years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life again until the 1,000 years were finished. This is the first time many people are raised from the dead at the same time. 6 Those who are raised from the dead during this first time are happy and holy. The second death has no power over them. They will be religious leaders of God and of Christ. They will be leaders with Him for 1,000 years.
Satan Is Destroyed Forever
7 When the 1,000 years are finished, Satan will be free to leave his prison. 8 He will go out and fool the nations who are over all the world. They are Gog and Magog. He will gather them all together for war. There will be as many as the sand along the sea-shore. 9 They will spread out over the earth and all around the place where God’s people are and around the city that is loved. Fire will come down from God out of heaven and destroy them. 10 Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire burning with sulphur. The wild animal and the false preacher are already there. They will all be punished day and night forever.
The Guilty Will Be Punished
11 Then I saw a great white throne. I saw the One Who sat on it. The earth and the heaven left Him in a hurry and they could be found no more. 12 I saw all the dead people standing before God. There were great people and small people. The books were opened. Then another book was opened. It was the book of life. The dead people were judged by what they had done as it was written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead people who were in it. Death and hell gave up the dead people who were in them. Each one was judged by what he had done. 14 Then death and hell were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
All Things New
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away. There was no more sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. It was coming down out of heaven from God. It was made ready like a bride is made ready for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice coming from heaven. It said, “See! God’s home is with men. He will live with them. They will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will be their God. 4 God will take away all their tears. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All the old things have passed away.” 5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “See! I am making all things new. Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 Then He said to me, “These things have happened! I am the First and the Last. I am the beginning and the end. To anyone who is thirsty, I will give the water of life. It is a free gift. 7 He who has power and wins will receive these things. I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But those who are afraid and those who do not have faith and the sinful-minded people and those who kill other people and those who do sex sins and those who follow witchcraft and those who worship false gods and all those who tell lies will be put into the lake of fire and sulphur. This is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven jars full of the seven last troubles came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 I was carried away in the Spirit by the angel to a very high mountain. He showed me the Holy City of Jerusalem. It was coming out of heaven from God. 11 It was filled with the shining-greatness of God. It shone like a stone worth much money, like a jasper stone. It was clear like glass. 12 It had a very high wall, and there were twelve gates. Twelve angels stood by the gates. The names of the twelve family groups of the Jewish nation were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side. There were three on the east side and three on the north side and three on the south side and three on the west side. 14 The walls were on twelve stones. The names of the twelve missionaries of the Lamb were written on the stones.
15 The angel had a stick in his hand. It was used to find out how big the city and its gates and the walls were. 16 He found out that the city was as wide as it was long and it was as high as it was wide. It was as long as a man could walk in fifty days. It was the same each way. 17 The angel found out that the walls were the same as a man taking seventy-two long steps. The angel used the same way to find out about the city as a man would have used. 18 The wall was made of jasper. The city was made of pure gold. This gold was as clear as glass. 19 The city was built on every kind of stone that was worth much money. The first stone was jasper. The second was sapphire. The third was chalcedony. The fourth was emerald. 20 The fifth was sardonyx. The sixth was sardius. The seventh was chrysolite. The eighth was beryl. The ninth was topaz. The tenth was chrysoprase. The eleventh was jacinth and the twelfth was amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each gate was made from one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold. It was as clear as glass.
22 I did not see a house of God in the city. The All-powerful Lord God and the Lamb are the house of God in this city. 23 There is no need for the sun and moon to shine in the city. The shining-greatness of God makes it full of light. The Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk by its light. The kings of the earth will bring their greatness into it. 25 The gates are open all day. They will never be shut. There will be no night there. 26 The greatness and honor of all the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing sinful will go into the city. No one who is sinful-minded or tells lies can go in. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can go in.
More About the New Jerusalem
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was as clear as glass and came from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It runs down the center of the street in the city. On each side of the river was the tree of life. It gives twelve different kinds of fruit. It gives this fruit twelve times a year, new fruit each month. Its leaves are used to heal the nations.
3 There will be nothing in the city that is sinful. The place where God and the Lamb sit will be there. The servants He owns will serve Him. 4 They will see His face and His name will be written on their foreheads. 5 There will be no night there. There will be no need for a light or for the sun. Because the Lord God will be their light. They will be leaders forever.
Jesus Is Coming Soon
6 Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the early preachers has sent His angel to show the servants He owns what must happen soon.” 7 “See! I am coming soon. The one who obeys what is written in this Book is happy!”
8 It was I, John, who heard and saw these things. Then I got down at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. I was going to worship him. 9 But he said to me, “No! You must not do that. I am a servant together with you and with your Christian brothers and the early preachers and with all those who obey the words in this Book. You must worship God!” 10 Then he said to me, “Do not lock up the words of this Book. These things will happen soon. 11 And let the sinful people keep on being sinful. Let the dirty-minded people keep on being dirty-minded. And let those right with God keep on being right with God. Let the holy people keep on being holy.
12 “See! I am coming soon. I am bringing with Me the reward I will give to everyone for what he has done. 13 I am the First and the Last. I am the beginning and the end. 14 Those who wash their clothes clean are happy (who are washed by the blood of the Lamb). They will have the right to go into the city through the gates. They will have the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs. They are people who follow witchcraft and those who do sex sins and those who kill other people and those who worship false gods and those who like lies and tell them.
Revelation 20:1-22:15
The Message
A Thousand Years
20 1-3 I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain—a huge chain. He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake—the very Devil, Satan himself!—chained him up for a thousand years, dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations—until the thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly.
4-6 I saw thrones. Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on forehead or hand—they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the first resurrection—and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second death for them! They’re priests of God and Christ; they’ll reign with him a thousand years.
7-10 When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell, and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations, searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog! He’ll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong. They’ll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God’s holy people, the Beloved City. They’ll no sooner get there than fire will pour out of Heaven and burn them up. The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.
Judgment
11-15 I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.
Everything New
21 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.
2 I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.
3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”
6-8 Then he said, “It’s happened. I’m A to Z. I’m the Beginning, I’m the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I’ll be God to them, they’ll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it’s Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!”
The City of Light
9-12 One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: “Come here. I’ll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.
12-14 The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.
15-21 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: fifteen hundred miles, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: seventy-two yards. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.
21-27 The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth’s kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won’t be any night. They’ll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.
* * *
22 1-5 Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.
Don’t Put It Away on the Shelf
6-7 The Angel said to me, “These are dependable and accurate words, every one. The God and Master of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to show his servants what must take place, and soon. And tell them, ‘Yes, I’m on my way!’ Blessed be the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8-9 I, John, saw all these things with my own eyes, heard them with my ears. Immediately when I heard and saw, I fell on my face to worship at the feet of the Angel who laid it all out before me. He objected, “No you don’t! I’m a servant just like you and your companions, the prophets, and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
10-11 The Angel continued, “Don’t seal the words of the prophecy of this book; don’t put it away on the shelf. Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy continue on in holiness.”
* * *
12-13 “Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.
14-15 “How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.
Revelation 20:1-22:15
New American Standard Bible
Satan Bound
20 Then I saw (A)an angel coming down from heaven, holding the (B)key of the abyss and a great chain [a]in his hand. 2 And he took hold of the (C)dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and (D)bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the (E)abyss and shut it and (F)sealed it over him, so that he would (G)not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
4 Then I saw (H)thrones, and (I)they sat on them, and (J)judgment was given to them. And I saw (K)the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [b]their (L)testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not (M)worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the (N)mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they (O)came to life and (P)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. (Q)This is the first resurrection. 6 (R)Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the (S)second death has no power, but they will be (T)priests of God and of Christ, and will (U)reign with Him for a thousand years.
Satan Freed and Doomed
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be (V)released from his prison, 8 and will come out to (W)deceive the nations which are at the (X)four corners of the earth, (Y)Gog and Magog, to (Z)gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the (AA)sand of the [c]seashore. 9 And they (AB)came up on the [d]broad plain of the earth and surrounded the (AC)camp of the [e]saints and the (AD)beloved city, and (AE)fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And (AF)the devil who (AG)deceived them was thrown into the (AH)lake of fire and [f]brimstone, where the (AI)beast and the (AJ)false prophet are also; and they will be (AK)tormented day and night forever and ever.
Judgment at the Throne of God
11 Then I saw a great white (AL)throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose [g]presence (AM)earth and heaven fled, and (AN)no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the (AO)great and the small, standing before the throne, and [h](AP)books were opened; and another [i]book was opened, which is (AQ)the book of life; and the dead (AR)were judged from the things which were written in the [j]books, (AS)according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and (AT)Death and Hades (AU)gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them (AV)according to their deeds. 14 Then (AW)Death and Hades were thrown into (AX)the lake of fire. This is the (AY)second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [k]anyone’s name was not found written in (AZ)the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The New Heaven and Earth
21 Then I saw (BA)a new heaven and a new earth; for (BB)the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw (BC)the holy city, (BD)new Jerusalem, (BE)coming down out of heaven from God, (BF)prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, (BG)the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will (BH)dwell among them, and they shall be His [l]people, and God Himself will be among them[m], 4 and He will (BI)wipe away every tear from their eyes; and (BJ)there will no longer be any death; (BK)there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; (BL)the first things have passed away.”
5 And (BM)He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am (BN)making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for (BO)these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “[n](BP)It is done. I am the (BQ)Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (BR)I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the (BS)water of life, without cost. 7 (BT)The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and (BU)I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 (BV)But for the cowardly, and [o]unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in (BW)the lake that burns with fire and [p]brimstone, which is the (BX)second death.”
9 (BY)Then one of the seven angels who had the (BZ)seven bowls, [q]full of the (CA)seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “(CB)Come here, I will show you the (CC)bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
The New Jerusalem
10 And (CD)he carried me away [r](CE)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (CF)the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having (CG)the glory of God. Her [s]brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a (CH)stone of (CI)crystal-clear jasper. 12 [t]It had a great and high wall, [u](CJ)with twelve (CK)gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had (CL)twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the (CM)twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The one who spoke with me had a [v]gold measuring (CN)rod to measure the city, its (CO)gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the [w]rod, [x]twelve thousand stadia; its length, width, and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, [y]144 cubits, by (CP)human [z]measurements, which are also (CQ)angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was (CR)jasper; and the city was (CS)pure gold, like [aa]clear (CT)glass. 19 (CU)The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was (CV)jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, (CW)emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, (CX)sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve (CY)gates were twelve (CZ)pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was (DA)pure gold, like transparent (DB)glass.
22 I saw (DC)no [ab]temple in it, for the (DD)Lord God the Almighty and the (DE)Lamb are its [ac]temple. 23 And the city (DF)has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for (DG)the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the (DH)Lamb. 24 (DI)The nations will walk by its light, and the (DJ)kings of the earth [ad]will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for (DK)there will be no night there) (DL)its gates (DM)will never be closed; 26 and (DN)they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and (DO)nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those [ae]whose names are (DP)written in the Lamb’s book of life.
The River and the Tree of Life
22 And (DQ)he showed me a (DR)river of the (DS)water of life, [af]clear (DT)as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of [ag]the Lamb, 2 in the middle of (DU)its street. (DV)On either side of the river was (DW)the tree of life, bearing twelve [ah]kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 (DX)There will no longer be any curse; and (DY)the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will (DZ)serve Him; 4 they will (EA)see His face, and His (EB)name will be on their (EC)foreheads. 5 And (ED)there will no longer be any night; and they [ai]will not have need (EE)of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will (EF)reign forever and ever.
6 And (EG)he said to me, “(EH)These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the (EI)God of the spirits of the prophets, (EJ)sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
7 “And behold, (EK)I am coming quickly. (EL)Blessed is the one who [aj]keeps (EM)the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 (EN)I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, (EO)I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 And (EP)he *said to me, “[ak]Do not do that; I am a (EQ)fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who [al]keep the words of (ER)this book. Worship God!”
The Final Message
10 And he *said to me, “(ES)Do not seal up (ET)the words of the prophecy of this book, (EU)for the time is near. 11 (EV)Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”
12 “Behold, (EW)I am coming quickly, and My (EX)reward is with Me, (EY)to reward each one as his work [am]deserves. 13 I am the (EZ)Alpha and the Omega, (FA)the first and the last, (FB)the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who (FC)wash their robes, so that they will have the right to (FD)the tree of life, and may (FE)enter the city by the (FF)gates. 15 (FG)Outside are the (FH)dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
Footnotes
- Revelation 20:1 Lit upon
- Revelation 20:4 Lit the
- Revelation 20:8 Lit sea
- Revelation 20:9 Lit breadth of the earth
- Revelation 20:9 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Revelation 20:10 I.e., burning sulfur
- Revelation 20:11 Lit face
- Revelation 20:12 Or scrolls
- Revelation 20:12 Or scroll
- Revelation 20:12 Or scrolls
- Revelation 20:15 Lit anyone was not
- Revelation 21:3 Lit peoples
- Revelation 21:3 One early ms adds, as their God
- Revelation 21:6 Lit They are
- Revelation 21:8 Or untrustworthy
- Revelation 21:8 I.e., burning sulfur
- Revelation 21:9 Lit who were full; i.e., (previously) loaded with
- Revelation 21:10 Or in spirit
- Revelation 21:11 Or radiance
- Revelation 21:12 Lit having
- Revelation 21:12 Lit having
- Revelation 21:15 Lit measure, a gold reed
- Revelation 21:16 Lit reed
- Revelation 21:16 Possibly about 1,380 miles or 2,220 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
- Revelation 21:17 Possibly about 216 ft. or 65 m; a cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
- Revelation 21:17 Lit measure
- Revelation 21:18 Lit pure
- Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
- Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
- Revelation 21:24 Lit bring
- Revelation 21:27 Lit who have been written
- Revelation 22:1 Lit bright
- Revelation 22:1 Or the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was
- Revelation 22:2 Or crops of fruit
- Revelation 22:5 Lit do not have
- Revelation 22:7 Or follows
- Revelation 22:9 Lit See that you do not
- Revelation 22:9 Or follows
- Revelation 22:12 Lit is
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
