Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.

⁴ On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,^(A) east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split^(B) in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. ⁵ You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake^[a](C) in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come,^(D) and all the holy ones with him.^(E)

⁶ On that day there will be neither sunlight^(F) nor cold, frosty darkness. ⁷ It will be a unique^(G) day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night.^(H) When evening comes, there will be light.^(I)

⁸ On that day living water^(J) will flow^(K) out from Jerusalem, half of it east^(L) to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.^(M)

⁹ The Lord will be king^(N) over the whole earth.^(O) On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.^(P)

¹⁰ The whole land, from Geba^(Q) to Rimmon,^(R) south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up^(S) high from the Benjamin Gate^(T) to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,^(U) and from the Tower of Hananel^(V) to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.^{(W) 11} It will be inhabited;^(X) never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.^(Y)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open^(A) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider^(B) is called Faithful and True.^(C) With justice he judges and wages war.^{(D) 12} His eyes are like blazing fire,^(E) and on his head are many crowns.^(F) He has a name written on him^(G) that no one knows but he himself.^{(H) 13} He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,^(I) and his name is the Word of God.^{(J) 14} The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,^(K) white^(L) and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword^(M) with which to strike down^(N) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a](O) He treads the winepress^(P) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:^(Q)

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,^(A) having the key^(B) to the Abyss^(C) and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,^(D) and bound him for a thousand years.^{(E) 3} He threw him into the Abyss,^(F) and locked and sealed^(G) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations^(H) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

⁴ I saw thrones^(I) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(J) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(K) because of their testimony about Jesus^(L) and because of the word of God.^(M) They^[a] had not worshiped the beast^(N) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(O) They came to life and reigned^(P) with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.^{(Q) 6} Blessed^(R) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death^(S) has no power over them, but they will be priests^(T) of God and of Christ and will reign with him^(U) for a thousand years.

¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(A) whom he raised from the dead^(B)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(C)

⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(A) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(B)