⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.^{(A) 5} For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.^{(B) 6} You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(C) There will be famines^(D) and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted^(E) and put to death,^(F) and you will be hated by all nations because of me.^{(G) 10} At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets^(H) will appear and deceive many people.^{(I) 12} Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^{(J) 14} And this gospel of the kingdom^(K) will be preached in the whole world^(L) as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place^(M) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a](N) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let no one on the housetop^(O) go down to take anything out of the house. ¹⁸ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁹ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!^{(P) 20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.^(Q)

²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect^(R) those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.^{(S) 24} For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders^(T) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning^(U) that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming^(V) of the Son of Man.^{(W) 28} Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.^(X)

²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days

³⁰ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[c] will mourn^(Z) when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,^(AA) with power and great glory.^{[d] 31} And he will send his angels^(AB) with a loud trumpet call,^(AC) and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[e] is near, right at the door.^{(AD) 34} Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.^{(AE) 35} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(AF)

The Day and Hour Unknown^(AG)(AH)

³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father.^{(AI) 37} As it was in the days of Noah,^(AJ) so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,^(AK) up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.^{(AL) 40} Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.^{(AM) 41} Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.^(AN)

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.^{(AO) 43} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,^(AP) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready,^(AQ) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,^(AR) whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.^{(AS) 47} Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.^{(AT) 48} But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.^{(AU) 50} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(AV)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like^(AW) ten virgins who took their lamps^(AX) and went out to meet the bridegroom.^{(AY) 2} Five of them were foolish and five were wise.^{(AZ) 3} The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.^(BA)

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’^(BB)

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.^(BC) And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’^(BD)

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.^(BE)

The Parable of the Bags of Gold^(BF)

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,^(BG) who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,^[g] each according to his ability.^(BH) Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.^{(BI) 20} The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(BJ) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(BK) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.^{(BL) 30} And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’^(BM)

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes^(BN) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.^{(BO) 32} All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate^(BP) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.^{(BQ) 33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom^(BR) prepared for you since the creation of the world.^{(BS) 35} For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,^{(BT) 36} I needed clothes and you clothed me,^(BU) I was sick and you looked after me,^(BV) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’^(BW)

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(BX)

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,^(BY) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire^(BZ) prepared for the devil and his angels.^{(CA) 42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’^(CB)

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.^(CC)”^(CD)

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)

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds^(S) flying in midair,^(T) “Come,^(U) gather together for the great supper of God,^{(V) 18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(W) free and slave,^(X) great and small.”^(Y)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast^(Z) and the kings of the earth^(AA) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(AB) and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(AC) who had performed the signs^(AD) on its behalf.^(AE) With these signs he had deluded^(AF) those who had received the mark of the beast^(AG) and worshiped its image.^(AH) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(AI) of burning sulfur.^{(AJ) 21} The rest were killed with the sword^(AK) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(AL) and all the birds^(AM) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Thousand Years

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

⁴ I saw thrones^(AV) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(AW) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(AX) because of their testimony about Jesus^(AY) and because of the word of God.^(AZ) They^[b] had not worshiped the beast^(BA) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(BB) They came to life and reigned^(BC) 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.^{(BD) 6} Blessed^(BE) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death^(BF) has no power over them, but they will be priests^(BG) of God and of Christ and will reign with him^(BH) for a thousand years.

The Judgment of Satan

⁷ When the thousand years are over,^(BI) Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations^(BJ) in the four corners of the earth^(BK)—Gog and Magog^(BL)—and to gather them for battle.^(BM) In number they are like the sand on the seashore.^{(BN) 9} They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded^(BO) the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.^(BP) But fire came down from heaven^(BQ) and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them,^(BR) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,^(BS) where the beast^(BT) and the false prophet^(BU) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.^(BV)

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne^(BW) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,^(BX) and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small,^(BY) standing before the throne, and books were opened.^(BZ) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.^(CA) The dead were judged^(CB) according to what they had done^(CC) as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades^(CD) gave up the dead^(CE) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.^{(CF) 14} Then death^(CG) and Hades^(CH) were thrown into the lake of fire.^(CI) The lake of fire is the second death.^{(CJ) 15} Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life^(CK) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[c](CL) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(CM) and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City,^(CN) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(CO) prepared as a bride^(CP) beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.^(CQ) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(CR) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(CS) There will be no more death’^[d](CT) or mourning or crying or pain,^(CU) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(CV)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(CW) said, “I am making everything new!”^(CX) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(CY)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done.^(CZ) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(DA) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(DB) from the spring of the water of life.^{(DC) 7} Those who are victorious^(DD) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(DE) 8} But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(DF)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(DG) This is the second death.”^(DH)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(DI) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,^(DJ) the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away^(DK) in the Spirit^(DL) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^{(DM) 11} It shone with the glory of God,^(DN) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(DO) clear as crystal.^{(DP) 12} It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,^(DQ) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.^{(DR) 13} There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations,^(DS) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles^(DT) of the Lamb.

¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod^(DU) of gold to measure the city, its gates^(DV) and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[e] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human^(DW) measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[f] thick.^{[g] 18} The wall was made of jasper,^(DX) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^{(DY) 19} The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.^(DZ) The first foundation was jasper,^(EA) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,^(EB) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^{[h] 21} The twelve gates^(EC) were twelve pearls,^(ED) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.^(EE)

²² I did not see a temple^(EF) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(EG) and the Lamb^(EH) are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(EI) gives it light,^(EJ) and the Lamb^(EK) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^{(EL) 25} On no day will its gates^(EM) ever be shut,^(EN) for there will be no night there.^{(EO) 26} The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^{(EP) 27} Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(EQ) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(ER)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(ES) of the water of life,^(ET) as clear as crystal,^(EU) flowing^(EV) from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(EW) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(EX) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(EY) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(EZ) 4} They will see his face,^(FA) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(FB) 5} There will be no more night.^(FC) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(FD) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(FE)