⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(A) like the roar of rushing waters^(B) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(J) of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me,^(K) “Write this:^(L) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(M) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(N)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.^(A) You believe^(B) in God^[a];^(C) believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there^(D) to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(E) and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.^(F)

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^(A) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(B) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(C) because of their testimony about Jesus^(D) and because of the word of God.^(E) They^[a] had not worshiped the beast^(F) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(G) They came to life and reigned^(H) 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.^{(I) 6} Blessed^(J) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death^(K) has no power over them, but they will be priests^(L) of God and of Christ and will reign with him^(M) for a thousand years.

² I saw the Holy City,^(A) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(B) prepared as a bride^(C) 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.^(D) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(E) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(F) There will be no more death’^[a](G) or mourning or crying or pain,^(H) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(I)

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

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