Celebration in Heaven

19 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude(A) in heaven, saying,

Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,(C)
because his judgments are true[a] and righteous,(D)
because he has judged the notorious prostitute(E)
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.(F)

A second time they said,

Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!(G)

Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,(H) who is seated on the throne, saying,

Amen! Hallelujah!(I)

A voice came from the throne, saying,

Praise our God,
all his servants, and the ones who fear him,
both small and great!(J)

Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters,(K) and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,

Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!(L)
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,(M)
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.(N)
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.(O)

For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.(P)

Then he[b] said to me,(Q) “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast(R) of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”(S) 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that!(T) I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus.(U) Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit[c] of prophecy.”

The Rider on a White Horse

11 Then I saw heaven opened,(V) and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True,(W) and with justice he judges and makes war.(X) 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame,(Y) and many crowns[d] were on his head.(Z) He had a name written that no one knows except himself.(AA) 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood,(AB) and his name is called the Word of God.(AC) 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp[e] sword(AD) came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it.(AE) He will rule[f] them with an iron rod.(AF) He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God,(AG) the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.(AH)

The Beast and Its Armies Defeated

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”(AI)

19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies(AJ) gathered together to wage war(AK) against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.(AL) Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.(AM) 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.

Satan Bound

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss(AN) and a great chain(AO) in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan,[g](AP) and bound(AQ) him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it(AR) so that he would no longer deceive the nations(AS) until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.

The Saints Reign with Christ

Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge.(AT) I also saw the souls of those(AU) who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus(AV) and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands.(AW) They came to life(AX) and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.(AY) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.

This is the first resurrection. Blessed(AZ) and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death(BA) has no power[h] over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.(BB)

Satanic Rebellion Crushed

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations(BC) at the four corners of the earth,(BD) Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle.(BE) Their number is like the sand of the sea.(BF) They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city.(BG) Then fire came down from heaven[i] and consumed them.(BH) 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are,(BI) and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.(BJ)

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.(BK) 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.(BL) Another book was opened, which is the book of life,(BM) and the dead were judged according to their works(BN) by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades(BO) gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.(BP) This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was 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;(BQ) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(BR) and the sea was no more.(BS) I also saw the holy city,(BT) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(BU) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.(BV)

Then I heard a loud voice(BW) from the throne:[j](BX) Look, God’s dwelling[k] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,[l](BY) and God himself will be with them and will be their God.[m] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(BZ) Death will be no more;(CA) grief, crying, and pain will be no more,(CB) because the previous things[n] have passed away.(CC)

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words[o] are faithful and true.”(CD) Then he said to me, “It is done!(CE) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(CF) the beginning and the end.(CG) I will freely give to the thirsty(CH) from the spring of the water of life.(CI) The one who conquers(CJ) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.(CK) But the cowards, faithless,[p] detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars(CL)—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,(CM) which is the second death.”(CN)

The New Jerusalem

Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues,(CO) 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[q](CP) to a great, high mountain(CQ) and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory.(CR) Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the twelve 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.(CS) 14 The city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.

15 The one who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod(CT) to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.(CU) 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.[r] 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 clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of jewel:(CV) the first foundation is 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 twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The main street[s] of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.(CW) 24 The nations will walk by its light,(CX) and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[t](CY) 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.(CZ) 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.[u](DA) 27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it,(DB) nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.(DC)

The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river[v] of the water of life,(DD) clear as crystal,(DE) flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb(DF) down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.(DG) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations,(DH) and there will no longer be any curse.(DI) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face,(DJ) and his name will be on their foreheads.(DK) Night will be no more;(DL) people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light,(DM) and they will reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful[w] and true.(DN) The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,[x] has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”(DO)

“Look, I am coming soon!(DP) Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”(DQ)

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. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (DR)

10 Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.(DS) 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”(DT)

12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me(DU) to repay each person according to his work.(DV) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, (DW) the first and the last,(DX) the beginning and the end.(DY)

14 “Blessed (DZ) 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, (EA) the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.(EB)

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root(EC) and descendant of David,(ED) the bright morning star.”(EE)

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.(EF)

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.(EG)

20 He who testifies about these things(EH) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!(EI)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus[z] be with everyone.[aa] Amen.[ab]

Footnotes

  1. 19:2 Valid; Jn 8:16; 19:35
  2. 19:9 Probably an angel; Rv 17:1; 22:8–9
  3. 19:10 Or the Spirit
  4. 19:12 Or diadems
  5. 19:15 Other mss add double-edged
  6. 19:15 Or shepherd
  7. 20:2 Other mss add who deceives the whole world
  8. 20:6 Or authority
  9. 20:9 Other mss add from God
  10. 21:3 Other mss read from heaven
  11. 21:3 Or tent, or tabernacle
  12. 21:3 Other mss read people
  13. 21:3 Other mss omit and will be their God
  14. 21:4 Or the first things
  15. 21:5 Other mss add of God
  16. 21:8 Other mss add the sinful,
  17. 21:10 Or in spirit
  18. 21:16 A stadion (sg) = about 600 feet; 12,000 stadia = 1,400 miles.
  19. 21:21 Or The public square
  20. 21:24 Other mss read will bring to him the nations’ glory and honor
  21. 21:26 Other mss add in order that they might go in
  22. 22:1 Other mss read pure river
  23. 22:6 Or trustworthy
  24. 22:6 Other mss read God of the holy prophets
  25. 22:14 Other mss read who keep his commands
  26. 22:21 Other mss add Christ
  27. 22:21 Other mss read with all the saints
  28. 22:21 Other mss omit Amen.

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