Revelation 20
New Century Version
The Thousand Years
20 I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit and a large chain in his hand. 2 The angel grabbed the dragon, that old snake who is the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. 3 Then he threw him into the bottomless pit, closed it, and locked it over him. The angel did this so he could not trick the people of the earth anymore until the thousand years were ended. After a thousand years he must be set free for a short time.
4 Then I saw some thrones and people sitting on them who had been given the power to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been killed because they were faithful to the message of Jesus and the message from God. They had not worshiped the beast or his idol, and they had not received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or on their hands. They came back to life and ruled with Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The others that were dead did not live again until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first raising of the dead. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests for God and for Christ and will rule with him for a thousand years.
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be set free from his prison. 8 Then he will go out to trick the nations in all the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. There are so many people they will be like sand on the seashore. 9 And Satan’s army marched across the earth and gathered around the camp of God’s people and the city God loves. But fire came down from heaven and burned them up. 10 And Satan, who tricked them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur with the beast and the false prophet. There they will be punished day and night forever and ever.
People of the World Are Judged
11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. Earth and sky ran away from him and disappeared. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what they had done, which was written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades[a] gave up the dead who were in them. Each person was judged by what he had done. 14 And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Footnotes
- 20:13 Hades The place of the dead.
Revelation 20
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.
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
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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