Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

The Vision of Worship

19 After these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying,

³ A second time they said,

⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!” ⁵ A voice came from the throne, saying,

The Vision of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying,

(The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)

⁹ Then the angel^[a] told me, “Write this: ‘How blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!’” He also told me, “These are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ I bowed down at his feet to worship him, but he told me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who rely on what Jesus is saying. Worship God, because what Jesus is saying is the spirit of prophecy!”

The Vision of the Coming of the Messiah

¹¹ Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows except himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in^[b] blood, and his name is called the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, follow him on white horses. ¹⁵ A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to strike down the nations. He will rule^[c] them with an iron rod and tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe that covers^[d] his thigh he has a name written:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

The Vision of the Angel’s Invitation

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come! Gather for the great supper of God. ¹⁸ Eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of warriors,^[e] the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, both unimportant and important.”

The Vision of the Judgment of the Beast and False Prophet

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. ²⁰ The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf.^[f] By these signs^[g] the false prophet^[h] had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. ²¹ The rest were killed by the sword that belonged to the rider on the horse and that came from his mouth, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.

The Vision of the Millennial Reign

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit,^[i] with a large chain in his hand. ² He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. ³ He threw him into the bottomless pit,^[j] locked it, and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that, he must be set free for a little while.

The Vision of the First Resurrection

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and ruled with the Messiah^[k] for a thousand years. ⁵ The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ How blessed and holy are those who participate in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and the Messiah,^[l] and will rule with him for a thousand years.

The Vision of the Final Judgment

⁷ When the thousand years are over, Satan will be freed from his prison. ⁸ He will go out to deceive Gog and Magog, the nations at the four corners of the earth, and gather them for war. They are as numerous as the sands of the seashore. ⁹ They marched over the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came from God^[m] out of heaven and burned them up, ¹⁰ and the Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

The Vision of the White Throne Judgment

¹¹ Then I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. ¹² I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened—the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades^[n] gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to their actions. ¹⁴ Death and Hades^[o] were thrown into the lake of fire. (This is the second death—the lake of fire.) ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.