Revelation 20-21

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.

The New Creation

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,^(Y) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed.^{(Z) 2} I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(AA) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.^(AB)

³ Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:^[h]

⁵ Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words^[l] are faithful and true.”^{(AH) 6} And He said to me, “It is done!^(AI) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(AJ) the Beginning and the End.^(AK) I will give water as a gift to the thirsty^(AL) from the spring of life.^{(AM) 7} The victor^(AN) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.^{(AO) 8} But the cowards, unbelievers,^[m] vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,^(AP) which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem

⁹ Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues,^(AQ) 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^[n](AR) to a great and high mountain^(AS) and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, ¹¹ arrayed with God’s glory.^(AT) Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. ¹² The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 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.^{(AU) 14} The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations.

¹⁵ The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod^(AV) to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.^{(AW) 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.^[o] 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 like clear glass.

¹⁹ The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:^(AX)

²¹ The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street^[p] of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

²² I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.^{(AY) 24} The nations^[q] will walk in its light,^(AZ) and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.^{[r](BA) 25} Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. ²⁶ They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.^{[s](BB) 27} Nothing profane will ever enter it:^(BC) no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(BD)