Revelation 20

The Thousand Years

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, n holding in his hand the key to o the bottomless pit 1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized p the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and q bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into o the pit, and shut it and r sealed it over him, so that s he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw t thrones, and u seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw v the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those w who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. x They came to life and y reigned with Christ for 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. 6 z Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such a the second death has no power, but they will be b priests of God and of Christ, and they c will reign with him for a thousand years.

The Defeat of Satan

7 And when the thousand years are ended, d Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out e to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, f Gog and Magog, g to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And h they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded i the camp of the saints and j the beloved city, but k fire came down from heaven 2 and consumed them, 10 and the devil l who had deceived them was m thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where n the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence o earth and sky fled away, and p no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and q books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is r the book of life. And s the dead were judged by what was written in the books, t according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, u Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, t according to what they had done. 14 Then u Death and Hades v were thrown into the lake of fire. This is w the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, x he was thrown into the lake of fire.

  1. Cross References
    Revelation 1:18
    And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
  2. Cross References
    Revelation 9:1
    And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.
  3. Cross References
    Revelation 12:9
    And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world - he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
  4. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:4
    For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.
    Jude 1:6
    And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day -
  5. Cross References
    Revelation 20:1
    Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 6:17
    And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
    Matthew 27:66
    So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
  7. Cross References
    Revelation 20:8
    And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
    Revelation 20:10
    And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 7:9
    As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
    Matthew 19:28
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 3:21
    The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
    Daniel 7:22
    Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
  10. Cross References
    Revelation 6:9
    When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
  11. Cross References
    Revelation 13:12
    It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
    Revelation 13:14 - 16
    And by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
  12. Cross References
    John 14:19
    Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
    2 Timothy 2:11
    The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him.
  13. Cross References
    Revelation 20:6
    Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the f...
    Revelation 5:10
    And you have made them a kingdom and priests to...
    Revelation 22:5
    And night will be no more. They will need no li...
    Daniel 7:18
    But the saints of the Most High shall receive t...
    Matthew 20:21
    And he said to her, "What do you want?" She sai...
    Matthew 20:27
    And whoever would be first among you must be yo...
    2 Timothy 2:12
    If we endure, we will also reign with him; if w...
    Psalms 45:16
    In place of your fathers shall be your sons; yo...
  14. Cross References
    Revelation 14:13
    And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!
  15. Cross References
    Revelation 20:14
    Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
    Revelation 2:11
    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
    Revelation 21:8
    But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
  16. Cross References
    Revelation 1:6
    And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
  17. Cross References
    Revelation 20:4
    Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
  18. Cross References
    Revelation 20:2
    And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 20:3
    And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
    Revelation 20:10
    And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 38:2
    Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him
    Ezekiel 39:1
    And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God : Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
  21. Cross References
    Revelation 16:14
    For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:8
    And it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
    Ezekiel 38:9
    You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
    Ezekiel 38:16
    You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
    Habakkuk 1:6
    For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.
  23. Cross References
    Hebrews 13:11
    For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
    Hebrews 13:13
    Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
  24. Cross References
    Psalms 132:13
    For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:
  25. Cross References
    Revelation 13:13
    It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people.
  26. Cross References
    Revelation 20:3
    And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
    Revelation 20:8
    And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
  27. Cross References
    Revelation 19:20
    And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
  28. Cross References
    Revelation 16:13
    And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.
  29. Cross References
    Psalms 102:26
    They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away.
  30. Cross References
    Revelation 12:8
    But he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
    Daniel 2:35
    Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
  31. Cross References
    Daniel 7:10
    A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
  32. Cross References
    Revelation 3:5
    The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
  33. Cross References
    Romans 14:10
    Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
    2 Corinthians 5:10
    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
    Revelation 11:18
    The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 16:27
    For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
  35. Cross References
    Revelation 6:8
    And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
  36. Cross References
    Revelation 20:12
    And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
  37. Cross References
    Revelation 20:13
    And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
  38. Cross References
    Revelation 21:4
    He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
    Luke 20:36
    For they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
    1 Corinthians 15:26
    The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
  39. Cross References
    Revelation 20:6
    Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
  40. Cross References
    Matthew 13:42
    And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
    Matthew 13:50
    And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book