1Then I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the inhabited earth.2645 The angel2646 bound2647 him for a thousand years 3and cast him into the abyss. It was shut and sealed over him, so that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he is to be released for a short time.
4I saw thrones on which those who had received authority to pass judgment were seated. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not expressed adoration to the beast or his image, and who had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived2648 and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5And the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy2649 is the one who has part in the first resurrection! Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests2650 of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison 8and he will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog.2651 He will gather them together to the war, and their number is as the sand of the sea. 9They marched over the breadth of the land2652 and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came down from God out of heaven and they were consumed. 10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night, unto ages of ages.
The great white throne
11Then I saw a great white throne, and the one seated on it. The earth and the sky2653 fled away from his face: no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.2654 Books2655 were opened, and another book was opened: the book of life. The dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their works.2656 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death!2657 15Anyone who was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.2658
The new heaven and new earth
- TR/CT omit “who deceives the inhabited earth”
- Greek “he”
- Compare Luke 11:18-22
- KJV and NKJV read “they lived.” Most other translations read “they came to life.” (Compare Revelation 2:4; 13:14; also Peter 1:23)
- Compare 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9
- Compare 1 Peter 2:9
- Compare Ezekiel 38-39
- Or “earth”
- Or “heaven”
- TR reads “standing before God”
- Or “scrolls”
- Compare Malachi 3:16
- CT and MT add “the lake of fire”
- Compare Luke 10:20
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
