1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss Ps 140:10; Lk 8:31; Rm 10:7; Rv 9:1,11; 11:7; 17:8 and a great chain Ps 107:10; 149:8; Jr 39:7; Ezk 7:23 in his hand.

2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, Other mss add who deceives the whole world Rv 12:9 and bound Is 24:22 him for 1,000 years.

3He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it Dn 6:17; Mt 27:66 so that he would no longer deceive the nations Rv 12:9 until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.

4Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. Dn 7:22; Mt 19:28; 1Co 6:2-3; Rv 3:21; 6:9 I also saw the people Lit souls Rv 6:9 who had been beheaded All who had given their lives for their faith in Christ because of their testimony about Jesus Rv 1:2,9; 12:11,17; 19:10 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. Rv 7:3; 9:4; 13:12-16; 14:1; 22:4 They came to life Is 25:6-8; Mt 9:18; 26:29; Lk 13:29; Rv 2:8; 13:14 and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 2Tm 2:12

5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

6Blessed Rv 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 22:7,14 and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death Rv 2:11; 20:14; 21:8 has no power Or authority over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years. Rv 1:6; 5:10

7When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison

8and will go out to deceive the nations Gn 3:13; 2Co 11:3; 1Tm 2:14; 2Jn 7; Rv 12:9; 18:23; 19:20 at the four corners of the earth, Is 11:12; Ezk 7:2; Rv 7:1 Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Ezk 38–39 Their number is like the sand of the sea. Gn 32:12; Is 10:22; Jr 33:22; Hs 1:10

9They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Ezk 38:16; Jl 3:2,11-12; Zch 14:2 Then fire came down from heaven Other mss add from God and consumed them. 2Kg 1:10,12; Ezk 38:22; 39:6; Lk 9:54

10The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, Rv 19:20 and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Mt 25:41

11Then 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. Is 51:6; Mt 24:35; 2Pt 3:10; Rv 18:21

12I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Dn 7:10 Another book was opened, which is the book of life, Is 4:3; 34:16; Dn 12:1; Rv 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27 and the dead were judged according to their works Ps 62:12; Jr 17:10; Rm 2:6; 1Pt 1:17 by what was written in the books.

13Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades Rv 1:18; 6:8 gave up their dead; all Lit each were judged according to their works.

14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. Is 25:7-8; 1Co 15:26 This is the second death, the lake of fire. Other mss omit the lake of fire

15And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.