1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss20:1 Ps 140:10; Lk 8:31; Rm 10:7; Rv 9:1,11; 11:7; 17:8 and a great chain20:1 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,20:2 Other mss add who deceives the whole world20:2 Rv 12:9 and bound20:2 Is 24:22 him for a thousand years.

3He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it20:3 Dn 6:17; Mt 27:66 so that he would no longer deceive the nations20:3 Rv 12:9 until the thousand 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.20:4 Dn 7:22; Mt 19:28; 1Co 6:2–3; Rv 3:21; 6:9 I also saw the souls of those20:4 Rv 6:9 who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus20:4 Rv 1:2,9; 12:11,17; 19:10 and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands.20:4 Rv 7:3; 9:4; 13:12–16; 14:1; 22:4 They came to life20:4 Is 25:6–8; Mt 9:18; 26:29; Lk 13:29; Rv 2:8; 13:14 and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.20:4 2Tm 2:12

5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.

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

8and will go out to deceive the nations20:8 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,20:8 Is 11:12; Ezk 7:2; Rv 7:1 Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle.20:8 Ezk 38–39 Their number is like the sand of the sea.20:8 Gn 32:12; Is 10:22; Jr 33:22; Hs 1:10

9They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city.20:9 Ezk 38:16; Jl 3:2,11–12; Zch 14:2 Then fire came down from heaven20:9 Other mss add from God and consumed them.20:9 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,20:10 Rv 19:20 and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.20:10 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.20:11 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.20:12 Dn 7:10 Another book was opened, which is the book of life,20:12 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 works20:12 Ps 62:12; Jr 17:10; Rm 2:6; 1Pt 1:17 by what was written in the books.

13Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades20:13 Rv 1:18; 6:8 gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.

14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.20:14 Is 25:7–8; 1Co 15:26 This is the second death, the lake of fire.

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