The Thousand Year Reign

20:1 Then1 I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding2 in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain. 20:2 He3 seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and tied him up for a thousand years. 20:3 The angel4 then5 threw him into the abyss and locked6 and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.)

20:4 Then7 I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge.8 I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These9 had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They10 came to life11 and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.)12 This is the first resurrection. 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who takes part13 in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them,14 but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.