Revelation 20:4
2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3 And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their 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 hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their 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 hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
- KJV
- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- WEB
- I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
- ASV
- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- DARBY
- And I saw thrones; and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them; and the souls of those beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus, and on account of the word of God; and those who had not done homage to the beast nor to his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and hand; and they lived and reigned with the Christ a thousand years:
- BLB
- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those having been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who did not worship the beast nor its image, and did not receive the mark upon the forehead and upon their hand. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- ÅB
- Og jeg så troner, og de satte seg på dem, og det ble gitt dem makt til å holde dom; og jeg så deres sjeler som var blitt halshugget for Jesu vitnesbyrds og for Guds ords skyld, og dem som ikke hadde tilbedt dyret eller dets bilde, og som ikke hadde tatt merket på sin panne og på sin hånd; og de ble levende og regjerte med Kristus i tusen år.
- OTB
- Jeg så troner, og de som satt på dem ble gitt myndighet til å dømme. Jeg så sjelene til dem som var blitt halshugget for sitt vitnesbyrd om Jesus og Guds ord, og de som ikke hadde tilbedt dyret eller dets bilde eller mottatt dets merke på sine panner eller hender. De ble levende og hersket med Kristus i tusen år.
- B1930
- Og jeg så troner, og de satte sig på dem, og det blev gitt dem makt til å holde dom; og jeg så deres sjeler som var blitt halshugget for Jesu vidnesbyrds og for Guds ords skyld, og dem som ikke hadde tilbedt dyret eller dets billede, og som ikke hadde tatt merket på sin panne og på sin hånd; og de blev levende og regjerte med Kristus i tusen år.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Daniel 7:27
Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
Read in contextDaniel 7:18
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’
Read in contextMatthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Read in context1 Corinthians 6:2–3
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
Read in context2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
Read in contextRevelation 3:21
To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Read in contextRevelation 6:9
And when the Lamb 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 testimony they had upheld.
Read in contextDaniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
Read in context