⁹ “As I looked,

¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^(A)

³ His clothes became dazzling white,^(A) whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

²² until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.^(A)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,^[a](A) coming^(B) with the clouds of heaven.^(C) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

¹⁸ so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(A) free and slave,^(B) great and small.”^(C)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast^(D) and the kings of the earth^(E) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(F) and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(G) who had performed the signs^(H) on its behalf.^(I) With these signs he had deluded^(J) those who had received the mark of the beast^(K) and worshiped its image.^(L) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(M) of burning sulfur.^{(N) 21} The rest were killed with the sword^(O) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(P) and all the birds^(Q) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,^(R) having the key^(S) to the Abyss^(T) and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,^(U) and bound him for a thousand years.^{(V) 3} He threw him into the Abyss,^(W) and locked and sealed^(X) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations^(Y) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

⁴ I saw thrones^(Z) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(AA) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(AB) because of their testimony about Jesus^(AC) and because of the word of God.^(AD) They^[a] had not worshiped the beast^(AE) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(AF) They came to life and reigned^(AG) with Christ a thousand years.

⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(A) being kept for the day of judgment^(B) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{(C) 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(D) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(E) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(F)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(G) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(H) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(I) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a](J)