The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom(A)

Why (B)do the [a]nations [b]rage,
And the people plot a [c]vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the (C)rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His (D)Anointed,[d] saying,
“Let (E)us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens (F)shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have [e]set My King
[f]On My holy hill of Zion.”

“I will declare the [g]decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
(G)‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
(H)You shall [h]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [i]Kiss the Son, lest [j]He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When (I)His wrath is kindled but a little.
(J)Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Gentiles
  2. Psalm 2:1 throng tumultuously
  3. Psalm 2:1 worthless or empty
  4. Psalm 2:2 Christ, Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
  5. Psalm 2:6 Lit. installed
  6. Psalm 2:6 Lit. Upon Zion, the hill of My holiness
  7. Psalm 2:7 Or decree of the Lord: He said to Me
  8. Psalm 2:9 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. rule (cf. Rev. 2:27)
  9. Psalm 2:12 LXX, Vg. Embrace discipline; Tg. Receive instruction
  10. Psalm 2:12 LXX the Lord

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(A) in vain?
The kings(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(C) saying,
“Let us break their chains(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”(E)

The One enthroned(F) in heaven laughs;(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(I) saying,
“I have installed my king(J)
    on Zion,(K) my holy mountain.(L)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(M)
    today I have become your father.(N)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(O) your inheritance,(P)
    the ends of the earth(Q) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(R)
    you will dash them to pieces(S) like pottery.(T)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(U)
    be warned, you rulers(V) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(W)
    and celebrate his rule(X) with trembling.(Y)
12 Kiss his son,(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AB) are all who take refuge(AC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)

A Song of Praise to God Coming in Judgment(A)

96 Oh, (B)sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the [a]nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

For (C)the Lord is great and (D)greatly to be praised;
(E)He is to be feared above all gods.
For (F)all the gods of the peoples are idols,
(G)But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and (H)beauty are in His sanctuary.

(I)Give[b] to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
[c]Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the Lord (J)in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

10 Say among the [d]nations, (K)“The Lord reigns;
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be [e]moved;
(L)He shall judge the peoples righteously.”

11 (M)Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
(N)Let the sea roar, and [f]all its fullness;
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
13     before the Lord.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
(O)He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:3 Gentiles
  2. Psalm 96:7 Ascribe
  3. Psalm 96:8 Ascribe
  4. Psalm 96:10 Gentiles
  5. Psalm 96:10 shaken
  6. Psalm 96:11 all that is in it

Psalm 96(A)

Sing to the Lord(B) a new song;(C)
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;(D)
    proclaim his salvation(E) day after day.
Declare his glory(F) among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds(G) among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(H)
    he is to be feared(I) above all gods.(J)
For all the gods of the nations are idols,(K)
    but the Lord made the heavens.(L)
Splendor and majesty(M) are before him;
    strength and glory(N) are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord,(O) all you families of nations,(P)
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering(Q) and come into his courts.(R)
Worship the Lord(S) in the splendor of his[a] holiness;(T)
    tremble(U) before him, all the earth.(V)
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.(W)
    The world is firmly established,(X) it cannot be moved;(Y)
    he will judge(Z) the peoples with equity.(AA)

11 Let the heavens rejoice,(AB) let the earth be glad;(AC)
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest(AD) sing for joy.(AE)
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge(AF) the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness(AG)
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 96:9 Or Lord with the splendor of

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31 (A)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [a]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 (B)All the nations will be gathered before Him, and (C)He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the (D)sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, (E)inherit the kingdom (F)prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 (G)for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; (H)I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was (I)naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; (J)I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (K)inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, (L)‘Depart from Me, you cursed, (M)into the everlasting fire prepared for (N)the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer [b]Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, (O)inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And (P)these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:31 NU omits holy
  2. Matthew 25:44 NU, M omit Him

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes(A) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.(B) 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate(C) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.(D) 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom(E) prepared for you since the creation of the world.(F) 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,(G) 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me,(H) I was sick and you looked after me,(I) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’(J)

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(K)

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,(L) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire(M) prepared for the devil and his angels.(N) 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’(O)

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.(P)(Q)

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Satan Bound 1,000 Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, (A)having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of (B)the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and (C)set a seal on him, (D)so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years

And I saw (E)thrones, and they sat on them, and (F)judgment was committed to them. Then I saw (G)the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, (H)who had not worshiped the beast (I)or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they (J)lived and (K)reigned with Christ for [a]a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such (L)the second death has no power, but they shall be (M)priests of God and of Christ, (N)and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Satanic Rebellion Crushed(O)

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out (P)to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, (Q)Gog and Magog, (R)to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. (S)They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (T)where[b] the beast and the false prophet are. And they (U)will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Great White Throne Judgment

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face (V)the earth and the heaven fled away. (W)And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, (X)small and great, standing before [c]God, (Y)and books were opened. And another (Z)book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged (AA)according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, (AB)and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. (AC)And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then (AD)Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. (AE)This is the second [d]death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life (AF)was cast into the lake of fire.

All Things Made New

21 Now (AG)I saw a new heaven and a new earth, (AH)for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, [e]John, saw (AI)the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared (AJ)as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, (AK)the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (AL)And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; (AM)there shall be no more death, (AN)nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then (AO)He who sat on the throne said, (AP)“Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [f]to me, “Write, for (AQ)these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, (AR)“It[g] is done! (AS)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (AT)I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes [h]shall inherit all things, and (AU)I will be his God and he shall be My son. (AV)But the cowardly, [i]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in (AW)the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem(AX)

Then one of (AY)the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [j]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you (AZ)the [k]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away (BA)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (BB)the [l]great city, the [m]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 (BC)having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with (BD)twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 (BE)three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and (BF)on them were the [n]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me (BG)had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand [o]furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 (BH)The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve (BI)pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. (BJ)And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

22 (BK)But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 (BL)The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine [p]in it, for the [q]glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 (BM)And the nations [r]of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor [s]into it. 25 (BN)Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (BO)(there shall be no night there). 26 (BP)And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into [t]it. 27 But (BQ)there shall by no means enter it anything [u]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s (BR)Book of Life.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 20:4 M the
  2. Revelation 20:10 NU, M where also
  3. Revelation 20:12 NU, M the throne
  4. Revelation 20:14 NU, M death, the lake of fire.
  5. Revelation 21:2 NU, M omit John
  6. Revelation 21:5 NU, M omit to me
  7. Revelation 21:6 M omits It is done
  8. Revelation 21:7 M I shall give him these things
  9. Revelation 21:8 M adds and sinners,
  10. Revelation 21:9 NU, M omit to me
  11. Revelation 21:9 M woman, the Lamb’s bride
  12. Revelation 21:10 NU, M omit great
  13. Revelation 21:10 NU, M holy city, Jerusalem
  14. Revelation 21:14 NU, M twelve names
  15. Revelation 21:16 Lit. stadia, about 1,380 miles in all
  16. Revelation 21:23 NU, M omit in it
  17. Revelation 21:23 M very glory
  18. Revelation 21:24 NU, M omit of those who are saved
  19. Revelation 21:24 M of the nations to Him
  20. Revelation 21:26 M adds that they may enter in.
  21. Revelation 21:27 NU, M profane, nor one who causes

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,(A) having the key(B) to the Abyss(C) and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,(D) and bound him for a thousand years.(E) He threw him into the Abyss,(F) and locked and sealed(G) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations(H) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

I saw thrones(I) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.(J) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded(K) because of their testimony about Jesus(L) and because of the word of God.(M) They[a] had not worshiped the beast(N) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.(O) They came to life and reigned(P) with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.(Q) Blessed(R) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death(S) has no power over them, but they will be priests(T) of God and of Christ and will reign with him(U) for a thousand years.

The Judgment of Satan

When the thousand years are over,(V) Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations(W) in the four corners of the earth(X)—Gog and Magog(Y)—and to gather them for battle.(Z) In number they are like the sand on the seashore.(AA) They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded(AB) the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.(AC) But fire came down from heaven(AD) and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them,(AE) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,(AF) where the beast(AG) and the false prophet(AH) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.(AI)

The Judgment of the Dead

11 Then I saw a great white throne(AJ) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,(AK) and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small,(AL) standing before the throne, and books were opened.(AM) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.(AN) The dead were judged(AO) according to what they had done(AP) as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades(AQ) gave up the dead(AR) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.(AS) 14 Then death(AT) and Hades(AU) were thrown into the lake of fire.(AV) The lake of fire is the second death.(AW) 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life(AX) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[b](AY) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(AZ) and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City,(BA) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(BB) prepared as a bride(BC) beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.(BD) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.(BE) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.(BF) There will be no more death’[c](BG) or mourning or crying or pain,(BH) for the old order of things has passed away.”(BI)

He who was seated on the throne(BJ) said, “I am making everything new!”(BK) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”(BL)

He said to me: “It is done.(BM) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(BN) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost(BO) from the spring of the water of life.(BP) Those who are victorious(BQ) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.(BR) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars(BS)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.(BT) This is the second death.”(BU)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues(BV) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,(BW) the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away(BX) in the Spirit(BY) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.(BZ) 11 It shone with the glory of God,(CA) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,(CB) clear as crystal.(CC) 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,(CD) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.(CE) 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations,(CF) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles(CG) of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod(CH) of gold to measure the city, its gates(CI) and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[d] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human(CJ) measurement, and it was 144 cubits[e] thick.[f] 18 The wall was made of jasper,(CK) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.(CL) 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.(CM) The first foundation was jasper,(CN) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,(CO) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[g] 21 The twelve gates(CP) were twelve pearls,(CQ) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.(CR)

22 I did not see a temple(CS) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty(CT) and the Lamb(CU) are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God(CV) gives it light,(CW) and the Lamb(CX) is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.(CY) 25 On no day will its gates(CZ) ever be shut,(DA) for there will be no night there.(DB) 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.(DC) 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,(DD) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(DE)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 20:4 Or God; I also saw those who
  2. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17
  3. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
  4. Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers
  5. Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters
  6. Revelation 21:17 Or high
  7. Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.