Revelation 20:4
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The vision of thrones, judgment, and the souls of martyrs reigning with Christ for a thousand years is the primary text for millennial theology in Christian history, generating premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial interpretive traditions. The martyrs specifically described are those beheaded 'for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God' and those who refused the beast's mark — indicating that the vision offers comfort to those suffering under imperial persecution rather than a speculative timetable. Daniel 7:22 provides the OT template: 'judgment was given to the saints of the Most High,' and the thrones of Revelation 20 fulfil that eschatological transfer of authority. The passage affirms that martyrdom is not defeat but a form of royal participation in Christ's own victorious reign.
Other Translations
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.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who have been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, and who did not bow before the beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they did live and reign with Christ the thousand years;
And I saw high seats, and they were seated on them, and the right of judging was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who were put to death for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and those who did not give worship to the beast, or to his image, and had not his mark on their brows or on their hands; and they were living and ruling with Christ a thousand years.
Cross References
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be …
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as …
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever …
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time …
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the …
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when …
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.