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 there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord …
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, …
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into …
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory …
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, …
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, …
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell …
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved …
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become …
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon …