Revelation 20:4

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — John, in vision, addresses the churches of Asia Minor; the moment falls immediately after Satan's binding (v. 3) and before the note on the "rest of the dead" (v. 5).

The words — θρόνους (thronous, "thrones") is the same noun used for God's own throne in Revelation 4:2; ἐκάθισαν (ekathisan, "they sat down") is aorist active, a completed act of taking a seat.

The thread — The saints receiving dominion echoes Daniel 7:18 and 7:27, where the kingdom is given to the holy people of the Most High; Matthew 19:28 narrows the same promise to the apostles judging the twelve tribes.

Why it lands — The verse ties resurrection and rule to a specific cost: beheading for testimony, refusal of the beast's mark. It asks the reader to name what their own "testimony" would cost and whether they would accept the throne on those terms.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΚαὶKaiAnd εἶδονeidonI saw θρόνους,thronousthrones,καὶkaiand ἐκάθισανekathisanthey sat ἐπ᾽ep᾽upon αὐτούς,autousthem καὶkaiand κρίμαkrimajudgment ἐδόθηedothēwas given αὐτοῖς,autoisto them,καὶkaiand τὰςtasthe ψυχὰςpsuchassouls τῶνtōnof those πεπελεκισμένωνpepelekismenōnbeheaded διὰdiabecause of τὴνtēnthe μαρτυρίανmarturiantestimony ἸησοῦIēsouof Jesus καὶkaiand διὰdiabecause of τὸνtonthe λόγονlogonword τοῦtou<the>θεοῦ,theouof God,καὶkaiand οἵτινεςoitinesthose who οὐounot προσεκύνησανprosekunēsandid worship τὸtothe θηρίονthērionbeast οὐδὲoudenor τὴνtēnthe εἰκόναeikonaimage αὐτοῦautouof him καὶkaiand οὐκouknot ἔλαβονelabondid take τὸtothe χάραγμαcharagmamark ἐπὶepiupon τὸtothe μέτωπονmetōponforehead αὐτῶνautōnof them καὶkaiand ἐπὶepiupon τὴνtēnthe χεῖραcheirahand αὐτῶν,autōnof them,καὶkaiAnd ἔζησανezēsanthey lived καὶkaiand ἐβασίλευσανebasileusanthey reigned μετὰmetawith τοῦtou<the>ΧριστοῦChristouChrist τὰtathe χίλιαchiliathousand ἔτη.etēyears.

King James Version

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.

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.’
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’
Matthew 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.
1 Corinthians 6:2 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?
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
Revelation 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.
Revelation 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.
Daniel 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.
Revelation 20:6 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.
Daniel 7:9 As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

People named

Jesus