Revelation20
New Living Translation
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand.
2He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years.
3The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
4Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)
6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.
7When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison.
8He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore.
9And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.
10Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
12I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
13The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
14Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
15And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Satan is bound for a thousand years. (1–3). The first resurrection; those are blessed that have part therein. (4–6). Satan loosed, Gog and Magog. (7–10). The last and general resurrection. (11–15).
vv1-3
Here is a vision, showing by a figure the restraints laid on Satan himself. Christ, with Almighty power, will keep the devil from deceiving mankind as he has hitherto done. He never wants power and instruments to break the power of Satan. Christ shuts by his power, and seals by his authority. The church shall have a time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials are not yet over.
vv4-6
Here is an account of the reign of the saints, for the same space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ, shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in conformity to him in his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness: this is called the first resurrection, with which none but those who serve Christ, and suffer for him, shall be favoured. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. None can be blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be blessed. We know something thing of what the first death is, and it is very awful; but we know not what this second death is. It must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. May we never know what it is: those who have been made partakers of a spiritual resurrection, are saved from the power of the second death. We may expect that a thousand years will follow the destruction of the antichristian, idolatrous, persecuting powers, during which pure Christianity, in doctrine, worship, and holiness, will be made known over all the earth. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit, fallen man will be new-created; and faith and holiness will as certainly prevail, as unbelief and unholiness now do. We may easily perceive what a variety of dreadful pains, diseases, and other calamities would cease, if all men were true and consistent Christians. All the evils of public and private contests would be ended, and happiness of every kind largely increased. Every man would try to lighten suffering, instead of adding to the sorrows around him. It is our duty to pray for the promised glorious days, and to do every thing in our public and private stations which can prepare for them.
vv7-10
While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be wholly destroyed, though it may be limited and lessened. No sooner is Satan let loose, than he again begins deceiving the nations, and stirring them up to make war with the saints and servants of God. It would be well if the servants and ministers of Christ were as active and persevering in doing good, as his enemies in doing mischief. God will fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory may be complete, and the glory be to himself.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
καταβαίνω (katabaínō): to descend (literally or figuratively)
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
χείρ (cheír): the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)
Cross References
Revelation 20Verbatim definition of the dragon as the old serpent, called the Devil and Satan.
Supported by JFB
Direct reference to judgment being given to the saints, echoed in John's vision of thrones.
Supported by JFB
Old Testament source for the nations 'Gog and Magog' gathered for the final battle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Source of the judgment scene where the court is seated and books are opened.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Declares that the last enemy to be destroyed is death, matching its casting into the lake.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes Christ as the one holding the keys of hell and death.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demons entreat Jesus not to command them to go out into the deep (abyss).
Supported by JFB
Describes the passing away of the heavens and earth with fervent heat at judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Defines the second death as the lake of fire for the unrepentant.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts Satan's bound state with his active role as prince of the power of the air.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The physical sealing of the lions' den, typifying the sealing of Satan's prison.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies those who refused to worship the image of the beast or receive his mark.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel designation of believers made kings and priests unto God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the prior casting of the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire.
Supported by JFB
The Old Testament promise of deliverance for those found written in the book.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal link to angels delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The ultimate bruising of the serpent's head initiated by his binding and final doom.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts Satan's restriction in the pit with his free roaming of the earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The theological link between suffering with Christ and reigning with Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The prepared everlasting fire for the devil and his angels.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal link to Christ promising not to blot names out of the book of life.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Christ's promise that the disciples would sit on twelve thrones judging Israel.
Supported by JFB
Paul's rhetorical confirmation that the saints shall judge the world.
Supported by JFB
The foundational covenant promise that God's people would be a kingdom of priests.
Supported by JFB
Ezekiel's prophecy of fire descending to consume the hordes of Gog.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ's teaching on the general resurrection when all in graves hear His voice.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The necessity of all appearing before Christ's judgment seat for works done.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic declaration of the destruction of the grave (Sheol) and death.
Supported by Matthew Henry