Revelation20
World English Bible · Public Domain
1I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years,
3and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.
4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.
7And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison
8and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
9They went up over the width of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them.
10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.
12I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.
14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast 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