Revelation 19:20 kjv
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:20 nkjv
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:20 niv
But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Revelation 19:20 esv
And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Revelation 19:20 nlt
And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast ? miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Revelation 19 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 13:1-10 | And I saw a beast rising out of the sea... with ten horns... power... given... by the dragon. | Description of the first beast (political power). |
| Rev 13:11-18 | Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth... it performed great signs... deceived... forcing them to make an image for the beast. | Description of the second beast (false prophet) and his role. |
| Dan 7:7-12 | After this I saw... a fourth beast... dreadful and terrifying... the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. | Old Testament parallel to the powerful, beastly empire and its destruction. |
| 2 Thes 2:9-12 | The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing. | Deception by false signs, mirroring the False Prophet's actions. |
| Matt 25:41 | Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' | The eternal fire as a prepared place of judgment. |
| Jude 1:7 | just as Sodom and Gomorrah... undergone a punishment of eternal fire. | Brimstone and fire associated with divine, eternal judgment. |
| Rev 20:10 | and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | Satan's eventual fate, joining the Beast and False Prophet in the Lake of Fire. |
| Isa 30:33 | For Topheth has long been prepared; it is made ready for the king... Its pyre is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, kindles it. | Prophetic image of a fiery judgment place using brimstone. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder... saying, 'Let us go after other gods'... You shall not listen... | Warning against false prophets and their deceptive signs. |
| Rev 14:9-11 | If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath... | The fate of those who worship the Beast and receive his mark. |
| Rev 16:2 | So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. | Judgment on those who worship the Beast and his image. |
| Rev 17:8 | The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. | The Beast's ultimate destination of destruction. |
| Rev 20:14-15 | Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. | The Lake of Fire as the "second death" and ultimate fate for the lost. |
| Ex 9:16 | But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. | God's display of power in judgment over adversaries (like Pharaoh, paralleling the Beast). |
| Ezek 38:22 | With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him and his hordes abundant rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone. | Prophetic judgment with fire and brimstone against wicked powers. |
| Gen 19:24 | Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. | Historical example of God's judgment using fire and brimstone. |
| 1 Cor 11:19 | for there must be factions among you, in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. | The presence of deceptive figures reveals the true. |
| Isa 11:4 | but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. | Christ's defeat of His enemies with the "breath of His lips" or "word of His mouth." |
| Ps 21:9 | You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. | Imagery of fire consuming enemies, a judgment from God. |
| 2 Pet 2:4 | For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; | God's prior judgment and restraint of evil spiritual beings until final judgment. |
| Rev 6:17 | For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? | The inevitability of God's judgment and wrath upon the wicked. |
Revelation 19 verses
Revelation 19 20 Meaning
Revelation 19:20 describes the immediate post-battle judgment and eternal destiny of the Beast and the False Prophet, the two main spiritual and political adversaries of God and His Christ during the end times. These two figures, who spearheaded deception and idolatry on earth, are captured by Christ and His armies. Their ultimate fate is to be cast alive into the Lake of Fire, a place of perpetual torment characterized by burning brimstone, signifying divine and absolute judgment, setting the stage for subsequent judgments and the eternal state.
Revelation 19 20 Context
Revelation chapter 19 describes the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ. Following the destruction of Babylon (chapter 18), Heaven erupts in praise for God's just judgments. Then, Christ appears as the "Word of God" and "King of Kings and Lord of Lords," riding a white horse with the armies of heaven following Him. He comes to wage war against the Beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered at Armageddon. Verse 19:20 describes the decisive and immediate outcome of this battle concerning two key adversaries: the Beast, who represents the final oppressive world political power, and the False Prophet, who represents the religious system that supports and empowers the Beast through signs and deception. Their capture and subsequent casting into the Lake of Fire mark a significant victory for Christ and a definitive step in the execution of God's final judgments, preceding the binding of Satan and the millennial reign. The historical context for John's original audience likely includes the rising power of the Roman Empire and the demand for emperor worship, against which the 'Beast' and his 'image' serve as a direct polemic, warning against state-sponsored idolatry and false religion.
Revelation 19 20 Word analysis
- And the beast: "Beast" (Greek: thērion, θηρίον) denotes a wild, ferocious animal, symbolizing a tyrannical and destructive political power. This specific Beast, often identified as the "Antichrist" figure, is the head of the final wicked human government that opposes God, previously detailed in Rev 13:1-10.
- was captured: This signifies an absolute defeat. Despite all its power and deception, the Beast is unable to resist Christ's might. The capture is not a human effort but a direct act of divine authority exercised by Christ.
- and with him the false prophet: The "false prophet" (Greek: pseudoprophētēs, ψευδοπροφήτης) is the second beast from Rev 13:11-18. He is distinct from the Beast (the political ruler) but operates in close alliance, serving as his religious enabler. His title highlights his deceptive nature, contrasting with true prophets who speak God's word. This duo represents the full scope of satanic opposition: political-military power and religious-cultural deception.
- who worked signs: "Worked signs" (Greek: epoiēsen sēmeia, ἐποίησεν σημεῖα) indicates performing miraculous deeds, often with deceptive intent. These are not from God but are "lying wonders" (2 Thes 2:9). This directly connects to biblical warnings about false prophets using impressive displays to mislead.
- in his presence: Meaning "in the presence of the Beast," or on his behalf. The False Prophet’s miracles serve to glorify the Beast and legitimize his rule, promoting the Beast as worthy of worship.
- by which he deceived: The primary purpose of the false prophet's signs was deception. The root word for "deceived" (Greek: eplanēsen, ἐπλάνησεν) suggests leading astray or causing to wander from truth. This deception leads people away from Christ and towards worship of the Beast.
- those who received the mark of the beast: This refers to people who outwardly pledged allegiance to the Beast, allowing its mark to be placed on their bodies (Rev 13:16-17). This mark signifies their complete surrender to the Beast's authority and economic system, a conscious rejection of God.
- and those who worshiped his image: This is another form of allegiance, demonstrating idolatry directed towards the Beast's symbolic representation (Rev 13:14-15). Both receiving the mark and worshiping the image signify an ultimate rebellion against God, a rejection of His sovereignty. This was a direct polemic against emperor worship in John's day.
- These two: The Beast and the False Prophet are a distinct pair, captured and judged together, signifying the unified nature of their evil work. Their shared destiny emphasizes that both political oppression and religious deception stemming from Satan face the same inescapable judgment.
- were cast alive: The judgment is immediate and conscious. They do not die before judgment but are plunged into it while fully aware. This highlights the severity and certainty of their fate. It underscores that spiritual beings/entities cannot evade God's judgment by death.
- into the lake of fire: This is a specific destination of ultimate judgment, not a symbolic metaphor for mere destruction but a place of conscious, eternal torment. It is distinct from Hades (the temporary realm of the dead). This "lake of fire" is later identified as the "second death" (Rev 20:14-15). It represents a final and irreversible separation from God and an active experience of His wrath.
- burning with brimstone: "Brimstone" (Greek: theion, θεῖον, often translated as sulfur) historically linked to divine judgment (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24). Its inclusion emphasizes the consuming, painful, and perpetual nature of the fire, making the Lake of Fire a place of intensely painful and eternal suffering.
Revelation 19 20 Bonus section
The Lake of Fire is first mentioned in Revelation 19:20 as the destination for the Beast and the False Prophet. It is depicted as the ultimate and eternal place of punishment, a concept that builds upon Old Testament imagery of fiery judgment (e.g., Topheth, Isaiah 30:33) and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24; Jude 1:7). It is later explicitly identified as "the second death" (Rev 20:14) and is distinct from temporary states like Hades. The fact that the Beast and False Prophet are the first to be cast into this lake signifies their prominent roles in the ultimate rebellion against God and sets a precedent for the later casting in of Satan and all those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. This particular judgment in Revelation 19 precedes the millennial reign of Christ (Rev 20:4) and serves to purge the world of the overt expressions of Antichrist power before the King begins His direct reign.
Revelation 19 20 Commentary
Revelation 19:20 describes a pivotal moment in cosmic history: the decisive overthrow of the Beast and the False Prophet. This verse demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty and the inescapable justice that awaits those who lead humanity astray and rebel against His rule. The capture of these two key adversaries is not a struggle but a definitive act by the returning Christ, showcasing His unchallengeable authority over all earthly powers and spiritual deception. The description of their being "cast alive" into the "lake of fire burning with brimstone" underscores the severity and eternity of this divine judgment. It emphasizes that their punishment is not annihilation but conscious, ongoing torment, marking the beginning of the end for the rebellion against God. The False Prophet's deceptive miracles and the people's reception of the Beast's mark illustrate the dire consequences of spiritual blindness and willing participation in ungodly systems, serving as a warning against being led astray by counterfeit signs or succumbing to worldly pressures. This swift and absolute judgment contrasts sharply with the long reign of the Beast and False Prophet, highlighting the suddenness and finality of Christ's triumph.