Revelation 20 10

Revelation 20:10 kjv

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 nkjv

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 niv

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 esv

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 nlt

Then 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.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 10 Meaning

This verse definitively describes the ultimate, eternal punishment of the devil, who continually deceived humanity and the nations, by casting him into the lake of fire and brimstone. This is the same location where the Beast and the False Prophet, his principal human agents, are already confined. The verse stresses the unending nature of their suffering, stating they "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." It signifies the complete and final triumph of God's justice over all evil and rebellion.

Revelation 20 10 Context

Revelation 20:10 occurs at a pivotal point in the prophetic narrative, directly following the description of Satan's final, desperate attempt to deceive the nations and gather them for war against God's people in Revelation 20:7-9. This ultimate rebellion, identified as the armies of "Gog and Magog," is swiftly extinguished by fire from heaven. The verse thus serves as the dramatic culmination of Satan's long history of opposition to God, immediately preceding the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), where all the dead are judged, and eventually, death and Hades are also cast into the lake of fire. Historically, John's original audience, facing severe persecution from the Roman Empire and grappling with various heresies, would find immense comfort and validation in this definitive portrayal of the eternal defeat of their spiritual enemies and the absolute triumph of God's sovereign plan.

Revelation 20 10 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): Connects this definitive action to the preceding events of Satan's release and final rebellion.
• the devil (ὁ διάβολος - ho diabolos): From diaballō (to slander, accuse). Refers to Satan, the primary adversary and slanderer of God and His people, often identified as the ancient serpent (Rev 12:9, 20:2). This highlights his personal identity and malice.
• that deceived (ὁ πλανῶν - ho planōn): The Greek word planaō means "to lead astray, to wander, to deceive." The participle form emphasizes his continuous, characteristic nature as the great deceiver (cf. Gen 3:13; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9). This points to his essence as one who twists truth and misleads humanity.
• them (αὐτούς - autous): Refers to the nations ("Gog and Magog") whom the devil deceived and gathered for the final battle against the saints and the beloved city (Rev 20:8-9). This highlights the consequence of his deception.
• was cast (ἐβλήθη - eblēthē): A form of ballō, meaning "to cast, throw." This passive voice indicates a divine action; God decisively throws the devil. The immediacy and force of this action convey a final, irreversible judgment.
• into the lake (εἰς τὴν λίμνην - eis tēn limnēn): A unique, divinely ordained place of judgment, distinct from Hades. It is the ultimate prison and place of final torment, often described as "the second death" (Rev 20:14, 21:8).
• of fire (τοῦ πυρός - tou pyros): Fire symbolizes God's purging holiness, judgment, and wrath throughout Scripture (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24; divine judgment, Isa 66:24). Its inclusion signifies an active, consuming punishment.
• and brimstone (καὶ θείου - kai theiou): Brimstone (sulfur) is consistently associated with divine judgment, especially fire, in the Old Testament (Gen 19:24, Psa 11:6) and Revelation (Rev 9:17-18, 14:10). Its foul smell and combustible nature intensify the imagery of severe and complete destruction.
• where (ὅπου - hopou): Indicates location. This crucial word connects Satan's fate to that of his chief lieutenants.
• the beast (τὸ θηρίον - to thērion): Refers to the "Beast from the sea" (Rev 13), a symbol of oppressive human empires empowered by Satan. He represents antichrist political power. He was cast into the lake of fire at the end of Chapter 19 (Rev 19:20).
• and the false prophet (καὶ ὁ ψευδοπροφήτης - kai ho pseudoprophētēs): Refers to the "Beast from the land" (Rev 13), who deceives with signs and wonders, directing worship to the Beast. He represents apostate religious power. He was also cast in at the end of Chapter 19 (Rev 19:20).
• are (εἰσιν - eisin): A present tense verb. This implies that the Beast and False Prophet were already there for 1000 years (since Rev 19:20), indicating a prior, certain judgment and establishing the lake of fire as their permanent abode of torment.
• and shall be tormented (καὶ βασανισθήσονται - kai basanisthēsontai): From basanizō, meaning "to test by torture, torment, afflict." The passive voice signifies that they are recipients of this suffering, inflicted upon them by divine power. It denotes active and conscious suffering.
• day and night (ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς - hēmeras kai nyktos): Emphasizes the continuous, unrelenting nature of the torment. It is perpetual, without cessation or respite.
• for ever and ever (εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων - eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn): This phrase, literally "unto the ages of the ages," is the strongest expression in Greek for eternal, unending duration. It unequivocally affirms the ceaseless and permanent nature of the judgment and suffering, excluding any possibility of annihilation or temporal punishment.

Words-group analysis:

• The devil that deceived them: Identifies Satan not just by name but by his characteristic, long-standing, and active role as the master deceiver. It underscores the reason for his just condemnation – his active role in leading humanity astray.
• Cast into the lake of fire and brimstone: Describes the precise location and nature of the judgment. It is not just "hell" or "Gehenna" in a general sense but a specific "lake" characterized by consuming, perpetual judgment. This vivid imagery points to extreme and active punishment.
• Where the beast and the false prophet are: This is a significant parenthetical clause indicating the immediate, pre-existing occupancy of this place by Satan's earthly associates. It shows that judgment for cosmic evil (Satan) is unified with the judgment for human agents of evil, reinforcing the absolute finality and established nature of this ultimate fate. It also implicitly conveys the seriousness of the Beast and False Prophet's deeds, earning them this place before their master.
• And shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever: This phrase conclusively describes the nature and duration of the punishment. "Tormented" implies conscious, active suffering, not mere annihilation. "Day and night" highlights its ceaselessness, and "for ever and ever" confirms its absolute, eternal, unending nature, offering no possibility of end or redemption for these entities. This is the biblical assertion of eternal conscious punishment for God's ultimate adversaries.

Revelation 20 10 Bonus section

The "lake of fire" is depicted throughout Revelation as the ultimate destiny not only for Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet but also for Death and Hades (Rev 20:14) and for all unredeemed humanity (Rev 20:15, 21:8). This progression underscores that it is the final separation from God, termed "the second death." The imagery of fire and brimstone finds echoes in Old Testament judgments, particularly Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24) and prophetic pronouncements of divine wrath (Isa 34:9-10). It symbolizes not literal consumption to non-existence, but perpetual suffering in God's judgment. The devil's long history as the instigator of sin (Gen 3), a liar and murderer (John 8:44), and accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), finds its fitting and irreversible culmination in this verse, marking the definitive end of his ability to deceive and oppose God's kingdom.

Revelation 20 10 Commentary

Revelation 20:10 provides the conclusive, non-negotiable end for the ultimate embodiment of evil in the cosmos: the devil himself. Following his millennial restraint and final deceptive outburst, God intervenes decisively, casting him into the designated realm of eternal torment. This destination, the "lake of fire and brimstone," is not new; it is the established place of eternal punishment where the Beast and the False Prophet have already resided for a thousand years (since Rev 19:20). This prior occupation underscores God's perfect justice and timing, revealing a unified judgment for cosmic evil (Satan) and his primary human manifestations.

The precise language – "tormented day and night for ever and ever" – removes all ambiguity about the nature and duration of this judgment. "Tormented" implies active, conscious suffering, refuting notions of annihilation. "Day and night" stresses its unceasing, unremitting character. "For ever and ever," using the strongest possible Greek idiom, confirms absolute eternity. This is not a temporary or remedial suffering, but a just, eternal consequence for absolute rebellion and ceaseless deception against an infinite God. The verse is a profound declaration of God's sovereign triumph over all spiritual evil, providing assurance to believers that sin, deception, and rebellion will be permanently defeated.