Revelation 20 8

Revelation 20:8 kjv

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:8 nkjv

and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:8 niv

and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth?Gog and Magog?and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.

Revelation 20:8 esv

and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

Revelation 20:8 nlt

He 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.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 8 Meaning

Revelation 20:8 describes Satan, after being released from his thousand-year confinement, immediately going forth to deceive and rally the unredeemed nations from every corner of the earth. These nations are symbolically identified as "Gog and Magog," representing all forces hostile to God's reign and His people. Satan gathers this immense, uncountable multitude for a final, climactic battle against the saints, demonstrating the pervasive nature of human rebellion and Satan's persistent deceptive power even after an age of righteousness.

Revelation 20 8 Context

Revelation 20:8 stands within a crucial eschatological passage outlining the final events of human history leading up to the eternal state. Immediately preceding it, Satan has been bound in the abyss for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-3) during which Christ reigns with His saints (Rev 20:4-6). Verse 7 explicitly states that after these thousand years, Satan "shall be loosed out of his prison." This release, though temporary, allows him to engage in one final, catastrophic act of deception before his ultimate and eternal judgment. The verse thus sets the stage for the absolute last organized rebellion against God and His redeemed people, showcasing that even a perfect environment of divine rule for a millennium will not fully eradicate the capacity for sin and rebellion in unregenerated hearts. This post-millennial rebellion leads directly to God's final, swift judgment and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:9-15), followed by the New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 21-22).

Revelation 20 8 Word analysis

• and shall go out (καὶ ἐξελεύσεται - kai exeleusetai): This highlights the immediate and active nature of Satan's mission upon his release. He doesn't linger but proactively resumes his work. It underscores his persistent malevolence.
• to deceive (πλανῆσαι - planēsai): From the verb planaō, meaning to lead astray, to mislead, to delude. This is Satan's primary tactic and recurring character trait throughout Revelation and the New Testament (Rev 12:9, 13:14). It emphasizes his cunning and manipulative power over unredeemed humanity, highlighting the spiritual blindness that enables rebellion.
• the nations (τὰ ἔθνη - ta ethnē): Refers to the "Gentiles" or all "peoples." This indicates a global scale of rebellion. It shows that human rebellion against God is not limited to any single region or time period, and extends to those who, even after the Millennial reign, have not truly turned to God. This encompasses those born during the millennium who, though under Christ's perfect rule, have chosen not to commit to Him.
• which are in the four quarters of the earth (τῶν ἐν ταῖς τέσσαρσι γωνίαις τῆς γῆς - tōn en tais tessarsi gōniais tēs gēs): This is a biblical idiom for universality or worldwide extent, implying every possible direction and corner of the globe. It signifies that this rebellion will gather from every inhabited region, emphasizing its all-encompassing nature and the profound reach of Satan's deception. This is a dramatic escalation compared to previous rebellions limited by geography or scale.
• Gog and Magog (τὸν Γὼγ καὶ τὸν Μαγὼγ - ton Gōg kai ton Magōg): In this context, these names are symbolic, drawn from Ezekiel 38-39. While Ezekiel speaks of a historical nation or coalition, Revelation 20 uses these names metaphorically to represent the archetypal, ultimate enemies of God and His people, a universalized anti-God rebellion. It signifies the totality of forces that stand in opposition to the King of kings. This usage underlines the idea that the "spirit" of "Gog and Magog" – meaning ultimate spiritual opposition – will manifest universally in the final age.
• to gather them together (συναγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς - synagagein autous): Implies an organized, purposeful mobilization. Satan actively collects and unites these rebellious forces. It suggests that despite disparate origins, there will be a unified aim under Satan's influence: direct confrontation with Christ's kingdom.
• to battle (εἰς τὸν πόλεμον - eis ton polemon): Specifically indicates military conflict, a war. This is a deliberate, hostile action, not just a protest. It culminates the ongoing cosmic struggle between God and Satan, light and darkness, into a final, direct confrontation.
• the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (ὧν ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτῶν ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης - hōn ho arithmos autōn hōs hē ammos tēs thalassēs): This is a hyperbole signifying an immense, countless multitude. It is a common biblical simile for vast numbers, used both for blessings (Abraham's descendants, Gen 22:17) and for immense opposition (Judg 7:12). In this verse, it underlines the shocking breadth of global rebellion and the sheer numerical strength of the forces Satan gathers for this final stand, emphasizing the overwhelming odds against the saints from a human perspective, though not from God's.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "go out to deceive the nations": Shows Satan's unceasing agenda of manipulation and his immediate target—the world's unconverted peoples. This highlights the inherent sinfulness and propensity to rebellion in unregenerate humanity, even after a millennium of peace.
• "four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog": This combination explicitly denotes the global scale and symbolic representation of all hostile powers. It signifies that the rebellion will not be localized but will draw on every element that stands against God from across the entire planet.
• "gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea": This emphasizes the unified and overwhelming numerical force of the final satanic opposition. It illustrates the intensity and magnitude of the climactic showdown, showing the full extent of humanity's rebellion against divine authority before the eternal state is fully ushered in.

Revelation 20 8 Bonus section

This verse serves as a profound theological statement on the persistence of spiritual warfare and the human capacity for rebellion, even after experiencing or being aware of perfect, direct rule by Christ for a thousand years. It challenges the notion that merely an ideal external environment can eliminate sin from human hearts. It highlights that the root of rebellion is within the spiritual nature of humanity, requiring transformation by God's grace, not merely societal restructuring. The ease with which Satan gathers such a massive force, "as the sand of the sea," speaks to the enduring appeal of deception and false freedom to unredeemed hearts, showing a final act of widespread apostasy. This climactic rebellion, swiftly ended by divine intervention (Rev 20:9), decisively demonstrates that ultimately, no force, no matter how numerous or widespread, can stand against the omnipotent God.

Revelation 20 8 Commentary

Revelation 20:8 provides a stark illustration of the ultimate futility of human rebellion against God, even after a thousand years of His righteous and peaceful rule. It demonstrates that a perfect environment alone cannot convert a human heart that refuses Christ. Satan, upon his release, effortlessly gathers an innumerable army of unregenerated individuals from across the globe, indicating that sin is a spiritual condition deeply ingrained in those who have not received divine grace, leading them to side with darkness rather than submit to the light. The symbolic use of "Gog and Magog" serves as a final, comprehensive representation of all the spiritual and physical forces that ever opposed God throughout history, now culminating in one last desperate, futile assault. This event sets the stage for God's immediate and final judgment upon all who resist His sovereignty, paving the way for the eternal order of New Heavens and New Earth.