Revelation 20 9

Revelation 20:9 kjv

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Revelation 20:9 nkjv

They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Revelation 20:9 niv

They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Revelation 20:9 esv

And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,

Revelation 20:9 nlt

And 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.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 9 Meaning

Revelation 20:9 describes the swift, complete, and divinely executed destruction of all who oppose God and His people following the release of Satan at the end of the millennial reign. The nations, led by Satan, gather from across the entire earth in a final, massive assault against God's holy dwelling place and His faithful community. Before any engagement, fire descends directly from God out of heaven, instantly consuming and annihilating these rebels, thereby concluding all human and satanic rebellion against God.

Revelation 20 9 Context

Revelation chapter 20 details key eschatological events, specifically the thousand-year (millennial) reign of Christ. Verses 1-3 describe Satan's binding in the abyss for this period, preventing him from deceiving the nations. Verses 4-6 recount the resurrection of the saints and their co-reigning with Christ for a thousand years. Following this period, Revelation 20:7-8 explains Satan's release for a short time. Upon release, Satan immediately resumes his work of deception, gathering the "nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog" for a final, massive assault against "the camp of the saints, and the beloved city." Verse 9 then vividly portrays the sudden, decisive, and entirely divine response to this ultimate rebellion, preceding the final judgment (Great White Throne Judgment) in Revelation 20:11-15. This specific event signifies the conclusive defeat of all opposition to God's reign and people, occurring after a period of unparalleled righteousness and peace.

Revelation 20 9 Word analysis

• And they went up (καὶ ἀνέβησαν – kai anebēsan): "Went up" signifies a movement, often military, implying an advance or assault. Here, it indicates the overwhelming numerical superiority and pervasive nature of the assembled rebellious nations, spreading out over the whole surface of the earth.

• on the breadth (ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος – epi to platos): "Breadth" implies the wide expanse or extensive area. This conveys the global scale of the rebellion; it's not a localized conflict but a worldwide gathering, symbolizing humanity's widespread spiritual rebellion against God at the very end.

• of the earth (τῆς γῆς – tēs gēs): Refers to the entire planet. Reinforces the universal scope of the final rebellion, signifying that even after a millennial reign of peace, unrepentant human hearts, spurred by Satan, will remain in defiance.

• and compassed (καὶ ἐκύκλευσαν – kai ekukleusan): Means "surrounded" or "encircled." This depicts a military siege, characteristic of ancient warfare, indicating the malicious intent to besiege and utterly overwhelm God's people and the holy city.

• the camp (τὴν παρεμβολὴν – tēn parembolēn): "Camp" can mean a military encampment, barracks, or even a protected community. It alludes to Israel's wilderness journeys where they camped around the Tabernacle (Num 2) or to a protected, settled community of God's people. This highlights that God's people are united and identified as a distinct entity, despite the massive opposition.

• of the saints (τῶν ἁγίων – tōn hagiōn): "Saints" are those set apart by God; His holy ones, the believing community. This specifies that the target of the final attack is the righteous, the redeemed of the Lord.

• and the beloved city (καὶ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἠγαπημένην – kai tēn polin tēn ēgapēmenēn): "Beloved city" is consistently understood as Jerusalem. Its designation as "beloved" emphasizes God's unique covenantal affection for it. The attack on this city is thus an attack directly on God's chosen dwelling and demonstration of His presence.

• and fire came down (καὶ κατέβη πῦρ – kai katebē pyr): "Came down" implies an immediate, direct descent, signifying sudden and complete divine intervention. "Fire" is a consistent biblical metaphor for divine judgment, consuming destruction, and divine purity. It symbolizes the supernatural nature of God's response.

• from God (ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ – apo tou Theou): Explicitly states the source of the fire. This emphasizes that the judgment is not accidental, humanly orchestrated, or a natural disaster, but a direct, deliberate, and sovereign act of God. It underlines His absolute authority and power over all creation and all rebellion.

• out of heaven (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ – ek tou ouranou): "Out of heaven" signifies its divine origin and power. Heaven is often depicted as God's abode, the source of His ultimate authority. The judgment is thus beyond earthly resistance or defense.

• and devoured them (καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτούς – kai katephagen autous): "Devoured" indicates total and instantaneous consumption, leaving no trace. This signifies the absolute finality and complete annihilation of the enemies. There is no battle; just instant obliteration by God's wrath.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And they went up on the breadth of the earth": Describes the vastness and global spread of the attacking forces, emphasizing the ultimate universal rebellion against God's rule. This highlights that despite the apparent triumph of good during the millennium, unregenerate hearts remain capable of rebellion when given the opportunity.
  • "and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city": This dual target highlights the coordinated attack against both God's chosen people and His dwelling place (Jerusalem/the New Jerusalem). It represents the ultimate futile assault against the heart of God's redemptive plan and His established reign. The military imagery stresses the malevolent intent of conquest.
  • "and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them": This phrase emphasizes the swift, immediate, and utterly decisive nature of divine judgment. There is no counter-attack from the saints, no extended conflict. The judgment is total, directly from God, and absolute. It underscores God's sovereignty and His effortless capacity to deal with any form of rebellion, demonstrating His omnipotence and righteous wrath.

Revelation 20 9 Bonus section

The concept of "Gog and Magog" in Rev 20:8-9 draws heavily on Eze 38-39. While both speak of an immense attack on God's people followed by divine fire, many biblical scholars interpret them as distinct events in different chronological settings: Ezekiel's as possibly preceding or occurring around the Second Coming, and Revelation's as occurring after the millennium. Revelation's usage broadens "Gog and Magog" into a symbolic representation of all Gentile nations in their ultimate rebellion against God and His people, demonstrating that even after a literal or figurative 1,000 years of Christ's rule and Satan's confinement, the fallen nature of humanity, when stirred by evil, remains inherently rebellious. The swift, unearned nature of the saints' deliverance—without them lifting a finger—emphasizes that the victory is entirely God's, a powerful illustration of divine grace and omnipotence.

Revelation 20 9 Commentary

Revelation 20:9 powerfully culminates the narrative of the ultimate rebellion against God, providing a stark demonstration of divine justice. After the unprecedented period of Christ's millennial reign, Satan's final deception proves effective among those nations not fully submitting to divine authority. Their sheer numbers and global reach—"on the breadth of the earth"—underline the universal scope of their unified assault. The choice of targets, "the camp of the saints" (representing God's gathered people, often linked to the church) and "the beloved city" (Jerusalem, often seen as the focal point of Christ's earthly reign), highlights that this is a direct attack on God's community and His very presence among them.

Crucially, this verse is distinct from traditional battle scenes. There is no pitched fight, no prolonged siege; God's enemies are utterly "devoured" by "fire [that] came down from God out of heaven." This sudden, divine act serves several purposes:

1. Vindication of God's Sovereignty: It emphatically asserts that no power, no matter how numerous or seemingly formidable, can stand against the Almighty. It reaffirms God's absolute control over all of history and creation.
2. Protection of God's People: The swiftness of the judgment assures believers of their complete security under God's watchful eye. They do not need to fight their final battle; God fights for them, with unparalleled ease.
3. Finality of Rebellion's Doom: It illustrates that unrepentant rebellion always ends in ultimate, instantaneous, and irrevocable destruction from God Himself. This signals the definitive end of all forms of evil and defiance before the eternal state commences.

This verse offers deep reassurance that even when evil seems overwhelmingly triumphant and united, God remains supreme, ready to bring about swift and decisive judgment, ultimately ushering in His eternal kingdom where righteousness dwells. It serves as a reminder of the futility of opposing God's plan and the unwavering certainty of His divine justice and protective love for His own.