Revelation 20:9

Revelation 20:9 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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,
• New King James Version (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.

Context of Revelation 20:9

7When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:9 word by word

καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐκύκλευσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν ἁγίων καὶ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἠγαπημένην. καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτούς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• they went upἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the breadthπλάτοςplatos · widthG4114
• of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• compassedκυκλόωkukloō · to surroundG2944
• the campπαρεμβολήparembolē · barracksG3925
• of the saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
• the belovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
• came downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• devouredκατεσθίωkatesthiō · to devourG2719
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Revelation 20:9

• Isaiah 8:7the Lord will certainly bring against them the mighty rushing water of the Euphrates River — the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will overflow its channels and spill over all its banks.
• Ezekiel 38:9You, all of your troops, and many peoples with you will advance, coming like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.
• Habakkuk 1:6Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own.
• 2 Kings 6:15When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
• Micah 2:13One who breaks open the way will advance before them; they will break out, pass through the city gate, and leave by it. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord as their leader.
• Matthew 16:16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
• Luke 19:43For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.
• Luke 21:20“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.
• Psalms 48:1The Lord is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
• Psalms 74:2Remember your congregation, which you purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe for your own possession. Remember Mount Zion where you dwell.
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
• Hebrews 13:13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.
• Revelation 11:5If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
• Revelation 13:13It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people.
• Genesis 19:24Then out of the sky the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah burning sulfur from the Lord.
• Exodus 9:23So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail. Lightning struck the land, and the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.

Commentaries on Revelation 20:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The beloved city - Primarily, Jerusalem, typically, the Christian Church.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth - They spread over the earth in extended columns. The image is that of an invading army that seems, in its march, to spread all over a land. The reference here is to the hosts assembled from the regions of Gog and Magog; that is, to the formidable enemies of the gospel that would be roused up at the close of the period properly called the “millennial” period - the period of the thousand years. It is not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9No battle happens (see Revelation 16:16–21; 19:19–21) because fire from heaven comes down and consumes them, just like in Sodom (Genesis 19:24; see also 2 Kings 1:10–12; Ezekiel 38:22–23; 39:6). God's enemies cannot stand against him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. on the breadth of the earth--so as completely to overspread it. Perhaps we ought to translate, "... of the [holy] land." the camp of the saints and the beloved city--the camp of the saints encircling the beloved city, Jerusalem (Ecclesiasticus 24:11). Contrast "hateful" in Babylon (Re 18:2; De 32:15, Septuagint). Ezekiel's prophecy of Gog and Magog (Eze 38:1-39:29) refers to the attack made by Antichrist on Israel before the millennium: but this attack…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 20:9

• Fire
• Millennium
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Seal
• Print; Printing; Printed
• Revelation of John
• Satan
• Urim and Thummim
• beloved
• saint

Commentaries on Revelation 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings