Revelation Chapter 20 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation Chapter 20 (New Testament)
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation Chapter 20 (New Testament)
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἄβυσσος — abyssos | Verse 1 — “…the bottomless pit…” | “Abyss,” deep chasm. | Abyssos (“abyss”) denotes the realm of confinement (“bottomless pit”). It expresses utter restraint of satanic power. The term highlights divine mastery. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| δεῖν — dein | Verse 3 — “…he must be loosed…” | “Must,” necessity. | Dein (“it must be”) expresses divine necessity (“must”). God permits Satan’s brief release for final testing. The term underscores purposeful providence. — Richard Trench, Synonyms (1896) |
| ζάω — zaō | Verse 4 — “…they lived and reigned…” | “Live,” come alive. | Zaō (“to live”) indicates resurrection life (“live”). Believers share Christ’s rule. The term highlights reward for faithfulness. — Philip Schaff, Christian Church History (1890) |
| πρῶτος — prōtos | Verse 5 — “…the first resurrection…” | “First,” primary. | Prōtos (“first”) marks precedence (“first”). This resurrection belongs to the blessed. The term distinguishes categories of destiny. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| μακάριος — makarios | Verse 6 — “Blessed and holy…” | “Blessed,” spiritually privileged. | Makarios (“blessed”) denotes spiritual fortune (“blessed”). Participation in the first resurrection is supreme honor. The term underscores eternal privilege. — Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| πυρά — pyra | Verse 9 — “…devoured them…” | “Fire,” flame. | Pyra (“fire”) symbolizes decisive destruction (“fire”). It represents God’s immediate judgment on rebellion. The term conveys unstoppable divine power. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| βιβλία — biblia | Verse 12 — “…the books were opened…” | “Books,” records. | Biblia (“books”) indicates heavenly records of deeds (“books/records”). It represents comprehensive divine judgment. The term affirms moral accountability. — B. F. Westcott, Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
| κρίσις — krisis | Verse 12 — “…according to their works…” | “Judgment,” decision. | Krisis (“judgment”) denotes judicial verdict (“judgment”). Each person is evaluated impartially. The term underscores divine justice. — Richard Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| θάνατος — thanatos | Verse 14 — “…death and hell…” | “Death,” death-state. | Thanatos (“death”) marks the final enemy (“death”). Its destruction completes redemption. The term fulfills Pauline hope. — Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (1890) |
| λίμνη — limnē | Verse 14 — “…the lake of fire…” | “Lake,” body of water. | Limnē (“lake”) symbolizes final judgment (“lake”). It signifies the ultimate separation from God. The term expresses irrevocable destiny. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 20 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The chapter presents the millennial reign and final judgment, emphasizing divine sovereignty and moral accountability. |
| Adolf von Harnack (University of Berlin, Germany, 1851–1930) | History of Dogma | Harnack interprets the thousand years as symbolic of the triumph of righteousness over evil in history. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson highlights the literary depiction of the devil’s confinement and the final judgment. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Plummer emphasizes the moral and theological clarity of the chapter’s eschatological vision. |
| William Rainey Harper (University of Chicago, United States, 1856–1906) | Hebrew Bible Studies | Harper notes the chapter conveys both warning and hope, illustrating the ultimate vindication of justice. |
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Revelation Chapter 20
Verse: "And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." - Revelation 20:4
Lesson: The chapter describes the reign of Christ on earth for a thousand years, during which Satan is bound and the souls of believers who were martyred are resurrected to reign with Christ. It emphasizes the ultimate victory of Christ over Satan and the establishment of His kingdom.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Conclusion: This chapter reminds us that the ultimate victory belongs to Christ. We should not be discouraged by the trials and tribulations of this world, but rather look forward to the reign of Christ and our participation in it.
Prayer points: Let us pray that we will remain faithful to Christ, even in the face of persecution and hardship. Let us also pray for the salvation of those who do not yet know Christ, that they may be saved before it is too late. Finally, let us pray for the establishment of God's kingdom on earth, and for the reign of Christ to come quickly.
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