Devine Scripture

Revelation 19:20

What does Revelation 19:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 19:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 19:20 means

The beast is seized, along with the false prophet who used deceptive signs to mislead those marked by the beast and worshipers of his image. Their judgment is immediate and final: both are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. This introduces the lake of fire as the ultimate destination of unrepentant, organized evil—a conscious, eternal doom. Deception and coercive power meet their end before the true King. The swiftness of their capture underlines Christ’s effortless supremacy. Those who traded the truth for signs and the mark for safety discover that their leaders cannot save them from God’s righteous sentence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who did the signs before him, by which they were turned from the true way who had the mark of the beast, and who gave worship to his image: these two were put living into the sea of ever-burning fire.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who did the signs before him, in which he led astray those who did receive the mark of the beast, and those who did bow before his image; living they were cast--the two--to the lake of the fire, that is burning with brimstone;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire burning with brimstone.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the beast was taken, and the false prophet that [was] with him, who wrought the signs before him by which he deceived them that received the mark of the beast, and those that worship his image. Alive were both cast into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone;

Context

This verse delivers the heart of the confrontation foretold in verse 19. Instead of a detailed battle, John records an arrest and a sentence. The false prophet’s role recalls earlier deceptions, tying the narrative together. Casting both alive into the lake of fire distinguishes their fate from ordinary death; it is final judgment. With the leaders disposed of, the next verse will address the fate of their followers. The sequence highlights that the decisive blow against evil’s head has fallen, preparing for the complete cleanup of the battlefield in verse 21.

v.19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.

v.20This passage

v.21and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:8

    And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;

  • Revelation 22:15

    Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

  • Daniel 2:40

    And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.

  • Revelation 13:1

    and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.

  • Deuteronomy 29:23

    and that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

  • Revelation 13:11

    And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

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