Devine Scripture

Revelation 20:7

What does Revelation 20:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 20:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 20:7 means

When the thousand years end, Satan is released from his prison. The phrase is stark and brief, emphasizing that the release is as much under God’s control as the binding. The timing is not accidental; it serves a divinely permitted purpose. The earlier seal did not fail—its term has ended. This release shows that, absent God’s restraint, the deceiver resumes his work; it also reveals the heart of those who will respond to him. The calm wording reminds us that even the resurgence of evil does not threaten God’s plan. The prison door opens only when and how the Judge decrees, and for only “a little time,” underscoring the temporary nature of this final test.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be let loose out of his prison,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary shall be loosed out of his prison,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when the thousand years shall be finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go forth and seduce the nations which are over the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog: and shall gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed from his prison,

Context

Following the blessing of the saints’ reign, the vision pivots to the promised brief outbreak after the millennium. Verse 7 introduces the transition without details, which come in verse 8 as Satan resumes deception and gathers a final coalition. The flow signals a new but short phase: a last attempted war that will display both the breadth of human rebellion and the swift, decisive judgment of God in the verses that follow.

v.6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

v.7This passage

v.8and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 20:2

    And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

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