Devine Scripture

Revelation 20:8

What does Revelation 20:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 20:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 20:8 means

Set free, Satan again deceives the nations in the four corners of the earth, gathering them for war. They are labeled “Gog and Magog,” echoing the archetypal enemies from prophetic tradition, signaling a worldwide, ultimate opposition to God. Their number is like the sand of the sea—overwhelming from a human perspective. The deceiver proves unchanged; his aim is the same: to marshal the world against God’s people. The imagery teaches that human society, without God’s grace, remains susceptible to lies even after a long season of peace. The names point less to geography than to character and scale—this is the final, comprehensive muster of God’s enemies at history’s edge.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And will go out to put in error the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to get them together to the war, the number of whom is like the sands of the sea.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray, that are in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them together to war, of whom the number <FI>is<Fi> as the sand of the sea;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they came upon the breadth of the earth and encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and shall go out to deceive the nations which [are] in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war, whose number [is] as the sand of the sea.

Context

After the simple statement of Satan’s release, the narrative details his activity: deception and mobilization for a last war. This builds toward the confrontation in verse 9, where the forces surround God’s people and city. The setup highlights the contrast between the apparent might of the rebels and the effortless victory of God that immediately follows. It also prepares for the ultimate doom of the deceiver in verse 10.

v.7And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

v.8This passage

v.9And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 10:22

    For though thy people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them shall return: a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

  • 1 Kings 4:20

    Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.

  • 1 Samuel 13:5

    And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.

  • Hebrews 11:12

    wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.

  • Jeremiah 33:22

    As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

  • Revelation 16:14

    for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

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