Devine Scripture

Revelation 20:9

What does Revelation 20:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 20:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 20:9 means

The hostile multitudes spread across the earth and encircle the camp of the saints and the beloved city, aiming to crush God’s people. Yet there is no protracted struggle: fire descends from heaven and devours them. God Himself intervenes decisively. The siege never becomes a conquest; the would-be victors are consumed by divine judgment. The “beloved city” marks the cherished center of God’s people, guarded by His love. The vision comforts believers: however intimidating opposition appears, the end belongs to the Lord. Final deliverance does not rest on strategic retreat or human valor, but on heaven’s fire—God’s holy, irresistible answer to the last assault.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they went up over the face of the earth, and made a circle about the tents of the saints, and the well loved town: and fire came down out of heaven for their destruction.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they did go up over the breadth of the land, and did surround the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And there came down fire from God out of heaven and devoured them: and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city: and fire came down [fromGod] out of the heaven and devoured them.

Context

This verse brings the gathered rebellion of verse 8 to its swift end. The enemies reach their target, but God’s judgment falls immediately. It clears the field for verse 10, which moves from the destruction of the armies to the permanent sentence passed on their leader, the devil. The flow shows an unbroken chain: deception, gathering, surrounding, and instant divine reversal—underscoring the futility of resisting God.

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.

v.9This passage

v.10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 19:24

    Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven;

  • Psalms 48:1

    Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

  • Ezekiel 38:22

    And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

  • Isaiah 30:33

    For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

  • Numbers 16:35

    And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.

  • Exodus 9:23

    And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

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