The Meaning of Revelation 20:9 Explained

Revelation 20:9

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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;

Darby: 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 from God out of the heaven and devoured them.

ASV: 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 Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Revelation 20:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The rebels will occupy Palestine ("the broad plane;" cf. Ezekiel 38:9; Ezekiel 38:11-12; Ezekiel 38:15-16; Ezekiel 39:2). This probably refers to the Plain of Jezreel in northern Israel (cf. Ezekiel 11-16). However topographical changes will precede and accompany Christ"s second coming, so the location of this plain may not be exactly identifiable now. The rebels will also surround the dwelling place ("camp") of believers, even the earthly city of Jerusalem. This city will be Christ"s capital during the Millennium ( Jeremiah 3:17; cf. Isaiah 24:23; Ezekiel 43:7; Micah 4:7; Zechariah 14:9-11), the center of the world ( Ezekiel 38:12). Nevertheless, God will destroy the rebels with fire from heaven (cf. Genesis 19:24; Leviticus 10:2; 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 1:12; Ezekiel 38:22; Ezekiel 39:6; Luke 9:54). John described the destiny of these mortal rebels in Revelation 20:12-15.
Many less literal interpreters understand this verse as a description of the church"s final victory over her enemies. They usually equate this city with the New Jerusalem. [1]

Context Summary

Revelation 20:7-15 - Before The Great White Throne
Gog and Magog take us back to Genesis 10:2; see also Ezekiel 38:1-23; Ezekiel 39:1-29. It would seem that this great confederacy of the northern nations against the beloved city, Jerusalem, will be led by Satan, and overwhelmed once and for all by the direct judgment of God.
The final judgment is depicted in Revelation 20:11-15. God's people will not appear at that bar. All the human family will be arraigned, save those whose names are in the book of life, John 5:24. See Exodus 32:32; Daniel 12:1; Philippians 4:3; and Revelation 21:27. Death and Hades will surrender their contents. What a marvelous audience! The throne is great, because of the destinies to be decided; and white, because of the immaculate purity of the Judge, who will be none other than our Lord. See John 5:22; Acts 17:31. The books will surely include conscience; Romans 2:15-16; God's Word, John 12:48; and the tablets of memory, Luke 16:25. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 20

1  Satan bound for a thousand years
6  The first resurrection;
7  Satan let loose again
8  Gog and Magog
10  The demons cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
11  The last and general resurrection

Greek Commentary for Revelation 20:9

They went up [ανεβησαν]
Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω — anabainō a return to the manner of the seer as in Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:5. [source]
Over the breadth of the earth [επι το πλατος της γης]
Πλατος — Platos is old word, in N.T. only here, Revelation 21:16; Ephesians 3:18. The hosts of Satan spread over the earth.Compassed (εκυκλευσαν — ekukleusan). First aorist (prophetic) active indicative of κυκλευω — kukleuō to encircle, late verb (Strabo) from κυκλος — kuklos (circle), in N.T. only here and margin in John 10:24 (for εκυκλωσαν — ekuklōsan from κυκλοω — kukloō).The camp of the saints Παρεμβολη — Parembolē Perfect passive participle of καταβαινω — agapaō “the city the beloved.” See Psalm 78:68; Psalm 87:2 for Jerusalem so described. So Charles takes it here, but Swete holds it to be “the Church the New Zion” that is meant.And fire came down out of heaven Second aorist (prophetic) active indicative of κατεστιω — katabainō Cf. Genesis 19:24; Genesis 39:6; Ezekiel 38:22; 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12; Luke 9:54 (about John).Devoured them (katephagen autous). Second aorist (prophetic) active of katesthiō to eat up (down). Vivid climax to this last great battle with Satan. [source]
Compassed [εκυκλευσαν]
First aorist (prophetic) active indicative of κυκλευω — kukleuō to encircle, late verb (Strabo) from κυκλος — kuklos (circle), in N.T. only here and margin in John 10:24 (for εκυκλωσαν — ekuklōsan from κυκλοω — kukloō). [source]
The camp of the saints [την παρεμβολην των αγιων]
Παρεμβολη — Parembolē Perfect passive participle of καταβαινω — agapaō “the city the beloved.” See Psalm 78:68; Psalm 87:2 for Jerusalem so described. So Charles takes it here, but Swete holds it to be “the Church the New Zion” that is meant.And fire came down out of heaven Second aorist (prophetic) active indicative of κατεστιω — katabainō Cf. Genesis 19:24; Genesis 39:6; Ezekiel 38:22; 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12; Luke 9:54 (about John).Devoured them (katephagen autous). Second aorist (prophetic) active of katesthiō to eat up (down). Vivid climax to this last great battle with Satan. [source]
The beloved city [και κατεβη πυρ εκ του ουρανου]
Perfect passive participle of καταβαινω — agapaō “the city the beloved.” See Psalm 78:68; Psalm 87:2 for Jerusalem so described. So Charles takes it here, but Swete holds it to be “the Church the New Zion” that is meant. [source]
And fire came down out of heaven [κατεπαγεν αυτους]
Second aorist (prophetic) active indicative of κατεστιω — katabainō Cf. Genesis 19:24; Genesis 39:6; Ezekiel 38:22; 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12; Luke 9:54 (about John).Devoured them (katephagen autous). Second aorist (prophetic) active of katesthiō to eat up (down). Vivid climax to this last great battle with Satan. [source]
Devoured them [katephagen autous)]
Second aorist (prophetic) active of katesthiō to eat up (down). Vivid climax to this last great battle with Satan. [source]
On the breadth [ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος]
Lit., over ( ἐπί ). As distinguished from the “four corners” of Revelation 20:8. They overspread the earth. [source]
The camp [τὴν παρεμβολὴν]
See on castle, Acts 21:34. Encompassing and defending the city. Compare Psalm 78:7. [source]
The beloved city []
Compare Psalm 78:68. [source]
From God []
Omit. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 20:9

Acts 21:34 Castle [παρευβολήν]
Better, barracks. The main tower had a smaller tower at each corner, the one at the southeastern corner being the largest and overlooking the temple. In this tower were the quarters of the soldiers. The word is derived from the verb παρεμβάλλω , to put in beside, used in military language of distributing auxiliaries among regular troops and, generally, of drawing up in battle-order. Hence the noun means, a body drawn up in battle-array, and passes thence into the meaning of an encampment, soldiers' quarters, barracks. In Hebrews 11:34, it occurs in the earlier sense of an army; and in Hebrews 13:11, Hebrews 13:13; Revelation 20:9, in the sense of an encampment. In grammatical phraseology it signifies a parenthesis, according to its original sense of insertion or interpolation. [source]
Revelation 20:7 Shall be loosed [λυτησεται]
Future passive of λυω — luō no longer bound as in Revelation 20:2. He uses the future as a prophet in Revelation 20:7, Revelation 20:8, but in Revelation 20:9, and Revelation 20:10 he uses the aorist as a seer.Out of his prison (εκ της πυλακης αυτου — ek tēs phulakēs autou). For πυλακη — phulakē in this sense see Revelation 2:10. Out of the abyss of Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:3. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 20:9 mean?

And they marched up over the breadth of the earth encircled the camp of the saints city - having been beloved But came down fire out of - heaven devoured them
Καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὸ πλάτος τῆς γῆς ἐκύκλευσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν ἁγίων πόλιν τὴν ἠγαπημένην καὶ κατέβη πῦρ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτούς

ἀνέβησαν  they  marched  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀναβαίνω  
Sense: ascend.
ἐπὶ  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
πλάτος  breadth 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πλάτος  
Sense: breadth.
τῆς  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γῆς  earth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
ἐκύκλευσαν  encircled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κυκλεύω 
Sense: to go around, lead around.
παρεμβολὴν  camp 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: παρεμβολή  
Sense: an encampment.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἁγίων  saints 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
πόλιν  city 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἠγαπημένην  having  been  beloved 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
κατέβη  came  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταβαίνω  
Sense: to go down, come down, descend.
πῦρ  fire 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πῦρ  
Sense: fire.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανοῦ  heaven 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
κατέφαγεν  devoured 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κατεσθίω 
Sense: to consume by eating, to eat up, devour.