Revelation 19:20

Was taken (epiasqh). First aorist (prophetic) passive indicative of the Doric piazw (Attic piezw). Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 . The false prophet (o pseudoprophth). Possibly the second beast of 2 Thessalonians 13:11-17 ; 2 Thessalonians 16:13 ; 2 Thessalonians 20:10 . Charles takes him to be "the priesthood of the Imperial cult, which practised all kinds of magic and imposture to beguile men to worship the Beast." That wrought the signs in his sight (o poiesa ta shmeia enwpion autou). As in 2 Thessalonians 13:14 . Wherewith (en oi). "In which" signs. He deceived (eplanhsen). First aorist active indicative of planaw. He was only able to deceive "them that had received" (tou labonta, articular second aorist active participle of lambanw, "those receiving") "the mark of the beast" ( 2 Thessalonians 13:16 ; 2 Thessalonians 14:9 ; 2 Thessalonians 16:2 ; 2 Thessalonians 20:4 ) "and them that worshipped his image" (tou proskunounta th eikoni autou) as in 2 Thessalonians 13:15 . They twain (oi duo). "The two." Were cast (eblhqhsan). First aorist passive Indicative of ballw. They fall together as they fought together. "The day that sees the end of a false statecraft will see also that of a false priestcraft" (Swete). Alive (zwnte). Present active participle of zaw, predicative nominative, "living." Into the lake of fire (ei thn limnhn tou puro). Genitive puro describes this limnhn (lake, cf. Luke 5:1 ) as it does geenna in Matthew 5:22 . See also Revelation 20:10 ; Revelation 21:8 . It is a different figure from the "abyss" in Revelation 9:1 ; Revelation 20:1 . This is the final abode of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and wicked men. That burneth with brimstone (th kaiomenh en qeiwi). Note the genitive here in place of the accusative limnhn, perhaps because of the intervening genitive puro (neuter, not feminine). The agreement is regular in Revelation 21:8 . For en qeiwi (with brimstone) see Revelation 14:10 ; Revelation 20:10 ; Revelation 21:8 . The fact of hell is clearly taught here, but the imagery is not to be taken literally any more than that of heaven in chapters Re 4; 5; 21; 22 is to be so understood. Both fall short of the reality.