Revelation 20:10-15

10 and the devil 1who had deceived them was 2thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where 3the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence 4earth and sky fled away, and 5no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and 6books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is 7the book of life. And 8the dead were judged by what was written in the books, 9according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, 10Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, 11according to what they had done.
14 Then 12Death and Hades 13were thrown into the lake of fire. This is 14the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, 15he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:10-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 20

This chapter contains the binding of Satan, the saints' thousand years' reign with Christ, the loosing of Satan again, the destruction of him, and the Gog and Magog army, and the last judgment: the angel that is to bind Satan is described by his descent from heaven; by his having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand; and by the use he made of them, laying hold on Satan, binding him, casting him into the bottomless pit, and then shutting it up, and setting a seal on him; by all which he will be prevented from deceiving the nations for the space of a thousand years, Re 20:1-3. After this thrones are seen, with persons on them, to whom judgment is given; who are said to be such as had been martyrs for Jesus, and had not worshipped the beast, or professed his religion; whose happiness is represented by living and reigning with Christ a thousand years, when others will not; the second death will have no power on them; they will be the priests of God, and Christ, and reign with him during the said term, having a part in the first resurrection, Re 20:4-6. At the expiration of which term Satan will be loosed, and go out of prison, deceive the nations, and gather Gog and Magog to battle; who, being exceeding numerous, will cover the breadth of the earth, encompass the camp and city of the saints, when fire will come down from heaven and destroy them, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and false prophet are, and be tormented for ever and ever, Re 20:7-10. And next an account is given of the general Judgment; and the judge is described by the throne he sat on, a white cloud, and by his majesty, which is such, that the heavens and the earth flee from before him, Re 20:11. And next the persons judged are described by their common state, the dead; by their age or condition, great and small, and by their position, standing before God; and then an account of the procedure, or rule of judgment; the books are opened, and the execution of judgment according to what is found in the books, Re 20:12 in order to which the sea, death, and the grave, give up the dead in them, and the two last are cast into the lake, and with them those who are not in the book of life, Re 20:13,14.

Cross References 15

  • 1. ver. 3, 8
  • 2. See Revelation 19:20
  • 3. See Revelation 16:13
  • 4. See Psalms 102:26
  • 5. Revelation 12:8; Daniel 2:35
  • 6. Daniel 7:10
  • 7. See Revelation 3:5
  • 8. Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; See Revelation 11:18
  • 9. See Matthew 16:27
  • 10. Revelation 6:8
  • 11. [See ver. 12 above]
  • 12. [See ver. 13 above]
  • 13. [Revelation 21:4; Luke 20:36; 1 Corinthians 15:26]
  • 14. ver. 6
  • 15. Matthew 13:42, 50
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.