Revelation 19:20 Commentary and Bible Study

The narrative is in the past tense even though the events are future. It is recorded by John as if it was a historical account of something that had happened in the past. The beast and the false prophet are captured. It is the end of the world, for the devil’s kingdom cannot continue without these two great institutions employed throughout his reign. Anti-Christian government and false religion will be destroyed, bringing relief to the long-troubled people of God. The false prophet is said to have worked signs in the presence of the beast, identifying him as the second beast of Revelation 13:11, who ‘doeth great wonders’ (13:13). It was by these signs that the kings of the earth were gathered ‘to the battle of that great day of God Almighty’ (16:14). It is in a sense their battle, the battle which they engineered. They have been propelled by their own choice towards this final confrontation in order that they may be destroyed forever. Just as Satan was compelled by his own evil nature to press for the death of Christ upon the cross, even though in doing so he sealed his destruction, so the beast and the false prophet will orchestrate the final battle even though it is written in God’s word that it will certainly bring about their doom. They will be drawn on by their intense hatred for the children of God, but Christ will decisively appear for his church.The beast and the false prophet will therefore be singled out for punishment, being especially responsible for what has occurred. In view of the fact that they are not individuals, but institutions, what does their punishment mean? It means the collapse of those institutions as well as the punishment of all those individual men and women who serve them. They have sold themselves in the devil’s service. These two are cast alive into the lake of fire, that is eternal ‘hell’, where the fire is not quenched. The reference to being cast down alive into the pit picks up on the fearful and unique judgment of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They too went down into the earth which closed over their heads. This was said to be their descent into the pit itself, for their untimely death precipitated them directly into hell.Hell is the permanent abode of the wicked. More detail will be given at the end of chapter 20. The lake of fire is said to be burning with brimstone. Again there is a reference to Sodom, that model of the destructive judgment of God, given early in the history of the world, for all subsequent generations to ponder. Who can say that God has not adequately warned the world of what he will do to it.