Revelation 20:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

We have here, I. A prophecy of the binding of Satan for a certain term of time, in which he should have much less power and the church much more peace than before. The power of Satan was broken in part by the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; it was further reduced by the empire's becoming Christian; it was yet further broken by the downfall of the mystical Babylon; but still this serpent had many heads, and, when one is wounded, another has life remaining in it. Here we have a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 20:1-15

Since the great importance of this chapter is that it is what might be called the foundation document of Millennarianism or Chiliasm, it will be better to read it as a whole before we deal with it in detail. 20:1-15 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss, and with a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a 3 thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and locked him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 20:8

And shall go out ,.... Of his prison, the bottomless pit, and shall walk to and fro in the earth, and go about like a deceitful serpent, and roaring lion, as before: to deceive the nations : as he had done before the thousand years began, and from which he was restrained during that time; he had before deceived the Pagan, Papal, and Mahometan nations, and now he will go forth to deceive those at this time which are in the four quarters of the earth ; all the world over: the names of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 20:8

Gog and Magog - This seems to be almost literally taken from the Jerusalem Targum, and that of Jonathan ben Uzziel, on Numbers 11:26 . I shall give the words at length: "And there were two men left in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, the name of the other was Medad, and on them the spirit of prophecy rested. Eldad prophesied and said, 'Behold, Moses the prophet, the scribe of Israel, shall be taken from this world; and Joshua the son of Nun, captain of the host, shall succeed him.'... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

The restraint upon evil. Following most appropriately upon the foregoing description of a conflict, and the conquest by the truth and the power of righteousness, is a representation, in most significant imagery, of the restraint that is put upon evil by the prevalence of righteousness—the chaining back the clouds of night by the rising sun. The spirit of evil, "the dragon, the old serpent," "the devil and Satan," is "laid hold" by "an angel coming down out of heaven," and bound with "a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:7-10

Satan loosed from his prison after the thousand years. During the millennial period on earth, while the departed saints are living and reigning with Christ, evil will be subdued and restrained, but by no means will it be extinct. Had it been extinct it could not have broken out again, nor would there be any need for the παρεμβολή of the saints. The godless ones dispersed abroad, who will at the close of the thousand years break out afresh, are mentioned here under the peculiar names... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:7-10

The third scene in the history of redeemed humanity: the age of moral reaction. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," etc. The long ages of earth's millennial glory described arc run out. The harmony which had reigned through indefinite centuries is broken into tumult; the sun of absolute truth and blessedness, under whose genial and unclouded beams unnumbered generations had come and gone, getting new vigour and catching new inspiration in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:8

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog; four corners. The signification of "Gog and Magog" ( vide infra ) shows in what sense "the nations" is used. It is in the limited sense of the ungodly of the world, not in the wider sense in which the expression is used (without any qualifying clause) in Revelation 20:3 . Magog in Genesis 10:2 is mentioned among the sons of Japheth who were the ancestors of the northern nations... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 20:8

And shall go out to deceive the nations - See the notes on Revelation 12:9. The meaning here is, that he would again, for a time, act in his true character, and in some way delude the nations once more. In what way this would be done is not stated. It would be, however, clearly an appeal to the wicked passions of mankind, exciting a hope that they might yet overthrow the kingdom of God on the earth.Which are in the four quarters of the earth - Literally, corners of the earth, as if the earth... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 20:7-10

Revelation 20:7-10. The following verses of this chapter to Rev 20:11 inform us that the happy days of the church, prophesied of in the foregoing vision, will at length have their period, though they are to continue for a long time, and are not to expire till after one thousand years: yet then there shall be one attempt more against the purity of religion, and against the peace and prosperity of the church. Satan will be released for a little season, but in that little season he shall deceive... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 20:1-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 20:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 20:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 20:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 20:7-10

Group of Brands