Revelation 19 · Verse 20

Revelation 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 19:20, King James Version

Revelation 19:20 in other translations

BSB	But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
WEB	The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
ASV	And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
YLT	and the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who did the signs before him, in which he led astray those who did receive the mark of the beast, and those who did bow before his image; living they were cast--the two--to the lake of the fire, that is burning with brimstone;
DARBY	And the beast was taken, and the false prophet that was with him, who wrought the signs before him by which he deceived them that received the mark of the beast, and those that worship his image. Alive were both cast into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone;
BBE	And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who did the signs before him, by which they were turned from the true way who had the mark of the beast, and who gave worship to his image: these two were put living into the sea of ever-burning fire.
Webster	And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

What does Revelation 19:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. and with him the false prophet--A reads, "and those with him." B reads, "and he who was with him, the false prophet." miracles--Greek, "the miracles" (literally, "signs") recorded already (Re 13:14) as wrought by the second beast before (literally, 'in sight of') the first beast. Hence it follows the second beast is identical with the false prophet. Many expositors represent the first beast to be the secular, the second beast to be the ecclesiastical power of Rome; and account for the change of title for the latter from the "other beast" to the "false prophet," is because by the judgment on the harlot, the ecclesiastical power will then retain nothing of its former character save the power to deceive. I think it not unlikely that the false prophet will be the successor of the spiritual pretensions of the papacy; while the beast in its last form as the fully revealed Antichrist will be the secular representative and embodiment of the fourth world kingdom, Rome, in its last form of intensified opposition to God. Compare with this prophecy, Eze 38:1-39:29; Da 2:34, 35, 44; 11:44, 45; 12:1; Joe 3:9-17; Zec 12:1-14:21. Daniel (Da 7:8) makes no mention of the second beast, or false prophet, but mentions that "the little horn" has "the eyes of a man," that is, cunning and intellectual culture; this is not a feature of the first beast in the thirteenth chapter, but is expressed by the Apocalyptic "false prophet," the embodiment of man's unsanctified knowledge, and the subtlety of the old serpent. The first beast is a political power; the second is a spiritual power--the power of ideas. But both are beasts, the worldly Antichristian wisdom serving the worldly Antichristian power. The dragon is both lion and serpent. As the first law in God's moral government is that "judgment should begin at the house of God," and be executed on the harlot, the faithless Church, by the world power with which she had committed spiritual adultery, so it is a second law that the world power, after having served as God's instrument of punishment, is itself punished. As the harlot is judged by the beast and the ten kings, so these are destroyed by the Lord Himself coming in person. So Zep 1:1-18 compared with Zep 2:1-15. And Jeremiah, after denouncing Jerusalem's judgment by Babylon, ends with denouncing Babylon's own doom. Between the judgment on the harlot and the Lord's destruction of the beast, will intervene that season in which earthly-mindedness will reach its culmination, and Antichristianity triumph for its short three and a half days during which the two witnesses lie dead. Then shall the Church be ripe for her glorification, the Antichristian world for destruction. The world at the highest development of its material and spiritual power is but a decorated carcass round which the eagles gather. It is characteristic that Antichrist and his kings, in their blindness, imagine that they can wage war against the King of heaven with earthly hosts; herein is shown the extreme folly of Babylonian confusion. The Lord's mere appearance, without any actual encounter, shows Antichrist his nothingness; compare the effect of Jesus' appearance even in His humiliation, Joh 18:6 [Auberlen]. had received--rather as Greek, "received," once for all. them; that worshipped--literally, "them worshipping" not an act once for all done, as the "received" implies, but those in the habit of "worshipping." These both were cast ... into a lake--Greek, "... the lake of fire," Gehenna. Satan is subsequently cast into it, at the close of the outbreak which succeeds the millennium (Re 20:10). Then Death and Hell, as well those not found at the general judgment "written in the book of life"; this constitutes "the second death." alive--a living death; not mere annihilation. "Their worm dieth not, their fire is not quenched."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. And the beast was taken. That is, was taken alive, to be thrown into the lake of fire. The hosts were slain, (Rev 19:21,) but the leaders were made prisoners of war. The general idea is, that these armies were overcome, and that the Messiah was victorious; but there is a propriety in the representation here that the leaders--the authors of the war--should be taken captive, and reserved for severer punishment than death on the battle-field would be--for they had stirred up their hosts, and summoned these armies to make rebellion against the Messiah. The beast here, as all along, refers to the Papal power; and the idea is that of its complete and utter overthrow, as if the leader of an army were taken captive and tormented in burning flames, and all his followers were cut down on the field of battle.

And with him the false prophet. As they had been practically associated together, there was a propriety that they should share the same fate. In regard to the false prophet, and the nature of this alliance, Rev 16:13.

That wrought miracles before him. That is, the false prophet had been united with the beast in deceiving the nations of the earth. Rev 16:14.

With which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast. Rev 13:16-18. By these arts they had been deceived; that is, they had been led into the alliance, and had been sustained in their opposition to the truth. The whole representation is that of an alliance to prevent the spread of the true religion, as if the Papacy and Mohammedanism were combined, and the one was sustained by the pretended miracles of the other. There would be a practical array against the reign of the Son of God, as if these great powers should act in concert, and as if the peculiar claims which each set up in behalf of its own Divine origin became a claim which went to support the whole combined organization.

These both were east alive into a lake of fire. The beast and the false prophet. That is, the overthrow will be as signal, and the destruction as complete, as if the leaders of the combined hosts should be taken alive, and thrown into a pit or lake that burns with an intense heat. There is no necessity for supposing that this is to be literally inflicted--for the whole scene is symbolical--meaning that the destruction of these powers would be as complete as if they were thrown into such a burning lake. Compare Barnes on "Re 14:10-11".

Burning with brimstone. Sulphur--the usual expression to denote intense heat, and especially as referring to the punishment of the wicked. Rev 14:10.

(d) "beast" Rev 16:13,14 (e) "lake of fire" Rev 20:10, Dan 7:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 And the beast was taken, and - the false prophet - See the notes on Rev 17:8, etc. That worshipped his image - The beast has been represented as the Latin empire; the image of the beast, the popes of Rome; and the false prophet, the papal clergy. Were cast alive into a lake of fire - Were discomfited when alive - in the zenith of their power, and destroyed with an utter destruction.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 19:11-21

Christ, the glorious Head of the church, is described as on a white horse, the emblem of justice and holiness. He has many crowns, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is arrayed in a vesture dipped in his own blood, by which he purchased his power as Mediator; and in the blood of his enemies, over whom he always prevails. His name is "The Word of God;" a name none fully knows but himself; only this we…

Read the full comment on Revelation 19:11-21 →

Revelation 19:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἐπιάσθηepiasthēwas capturedG4084

τὸtotheG3588

θηρίον,thērionbeast,G2342

καὶkaiandG2532

μετ᾽met᾽withG3326

αὐτοῦautouhimG846

ὁho<the>G3588

ψευδοπροφήτηςpseudoprophētēsfalse prophetG5578

ὁhothe [one]G3588

ποιήσαςpoiēsashaving doneG4160

τὰtatheG3588

σημεῖαsēmeiasignsG4592

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

αὐτοῦ,autouhim,G846

ἐνenbyG1722

οἷςhoiswhichG3739

ἐπλάνησενeplanēsenhe deceivedG4105

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

λαβόνταςlabontashaving receivedG2983

τὸtotheG3588

χάραγμαcharagmamarkG5480

τοῦtouof theG3588

θηρίουthērioubeastG2342

καὶkaiandG2532

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

προσκυνοῦνταςproskunountasworshipingG4352

τῇtēatheG3588

εἰκόνιeikoniimageG1504

αὐτοῦ.autouof it.G846

ζῶντεςzōnteslivingG2198

ἐβλήθησανeblēthēsanwere castG906

οἱhoitheG3588

δύοduotwoG1417

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὴνtēntheG3588

λίμνηνlimnēnlakeG3041

τοῦtou<the>G3588

πυρὸςpurosof fireG4442

τῆςtēswhichG3588

καιομένηςkaiomenēsis burningG2545

ἐνenwithG1722

θείῳ.theiōbrimstone.G2303

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 19:20

Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 20:14-15
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Daniel 7:7-14
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. …
2 Thessalonians 2:8-11
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Revelation 14:10
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Isaiah 30:33
For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Deuteronomy 29:23
And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
Revelation 13:11-18
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. …
Revelation 17:12
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Revelation 16:13-14
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the beast.
19; 13:1-8,18; 17:3-8,12; Da 2:40-45; 7:7,12-14,19-21,23
the false.
13:11-17; 16:13,14; 20:10; 22:15; Da 7:8-11,24-26; 8:24,26
2Th 2:8-11
These.
20:10,14; Da 7:11; 11:45
burning.
14:10; 21:8; Ge 19:24; De 29:23; Job 18:15; Ps 11:6; Isa 30:33; 34:9
Eze 38:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:21
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Read all of Revelation 19

Revelation 19:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y la bestia fué presa, y con ella el falso profeta que había hecho las señales delante de ella, con las cuales había engañado á los que tomaron la señal de la bestia, y habían adorado su imagen. Estos dos fueron lanzados vivos dentro de un lago de fuego ardiendo en azufre.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et la bête fut prise, et le faux prophète qui était avec elle, qui avait fait devant elle les miracles par lesquels il avait séduit ceux qui recevaient la marque de la bête, et ceux qui rendaient hommage à son image. Ils furent tous deux jetés vifs dans l’étang de feu embrasé par le soufre;
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es wurde ergriffen das Tier und der falsche Prophet, der mit ihm war, der die Zeichen vor ihm tat, durch welche er die verführte, welche das Malzeichen des Tieres annahmen und die sein Bild anbeteten, -lebendig wurden die zwei in den Feuersee geworfen, der mit Schwefel brennt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et apprehensa est bestia, et cum ea pseudopropheta: qui fecit signa coram ipso, quibus seduxit eos, qui acceperunt caracterem bestiæ, et qui adoraverunt imaginem ejus. Vivi missi sunt hi duo in stagnum ignis ardentis sulphure: