Revelation 20:8

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. QUARTERS - `corners.' GOG AND MAGOG - (notes, Ezekiel 38:1; Ezekiel 39:1.) Magog represents northern nations of Japheth's posterity, whose ideal head is Gog (). A has but one article to "Gog and Magog," whereby the prince and the people are closely connected; B reads the second article before Magog. Hiller ('Onomasticon') explains both as lofty, elevated. TO BATTLE - `to the war,' in 'Aleph (') A B; but Andreas omits 'the.'...

7-10 While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be wholly destroyed, though it may be limited and lessened. No sooner is Satan let loose, than he again begins deceiving the nations, and stirring them up to make war with the saints and servants of God. It would be well if the servants and ministers of Christ were as active and persevering in doing good, as his enemies in doing mischief. God will fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory may be complete, and the glory be to himself....

Verse 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.' Medad prophesied and said, 'Behold quails shall arise out of the sea, and be a stumbling block to Israel.' Then they both prophesied together, and said, 'In the very end of time Gog and Magog and their army shall come up against Jerusalem, and they shall fall by the hand of...

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 were one extended square plain. The earth is usually spoken of as divided into four parts or quarters - the eastern, the western, the northern, and the southern. It is implied here that the deception or apostasy referred to would not be confined to one spot or portion of the world, but would extend afar. The idea seems to be,

EXPOSITION REVELATION 20:1 AND I SAW AN ANGEL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; _coming down out of heaven. _The usual mode of introducing a new vision (cf. Revelation 4:1, etc.). On account of Revelation 1:18, some have considered this angel to be Christ himself; but this is incorrect. As in Revelation 12:7, an angel is the immediate agent in this expulsion of Satan (_vide infra_)_._ HAVING THE KEY OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT; _the abyss; _as in...

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 which nations are, GOG AND MAGOG: not the same which are mentioned in Ezekiel 38:1 though there is an allusion to them, and from thence the names are taken, and some of the figures borrowed, and design the enemies of God's people, who will be in the world at this time; so the Jews b speak of a Gog and Magog, that will come up against Jerusalem in the days of

GOG (_ See Scofield) - (Ezekiel 38:2). _...

CHAPTER S 20:7-22:5 After the Thousand Years and the New Jerusalem _ 1. Satan's last revolt (Revelation 20:7)_ 2. The great white throne (Revelation 20:11) 3. The eternal state (Revelation 21:1) 4. The vision of the holy city (Revelation 21:9) 5. The glories of the redeemed (Revelation 22:1) Revelation 20:7 . Satan who was put into the abyss a thousand years before, is

THE RELEASE OF SATAN AND THE FINAL CONFLICT. Revelation 20:8. Gog and Magog: the names are taken from Ezekiel 38 f., where Gog is the name of a prince and Magog the name of his country. The reference is to an attack by hostile nations, but we have no means of further identification. Revelation 20:9. the beloved city: Jerusalem. Revelation 20:10. the final overthrow of Satan is here described. BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET: REVELATION 13:11 *, Revelation 16:13 *....

THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS (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. 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 in, and set a seal over him, that he might no longer deceive the nations, until the thousand years were completed. After that he must be set free for a little time. 4 And I saw thrones, and those who had received the privilege of judgment sat upon them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their witness