Revelation 20:9 - Exposition

And they went up on the breadth cf the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; over the breadth. "They went up" as an army to attack the enemy (cf. 1:1 ). Either we must render the camp … even the beloved city, or else we must understand the camp as a defensive outpost placed around or near the city. In Acts 21:34 the same word is rendered "castle." "The beloved city" is evidently Jerusalem (of Psalms 78:68 ), that is, the Church of God, of which it is always a type in the Apocalypse (cf. Revelation 3:12 ; Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:10 ). The description plainly portrays the Church militant here on earth. And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them . "From God" is omitted in A, a few cursives, and Primasius, but appears in א , B, P, l, 7, and most cursives and versions; but these authorities vary in the position of the added clause. So in Revelation 11:1-19 . fire devours the enemies of the two witnesses. This sentence is introduced in connection with the description of Gog and Magog, following the account of Ezekiel, where the same punishment is foretold (see Ezekiel 38:22 ; Ezekiel 39:6 ). It is probable, therefore, that nothing more definite is intended than to convey the general idea that God aids and protects his Church even while on earth. He, as it were, gives the enemies of his people a foretaste, while here on earth, of their future punishment of the lake of fire (see also on the seal visions).