Structure in Revelation 20

Revelation 20 – the millennium prophecy – is divided into four sections with the repeated phrase “and I saw” (vv. 1, 4, 11, 12). The first section, verses 1-3, forms a neat chiasm of its own:

A. Angel from heaven with key and chain, v. 1

B. Satan bound for 1000 years, v. 2

C. Thrown into abyss, shut and sealed, v. 3a.

C’. So that he will not deceive the nations, v. 3b.

B’. Until the thousand years are completed, v. 3c.

A’. Afterward, he is released for a short time, v. 3d.

Verses 7-10 also form a neat chiasm:

A. Satan released from prison, v. 7.

B. Deceives the nations, v. 8a.

C. Gathers them for war like sand on seashore, v. 8b.

D. Surround camp and city, v. 9a.

C’. Fire comes from heaven to devour them, v. 9b.

B’. The devil who deceived them, v. 10a.

A.’ Thrown into the lake of fire, v. 10b.

Moreover, the first 10 verses has a fundamentally chiastic shape, with a modification or two:

A. Angel descends from heaven(katabainonta ek tou ouranou) with key and chain, v. 1.

B. Seizes, binds, throws (ebalen), shuts, and seals dragon, v. 2-3a.

C. So that he does not deceive the nations (hina me planese et ta ethne), v. 3b.

D. Until the thousand years are completed (achri telesthe ta chilia ete), v. 3c.

E. Afterward, Satan loosed (luthenai) for a short time, v. 3d.

F. Thrones set up, martyrs reign with Christ (ebasileusan meta tou Christou) for 1000 years, v. 4.

G. Rest of dead (nekros) did not come to life until 1000 years completed, v. 5a.

H. This is the first resurrection, v. 5b.

H’. Blessed is the one who has share in first resurrection, v. 6a.

G’. Second death (thanatos) has no power, v. 6b.

F’. Priests and kings reign with him (basileusousin meta autou) for 1000 years, v. 6c.

D’. After thousand years completed (hotan telesthe ta chilia ete), v. 7a.

E’. Satan will be loosed (luthesetai) from prison, v. 7b.

C’. He will deceive the nations (planesai ta ethne) and gather them, v. 8.

A’. Fire descends from heaven (katebe pur ek tou ouranou), v. 9.

B. The devil is thrown (eblethe) into the lake of fire, v. 10.

To get the structure of the final section that begins at verse 11, we have to stretch into chapter 21. This section is framed by an inlcusio on the phrase earth and heaven (20:11), which is reversed in 21:1 – “new heaven and new earth.” Within this frame, the passage has a modified parallel structure:

A. And I saw: Earth and heaven flee from the throne, 20:11.

B. And I saw: Dead stand before throne, 20:12a.

C. Books opened, 20:12b.

D. Dead judged according to things written, their deeds, 20:12c.

B’. Sea, death, Hades give up dead, 20:13a.

D’. Dead judged according to their deeds, 20:13b-14.

C’. Names not in book, thrown into the lake of fire, 20:15.

A’. And I saw: New heaven and new earth, 21:1.

Verses 13-15 form a mini-structure of their own:

A. Sea gave up dead, 20:13a.

B. Death and Hades gave up dead, 20:13b.

C. Judges according to deeds, 20:13c.

B’. Death and Hades thrown into the lake of fire, 20:14a.

A’. The lake of fire is the second death, 20:14b-15.

The structural association of the sea-graveyard and the lake (or pool) of fire may shed some light on the claim in 21:1 that “there is no longer sea.”