The third chapter before the end of the Bible, is an inverse mirror of the third chapter of Genesis. In Genesis 3:1-6, Satan appears as a snake to tempt Eve to disobey God. The result was catastrophic for all humanity. Sin entered the world resulting in death for all humanity (Romans 5:12), and the prospect of the second death for all who reject God's salvation plan through Christ (Revelation 21:8). In Revelation 20 the scene is reversed: Satan who had been bound for a thousand years is briefly released from the Abyss (Revelation 20:1-3) to deceive yet more people before he is finally thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast and the false prophet.

Gog and Magog were used by the rabbis as a collective term for the nations who were against the Lord, probably from Ezekiel chapters 38-39. In John's vision they are very numerous and gather to attack God's people … some say Jerusalem. The scene is set for an epic battle: the multinational forces of the world, freshly energised by Satan's deceit, believe that they can crush God's people, His city, out of existence. But there is no mention of the defending forces, except that they were surrounded by an impossibly large army (2 Chronicles 20:12).

The end comes swiftly. Not by force of arms but by God's direct action (Zechariah 4:6). A massive fire-bolt will come from the sky and consume them all. It will be like the prophecy in Ezekiel 38:22-23: "I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulphur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord." As for the devil, his end has finally come - an eternally lingering end in torment.

This is very good news for all God's people and has been down the centuries. When unrelenting troubles, persecution and martyrdom become part of normal life for the followers of Jesus, the devil's lie is that the church has no hope. But these verses say there is hope because the time will come when the devil's influence will be finally extinguished. The accuser will be accused; the deceiver will be deceived; the destroyer will be destroyed. The whole of eternity-future will not be corrupted or polluted by lies or slander or murder (Revelation 21:27). God's people will be free of sin, free of temptation, free of oppression and free to worship. Exactly how the end will come we do not know, except that it will be entirely of God. He will deliver His people one last time. Trust yourself to Him and He will rescue you (Isaiah 43:2; 46:4).