As God’s Old Testament people travelled the route from Egypt to the Promised Land, the place where they spent the night was called a “camp.” Embedded in the Hebrew word for “camp” was the notion of army, that is, war-camp, with God as the commander as symbolized by the presence of the ark (Numbers 10:35). The use of the word “camp,” then, in the present context fits precisely with Satan’s intent of gathering the nations to do battle (Revelation 20:8). Those against whom they wish to fight are “the saints,” God’s holy ones (Revelation 12:17).
9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,