Chapter 20 of Revelation is so fascinating, because it is full of symbolism which produces a riddle. If we define the symbolism and metaphorical language the riddle will be solved. This chapter covers the outset of the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth, the day He rose from the dead. It also reveals the saints in the heavenly realm before their Savior. It addresses Armageddon, the final battle between Satan and God, and describes the final judgment of all mankind standing before the Great White Throne, after the earth melted with a fervent heat. All who were not part of the first resurrection - born again - were cast into the Lake of Fire - along with Death & Hades.
This chapter covers the whole Christian era from beginning to the end of the ages! In the last three blogs of this series we have clearly established when the 1000 year reign of Christ began. It began the moment Jesus Christ rose from the dead. If Satan Bound 1000 Years is a simultaneous event, and it is, from what or how is Satan bound? What is the meaning of the word bound?
And He said to them...I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven...Luke 10:18. 70 disciples were rejoicing about the demons that were subject to them in the Name of Jesus, but Jesus prophesied that He saw the fall of Satan out of Heaven giving them...the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you...Luke 10:19. This would take place the moment Jesus rose from the dead.
Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand...he laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years...Rev. 20:1-2.
When Satan was cast to the earth he was no longer allowed in Heaven -- no longer allowed to join the sons of God in the heavenly realm. He was now confined to the earth and the spiritual space surrounding it -- some call it the second heaven. How do we know this?
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out...John 12:31. Jesus was explaining to His apostles what would take place with His death & resurrection. Judgment of the world began the moment He rose from the dead, because the ruler of this world, Satan, would be cast out from Heaven to the earth. The world has been under judgment since that day!
This is the day that Satan was bound. It means that Satan no longer wields the power of death over mankind. He is limited in his power and scope over human beings, which was unrestrained previous to the death and resurrection of Christ. The day Adam & Eve sinned, they surrendered their God-given authority to Satan, he became god of this world from that day forward...II Cor. 4:3-4. Jesus restored the power, authority and dominion originally given to them at their creation, putting mankind back in charge -- over Satan too! Now Satan is bound!
The author of Hebrews explained what Jesus accomplished...that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage...Heb. 2:14-15. Under the Law the sins of mankind were only covered by the blood of animals, so they always feared death, not knowing if they would arrive in Heaven. This left them in bondage to Satan.
The blood of Jesus Christ paid the price for sins, once and forever, removing all fear of death. So now the power, authority & dominion of Satan on the earth is bound. Yes, he is still allowed on the earth to torment and harass men until he is cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of the age, but the only authority he has is what men willingly surrender to him. If a human being surrenders his allegiance to Satan, then Satan has authority over him.
The Apostle Peter said...be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour...resist him steadfast in the faith...I Pet. 5:8. Satan is permitted by God to walk and roar on the earth, but only the will of man can invite him to be an authority over him. We must use the whole armor of God to resist Satan and he will flee from us...James 4:7. Satan has been bound by the blood of Jesus Christ!
I hear all the time people complaining about God, saying if He destroyed the authority of Satan He did a really bad job of it -- we have chaos, anarchy, calamity, violence, death, destruction, paganism, immorality, and corruption running rampant across the planet! Sadly, the Church authorities aren't teaching Christians that Jesus Christ restored to them what Satan stole from them in the Garden of Eden. They don't know the power they have in the Name of Jesus or understand how to don the whole armor of God...Eph. 6:10-18.
God doesn't need a great chain in order to confine Satan, so what is this symbolism telling us? The angel with a great chain binding Satan a thousand years can be defined with an illustration. Satan bound by a chain is not unlike a chain on a dog. The chain on a dog gives him a lot of freedom to roam, but he is limited. He can't go beyond the length of the chain - he is bound. God is the one who sets limits on all of His creation. Satan is allowed to roam the earth, area above the earth, and the bottomless pit. He no longer has dominion over mankind - he is bound - by the blood of Jesus Christ!
What is the symbolism telling us when it says...and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...but after these things he must be released for a little while...Rev. 20:3. Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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