Long ago Lucifer, the anointed cherub who covers, decided he was powerful enough to exalt his throne above the stars of God. He stated...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High...Is. 14:14. His rebellion, along with a third of the angels, caused him to be cast from the presence of God - Hell was created for the devil and his angels - the bottomless pit. After his rebellion God gave him the title of Satan, which means adversary/accuser. But he still had access to parts of Heaven. How do I know?
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them...,and the Lord said to Satan...from where do you come? So, Satan answered the Lord and said...from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it...Job 1:6-7. Satan barged in on a time of fellowship between God & His celestial beings in the heavenly realm, yet his new realm to roam was the earth. When did Satan's access to Heaven end?
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 did this take place?
Jesus told His disciples when this would take place when He told them...I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven...Luke 10:18. Jesus knew that the moment He was resurrected from the dead, Satan would be permanently cast from Heaven to the earth - as fast as lightning! Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. At the moment of His resurrection, the power and authority of Satan was bound...Heb. 2:14-15. At this same time the reign of Christ on the earth began.
After the angel from Heaven with the key to the bottomless pit, bound Satan with a chain, 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. There is a lot to unpack from this prophecy before this riddle is solved, but it will be solved by defining the symbolism.
Now that Satan was permanently cast out of Heaven he could finally be shut up in the bottomless pit. The term shut up symbolizes the enforcement of Satan's sentence. Hell was created for the devil & his angels. We know this reference does not depict the end of the world, because Satan's final abode will be the Lake of Fire.
The word seal in the original Greek language is sphragizo meaning: stamp as if with a signet ring, an irrevocable decree by a monarch. The seal that was placed on Satan symbolizes a decree - guarantee by God - that he will face a final judgment and punishment, as soon as the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth is fulfilled. This seal tells us that what God has decreed against Satan is immutable and irreversible.
It is interesting to note that this same Greek word for seal is used by the Apostle Paul. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory...Eph. 1:13-14.
Paul is explaining to believers they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who guarantees to them their full inheritance when they arrive in Heaven. So the word seal symbolizes a guarantee from God, that what He promised will come to pass. The seal that was placed on Satan also symbolizes God's guarantee that the final destination He has promised him, will come to pass.
What does our reference mean...he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...Rev. 20:3? The word deceive means: roam from the truth; imposter; seducer. The implication is that Satan would no longer be allowed to stray from the truth regarding his power over death. For centuries he had been legally able to strut his stuff - deceive - as god of this world from the moment he cheated Adam & Eve out of their dominion in the earth. He had in his hands the power of death. But Jesus dethroned him, excising the power of death out of his hands. The power of Satan was bound!
You see, we can only be deceived if the truth has been perverted or withheld. The truth about Satan has been clearly defined in the New Testament. So man cannot say he has been deceived, as was Eve, because the truth is out! If excerpts from the Bible regarding Satan were printed in your local newspaper it would read as follows:
NEWS FLASH --- Satan has been defeated by the blood of Jesus Christ! He no longer has dominion over mankind! He no longer has power over death! The printed Word of God, the Bible, reveals the whole truth regarding Satan. Deception is a moot point!
And you wonder why the Bible has been burned, mocked and cursed throughout the centuries, more than any other book in history? Satan is bound until the reign of Christ a thousand years on the earth ends. When does it end? It will end the moment the last human on the earth, that wants to accept Christ as his Savior, does so. The reign with Christ a thousand years prophecy will then be fulfilled. Then the Lord can return for His kids.
What does our reference mean...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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