Why Satan is not bound and in the pit.

[Merton]

Why Satan is not bound, and in the pit, and sealed over, until Christ returns.

Because--

• The context of the verse.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The verse is placed at the time after the Beast and False prophet are cast alive into a lake of fire, and the description of satan destiny at that time naturally follows because it was out of the mouth of Satan, the Beast, and the False prophet that the nations were deceived into make war against Christ—

Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Then we have the further statement concerning more warring against Christ again after the thousand years, with satans release from his prison---

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

2.

The description in the verse itself—

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The action of the binding of satan is by an angel coming down from Heaven.

Never is Christ at the cross described as an angel, or an angel from Heaven, and neither is the Holy Spirit coming down from Heaven on the day of Pentecost described as an angel, or of the action of Rev20 in Acts ch 2.
(there is an angel seen by John in Rev.10 which symbolizes Christ’s return but never is He symbolized by one at the first advent Heb.ch 1.)

Christ Himself does have a particular angel however, in fact two, among legions of others, but this angel in Rev.20:1 has a key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand, binds satan, casts satan in the bottomless pit, shuts him up there, and sets a seal, probably on the door.

The key speaks of a lock. Have you ever known God to lock something with a key which does not work perfectly? Of course not.

One has said that satan is a spirit and not physical. Well the chain is not physical either, it is a symbol used to show that the chain binding is of the strongest kind, which no one, be it spirit or man can break and escape from.

Any door that Christ opens is not closed by anyone else either—Rev.3:8




We can now go back to the trumpets and further to discover what this bottomless pit is—

Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

This has direct reference to the subject of—


Eze 31:14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

Eze 32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.

Rev. 9:1 does not indicate that the dead will return to life but only that living men on earth will return to the spirit (smoke) and ways of them who terrorized mankind in the past, and much of it was and will be for the punishing of sinners among them who ought to have known better. 5th trumpet.

However if a key is not given to this one who opens the bottomless pit in Rev.9 then it could not be opened up, and neither can be the bottomless pit of Rev.20.

The dead are not now running around on the earth are they? Of course not, and neither would satan be free to do so, during his time in the pit, where all those nations of the past lay dead, out of the sight of the living, silent, and inactive.

Satan is not only bound and in the pit, but he is sealed there when that angel is sent from Heaven to do it, when the time comes that the Spirit of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do the sea during the thousand years.

Is God’s seal of the saints also insecure and having only a general loose meaning?

You know this is very serious when men suggest that God's sealing of satan in the pit by an angel means nothing restricting of his freedom to do as he has always done in deceiving mankind.

Paul says that satan is going about like a roaring lion and I see nothing has changed since Adam.—

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Nations are still being deceived since the Cross and Pentecost.

Nations are still learning war since the Cross and Pentecost.

It was some time after the Cross and Pentecost that Paul said—

Rom 16:20 Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your* feet with quickness. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you*.


Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.


Act 26:18 to open their eyes [in order] to turn [them] back from darkness to light and [from] the authority of Satan to God, [in order for] them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the ones having been sanctified by faith in Me.'


Merton.

[vinsight4u8]

If Satan is already in the pit, then the church of today will never reign with Christ, for...
she is way too late to get into one of the armies from heaven.
She has missed the time of salvation and the marriage.

[vinsight4u8]

Excellent job on your post!


Rev. 12 shows that the dragon had seven heads that wore crowns, the ten horns still had yet to get to the point in the future when they would be given any.
At the time of John getting the Revelation, even the seventh head on Satan hadn't yet been given his crown to rule with.

[ross3421]

Why Satan is not bound, and in the pit, and sealed over, until Christ returns.

Satan agree is not yet bound. He will be bound and released before Christ returns.

Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The verse is placed at the time after the Beast and False prophet are cast alive into a lake of fire, and the description of satan destiny at that time naturally follows because it was out of the mouth of Satan, the Beast, and the False prophet that the nations were deceived into make war against Christ—

Chapter 20 is not chronological. The 1000 years are metaphorical. Satan is destroyed upon Christ's second coming.

The Wicked is the reference to Satan

2th 2:8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:


Are there two little seasons?

16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Then we have the further statement concerning more warring against Christ again after the thousand years, with satans release from his prison---

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Are there two battles of Gog and Magog?

Never is Christ at the cross described as an angel, or an angel from Heaven

Actually if you look close John is speaking with Christ all along in Rev in the form of an angel. Who comes quickly? Who has rewards? Who is the Alpha and Omega? Why would John bow down to this angel?



Re 22:8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.

Re 22:10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Re 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.Re 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.


Christ is the one with the keys of Hell......


Mark

[John146]

I'd like to present the amil understanding of the binding of Satan and the scripture that supports this view.

The binding of Satan has to do with him being restrained and not being able to deceive the nations as he did before Christ came the first time, rather than being completely restrained and unable to deceive at all. He was bound at the cross. After the cross, he was not able to deceive the nations as He did before then.

14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. - Hebrews 2:14-15

13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. - Col 2:13-15

8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. - 1 John 3:8

One of the reasons Jesus came was to destroy the works of the devil and set people free from sin. Did He fail? Did the gospel not go out into nations where they never had a relationship with God before? Did He not succeed in delivering the Gentile nations from Satan's grasp? Before Christ came there were very, very few Gentiles that were saved. But things changed after He came. Millions and millions of Gentiles have been saved as a result of His sacrifice for them on the cross. Jesus took the power of death away from Satan that Satan used to use to keep people in bondage to the fear of death. The Gentile nations had no hope for eternal life because they had no relationship with God. That changed once Christ came.

9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. - 1 Peter 2:9-10

11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. - Ephesians 2:11-13

People from the Gentile nations had virtually no relationship with God before Christ came. They were not the people of God. After He came, they could be called the people of God because of Christ. They used to aliens from the commonwealth of Israel but are brought near by the blood of Christ. No longer did Satan have the grip on them that he once had.

The following passages also speak about the binding of Satan:

28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. - Matthew 12:28-29

26And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. - Mark 3:26-27

20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. - Luke 11:20-22

The strong man is Satan. The one stronger than him that came and overcame him is Jesus. Jesus came and took the power of death away from Satan. Jesus spoiled Satan's goods (Gentile nations) and his house (his kingdom, the world). He divided his spoils by setting free many who had been under Satan's grasp. The gospel made a huge impact on the Gentile nations compared to the way they were before. Millions of Gentiles have come to know Christ in the New Testament time period compared to relatively few having a relationship with God in Old Testament times. After His Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost, the gospel went out in full force into the world, starting in Jerusalem. This was unprecedented. It was evidence that Satan could no longer stop the spread of God's Word to the Gentile nations.

Regarding the identity of "the angel of the Lord" in Revelation 20:1, it is possible that it's not referring to an angel. The Greek word used is "aggelos" (Strong's 32) which means "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God". With that definition, it could refer to Christ or the Holy Spirit. But I think it refers to Michael the archangel and coincides with Michael and his angels casting Satan and his angels out of heaven (Rev 12), which I believe happened long ago at the time Christ died on the cross and rose again. I believe the bottomless pit is a term for the spiritual realm outside of heaven that surrounds the earth. So, Satan's binding coincided with him being cast out of heaven, no longer able to accuse men before God because Jesus had taken His place on the throne, mediating for God's people.

[vinsight4u8]

So you and all of us have missed the marriage supper of the Lamb - for it happened before Jesus Christ died on the cross - as in Satan became bound?

Rev. 19
salvation
marriage
armies of saints come from heaven
one army goes on to fight the beast

This was all before Jesus Christ died and Satan was bound, as you see it?
-
for it is after all of this that ch 20 can have Satan bound and the saints from the two armies begin to reign.

[John146]

So you and all of us have missed the marriage supper of the Lamb - for it happened before Jesus Christ died on the cross - as in Satan became bound?

Rev. 19
salvation
marriage
armies of saints come from heaven
one army goes on to fight the beast

This was all before Jesus Christ died and Satan was bound, as you see it?
-
for it is after all of this that ch 20 can have Satan bound and the saints from the two armies begin to reign.

You are assuming that what is described in Revelation 20 must follow what is described in Revelation 19 chronologically. Do you read the entire book chronologically? I hope not because if you did you'd have the birth of Christ following the seventh trumpet (see Rev 11-12).

[vinsight4u8]

You are assuming that what is described in Revelation 20 must follow what is described in Revelation 19 chronologically. Do you read the entire book chronologically? I hope not because if you did you'd have the birth of Christ following the seventh trumpet (see Rev 11-12).

No, I know how John has put the book together as to in a logical way...but Rev. 20 links back to Rev. 19 as to
"And I saw thrones and they sat..."
Who?
You need Rev. 19 to know that.
It is the army that fought at the battle on God's side against the beast.
Plus, the beast time comes first - in Rev. 19 - for the other army refused his mark, etc. and was slain.

[John146]

No, I know how John has put the book together as to in a logical way...but Rev. 20 links back to Rev. 19 as to
"And I saw thrones and they sat..."
Who?
You need Rev. 19 to know that.
It is the army that fought at the battle on God's side against the beast.
Plus, the beast time comes first - in Rev. 19 - for the other army refused his mark, etc. and was slain.

You can at least acknowledge that not all of the book is intended to be read chronologically, right? I gave you the example of Revelation 11 and 12.

[vinsight4u8]

Rev. 19:1 (starts a new section of stuff)
"And after these things I heard....clear to ch 20 and more.

You said that to read Rev. chronologically would have the birth of Jesus following the 7th trumpet.
as to - Rev. 11 and then ch 12 - where the woman is seen.

I want to ask you to look again, as what actually happens at the end of Rev. 11 is our link back to ch 16.

"...and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."
(John was writing of the announcement type of message - as to what will come at the end of the next set of punishment time.
the vials of God's wrath
are to last till the things listed in v19 of ch 11.

But then, hey, shouldn't the vials come next in order? Absolutely, and they do.
Head to chapter 16.

[Firstfruits]

Why Satan is not bound, and in the pit, and sealed over, until Christ returns.

Because--

• The context of the verse.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The verse is placed at the time after the Beast and False prophet are cast alive into a lake of fire, and the description of satan destiny at that time naturally follows because it was out of the mouth of Satan, the Beast, and the False prophet that the nations were deceived into make war against Christ—

Rev 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Then we have the further statement concerning more warring against Christ again after the thousand years, with satans release from his prison---

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

2.

The description in the verse itself—

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

The action of the binding of satan is by an angel coming down from Heaven.

Never is Christ at the cross described as an angel, or an angel from Heaven, and neither is the Holy Spirit coming down from Heaven on the day of Pentecost described as an angel, or of the action of Rev20 in Acts ch 2.
(there is an angel seen by John in Rev.10 which symbolizes Christ’s return but never is He symbolized by one at the first advent Heb.ch 1.)

Christ Himself does have a particular angel however, in fact two, among legions of others, but this angel in Rev.20:1 has a key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand, binds satan, casts satan in the bottomless pit, shuts him up there, and sets a seal, probably on the door.

The key speaks of a lock. Have you ever known God to lock something with a key which does not work perfectly? Of course not.

One has said that satan is a spirit and not physical. Well the chain is not physical either, it is a symbol used to show that the chain binding is of the strongest kind, which no one, be it spirit or man can break and escape from.

Any door that Christ opens is not closed by anyone else either—Rev.3:8




We can now go back to the trumpets and further to discover what this bottomless pit is—

Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

This has direct reference to the subject of—


Eze 31:14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

Eze 32:25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.

Rev. 9:1 does not indicate that the dead will return to life but only that living men on earth will return to the spirit (smoke) and ways of them who terrorized mankind in the past, and much of it was and will be for the punishing of sinners among them who ought to have known better. 5th trumpet.

However if a key is not given to this one who opens the bottomless pit in Rev.9 then it could not be opened up, and neither can be the bottomless pit of Rev.20.

The dead are not now running around on the earth are they? Of course not, and neither would satan be free to do so, during his time in the pit, where all those nations of the past lay dead, out of the sight of the living, silent, and inactive.

Satan is not only bound and in the pit, but he is sealed there when that angel is sent from Heaven to do it, when the time comes that the Spirit of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do the sea during the thousand years.

Is God’s seal of the saints also insecure and having only a general loose meaning?

You know this is very serious when men suggest that God's sealing of satan in the pit by an angel means nothing restricting of his freedom to do as he has always done in deceiving mankind.

Paul says that satan is going about like a roaring lion and I see nothing has changed since Adam.—

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Nations are still being deceived since the Cross and Pentecost.

Nations are still learning war since the Cross and Pentecost.

It was some time after the Cross and Pentecost that Paul said—

Rom 16:20 Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your* feet with quickness. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you*.


Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.


Act 26:18 to open their eyes [in order] to turn [them] back from darkness to light and [from] the authority of Satan to God, [in order for] them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the ones having been sanctified by faith in Me.'


Merton.

Thanks Merton,

I agree that Satan has not yet been bound, can I also say then that the millennium has not yet begun, since Satan is bound at the begining of it?

Firstfruits

[Merton]

Thanks Merton,

I agree that Satan has not yet been bound, can I also say then that the millennium has not yet begun, since Satan is bound at the begining of it?

Firstfruits

Absolutely,

and light dispells darkness absolutely.





Merton.

[wpm]

Why Satan is not bound, and in the pit, and sealed over, until Christ returns.

Because--

• The context of the verse.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Revelation 20 is the last of 7 parallels. The same Satan that is “shut … up” in the abyss through Christ first advent is then released at the end, just prior to Christ’s return and final judgment. Revelation 9:1-3 correlates, saying, “I saw a star pipto (or) descend from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key (or authority) of the abussos (or) abyss. And he opened the abussos (or) abyss pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”

This period in view refers to the third of seven parallels in Revelation and specifically covers the period preceding the return of Christ. The locusts symbolically represent the demonic host that are currently imprisoned in the abyss. Revelation 20:1-3 similarly states, “And I saw an angel come down (or descend – Strong’s 2597) from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.” We must carefully note a few things here, which most commentators seem to overlook. Firstly, this “star” descended “from heaven unto the earth.” Secondly, having settled on “the earth” the “star” gained direct rule and authority over the abyss. Regardless of one’s theological position, we must accept that the abyss (however we understand it) is located on earth. Saying this, if the aforementioned is true then it would lead us to the definite assumption that the abyss was specifically referring to the invisible realm and therefore represent a spiritual state or condition for the fallen angels rather than an actual physical place. The whole symbolism surrounding the abyss seems to identify it with the abode of the kingdom of darkness and a place of distinct evil, albeit a place that still witnesses arrivals and departures for the demonic realm, symbolically represented by such imagery as “locusts” and “scorpions.”

I believe the scorpions in Revelation are the demonic spirits that work under the influence of Satan. The same symbolism is used by Christ in Luke 10:19, where He says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”I don’t think anyone would suggest that this is talking about physically walking over wicked people, no. It is speaking about walking spiritually over spiritual beings that are appointed to oppose the Church.

It is worth noting, Revelation 8:10-11 uses similar language, saying, “there pipto (or) descended a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.”

Revelation 9:4-6 continues, “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”

The first thing we see is, whilst these devils are released from their place of restraint – the abyss – they are restricted on whom they can inflict harm. These devils are given scope to afflict the wicked, but significantly, have no power over the righteous (who have God’s seal in their forehead). The redeemed of God remain outside their area of injury, being under the seal of God and therefore under divine protection. They are “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13) “unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). This is God’s eternal stamp of ownership. It is “only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads” that will be tormented. In fact they will be assaulted to such a degree at the end that that they will desire death rather than continue in their tormented state.

Verse 6 says, “in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” It seems that the anguish of the mind is so intense that death seems to be the only way out. It is the only release from the torture. Nothing illustrates the character of the kingdom of darkness more than the torment devils subject humans to. It seems that these demons haunt men to such a state that they lose even the desire to live. This correlates with the release of Satan from his tight restraint in the Abyss and the manifestation of his “little season” (Revelation 20 just prior to the end.

Verse 7-10 continues, “And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”

These locusts are depicted as an army on the march. They are an army on a demonic and assignment. Their instruction is to torment and sting the inhabitants of the world although they are unable to touch the righteous.

Moreover, Revelation 9:11 tells us that this demonic pit “had a king over them, which is the angel of the abussos (or) abyss, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

In piecing the apocalyptic jigsaw together we find that this dark spiritual dungeon currently has a king over it. This gives us insight into the fact that the abyss must be speaking of a kingdom. Moreover, that kingdom is imprisoned in its own darkness. The fact that there is a king currently ruling tells us that the abyss must contain a kingdom. The word kingdom means ‘king with a domain’. Its meaning includes the territory and the people over whom the King rules and exercises sovereign authority. The term also includes the legislation and laws that administrate that kingdom. The word employed in the New Testament for ‘kingdom’ is the Greek word basileia denoting ‘sovereignty, royal power, kingship and dominion’. A kingdom must therefore have (1) a king – a head, (2) a domain to rule over – subjects and territory, (3) a structure of administration – ethics, rules and laws which govern it.

We all know, there are only two spiritual realms in conflict on this earth – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Whilst these two kingdoms manifest through physical individuals they are invisible empires. The kingdom being described which “the destroyer” rules over is assuredly not the kingdom of God. The elect angels are never located in the abyss but rather in heavenly splendour. Therefore, we must be speaking of the dark restrained invisible spiritual realm of the devil’s kingdom.

Who is this king (the destroyer) that currently reigns over “the bottomless pit” or abyss? It is Satan. There is no doubt that Abaddon / Apollyon are referring to someone within the demonic realm. This begs an instant question, who is the king that rules over that realm? Satan. Strong’s Concordance corroborates this viewpoint describing Apollyon (623) as “a destroyer (i.e. Satan).” Moreover, when we examine the root Greek word apollumi (Strong’s 622) we find it means “to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively.” The word is variously translated destroy, die, lose, mar, perish in the King James Version. There can be little doubt that Apollyon is referring to the devil. Time after time in Scripture we see Satan being described in such a destructive way. The name and characteristics of this being seem to identify him with that great enemy of the Church – the devil.

Paul

[wpm]

No, I know how John has put the book together as to in a logical way...but Rev. 20 links back to Rev. 19 as to
"And I saw thrones and they sat..."
Who?
You need Rev. 19 to know that.
It is the army that fought at the battle on God's side against the beast.
Plus, the beast time comes first - in Rev. 19 - for the other army refused his mark, etc. and was slain.

But all the wicked are destroyed in Rev 19, there is no one left to populate your millennium. Please read Rev 19 slowly.

Rev. 19:1 (starts a new section of stuff)
"And after these things I heard....clear to ch 20 and more.

You said that to read Rev. chronologically would have the birth of Jesus following the 7th trumpet.
as to - Rev. 11 and then ch 12 - where the woman is seen.I want to ask you to look again, as what actually happens at the end of Rev. 11 is our link back to ch 16.

"...and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."
(John was writing of the announcement type of message - as to what will come at the end of the next set of punishment time.
the vials of God's wrath
are to last till the things listed in v19 of ch 11.

But then, hey, shouldn't the vials come next in order? Absolutely, and they do.
Head to chapter 16.

I disagree. CYCLE 6 is about Babylon (Ch 17-19).


Paul

[vinsight4u8]

Only the wicked at the battle are slain.
the kings of the earth and their armies
(at the battle)

Hook Rev. 16 to it?
"..to gather them to the battle..."
v14

Notice how it also warns people to watch and keep their garments as He will come like a thief.
Jesus must be expecting some people to be left to survive on the earth, besides Israel.

The remnant from the battle evil bunch will be slain by the Lord.
shown in Rev. 19

Rev. 19 links right to chaper 20, John doesn't place a break between these.

You need chapter 19 to know that John meant the one army that fought at the battle - takes their seats to reign, and so does the non-Armageddon army take their seats - for they are the trib martyrs that had the victory already before the marriage of the Lamb time.