Why bind satan if you don't bind his angels as well?

[divaD]

Since the beginning of time.

Maybe you are right, Raybob..maybe you are right.

[John146]

I can see you having a point here. The text clearly indicates..so that he can no longer deceive the nations. Not no longer deceive, as in general. I guess it all boils down to what it means to deceive the nations. What's interesting about this, assuming you are correct, wouldn't this mean when he's loosed for this little season, that he once again starts deceiving the nations, thus hiding the gospel from them again? Is there any examples of that from other Scripture, where from your pov, he does this after the 1000 years are expired?

Yes. I believe the following passage speaks of that time when Satan is loosed:

2 Thess 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This passage speaks of a future time when Satan will be able to work "with all power and signs and lying wonders". But it indicates that his ability to do that until that time is restrained because iniquity is restrained, even though the mystery of iniquity was already at work back then. The amount of wickedness and deception at that point will be so high that it will even cause a mass falling away (2 Thess 2:3). The gospel message will be drowned out by false teachings being preached everywhere. Satan's restraints will be lifted at that point and he will again have the kind of power he had in OT times to keep people from hearing the truth.

[dan]

Is this question being directed at me? If so, then I think you've missed my point altogether. My point was, satan is likely to be understood as meaning satan and his angels, and not just satan alone. At least in this particular context. The reason for my point, some non premils argue that just because satan is bound, that doesn't mean he still couldn't use his angels to accomplish his deeds. I just don't see the logic in that, since that is how he's always pretty much operated anyway. So why bind him if his angels aren't bound as well?

Your right, I missed your intent.

Thanks for the explanation.