After the beasts are judged, it is time to pass judgment on the dragon. This devotional reading looks at why Satan is bound for a thousand years.
Nuggets
- Satan is bound for a thousand years; but unfortunately, when he is released, he comes out raring to go.
- Revelation 20 begins with another angel coming from Heaven.
- John used several names to identify Satan.
- How comforting is it that Jesus binds the one who has caused us so much trouble.
- We know Satan is a deceiver.
- Satan will be released from his chains for a little while upon the completion of the thousand years.
I have been looking forward to and dreading Revelation 20. I have thrown so much into the drafts folder – it may take a while to get through this.
So, let’s jump in.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Thousand-Year Reign series
An Angel Holding the Key to the Bottomless Pit
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain” (Rev. 20: 1 ESV)
Satan is bound for a thousand years; but unfortunately, when he is released, he comes out raring to go.
An Angel Holds the Keys
Revelation 20 begins with another angel coming from Heaven.
This has to be Jesus. He has been called an angel before.
- “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer” (Rev. 6: 2 ESV). [If we say this one is Jesus and the other three horsemen are angels, then Jesus here could be described as an angel.]
- “Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’” (Rev. 7: 2-3 ESV).
- “Another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down’” (Rev. 10: 1-4 ESV).
Beyond that, Jesus Himself gave us the reasons why I believe this.
- “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’” (Mt. 28: 18 ESV).
- “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades’” (Rev. 1: 17-18 ESV).
We generally think about Jesus breaking chains. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5: 1 ESV).
But in this case, we are more than happy for Jesus to bind someone.
The Chain
The Homilist had a great take on what the chain that bound Satan was. In The Great Enemy of Humanity, the chain was identified as the gospel truth.
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I can see that. The Gospel not only limits Satan’s influence, but it also will defeat him.
It also makes sense since the Battle of Armageddon is won because of the Word of God, not physical weapons.
A physical chain cannot bind the mind. Faith occurs in the mind and heart.
Satan Is Bound
“And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 2 ESV)
Serpent, Devil, and Satan
John used several names to identify Satan.
Whereas John has been calling Satan the dragon (Rev. 12: 3), he now calls him he serpent. This probably goes back to the Garden of Eden. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made …” (Gen. 3: 1 ESV).
Devil mean adversary. We know Satan is a powerful being. He rules both men and demons – the fallen angels.
- “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2: 1-2 ESV).
- “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6: 11-12 ESV).
Satan is the adversary of God as he wants the exact opposite of what God wants. Where God is purity, Satan is impurity. God wants us to follow Him; Satan wants us to follow him.
Bound Satan for a Thousand Years
How comforting is it that Jesus binds the one who has caused us so much trouble.
Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been badgering us to get us to disobey God. But he can only operate under God’s approval. He cannot harm those God does not want harmed (Job 1: 12).
Clemance had a great observation about why the binding lasts 1,000 years. It gives us a period of rest. Disciples can rest in God’s Word without the struggle of temptation.
We might want to see this as a transition period. Before eternity begins, we get a chance to understand and embrace all that is in God’s word.
Clemance said that this way. He wrote, “Let our faith embrace all that is in the Word, and we shall then find nothing in the fiercest conflicts of the age to shock or disturb it.”
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But then, that is something we can start now.
Satan Is Released
“and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while” (Rev. 20: 3 ESV)
Might not Deceive
We know Satan is a deceiver.
It is well documented in God’s Word that Satan is a deceiver and a liar.
- “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Cor. 11: 14 ESV).
- “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (II Cor. 4: 4 ESV).
- “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (I Tim. 4: 1 ESV).
- “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8: 44 ESV).
During the thousand years, Satan can no longer deceive mankind with his lies.
Must be Released
Satan will be released from his chains for a little while upon the completion of the thousand years.
I have long questioned why Satan has to be released. I mean, he’s the archenemy. He has been defeated.
Why give Satan the reprieve?
Well, we aren’t told. We don’t know why 1,000 years is the magic number. We aren’t told why Satan is released, and we aren’t told how long that unbinding will last.
That just has to go into the UNR book – understanding not required.
What we do know from that is that God is in control. Nothing happens without His approval.
Like Job, we will encounter trials. But like Job, those trials have a sunset date. They won’t last forever.
Making the Connections #1
Satan is powerful. He long has gotten mankind to disobey God.
That should also bring home the fact that mankind has the choice to follow God or follow Satan. Neither one forces us to follow them.
God could, but He doesn’t. Satan wants to, but he can’t.
We get to choose.
Some worldview people question why God allows all this bad stuff to happen. They see Him only as the God of love. Allowing sin and the struggles that come with it does not fit into that picture.
But then, they would kick back if God would be the dictator some want to paint Him as.
God figured out the best way for us to get to know Him.
Making the Connections #2
God’s Word tells us to resist Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4: 7 ESV).
The only way we can resist Satan and sin is with God’s help. We can’t do it on our own.
Making the Connections #3
Thomas gave us great encouragement. We talked about the angel – i.e., Jesus – having authority.
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Thomas said that the angel stands for every religious teacher. We should share in his spirit and power. We are given the authority to teach through our marching orders.
- “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation’” (Mk. 16: 15 ESV).
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Mt. 28: 19-20 ESV).
We also have been given the strength to battle Satan. When he comes trying to get us to disobey God, we can resist him.
How Do We Apply This?
- Resist Satan and the allure of sin.
- Put on the armor of God.
- Embrace all that is written in God’s Word to help find comfort and strength for today’s temptations.
- Thank God that He has restrained and subdued Satan even now.
- Renew our faith, energy, prayer, and hope today.
Resources
Father God. We so look forward to the day when Satan is bound. We don’t understand why there has to be a thousand-year respite, but we acknowledge that Your way is best. Strength us to resist Satan until that time comes. Amen.
What do you think?
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