Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
First of all, Satan is a spirit entity thus cannot be bound with a physical chain neither is he a dragon therefore his binding in Revelation 20:1-3 necessitates symbolic interpretation. Secondly, there are other passages of the scripture that clearly depict how Satan was bound. It was fulfilled at the first coming of Christ such that Satan could not deceive the nations. Light was brought to the Gentiles who were under Satan’s captivity...
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isaiah 42:6-7 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
So Satan is bound during the thousand-year period which figuratively represents this church age.
Let's further examine how Satan was bound:
Cheers
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
First of all, Satan is a spirit entity thus cannot be bound with a physical chain neither is he a dragon therefore his binding in Revelation 20:1-3 necessitates symbolic interpretation. Secondly, there are other passages of the scripture that clearly depict how Satan was bound. It was fulfilled at the first coming of Christ such that Satan could not deceive the nations. Light was brought to the Gentiles who were under Satan’s captivity...
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isaiah 42:6-7 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
So Satan is bound during the thousand-year period which figuratively represents this church age.
Let's further examine how Satan was bound:
- During Christ's ministry: Matthew 12:29-28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or 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. The strong man is Satan. When Christ came to this world He bound the strong man, plundered his house and spoilt his works. 1 John 3:8 tells us this, "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil".
- The cross: Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch 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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Cheers
