Is the Devil bound right now...?

[maxwel]

Is the Devil Bound Right Now?

Satan is DEFINITELY NOT bound in our era...
otherwise he would not be able to spend so much time on CC, in the Bible Discussion Forum.

 

[Ahwatukee]

The thousand years (indeterminate number) is in progress now.

That statement above is truly amazing, that you believe that we are currently living in the thousand year period. Yet Scripture states that during that time Christ will rule with a rod of iron and the present condition of the earth could not be further from the truth. If Christ was ruling right now there would be peace as described in God's word. The interpretation regarding end time events from amillennialist can be compared to a child's tea party where there is no real tea, no real pastries and no real guests. It's all spiritual and has no literal meaning. My continued pray for you and those who believe as you do is that God would lift the veil so that you can see that we are not living in the millennial period and that many events must take place before it can. You will find the truth out regarding this matter soon enough.

 

[valiant]

Cassian,

You ignore the details of the scripture regarding Satan being bound in the Abyss, as you have him currently bound and wandering around the earth!

He is spiritually bound and only walks the earth in the person of his minions. If Satan was really loose in the world now it would have been destroyed long ago and there would have been no Gospel. It is only because he is restrained that history has been possible.

When the Lord returns to end the age, Satan will be bound in the Abyss,

He is already bound in the Abyss (Matt 12.28-29). He will be freed towards the end of this age (Rev 9.11). He is the king of the angels, the DESTROYER.

which is under the surface of the earth

what a naive idea lol. how can a spiritual being be held in a physical prison? LOL we'd better be careful about mining, we might let him loose accidentally . or are you thinking that he is in Australia? lol

and therefore will have no access to humanity at all.

perhaps you can show me where it says that he will have no access to humanity at all?

The Abyss is the same place where that angel called destroyer is currently bound and will come up at the blowing of the fifth trumpet.

You understate the case. He is the king of the angels, Satan, the Destroyer.

The Abyss is also the same place where those demons collectively called "Legion" begged Jesus not to send them into and therefore, it is a literal place.

But not a physical place. They too feared being restrained by God.

According to scripture, the chronological order is that Christ returns to end the age and then Satan is thrown into and locked in the Abyss, and that during the entire thousand year reign of Christ. Satan will be restricted there until the end of that thousand years. This is what the word of God teaches.

You mean according to your theories. When Christ returns at the end of this age time will cease and the everlasting kingdom will come in. We are already in 'the thousand years'. God's long period of time. That is what the word of God teachhes.

 

[valiant]

That statement above is truly amazing, that you believe that we are currently living in the thousand year period. Yet Scripture states that during that time Christ will rule with a rod of iron and the present condition of the earth could not be further from the truth.

Where does it say that Christ will rule with a rod of iron in the so-called millennium? That is a lie. In fact if you red Psalm 2 it speaks of HIM breaking them with an iron rod and smashing them in pieces .

The figure is taken from the iron rod that the shepherd carried with which to slay wild beasts. Thus the NT puts it 'He will shepherd them with a rod of iron and break them in pieces'.

Your millennium has an incompetent king who is incapable of prevent the nations rising against him, allows his people to be devastated by them, and then calls on God at the last minute to save him. That is not the Jesus Christ I know, Who is omnipotent and omniscient and would never be in that position.

If Christ was ruling right now there would be peace as described in God's word.

Wherever God's people are there is peace. It is only as a consequence of the rebels that it is not total. The BIBLE SAYS Christ is ruling NOW (Acts 2.30-36). So how can you say 'IF'? The earth is full of His glory NOW (Is 6.3). In the midst of this troubled world there is a kingdom of peace (Rom 14.17; Col 1.13).

The interpretation regarding end time events from amillennialist can be compared to a child's tea party where there is no real tea, no real pastries and no real guests. It's all spiritual and has no literal meaning.

So you are without spiritual understanding? That figures. To us the spiritual realities are the TRUE realities. We live and reign with Christ (Eph 2.5-6 We are risen with Christ and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col 3.1-4). We walk in newness of life (Rom 6.3). Besides this physical things are NOTHING.

 

[valiant]

Is the Devil Bound Right Now?

Satan is DEFINITELY NOT bound in our era...
otherwise he would not be able to spend so much time on CC, in the Bible Discussion Forum.

LOL how do you find the time to be here?

How sad that Jesus got it all wrong in Matt 12.28-29. Deniers of what he said ARE doing the work of Satan.

 

[valiant]

Exactly. It is a"purchase" issue,a priesthood issue,and a legal /authority issue.The reason the devil is in fact still here is because only part of mankind is redeemed. The rest are of their father the devil.Neither is the planet redeemed.
The bonus of healing,abundant life,and the defeat of the devil are testimony of how great our God is

AND of the fact that Satan is restricted (bound, in chains). If the Devil were still here without being restrained there would be NOTHING.

The truth is that mankind does not obey the devil and his minions either. They are sinful in their own right.

 

[Bowman]

It was Christ's resurrection that actually bound Satan because it was death that Christ defeated. Heb 2:14-17 explains it very clearly.

Here is your Heb 2.14 - 17 example...

Since, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, in like manner He Himself also shared the same things, that through death He might render entirely idle the one having the power of death, that is, the devil; and might set these free, as many as by fear of death were subject to slavery through all the lifetime to live. For indeed He does not take hold of angels, 'but He takes hold of' 'the seed of Abraham.' For this reason He ought by all means to become like His brothers, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things respecting God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of His people.


Now...

1) Show us where exactly where it says that Christ's Resurrection bound Satan.

2) Show us where it says that death was defeated.

 

[Cassian]

valiant,

what an absurd statement. Man died spiritually at the fall. He became dead in trespasses and sins.

that is only the first part. The sin is a spiritual death, however the consequence of that sin was physical death. Man became mortal. Gen 3:19 makes that very clear. Returing to dust is NOT a spiritual death. Paul also confirms this in Rom 5:12 and then gives the solution in vs 18 which is life to all men. We were dead in sins and trespasess because we became mortal. We lost life, an eternal existence.

Of course it matters. He is adding to his condemnation because he is spiritually dead

a statement based on your erroneous concept of only spiritual death of Adam. If you are dead, mortal and condemned to return to dust, just what does a spiritual death do, what would all the sin in the world do one?

Irrelevant, being dead in trespasses and sins they would be unable to do so.

Of course which is what is stated above. Spiritual death is irrelevant as long as man is condemned to physical death. It is the reason we needed Christ.

And it cannot because man is spiritually dead. He is dead in trespasses and sins.

man was physically condemned to death. Christ redeemed mankind, freed mankind from the bondage to death and sin. We sin because we are mortal. I Cor 15:56. All men can accept Christ now since He has redeemed us from death.

Because man is already spiritually dead he will never choose life. He will choose according to his nature.

that was the sole purpose of God first creating man, then when man lost life, Christ restored life to man just so man could freely choose spiritual life or spiritual death.

True so that as perfect man He could be made sin with ours sins so that we are made righteous with His righteousness (2 Cor 5.21)

again only one part of the atonement. If this was the ONLY part, we still would be condemned to death and faith in this life would be in vain. The exact statement Paul makes in I Cor 15:17-19.

Your citation is referencing all of mankind. Do you know what the meaning of righteousness means here?

Our spiritual resurrection took place when we became Christians. It is the first resurrection - see Eph 2.5-6; Col 3.1-4; Rom 6.2-11

yes, absolutely. Better known as baptism. However, that second resurrection is impossible unless Christ first gave us life, an eternal existence.
Going back to Adam, which you missed in understanding, the spiritual came first, then the physical. Christ reversed the sequence. His physical resurrection makes it possible for our spiritual resurrection. This is stated in I Cor 15:45.

It was the last enemy because it ceased at the end of time. Actually I have an immortal nature. I have eternal life

actually, you don't but then you have missed on most of what constitutes the fall and man's redemption from the fall.

They rejected Him because they were spiritually dead. The second death is the final death of spiritually dead mortals.

quite the contrary. They became spiritually dead because they rejected Him. Every human being will have a free choice to accept or deny God/Christ.
At the judgement no one will be mortal. Everyone, no man will be excluded will be raised to immortality and incorruptibility, I Cor 15:52-54.

 

[Cassian]

Here is your Heb 2.14 - 17 example...

Since, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, in like manner He Himself also shared the same things, that through death He might render entirely idle the one having the power of death, that is, the devil; and might set these free, as many as by fear of death were subject to slavery through all the lifetime to live. For indeed He does not take hold of angels, 'but He takes hold of' 'the seed of Abraham.' For this reason He ought by all means to become like His brothers, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things respecting God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of His people.


Now...

1) Show us where exactly where it says that Christ's Resurrection bound Satan.

2) Show us where it says that death was defeated.

I have already explained all of this to you. You should have done a serious Bible and theological study hopefully you will understand.

Let me ask you a question. If the power of Satan is death, then if Christ only died, how could it be possible that Christ's death bound Him? The whole purpose of Satan was to kill the Messiah. He tried several times beginning with the two year olds in Bethlehem. He thought he had actually won when Christ entered his domain, hades. But alas, death cannot hold life. Christ arose thus defeating death and binding Satan. Christ explained this all much earlier as well in the Gospels.

You have made the cardinal error of extracting a verse and then assigned a doctrine to it, dismissing the rest of scripture.

 

[Bowman]

I have already explained all of this to you.

No.

You never have.

Go for it....right now....no more excuses and accusations....

 

[Bookends]

I see that this thread is still going. However, the last several pages has nothing to do with whether Satan is bound or is not. You are correct in that Satan is bound, however, it has absolutely nothing to do with his activity.
The originator of the OP got it correct in that Satan is bound and Christ bound Him through death. It was Christ's resurrection that actually bound Satan because it was death that Christ defeated. Heb 2:14-17 explains it very clearly. Why Christ needed to be Incarnate, why He came and that He accomplished that purpose. I John 3:8 also states it very clearly.

What amazes me is that almost 80% of the poll have no idea of why Christ came and that He actually accomplished His purpose.

3 and 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.

I really can't argue your point, Christ did defeat Satan, but defeating Satan isn't binding him. See in Revelation, the passage relating to the bind clearly states why he was bound, and it's not because Christ conquered death at the cross. Not only that, if Christ defeat Him at the cross is Satan's binding, then answer the question why Satan must be let loose for a little while. Your interpretation also has problems.

 

[Bookends]

Is the Devil Bound Right Now?

Satan is DEFINITELY NOT bound in our era...
otherwise he would not be able to spend so much time on CC, in the Bible Discussion Forum.

Please don't confuse human error to Satan's power or credibility. You give Satan too much credit.

 

[carolb]

Everyone's comments have been an interesting & enlightening read. Thank you. Many thoughts & comments here to ponder. We all come from different upbringing & different life experiences. How could we not have different ways of thinking. A lot of us have been taught differently. Even if you grew up in one denomination, you could of moved around a lot & gone to many different churches. Traditions of men & misinterpretation are bound to result in some error. Even so we all are compassionate in our believes. More importantly we love God. All of us as human beings can't possibly comprehend what truly lays beyond this world. I think we will finally get it, right in that split moment when "All knees will bow " , no matter what denomination you are. I think in that exact moment all our eyes shall be opened. When it says All, I think that will include the good, bad, & ugly, ha,,,,so to speak.
I just feel it in my heart that I don't want to be that first one taken in the field. I don't want to be fooled by the antichrist, when I think he will come pretending to be Christ. If I see this person pretending to be Christ, performing great mericles in the name of Christ & pretending to come to this earth to fly us away & save us,,,,I will be one of those who does not leave the field, but continuing Gods work. I will know when it is the true Christ only when this flesh body is already dead. Then, & only then, will I know that I'm in the presence of the true Messiah. I think, until that happens, then & only then ALL our knees will bend & bow down before Him. All our eyes shall be opened, truly. Then comes the time of teaching, as many here on earth never got the opportunity to learn the thruth (hence the point the bible says that He even puts a spirit of slumber on some). During this time of teaching, after our flesh bodies are gone some souls will still be liable to die, even after knowing the truth; still liable to die. After this period of teaching, and only then, will those who truly love the Lord, their souls become spirits of everlasting life. God loves all his children. We are all given that opportunity of choosing to love God freely & having an eternal life with him. No more sorrow, no more pain, no more hurt, no more suffering, no more hate, no more misunderstanding. I long for that day. Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing the word. Thank you God for sending your Son, so that we all have a chance to spend eternity with You. I am standing on Your promise & trust in You. God bless you all, brothers & sisters in Christ. See you on the other side.

 

[popeye]

That statement above is truly amazing, that you believe that we are currently living in the thousand year period. Yet Scripture states that during that time Christ will rule with a rod of iron and the present condition of the earth could not be further from the truth. If Christ was ruling right now there would be peace as described in God's word. The interpretation regarding end time events from amillennialist can be compared to a child's tea party where there is no real tea, no real pastries and no real guests. It's all spiritual and has no literal meaning. My continued pray for you and those who believe as you do is that God would lift the veil so that you can see that we are not living in the millennial period and that many events must take place before it can. You will find the truth out regarding this matter soon enough.

My first church where I got saved in 1977 had this amillennial doctrine on end times.

From day one I was serious about my bible and read "tribulation such as the world has never seen and will never see again"

As a baby I was in my pastor's office questioning things. I knew he was wrong,even with my limited knowledge.

 

[maxwel]

Please don't confuse human error to Satan's power or credibility. You give Satan too much credit.

I was making a joke.


Ya know, anytime you have to TELL people something was a joke,
it's like having to admit it wasn't a very good joke.
D a r n.

 

[popeye]

Everyone's comments have been an interesting & enlightening read. Thank you. Many thoughts & comments here to ponder. We all come from different upbringing & different life experiences. How could we not have different ways of thinking. A lot of us have been taught differently. Even if you grew up in one denomination, you could of moved around a lot & gone to many different churches. Traditions of men & misinterpretation are bound to result in some error. Even so we all are compassionate in our believes. More importantly we love God. All of us as human beings can't possibly comprehend what truly lays beyond this world. I think we will finally get it, right in that split moment when "All knees will bow " , no matter what denomination you are. I think in that exact moment all our eyes shall be opened. When it says All, I think that will include the good, bad, & ugly, ha,,,,so to speak.
I just feel it in my heart that I don't want to be that first one taken in the field. I don't want to be fooled by the antichrist, when I think he will come pretending to be Christ. If I see this person pretending to be Christ, performing great mericles in the name of Christ & pretending to come to this earth to fly us away & save us,,,,I will be one of those who does not leave the field, but continuing Gods work. I will know when it is the true Christ only when this flesh body is already dead. Then, & only then, will I know that I'm in the presence of the true Messiah. I think, until that happens, then & only then ALL our knees will bend & bow down before Him. All our eyes shall be opened, truly. Then comes the time of teaching, as many here on earth never got the opportunity to learn the thruth (hence the point the bible says that He even puts a spirit of slumber on some). During this time of teaching, after our flesh bodies are gone some souls will still be liable to die, even after knowing the truth; still liable to die. After this period of teaching, and only then, will those who truly love the Lord, their souls become spirits of everlasting life. God loves all his children. We are all given that opportunity of choosing to love God freely & having an eternal life with him. No more sorrow, no more pain, no more hurt, no more suffering, no more hate, no more misunderstanding. I long for that day. Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing the word. Thank you God for sending your Son, so that we all have a chance to spend eternity with You. I am standing on Your promise & trust in You. God bless you all, brothers & sisters in Christ. See you on the other side.

I just feel it in my heart that I don't want to be that first one taken in the field. I don't want to be fooled by the antichrist, when I think he will come pretending to be Christ. If I see this person pretending to be Christ, performing great mericles in the name of Christ & pretending to come to this earth to fly us away & save us,,,,I will be one of those who does not leave the field, but continuing Gods work.

Someone sold you a bill of goods.

Hold this up against what you believe;
mat 25;5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.


1 thes 4;13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


You are basically saying "I want to be one of the foolish virgins left behind"

And

"That false Jesus of 1 thes 4 can keep his phony "pretending to come to this earth to fly us away & save us,"
(Your exact words)

 

[Bookends]

My first church where I got saved in 1977 had this amillennial doctrine on end times.

From day one I was serious about my bible and read "tribulation such as the world has never seen and will never see again"

As a baby I was in my pastor's office questioning things. I knew he was wrong,even with my limited knowledge.

Perhaps your the one with the spirit of error. Everyone thinks they are right in their own eyes.

 

[Bookends]

Someone sold you a bill of goods.

Hold this up against what you believe;
mat 25;5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.


1 thes 4;13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


You are basically saying "I want to be one of the foolish virgins left behind"

And

"That false Jesus of 1 thes 4 can keep his phony "pretending to come to this earth to fly us away & save us,"
(Your exact words)

I sense a mean spirit about you along with a touch of arrogance.

 

[Bookends]

Peter said...'The devil as a roaring lion walks around seeking whom he may devour!"

This maybe true, but only God will let Satan devour who Satan seeks. Job is a prefect example. Another way to put it, Satan needs God's permission to kill, steal, and destroy.

 

[Cassian]

3 and 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.

I really can't argue your point, Christ did defeat Satan, but defeating Satan isn't binding him. See in Revelation, the passage relating to the bind clearly states why he was bound, and it's not because Christ conquered death at the cross. Not only that, if Christ defeat Him at the cross is Satan's binding, then answer the question why Satan must be let loose for a little while. Your interpretation also has problems.

Scripture disagrees with you according to several texts. Mark 3:27 and the gospel of Matthew repeats what Christ stated about entering the strong man's housed and take his goods unless He first bind him. The place is Hades, which is also the pit mentioned in Rev 20:3. Christ came to redeem this world and states in John 12:31 that he will cast out the ruler of this world and prevent him from fully exercising his power which is through death.
There is a icon of the resurrection of Christ that goes back to the second century. It depicts Christ literally exploding out of hades and in his hand he has the hand of a man and women (Adam and Eve). Christ decended into hades and took captive those who where held captive by death. Christ restored life to mankind and the world by His resurrection.

Another icon of the second coming, called the Last Judgement. It shows Christ in splendor on His throne presiding over the judgement of mankind. The fate of every soul will be decided. Below Christ lies Satan in the pit but no longer bound. He is gathering all those who in life partook of his vineyard and now are swallowed in eternal death.

The kingdom of Satan after the fall of man was this world. He had absolute power in this world. This is emphasized in the temptations of Christ. Satan was able to tempt Jesus by stating that he could give to Jesus all the authority over these kingdoms. Luke 4:5-6.

Satan is limited in this world now that Christ was resurrected and rules the earth. The path from man to God was restored by Christ be restoring life to man and the world.

As much as some Protestants follow Augustine's teachings you should also follow him on this issue. He stated that the devil was bound and the saints reign with Christ a thousand years. The Church is the Kingdom of Christ. Augustine believed that Rev 20 and in particular the thousand years refers to the history of the Church.
Believing that Satan is not bound now is a direct renunciation of Christ's Incarnation and His victory over death.