Is the Devil bound right now...?

[AboundingGrace]

if satan were not bound (matt 12.28-29) the world would be far worse than it is, and its bad enough now,

We have not the worst of it, due to God's abundant grace upon us all.. I believe that Jesus did a binding work upon the devil according to what no person could do.. however, I also acknowledge that the serpent, or lion, still roams the earth, because the apostle Paul (after Jesus' death and resurrection) for one, said in a number of places that he is.

 

[Dan_473]

We have not the worst of it, due to God's abundant grace upon us all.. I believe that Jesus did a binding work upon the devil according to what no person could do.. however, I also acknowledge that the serpent, or lion, still roams the earth, because the apostle Paul (after Jesus' death and resurrection) for one, said in a number of places that he is.

I found this passage from 2 cor 2,

"...that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes."

 

[Ahwatukee]

We have not the worst of it, due to God's abundant grace upon us all.. I believe that Jesus did a binding work upon the devil according to what no person could do.. however, I also acknowledge that the serpent, or lion, still roams the earth, because the apostle Paul (after Jesus' death and resurrection) for one, said in a number of places that he is.

Hello AboundingGrace,

This is directed to Valiant:

if satan were not bound (matt 12.28-29) the world would be far worse than it is, and its bad enough now,

Below is what scripture says regarding your claim above:

"Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

So currently, there is One who is holding back the full force of sin and that man of sin from being revealed, which is why the world is not currently much worse. But, the time is coming when the One who is restraining sin and the man of sin--the One being the Holy Spirit-- who will be removed and then the world will get much worse.

 

[Bowman]

Many misinterpret what our Lord Jesus meant by that. Notice He did NOT say 'where' Satan would be cast out of.

Most automatically ASSUME the 'world' when our Lord Jesus did not specifically mention the world is where Satan would be cast out of.

Jesus mentions the 'world' twice, thus, whenever Jesus repeats Himself, we can be pretty confident that 'world' was the intent.

Further, the lexicons agree...'cast out of this world and deprived of the power and influence he exercises in the world.'

Revelation 12:7 forward shows Satan and his angels being cast out of... Heaven... after the war in Heaven between him and the Archangel Michael. We are shown his casting out of Heaven down to this earth, and a huge woe warning is given to those upon the earth. That is where our Lord Jesus was talking about Satan being cast out of, i.e, the heavenly dimension, as the Rev.12:8 verse tells us there was no more any place in heaven found for him.

The Book of Revelation is non-linear and often times repeats the same core material with different epithets...

 

[Bowman]

That too is a very weak argument. Because The Bible is the last witness of Satan de facto doing possession does not prove Satan could no longer do that.

Show us...

 

[Bowman]

E:H.6:11.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.[/I][/COLOR]
That Ephesians 6 warning by Paul is definitely given post-crucifixion, so I don't know how anyone could say the devil is bound and not able to work in this world still. Even Revelation reference to the "dragon" for the end is involving Satan's direct influence in this world, since that title "dragon" we are told in Rev.12 is just another one of Satan's titles.

Eph 6.11 - 16


Put on all the armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the deceit of the Devil, because fighting against flesh and blood is not to us, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly realms.Because of this, take up all of the armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things, to stand. Then stand firm, "having girded your loins about with Truth" and having put "on the breastplate of righteousness," Isa. 11:5; 59:17 and having shod the feet with the preparation of the "gospel of peace." Isa. 52:7Above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the darts of the evil one being kindled.



Context seals the deal.


The reader is informed that a spiritual battle is going on….NOT between us and The Devil (because he is presently bound), but against the deceit (plural ‘methodeia’) of The Devil.


If this battle was against Satan, himself, then the text would have plainly said so, on a singular basis. Instead, the plural deceit is listed out in plural fashion demonstrating the demonic forces which are roaming free.


This passage ends with the way it started – reiterating that we are NOT in battle with Satan, himself, but the darts (plural ‘belē’), demons, that he is launching at us.

 

[Bowman]

So really, putting together his casting down of Rev.12:7 for the end times, coupled with this info in Rev.9 and 11, we could say Satan has been working from the pit, which in no way implies he is bound in the sense of his power to work being bound. Yet at a certain time for the end, i.e., for the time of "great tribulation" our Lord Jesus forewarned of, that is when Satan will be de facto cast out of Heaven down to this earth, for the end, which again reveals he is not bound per the description in Rev.20 just yet, because that Rev.20 time is not yet.

Scripture states that the 'power' of Satan are his minions...and they are the ones freely roaming the earth today...

 

[Bowman]

The only reconciliation to the idea of Satan being bound today is that he is only in the pit, but still allowed to work back and forth like he did in OT times Book of Job, able to still enter God's Presence in Heaven and accuse us before God's Throne.

Show us, with scripture, this revolving door to Heaven that you claim Satan has...

 

[Bowman]

With respect, if satan were truly bound now, then who is now working in those of disobedience?, and who is it that tempts every Christian or otherwise godly person?, who is it that causes trials and tribulations of this world? Is it really just people with some sort of independent evil streak that cannot be the fault of any devil? And who therefore will have to go to some place other than hell which is for the devil and those who do his bidding?

Demons.

No, he roams around like a lion still, seeking those whom to catch off guard and be devoured at his will. He still seeks to exalt in our thoughts against the knowledge of God, for which we have the peace of God to calm our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

No.

Satan is most assuredly impotent right now.

To deny this scriptural fact, is to deny what Jesus did for you at The Cross.

The Messianic kingdom on earth and the devil bound in hell for one thousand years then released again to again deceive the nations has not yet arrived. The eternal ages of satan finally bound forever has not yet arrived.

Satan's 1K binding is the same period of time as Jesus' 1K earthly reign....and that time started at The Cross.

Embrace it...

 

[Bowman]

is it fair to say, then, that this view of satan didn't change your actions very much, but it did change your mental state?

Its a deeper spiritual connection with my Creator...just as deep study of His word will inherently do for a person...can you understand this, Dan...?

according to your exegesis of the scriptures, can a christian who uses the word "unbound" for the current state of satan have a deep respect and understanding for what Jesus did for us at The Cross?

The deeper you look, the deeper it gets...

 

[Bowman]

from what I could find (and I'm open to more info), the four occurences outside of 1 peter do talk about judgement... but it's not the "adversary" who's in danger of being put in prison.

Thanks for taking the time to look, Dan....You are probably the only one who did.

So...according to your reply, then, 'adversary' does not even apply to Satan in the first place, so why the need for 'devil' to apply to Satan...

It would make more sense that the anarthrous devil is simply referring to a demon (as it does numerous times in the NT, anyway), and how they can influence a person to go in the wrong direction...

 

[Bowman]

I found this passage from 2 cor 2,

"...that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes."

Woaha there Dan....you almost quoted scripture...are you feeling OK...?

 

[DP]

Then....you must also note that the Greek term 'antidikos', and its inflections, only occurs five times in the NT....and the four locations outside of 1 Peter 5.8 are each in the context of being judged and thrown into prison....thus, the evidence is strongly in favor of my position that Satan has already been judged and bound

Thanks for adding more weight to my position...

If the number of appearances of a word in the manuscripts within or outside a chapter determined the definition, then that would mean context of 'how' a word is used within Scripture would not be the main tool in coming to the Truth of the meaning, thus making your determination actually an exterior function outside of God's Holy Writ, which further disproves your theory.

 

[garee]

I think it must be asked what is he bound from doing.? Assembling with the angels that have not left their first place estate?

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

He is not bound so much that he cannot accuse the brethren day and night . If he is bound rendering him useless then who is it that as accuses us, when God forgives us.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

What does it mean to be reserved in everlasting chains unto the judgement day the last day. Can a literal chain hold a lying spirit that has no form.

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

 

[Dan_473]

Its a deeper spiritual connection with my Creator...just as deep study of His word will inherently do for a person...can you understand this, Dan...?






The deeper you look, the deeper it gets...

I believe I understand what you are saying.

you are saying a change in mental state, but not a change in actions. is this correct?

from your answer, I understand that yes, a christian who uses the word "unbound" for the current state of satan can have a deep respect and understanding for what Jesus did for us at The Cross. is this correct?

 

[Dan_473]

So...according to your reply, then, 'adversary' does not even apply to Satan in the first place...

I have no idea how you got that from what I wrote.

Peace, Man!

 

[DP]

I think it must be asked what is he bound from doing.? Assembling with the angels that have not left their first place estate?

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

He is not bound so much that he cannot accuse the brethren day and night . If he is bound rendering him useless then who is it that as accuses us, when God forgives us.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

What does it mean to be reserved in everlasting chains unto the judgement day the last day. Can a literal chain hold a lying spirit that has no form.

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The problem is with a bunch of false Amillennialist doctrines of men that wrongly teach since our Lord Jesus died on the cross and defeated Satan, then this world already... TODAY belongs to Christ's servants and we are expected to help Him build His Kingdom now, here on this earth. Major problem with that is, it's not written in God's Word, but is a man-made doctrine, but it causes those on it to dwell within a certain realm of that kind of thinking.

So when you bring up prophetic events still yet to occur, especially involving Satan working upon the earth today or for the end, then that confuses them, since they don't heed what's actually written in God's Word, but instead are like broken records stuck on men's doctrines instead. I mean some of them actually believe we've already been in Christ's thousand years millennial for some years now, and even worse, some of them believe Jesus' 2nd coming is not literal, but only in the spiritual sense.

 

[Dan_473]

Woaha there Dan....you almost quoted scripture...are you feeling OK...?

it's an exact quote from the World English Bible.

yes, I feel great, thanks for asking!

 

[Bowman]

Rev.19:11-21 gives a detailed account of Christ returning to the earth to end the age and establish his millennial kingdom.

No.

You claim that Revelation is linear, but then you skip over this passage from chapter 5, as thus...

Rev 5.9 - 10 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy are You to receive the scroll, and to open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood purchased us to God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign over the earth.

As we can clearly see, the '1K year reign' initiated when a transfer of possession occurred at Jesus' death.

At The Cross, we are no longer the property of Satan...we have been purchased by Jesus...and we have been reigning with Him ever since that time...over 2K years now and still going strong.

Stop wasting your time looking and praying for something that is already right in front of your face!

 

[Bowman]

If the number of appearances of a word in the manuscripts within or outside a chapter determined the definition, then that would mean context of 'how' a word is used within Scripture would not be the main tool in coming to the Truth of the meaning, thus making your determination actually an exterior function outside of God's Holy Writ, which further disproves your theory.

What?!

You have obviously never studied scripture before....scripture sharpens scripture...come on...