Binding the Evil One

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

Rev 20-1:3

Twice in this passage appears the phrase a thousand years. The word millennium means a thousand years. This is the passage that teaches of a millennium of peace yet to come upon the earth. Two differing views of end times events clash headlong in this chapter, premillennialism and amillennialism. Premillennialists (among whom I include myself) take this passage literally and believe that there is coming a thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth. That will be a fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies concerning an earthly reign of Christ.

Amillennialists believe that this event is now being fulfilled. They say there will be no thousand-year reign of Christ to come, but this is a picture of the present age of the Church and is being fulfilled in a figurative way. They say that the binding of Satan mentioned here took place at the cross when Jesus overcame Satan, and he has been bound ever since. But Scripture indicates that the binding of Satan at the cross was true only for those who believe in Jesus. He is restrained, bound, restricted with regard to you, if you believe. But that restraint does not help those who don't believe in Jesus. Paul states, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).

But now notice the difference with this binding here. First, it was not done at the cross, but it follows the Second Coming of our Lord. And second, the binding was not done by Jesus, but by an angel whom Jesus sends. It must have been a very great angel indeed, possibly Michael the archangel. Third, the angel not only binds Satan with the chain, but he throws him into the Abyss and locks and seals the door! No power can break through to release Satan during this time. He is totally removed from earth and permitted no access to it for one thousand years!

The purpose for this removal of Satan is clearly stated: to keep him from deceiving the nations any more. This is what Satan has been doing throughout this whole church age. He's been deceiving the nations. He deceives them with drugs, with the wrongful use of sexuality, with lusts for power and greed. He deceives them about the true values of life. These lies have been poured into human ears from invisible powers for centuries. The whole record of human history is a record of the deceitfulness of the devil. But now God says, That will cease. Satan is bound and thrown into the Abyss with all his angels. He's locked in and sealed over and God says, For a thousand years the earth is going to live in peace.

Father, I praise you that there is no power on earth or in heaven greater than you. I look forward to that time when Satan will be bound and his deception will cease. Amen.