The Devil Bound for One Thousand Years Revelation 20:2

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth, and John wrote about commercial Babylon's destruction and the people who were affected by it. John wrote about great worship which occurred in heaven afterward and then shared about the birds being gathered together to eat the flesh of the bodies of the opponents of Jesus. He wrote, “And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. And I saw an angel come down from heaven,

having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand”, and in Revelation chapter twenty and verse two John sees “the Devil … bound” for “one thousand years” where we read:

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,

which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

The verse reads, “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, ...” John began with the words, “and he laid hold on” which means “and the angel took possession of, seized, restrained and retained” “the dragon” or “the great serpent which was Satan” “that old serpent” which means “the primal, old, ancient and original one who deceived Eve was regarded by the Jews as the devil ”. John saw the “angel” capture and retain “Satan” which was the original “snake” within the garden of Eden. (See Genesis 3:1-15)

The verse goes on to say, “... which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years” John added the words, “which is the Devil” which means “who is who is the slanderous one, accuser and calumniator”, “and Satan” or “the prince of the evil spirits, inveterate adversary of God and Christ and the one who incites apostasy from God and to sin”, “and bound him” which means “fastened, tied and threw him into chains for” “a thousand years” or “a thousand years of time”. John saw how “Satan” was not only “bound “ with “chains” and retained, but he was to remain in that state for “one thousand years”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we may want to shout “Hooray!” because of this fate for the “Devil”. God releases and commissions a powerful “angel” who shall “bind up” “Satan” for a “thousand years” where he will not be able to influence and affect people toward evil during that time. This “adversary of God and people” will be powerless to convince others to turn from God and His ways, and those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ shall be without any interference from him during this millennial period. Let everyone take heed and rejoice; the “Devil” and “Satan” shall certainly be “chained”!

Next time John sees how the angel cast the Devil, “into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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