Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
2. Statements About the Millennium in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 20:1-4b)
The Incarceration of Satan: The revelation of Christ to John suggests that neither a strong archangel nor God's Lamb itself will appear so as to seize, bind and incarcerate Satan, the cursed serpent (Genesis 3:14). On the contrary, an angel without particular features will be ordered by the King of kings – perhaps by a signal of his little finger, to seize the Strong who is powerless and hopeless, to enwind him with a heavy chain and incarcerate him into an abyss especially prepared for him. Here one may not think of hell itself and not of the realm of the dead but of a solitary confinement in a dark dungeon. On its top the angel affixes the seal of God's Lamb. So the enemy of God, the confuser, the arch Evil One will be eliminated for thousand years from world politics and the salvation plan.
This report on a heavenly penal system reminds us that the binding of Satan in the name of Jesus Christ is part of the power of the keys of the ministers who are assigned by Christ (Matthew 16:19; 18:18; John 20:22-23). Not any pope or bishop or minister or presbyter can carry out this action at his own discretion. But when the gospel and the works of Christ are preached in full and without cuts (Revelation 2:24-29), the Holy Spirit will loose repenting believers form their sins and bindings through the words of the servants of Jesus. But the same word binds at the same time disobedient, impenitent persons. Sometimes there are ordinary and unimpressive saints who command Satan and his demons in the name of Jesus Christ to become silent and to disappear. We should repent and use the right to bind and to loose so as to stem the dominion of the Evil One in the name of Jesus. But whoever is not authorized by the risen Lord to do such a ministry, should keep his hands off so as not to come to harm for his body, soul and spirit.
Keeping the Nations Away From the Temptations of Satan: In these verses about the Millennium John emphasizes three times (Revelation 20:2-3 and 7-8) that during this long time Satan, the tempter and deceiver of mankind and angels, will have no longer any influence on the rest of the nations which remained after the judgments of God. Moreover, during the time when they who are authorized by Christ exercise the dominion by the Holy Spirit a further chance is offered to egoistic mankind so as to repent voluntarily and in-depth.
But afterwards it must become apparent what is in man's heart, a good or a wicked will, compulsive desires or self-control, unlimited pride or performance of the lowliness of Christ. The unclean nations should not be able to accuse God of not being in a state of a free will because of the cunning and superiority of Satan and therefore not being responsible for their thinking and actions. In this sense the Millennium, an interim on earth, can be understood as a gift of the patient God to uncover the wickedness of the human heart and its rebellious pride. For the sake of the righteousness of God the Millennium is an indispensable and necessary period in the salvation plan of God and his Lamb.
After these thousand years of God's favor, however, Satan has to be loosed once more so as to show the multitudes of men that the imaginations of their hearts are still evil from their youth (Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10-12). All men will know that not a single person, not a single nation and not even Israel will become righteous without God's Lamb and its shed atoning blood. But the rebellion against God and His Anointed will take place after the time of peace faster and more radical than before, as Satan could design during a time of thousand years how he may stir up most effectively the nations against their creator. And indeed, the men on earth will fall for the father of lie once again and let themselves drift by his discontent spirit anew, if they had not opened towards the spirit of God's Lamb at the right time and become active members of its spiritual body.
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, the Holy and Almighty One, we thank You because Your Son Jesus revealed to us that You are our lawful And spiritual Father for the sake of His precious blood which cleansed us completely from our iniquities. We worship You because Christ saved and redeemed us from Satan's tricks and wicked authority, and spread in us Your Holy Spirit to preserve us in love, faith and hope that the devil might have no right on or authority over us Amen.
QUESTION:
- How does Christ keep us from Satan's deception and evil power?