It should be self-evident that the chain with which Satan is to be bound is not one of iron or steel, but is of a sort perfectly designed by God to the task of binding such a being as Satan. And the point is not to be overlooked, that Satan is really bound, himself, in person, absolutely, not relatively. Not only is he bound, but he is also imprisoned in the abyss, which is shut and sealed over him so as to prevent escape.¹

      This is important. It does not mean, then, that the people will become so enlightened that Satan, though left free, can no longer succeed in his business of deception and thus is "virtually bound." It is by such exegetical wrigglings that the statements of God's word are robbed of their force and meaning. It is not the people of the earth that is acted upon here, but Satan: Satan is bound and incarcerated. It is not said or implied that humanity is so fortified against the Devil's attacks as to render them immune, while the Devil himself is left free to continue his attempts. No--Satan himself is fettered and imprisoned. That means exactly that. The locking and guarding of all houses in a town would not be the same thing as the arresting and imprisonment of the thief. Satan is not said to be forestalled against, but he himself is to be bound and confined in prison (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) for the period of a thousand years.

      The idea held by some that the "Millennium" is already present and Satan bound, or being bound, was first advanced by Augustine, who, elated over the apparent "triumph of the church" when Constantine, the Roman Emperor, became a convert to Christianity (alas, what a fatal triumph that was!) adjusted his interpretation of the Word to that notion.

      However, whether then or since, Satan was neither bound nor being bound, by any "chain of evidence" or any other sort of chain; much less was he imprisoned. Unto this day, as all along, and now perhaps more fiercely than ever, he goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; or as a serpent to deceive. He does a good bit of execution even among those who profess to follow Christ, and no man is immune from his attacks--least of all they who fancy themselves so.²

      Neither is it implied in the record that the nations (for after all the sweeping judgments there are nations left on the earth) are no longer susceptible to Satan's approaches or deceits; but rather the opposite. For Satan is bound and imprisoned a thousand years for the very purpose of preventing him from deceiving the nations any more. When after the thousand years he is loosed for a little season, he goes out again upon his old business, finds ready response and large success. But of this we shall hear more in the following chapter.

      Satan has now been fairly vanquished--not by arbitrary omnipotence, for God does not do things that way--but he has played his game to the finish and has played out. He is now forcibly removed from the arena because he has had his full inning, and his turn is over. An angel seizes, binds, and imprisons him. (After this, no angel takes any more active part in the drama.) With every obstacle removed, Christ and His [42] saints now assume full control to administrate the government of the earth. Of the character and glory of this reign we shall see in our next chapter.

      "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." (Revelation 17:14.)

      This outward victory was the sequel of the hidden spiritual victory. The secret of this summary action and of this demonstration of overwhelming power of Christ over the hosts of Satan lay in His previous spiritual conquest. It was not in arbitrary divine omnipotence that the Lamb so dealt with Satan and the Beast and their forces. He had won the mastery over Satan in spiritual conflict. The ultimate outward triumph followed as a natural consequence. The binding of Satan and the extermination of all of his host is the last chapter of a long story.

      The Lord Jesus overcame. He vanquished Satan (Hebrews 2:14). He overcame the world. (John 16:33.) By virtue of that victory He defeated death, sat down on the Father's throne, and all authority in heaven and on earth was given unto Him. (Revelation 3:21.) The Lion of the tribe of Judah obtained the right to open the seven-sealed book by having overcome. (5:5.)

      His saints also are overcomers. They are more than conquerors through Him. Seven times in chapters 2 and 3 is the promise to him that overcomes. When Satan is dislodged from his seat in heaven, it is because of the previous spiritual victory, of which this act was the necessary consequence. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and they loved not their life unto death. (12:11.) "He who overcomes" shall inherit all things. (21:7.) There is no victory without conflict; and no crown and glory without previous "overcoming" amid trials and sufferings. If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2:12.)

      Satan is the prince of the world (John 14:30), the world's god (2 Corinthians 4:4). "The whole world is under the control of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). "I know where you live--where Satan has his throne." (2:13.) Until that throne is overthrown and swept away, there is no room for the throne of Christ on the earth.

      The day has never been when it did not pay to be true to the Lord Jesus at whatever cost. Those who throw in their lot with Him shall not fail of victory. And our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18.)

      In the day when the first man set his own will above God's the Anti-christ became a foregone conclusion, for in Anti-christ the whole principle of that first act of disobedience reaches its fullness and perfection. In the day when the Second Man became obedient unto death, the final victory of God became an assured fact; and He is the surety of the fulfillment of the prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

      The great final rebellion against God does not consist of immorality or hypocrisy or infidelity. It is due to a fervent faith in the Beast, that Superman, that Lawless one, the Man of Sin, whose coming is in the energy of Satan, "with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.) Literally, it is "that they should believe the lie."

      "The characteristic falsehood of our day," as one has said, "consists of humanizing God, deifying man, minimizing sin." Let every man beware: these are the elements of the great Lie.

      Those who today have no love for the truth and take pleasure in unrighteousness already belong to the Beast's following; and those who love the Lord Jesus with a love incorruptible, already belong to His victorious train.

      "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24, 25). [43]

[TR4R 42-43]