Bible Discussion Thread

Misconceptions about Satan being "bound". Scriptures tend to multilayer prophecy. I mentioned in the commentary on the Millennium that Satan is not yet bound; precisely that refers to the power to hold his body and spirit under the earth (chains) after the angel carries out the action (likely Michael the Archangel). There are several phases to the downfall of Lucifer. The first would have taken him from the worship leader who walked on the "stones of fire" because of pride ( Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). This would restrict him positionally; and perhaps deny access to the throne area or wherever such worship occurs. Job indicates along with other passages that in meetings with God (divine counsel) he is still present and God uses Him by restricting him to fit the purposes He has to refine His people; and in Job's case prove their character. Jesus states that He saw him "fall as lightning".

This could be the initial fall; or his physical casting out which appears yet future in Revelation. In the "second heavens" the powers and principalities still are present according to Ephesians 6. It is CLEAR from Daniel as well as Revelation that the FINAL version of the prophecy on defiling the temple INITIATED by Antiochus is yet to be completed with subtle differences as WELL as Christ referring to it in warnings of the future.

Satan will know that his time is short after the "accuser of the brethren" is cast down to the earth; and all his angels follow. This time clearly being worse than ANY time previous OR future will be when certain demons will come out of the pit because God allows them to torment men. Satan will be allowed to "overcome the saints" whereas now "the gates of hell will not prevail" against the church. The very real mark of the beast will be taken by ALL not written in the Book of Life. After Armageddon (literal event) Satan is imprisoned for 1000 years then MUST be released then judged and cast into the lake of fire.

The other verses such as that in Isaiah are hard to justify with such a logic. We also have Peter's statement that a day with the Lord is like 1000 years. Such would allow the last day in a 7000 year existence of earth to end with a day of overall rest; or Sabbath day; which likely was what should have occurred before Adam's death (and the curiously close lifespan of a couple other individuals around that time). The Day of the Lord sometimes is actually used to justify your understanding; but if we see that Day as encompassing the entire period from the end of the Tribulation to the end of the Millennium; it makes more sense. As Corinthians states the order is Christ; the firstfruits and those that are there at His coming. THEN comes the end ( 1 Cor. 15:24)when he HANDS OVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD THE FATHER AFTER He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Christ is going to rule over the earth with David; and all saints as many scriptures indicate. Men have to "learn the art of war no more" if anything to prove their rebellion is not because of any conditions on the earth--the end result is simply an expression of their hearts which were suppressed curing Christ's reign with an "iron rod". Surely, God won't have to rule this way when only saints rule the earth who have no possibility to sin. We need to keep in mind that the true Church and all believers will not be hurt at all by the second death; nor will Satan be able to cause the wholesale slaughter in the final battle in Rev. 20. He will be engulfed with fire; again joining the Beast and False Prophet who are THERE in the lake of fire since they were tossed there 1000 years earlier (that corresponds; BTW to the verse in Isaiah 14 where Antichrist is cast out as an "abominable branch" and unlike the kings who are buried isn't given that honor-that of course includes those kings who are punished "after many days" also mentioned in that book. After Armageddon; God's children won't be persecuted.

The 'binding' of Satan is not a restriction from 'all' activity upon the earth, only a restriction from 'deceiving the nations' into war with God. ( Rev. 20:8) He hasn't done that yet, and cannot at this time because he is 'bound' from doing that. Though he will be released to do just that at a very specific time. Let's look at that time.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: ...that day (of the antichrist) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (son of hell); Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. ... And now ye know what withholdeth (the Holy Spirit) that he (antichrist) might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity (hidden truth of lawlessness/sin) doth already work (is not bound but active in the world): only He who now letteth (the Holy Spirit) will let, until He be taken out of the way (until there are no more true believers, filled with the Spirit, alive and free to do God's Work upon the earth). And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thess. 2:3-8

Satan will be released to do all his will when he fully embodies the man of sin, the antichrist and deceives the entire world to join together in spiritual battle against the Lord God Almighty.

"And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, ... to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."

Rev. 20:8

Would God have His people endure this life only to have them wait another 1,000 years, among sinners, and a still-fallen world, to then be tested AGAIN by the devil before finally punishing all the wicked, creating the world anew and welcoming His saints into Heaven?

No, He is not the author of confusion. 1 Cor. 14:33

SolaScript,

Q: Would God have His people endure this life only to have them wait another 1,000 years?

A: Yes, all people contributed to ruining the planet, they must wait their time, and follow the order like they follow their Bibles.

The 1st resurrection is only for the sealed saints, the only ones that qualify. You cannot show definitive Biblical proof, or otherwise that Christian's, by virtue of their faith, should qualify as a first fruit. People say "what about 1 Thessalonians 4:17"? I say Paul is addressing his kind, "the elect", "the elders". Same goes for God warning not to take the mark of the beast, that's not exactly for regular people, no, it's for the saints, so that the elect might be fooled by anti-christ if possible. I honestly don't know anyone, with a family, who could choose death over the soup line. I believe the scavenges of war will equate to death, and for some, better than the mark.

Ultimately, during the millennium, let the saints deal with it, they were chosen because they are exceptional. The sleeping 2nd group, bound for the Great White throne, will not have missed a thing during their hibernation phase.

I think about the new heavens and new earth more than that them not being possible. But I do know the 1,000 year workers did a remarkable job preparing the earth for God to join us as one.

Roman,

"... as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. They...(ate, drank and married)... until THE DAY that Noah entered the Ark, and the flood came, and destroyed THEM ALL. (The sinners are not destroyed 1,000 years later)

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; ... THE SAME DAY that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven, and destroyed THEM ALL.

Even thus shall it be in THE DAY when the Son of Man is revealed."

Luke 17:26-30

And when is He revealed?

AFTER the Great Tribulation, on the LAST DAY of this world, NOT 1,000 years later.

Mt. 24:29-31

John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24; 12:48

"... the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, ...cast into the sea, ...When it was full, they ... gathered the good into vessels, but CAST THE BAD AWAY. (They didn't SAVE the bad for 1,000 years.)

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth and SEVER THE WICKED from among the just, and shall CAST THEM INTO THE FURNACE OF FIRE: ..."

Mat. 13:47-50

The wicked will be SEVERED from the just on THE DAY that Jesus returns, and they will be destroyed along with the rest of the earth.

Isaiah 13:9-11

You mentioned something about this next passage, the order of the firstfruits?:

"...they that are Christ's at His coming. (shall be made alive) Then COMETH THE END, when He shall have DELIVERED UP THE KINGDOM TO GOD, even the Father; WHEN HE SHALL HAVE PUT DOWN ALL RULE and all authority and power."

1 Cor. 15:22-24

And why does Jesus hand over HIS kingdom to the Father on the SAME DAY that He returns? BECAUSE IT WAS HIS KINGDOM from the time of the Cross until His return. He does NOT hand it over 1,000 years AFTER His return.

Addendum: I meant to say if Adam hadn't fallen into sin; there would have been an extended Edenic type of world; which the Millennium essentially is. It is a time of great abundance; and wealth among all earth dwellers. Verses indicate the Temple where it appears ceremonial cleansing and a reminder of Christ's sacrifice occurs and as stated before a voluntary yearly appearance occurs. Clearly; an option for drought for a nation that doesn't appear wouldn't occur in the eternal reign when such possibility of sin won't exist. In terms of Israel as well; there are territorial promises which were not fully realized but will be in the future when the WHOLE Promised land will be part of greater Israel. I agree that the removal of the church in Thessalonians will be the reason that Antichrist can finally be revealed. However; there will certainly be the largest revival ever as seen in the number of martyrs NOT taking the mark then. God will still work but it will revert back to the Prophetic and "signs and wonders" gifts with the two Prophets. We need also to remember the NUMEROUS passages where God uses judgments to bring the fear of God on some men; and in particular the time of Jacob's Trouble so that He can refine His people "seven times over" as Deuteronomy states. Others; of course as in all epochs will simply harden their unregenerate hearts even further. In Revelation 20; there are no great spiritual contests; or any of the lengthy processes such as the seal; trumpet and bowl judgments where MONTHS are involved as in the 5th Trumpet. There is IMMEDIATE destruction by fire from heaven; then the earth and it's elements are burned up and no more place is found for death and hell. The battle here is due to envy of God's camp; Satan himself rather than demons entices the earth for a short time; he is no longer veiled living inside someone else but seen for who he is. This gets rid of all rebels born to those few surviving the Tribulation.