SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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. [Revelation 20:1-3]
What I am about to share here will probably go against what many think.
I do not see this passage as “what is next” after the previous chapter, but a new vision that describes the whole period from Jesus’ first appearance to His final return.
In other words, the ‘thousand years’ does not describe a future millenial reign, but the whole time period from Jesus first and last coming.
In this approach, the first resurrection is the believers who reign with Christ now in heaven, and the last resurrection is the final resurrection.
But the challenge raised is this – is Satan bound, is he not still deceiving the nations?

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. [Matthew 12:28-29]
Satan is the deceiver who succeeded in deceiving and enslaving humanity (the nations).
But in Christ, God binds the strong man, and re-establishes His kingdom!
We are not in the age of Satan, we are in the age of Christ, the ‘year of our Lord’.
Satan has been defeated, he has fallen from heaven, he has been disarmed [Luke 10:18, Colossians 2:15, Revelation 12:10-12]
This does not mean that Satan is powerless; he is a dangerous lion prowling around looking for people to devour [1 Peter 5:8]… but a lion on a chain!
His reach is limited, his lies are opposed by the truth; the message of Jesus is going out into the nations, and Satan is powerless to stop it.
Yes, it may appear that Satan has the upper hand on earth, but he is defeated.
If we resist him, he will flee from us [James 4:7].
Satan will be given one last attempt, when he gathers his armies to attack Jesus – but he will fail.

I see this vision as a picture of world history after Jesus’ ascension, as the Lion/Lamb unleashes His kingdom judgments [Revelation 4-18], and as God’s people reign with Him in heaven and on earth [Ephesians 1:20, 2:6]
The battle that rages on earth is fierce, but they are sealed, marked with the love and grace of God, and even if they die… “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” [Revelation 14:13]
It’s all a matter of perspective; too often Christians act as if Satan were more powerful than Christ – HE IS NOT, JESUS CHRIST IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!
All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him – now!
Satan is dethroned, defeated, disarmed, and bound, his days are numbered.

PRAYER:
Lord, Your truth and power are greater than Satan’s. In You, I can resist him and he will flee from me. Help me to stay close to You as we wait for that final day!