(1) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
(2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
(3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations
no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
It is commonly held that mankind cannot be “at one” with God until Satan is bound. Consider, though, how much this belief
diminishes God’s power while elevating the status of the wicked one. God will bring all those alive during the Millennium
to salvation without Satan being around, even as He is perfecting the firstfruits now with Satan around. God is sovereign,
and thus neither limited by Satan’s presence nor dependent on it.
During Christ’s final Passover, He speaks at length about what His upcoming sacrifice would make possible. His confident
statements demonstrate that a close personal relationship with God is entirely possible even while Satan is still the ruler
of this world. Jesus promises to love and manifest Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments.
John 14:21
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father,
and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
He declares that both He and the Father will make Their home with those who love Him.
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him
His work allows humans to abide in Him, even while Satan deceives the whole world.
John 15:4-5,7
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
He assures us that we can have peace in Him, even as the world—under Satan’s influence—is against us.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
II Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace shall be with you
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ephesians 2:14-17
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make
in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him,
I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
II Thessalonians 3:16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
He reveals that the gift of eternal life is entirely His to give.
John 17:1-3
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son,
that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
There is no proviso regarding Satan’s presence. He promises oneness through the Father’s keeping —not through Satan’s binding.
John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine
own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 17:20-23
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent
me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
All the things covered in His prayer are not limited to the original disciples,
“but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (verse 20).
Jesus teaches that it is quite possible to be one with the Father and Son without Satan being bound. When we are
brought to Christ,
He “delivers us from this present evil age”
Galatians 1:4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God
and our Father:
and “from the power of darkness”.
Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Satan is powerless to stop God’s work.
Job 1:10-12
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast
blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 2:4-6
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Since God’s converted people are walking proof of oneness with God in the face of the
Devil’s influence, it makes no sense to conclude that humanity can be one with God only once Satan is bound.
The world needs the same covenant the elect are under now. Satan’s binding will be a tremendous gift to those alive during the Millennium,
so in no way should it be diminished, as it will remove a great deal of spiritual pressure. But is Satan’s influence so vast as to
prohibit the Father and the Son from working out Their plan in the Millennium? Certainly not!
