Is Satan bound today?

[Bowman]

My position is that Satan is presently bound today.


Here are some scriptural verbs employed demarking Satan being presently bound:

•   People of God have been guarded ‘tērei’ (completed action). 1 John 5.18
•   The Evil One does not touch ‘haptetai’ God’s people (present tense). 1 John 5.18
•   Jesus rendered The Devil entirely idle ‘katargēsē’ (completed action) at His death upon The Cross. Heb 2.14
•   Jesus has taken The Adversary out of the way ‘ērken’ (completed action) and nailed ‘prosēlōsas’ (completed action) him  to The Cross. Col 2.14
•   Jesus stripped The Devil of authority ‘apekdysamenos’ (completed action) and separated him from his demons, at The Cross. Col 2.15
•   The Devil was exposed in disgrace ‘edeigmatisen’ (completed action) and was led as a prisoner in a triumphant procession ‘thriambeusas’ (completed action) Col 2.15
•   The Lawless One is bound now ‘katechon’ (present tense), but will be revealed ‘apokalyphthēsetai’ (future action)  2 Thes 2.6 – 8
•   Jesus’ shed blood transferred ownership ‘ēgorasas’ (completed action) to God. Rev 5.9
•   Jesus’ blood ransomed ‘elytrōthēte’ (completed action) us from godless behavior passed down by our forefathers.  1 Peter 1.18
•   Jesus gave ‘edōken’ (completed action) Himself and ransomed ‘lytrōsētai’ (completed action) us from Lawlessness.  Titus 2.14
•   The Evil One, The Hostile One, The Devil departed in an absolute manner ‘apēlthen’ (completed action), but left behind his demons; Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat & the Tares Mat 13.25
•   The Ruler of the World will be cast out ‘ekblēthēsetai’ (future tense) when Jesus is crucified upon The Cross. John 12.31 – 33
•   The Dragon, The Old Serpent, The Devil, Satan was bound ‘edēsen’ (completed action), cast into the abyss ‘ebalen’ (completed action), shut ‘ekleisen’ (completed action), and sealed ‘esphragisen’ (completed action), that he can no longer deceive people‘planēsē’(singular, completed action), by Jesus.  Rev 20.1 – 3
•   Paul was rescued ‘errysthēn’ (completed action) from the mouth of The Lion.  2 Tim 4.17
•   Jesus will guard ‘phylaxei’ (future tense) us from The Evil One.  2 The 3.3
•   Our battle is not against flesh and blood, nor with The Darkness, but with his spiritual powers. Eph 6.11 - 16


Please declare your stance on this question, and elaborate with scripture.... :)

[Born.Again888]

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
Thess 2 7

Satan and his people , secret societies control the earth and the Holy Spirit is restraining them, but when it is time GOD will rapture his people and the left over people will be tested like never before

1 john 5 19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

[Ohan]

Well, I donno ~ seems like shatan has a lot of people doing it's biding ~ maybe he's limited to what he can do but it's not silent by any means ```

[4WD]

My position is that Satan is presently bound today.

I agree.  He is not absent from the world, but he does not have free reign.  God has him on a leash.  The Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer is the chain that prevents free access.

[RB]

I agree.  He is not absent from the world, but he does not have free reign.  God has him on a leash.  The Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer is the chain that prevents free access.

He's loose.... I see him on CNN every time I flip to that station.  I see him working at other places also~ I will not tell where it might upset some.

[robycop3]

Satan is neither restrained nor banished now, as is apparent by the prevalence of sin worldwide.

[Amo]

If he is presently bound, I most certainly do not want to be around when he is loosed.

[3 Resurrections]

Satan is neither bound, restrained, nor banished at present. 

HE’S GONE.

Gone as in destroyed, slain by God, and reduced to a pile of ashes, as was prophesied for the cherub who was in Eden, but who fell into rebellion against God.  Ezekiel 28:17-19 predicted the method of destruction God would use to get rid of the cherub who had rebelled and turned into Satan.  “...I will cast thee to the ground” (as the Devil and his angels were cast out of heaven to the earth in Rev. 12:9), “I will lay thee before kings,“ (these “kings” being the high priests of Israel - the “kings of the earth” in Matt. 17:25), “that they may behold thee...therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, and I WILL BRING THEE TO ASHES UPON THE EARTH in the sight of all them that behold thee.  All they that know thee among the people” (the people of Israel) “shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and NEVER SHALT THOU BE ANYMORE.”

This was to be a total annihilation of Satan scheduled, with his celestial flesh form (as Paul described it in I Cor. 15:40) reduced to ashes by the fire of God, so that he would exist no more.  And it would be done on the earth, in front of the high priests / kings of the earth and the people of Israel who would witness this with terror and astonishment.

Isaiah also foretold when God would slay Satan in Isaiah 27:1.  In the SAME DAY that God would bring down the lofty city of Jerusalem and lay it low, even to the dust (Is. 26:5); in the same day that the dead who belonged to God would rise from the dust of the grave (Is:26:19), then “IN THAT DAY the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and HE SHALL *SLAY* THE DRAGON that is in the sea.”  (The Dragon being the same as ”that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” - Rev. 12:9.)

Just before his final destruction, the Devil and his angels were given a “short time” and a “little season” after the millennium ended in AD 33 to deceive the nations on a huge scale.  We are told exactly when this “short time” had begun, and it was back in the first century.

Rev. 12:12 was written to a generation that currently had a wrathful Satan released into the world for just a “short time” in THEIR DAYS.  As John warned his readers, “...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!”  (meaning those in Israel as well as in Gentile lands), “for the Devil IS COME DOWN UNTO YOU” (a PRESENT REALITY for John’s readers in those days) “having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a SHORT TIME.” 

This “short time” of Satan’s great wrath immediately followed the time when the Devil was cast out of heaven with his angels, which happened at Christ’s arrival in heaven on the morning after His resurrection in AD 33.  The shed blood of the Lamb brought into heaven that morning that was offered to God on heaven’s mercy seat had forever annulled any accusation that the Devil could bring before God against the brethren.  He was “thrown out of court” down to the earth at that point, and never allowed back in after that. 

But having lost any access to heaven, an enraged Satan and his angels went into high gear on the earth instead.  Just like the “roaring lion” that Paul mentioned, the Devil went out to deceive as many as possible in that “short time” and “little season” that he had remaining before his final destruction in Jerusalem’s Lake of Fire.  That’s why the “armor of God” was such a vital necessity for the saints in those first-century days.

Just how long was a “LITTLE season” for Satan to operate?  It’s shorter than a “LONG season”, which scripture defines as lasting 40 years in the wilderness (Joshua 24:7 cp Deut. 8:2).  Therefore, Satan was loosed to deceive the nations for a “little season” and a ”short time” of less than 40 years after he was cast down to the earth following Christ’s AD 33 resurrection and ascension. 

This means an AD 70 destruction of Satan and his angels took place in the Lake of Fire which was the equivalent of Jerusalem’s “SECOND death”; strikingly similar to the city’s first death that took place under the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Long ago in Isaiah 31:9, the prophet said that the Lord’s “FIRE is in Zion, and his FURNACE IS IN *JERUSALEM*”  This is the same “furnace of fire” mentioned in Matthew 13:40-42 that would burn up the “tares” at the “completion of the age”.  That means JERUSALEM was to be the location where God  would dispose of all the wicked dead as well as the Devil and his angels at the same time.

The blame for any evil that currently exists is laid squarely at the feet of mankind ALONE ever since AD 70.   Those who don’t think mankind is capable of this level of wickedness without Satan or his angels around to instigate it have no concept of the level of wickedness that can emerge from within the hearts of men. 

As Christ explained it in Mark 7:20-23, “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ALL THESE THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, and defile the man.”  No demonic influence required.

[robycop3]

  The prevalence of sin worldwide proves the above post completely wrong.

[lea]

Thank you 3 R's for such an excellent post!
There used to be a devil but now there is not. Nor are there any evil spirits around except for those whose hearts and minds are bent on evil.

Nice exegesis of the Text 3 R's! Manna 4u.

[3 Resurrections]

Thank you for the vote of confidence on this point, lea, I appreciate it.  It’s rare indeed to find anyone who is willing to consider that scripture teaches the destruction of Satan and his angels who are no longer in existence and are not operating in this world today. 

Oddly enough, it has also been my experience that many full Preterists remain hesitant to openly teach that the Satanic realm was destroyed back in AD 70 - even while saying that “all things written were fulfilled during the days of vengeance”.  Many aren’t quiiiiite ready to take that final, consistent step and admit that the destruction of Satan and his angels was also part of the prophecies that were “AT HAND” in the first century.

One thing I did not mention, but that should probably be stated is that the “unclean spirits” (which aren’t the same thing as the fallen angels) were also going to be imprisoned within Jerusalem (Rev. 18:2) during AD 66-70.  At the close of this siege, God promised in Zechariah 13:2 that these unclean spirits would “pass out of the land”.

So that means God did a clean sweep of things in AD 70, getting rid of Satan and his angels, all the unclean spirits, and the wicked dead all at the same time and in the same location. 

Our God certainly knows how to multitask.

[Yeshua153]

I obviously disagree with the preterist doctrine, & I believe that we have been in the millennium for the last 2000yrs since Acts2v17. Rev20 mentions 1000yrs a few times, which is chilia in Greek, & all are plural, meaning at least 2000 or more. I believe satan has already been loosed in the last 20-40yrs, as Rev20v7 misleads folks when translated 'when the 1000yrs have expired' rather than 'are ending'.
                     There are many saying there is a 1000yrs reign, after Yeshua's return, & even other doctrine saying there will be more than 3000 more years before the 7yr tribulation.
                    Of course, everyone thinks their right, but it is important to not have blinkers on, as we are being conformed to Christ's likeness, our discerning of truth will change, & it has changed with me a few times over the years, as I try to get rid of self, allowing faith to grow, & truth to be uncovered. We shall see in the course of time.

[lea]

I obviously disagree with the preterist doctrine, & I believe that we have been in the millennium for the last 2000yrs since Acts2v17. Rev20 mentions 1000yrs a few times, which is chilia in Greek, & all are plural, meaning at least 2000 or more. I believe satan has already been loosed in the last 20-40yrs, as Rev20v7 misleads folks when translated 'when the 1000yrs have expired' rather than 'are ending'.
                     There are many saying there is a 1000yrs reign, after Yeshua's return, & even other doctrine saying there will be more than 3000 more years before the 7yr tribulation.
                    Of course, everyone thinks their right, but it is important to not have blinkers on, as we are being conformed to Christ's likeness, our discerning of truth will change, & it has changed with me a few times over the years, as I try to get rid of self, allowing faith to grow, & truth to be uncovered. We shall see in the course of time.

Well, I didn't leave my "blinkers on" when I dusted my car steering wheel (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

But somehow "the thousand years" seems to be misconstrued.

If a day is like a thousand years to God, and a thousand years like a day- then the thousand years must represent  somewhere between 1 day- one thousand years. Two or three thousand sounds a bit off, imho.

[4WD]

If a day is like a thousand years to God, and a thousand years like a day- then the thousand years must represent  somewhere between 1 day- one thousand years. Two or three thousand sounds a bit off, imho.

Wrong. It is not some formula or an equation for measuring time.   The  "day is like a thousand years" reference is simply a statement that God stands outside of time completely. Time is a creation, just as is space. Time is finite; God is not.  Time is physical; God is Spirit and spiritual.  God is not constrained by either time or space.

[Yeshua153]

If a day is like a thousand years to God, and a thousand years like a day- then the thousand years must represent  somewhere between 1 day- one thousand years. Two or three thousand sounds a bit off, imho.

I will repeat 'chilia' is a 1000 in Greek, & if you would like to check, you will find in the interlinear bible, that it is PLURAL, meaning at least 2000 or more, which makes a so-called 1000yr reign, redundant.

[lea]

Wrong. It is not some formula or an equation for measuring time.   The  "day is like a thousand years" reference is simply a statement that God stands outside of time completely. Time is a creation, just as is space. Time is finite; God is not.  Time is physical; God is Spirit and spiritual.  God is not constrained by either time or space.

What's that Watson? I mean, so what! 2Pet.3 brings the "thousand year" prophecy into a range of physical time that his audience would recognize.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [d]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Revelation 21:1-27 ESV
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Do you know what "the new heaven and earth" mean?  Certainly not creation!

And if it hasn't come and made the first one pass away- then no one would be made righteous in Jesus and Peter and Paul would not have been INSPIRED writers!

[3 Resurrections]

Let’s keep this very simple, folks, without delving into a discussion of the millennium’s duration.

The point remains, John was giving a warning to his readers in Revelation 12:12 that an enraged Satan was RIGHT THEN AT THE SAME TIME JOHN WAS WRITING loosed into the world for his “short time” before he was to be destroyed in the Lake of Fire.

“...Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!  for the Devil IS COME DOWN UNTO YOU” (This had already happened in the immediate lifetime experience of John’s readers) “having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

This “short time” is exactly the same period as Satan’s “little season” of deceiving the nations after the millennium mentioned in Revelation 20:3 - of whatever duration you may take that millennium to be.

“...And cast him into the bottomless pit, 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.”

By comparing these two verses, we know that the millennium was ALREADY FULFILLED by the time John was writing Revelation, because he said that the Devil’s “short time” and “little season” of being loosed into the world after the millennium had ALREADY STARTED as he was writing.

Therefore, any debate on the duration of the millennium MUST be limited to a time period that ENDS PRIOR to the writing of Revelation, at the very least.