B. Satan Chained.

B. Satan Chained.
Satan is chained in the Bottomless Pit for one-thousand years during Christ’s Kingdom Reign. (Revelation 20:1-3)
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (Revelation 20:1)
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)
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.” (Revelation 20:1-3)
Previously, God had permitted Satan freedom to attempt to deceive and mislead believers from serving the Lord; or, winning others to Christ.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he (God) careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR: (1 Peter 5:8)
Whom (you) resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:7-9)
Notice the word “devour” in Verse 8, above. It is the Greek “katapino,” from “kata,” meaning “down,” and “pinto,” meaning “drink;” therefore the Devil seeks to swallow you up with his demonic influence. Christ puts a halt to this and chains him for a thousand years.
1. Revelation 20:4.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Many times we have heard that these Christians were saved in the last 3 ½ years, and beheaded for refusing the Antichrist’s mark of 666. In reality, they could have been saved any time after the Rapture; but, only apprehended in the last 3 ½ years. The Antichrist does not enforce his mark of “666” until the middle of the Tribulation Period, when he declares he is the one true God. (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13:15) They will receive their resurrected bodies, along with all of the Old Testament Saints. They will receive a Martyr’s Crown and reign with Christ all through the Millennium.
2. Revelation 20:5.
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
This is all the lost from Creation to the last sinner at the conclusion of the Millennium. All of these will be in Hell (Gr. “Hades, ref. Luke 16:19-31). More will be covered when we examine the Great White Throne Judgment. (Section N)