I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain—a huge chain. He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake—the very Devil, Satan himself!—chained him up for a thousand years, dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations—until the thousand years are up… Revelation 20:1-3 (Message)
I shudder when I consider all the heartache, confusion, pain, desolation, emptiness, despair, regret, separation (insert your own word here to describe the ravages of sin) caused by sin which was authored by the enemy of our souls, Satan, to keep us from God. He has been working overtime since he was set loose on the world to deceive and destroy as many willing souls as possible.
If it weren’t for a greater truth – I would struggle to find hope and struggle to experience peace. The greater truth is that satan’s power is subjugated to the power of God. Satan is subject to God’s authority and has limited access, time and opportunity to do his dirty work.
Consider the story of Job. God actually suggests that satan test Job’s faith:
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
In essence, satan had to get God’s permission to test Job and even that permission had parameters and limits set by God.
The same is true for satan’s access to the world at large. Satan’s access and time frame have a limit. His future holds the absolute promise of a “prison cell” at the moment of God’s choosing according to His perfect timetable. Imagine satan’s fury (I wonder if he is self-deceived regarding the level and limit to his own power) when he finds himself chained up and impotent while Jesus ushers in a perfect time of peace in the world and brings heaven to earth itself.
It’s a comfort to me that evil is contained. Even if satan is allowed a longer leash to steal, kill and destroy in our day - his time and access to the earth is limited by the power and perfection of our God. “No more trouble out of him.” It’s the future for the enemy of our souls and just a preview of his ultimate fiery demise.
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