PMW 2020-075 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
The Christian worldview recognizes the reality of the spirit world. We certainly believe in God “who is a spirit” (John 4:24) and in the Third Person of the Trinity, the “Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). Even we ourselves are compounds of spirit and body (Gen. 2:7; James 2:26), so that when we die “the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7; cp. Matt. 10:28).
We also know of angels who are spirit-beings created by God to do his will: “Of the angels he saith, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire” (Heb. 1:7). Some of these angels are holy, elect angels always serving God in righteousness (Luke 9:26; 1 Tim. 5:21). Others are fallen angels who resist God, determining to do evil against us (Luke 8:2; 1 Tim. 4:1). They have as their ruler, Satan the chief of the fallen angels (Matt. 25:41; Mark 2:22).
Satan’s Mission
When considering spiritual warfare in the Christian life, we must not factor out the influence of Satan in the world. The Scriptures portray him as the epitome of evil who always opposes God.1 He seeks to destroy God’s work by influencing men throughout the world (Matt. 13:38-39; 2 Cor. 4:4) to do his evil will (John 8:44; 2 Tim. 2:26). He is a deceiver (Rev. 20:1) who “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14) so that he “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). He desires to draw away those who hear the Word of God (Luke 8:12). In fact, he delights in working on those who not only hear the Word, but profess it (Acts 5:3; 1 Tim. 5:15).
Four Views on the Book of Revelation
(ed. by Marvin Pate)
Helpful presentation of four approaches to Revelation. Ken Gentry writes the chapter on the preterist approach to Revelation, which provides a 50 page survey of Revelation .
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
He is so determined to do evil, that he even dares to tempt the Son of God: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:2). In desperation he later entered into Judas, moving him to betray Christ (Luke 22:3; John 13:2).
As Luther so excessively declared: “his craft and power are great.” Indeed, the Scripture itself urges us: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). How can we expect to win against such a supernatural foe who “seeks to work us woe”? What gives us hope against such a mighty opponent?
Christ’s Victory
The answer to our fearful concern is the victory cry: “He is risen!” (Matt. 28:6). Unfortunately, this glorious declaration is largely muted by the confused prophets loudly misleading many today. Too many Christians believe “Satan is alive and well on planet earth.” Though he is alive, he is not well. Christ has won the victory over him. Let us see how this is so, then note how we have hope for personal victory over him.
“Reformed Interpretation of the Binding of Satan” by Ken Gentry
An 8 1/2 x 11 study paper
An exegetical study of Revelation 20:1–3. This study shows that the binding of Satan begins in the first century with the establishing of Christ’s kingdom by the Lord Jesus Christ.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
In Revelation 20, a passage both confused and abused in popular Christian literature, we read of the Satan’s binding which insures the victory of Christ’s kingdom: “He laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer. . . . Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:2-3, 6).
This dramatic imagery teaches that Satan has been “bound” so that he “should not deceive the nations any longer.” This allows all those who are spiritually resurrected believers to “reign with him” in his kingdom. Despite popular misunderstanding of this passage, this vision speaks of realities already established in Christ’s first coming, as we can tell from several reasons. Reasons to be continued in my next blog!
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Tagged: binding of Satan
Postmillennial Worldview 
You may be addressing this in upcoming posts, but pre-millennialists cry “foul!” on the binding of Satan having to do with the cross. I think they argue that if the cross is the actual binding then how can the work on the cross be reversed at the end of the 1,000 years? I believe historic post-millennialists may argue something like this as well. My view, although of course correctable, is that it is the preaching of the gospel (the Great Commission) is what binds Satan. The Great Commission cannot be “reversed” but it will end once the last elect is saved. What are your thoughts?
The “unbinding” of Satan is effected by God. And for the express purpose of preparing him for his final judgment.
Does the purpose of the binding of Satan solely have to do with his inability to deceive the nations in order to gather them against the church as in Rev 20:8, and if so how does a postmillennial view address this? In other words, amillennials (I believe) hold the view just mentioned, whereas postmillennials seem to view this primarily as the “Christianizing” of the nations rather than only a restraint on those nations being gathered together against the church. Does 20:4 indicate a Christianizing of nations on earth?
If premillennialists don’t believe the cross has anything to do with the binding of Satan, that proves they don’t understand the basic tenet of Christianity. Christ’s work on the cross, and especially His resurrection, are everything. It will never be reversed.
No. But this is the issue that John draws out of it for his purposes.