End-Time Bible Study for the Faithful Remnant

Satan cast into Bottomless Pit What is the present state of Satan? Resulting from Jesus’ death on the Cross and his Resurrection, the power of Satan is now crushed: “Now the deliverance and the power and Kingdom of God and the power of his Christ have been accomplished . . . they have conquered him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:10–11 (AET) In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied about Satan’s later demise: “How are you fallen from heaven, O shining star . . . you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to the lowest depths . . . You will descend to the pit.” Isaiah 14:12–19 (NIV) As was done to Satan, also was done to his angels: “For God did not spare even the angels when they sinned; he threw them into hell, in gloomy caves and darkness until the judgment day.” 2 Peter 2:4 (NLT) Again, we are reminded of the angels who fell from grace and how “God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment.” Jude 1:6 (NLT) “For the mystery of iniquity is already at work, until he who now is the obstacle is taken out of the way. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NLT) “The beast you saw was alive [free] but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction [final judgment] . . .” Revelation 17:8 (NLT) John confirmed this in Revelation 20:1–3 (AET): “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon . . . who deceived the whole world and bound him a thousand years.” “When the thousand years end, Satan will be let out of his prison.” Revelation 20:7 (NIV) The Thousand-year Reign “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8–9 (NIV) The ‘Thousand-Year Reign of Christ,’ also known as the ‘Millennium,’ has derived meaning from three different schools of thought: (1) Pre-millennialism, (2) Post-millennialism, and (3) A-millennialism. In the Pre-millennial view, Christ’s second coming is before the millennium. In the post-millennial view, Christ comes after the millennium. In the A-millennial view, Christ’s second coming is also after the millennium; however, throughout the millennial years, Satan is defeated by Christ’s sacrifice and Resurrection and is restrained in the bottomless pit until the Day of Judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). Although man continues to live under the influence of evil, we live absent of the unleashed works of Satan so that Christianity may have a chance to spread throughout the whole world. And when this and the other specific ‘end time’ signs happen (Matthew 24), Satan will be released from the bottomless pit. Then the Wrath of God will come upon the remaining people who refuse to believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and the battle of Armageddon will finally result in the complete and utter destruction of Satan (Revelation 17:8). “. . . the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever.” Daniel 2:44 (NLT)