Jesus Binds Satan For Us
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, bound him for a thousand years, threw him into the abyss, locked it, and set a seal on it, so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years come to an end. After this he must be released for a short time. (Revelation 20:1–3)
These words of Revelation are more misinterpreted than any other words in Scripture it seems. Many people seem to think that there will be a literal thousand-year reign when Christians will reign with Jesus before the end comes. This reign will bring with it peace and security and mass conversions. Yet Scripture elsewhere, especially in the gospels, tells us differently. It tells us that the end of the world will be very harsh on Christians and many will fall away.
This vision from John then has to be talking about the New Testament Era. John here recounts in figurative language something that he saw with his own eyes: the binding of Satan. The angel who holds the chain and the key to the abyss must be Jesus. Jesus bound the dragon, who is Satan, and threw him into the abyss. Jesus did this when he took Satan’s power from him on the cross. He bound Satan so that he no longer has power over God’s people. We are no longer under the power of Satan because he has been bound. His power has been taken from him. Jesus has done that for us. He has done that so that we might be with him forever in eternity. This is how he preserves and protects his people because he loves us. Amen.
The song for today is “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” by Concordia Publishing House