The Binding Of
Satan
Revelation 20:1-3
For four thousand years
the nations of the world were deceived by satan, held
in the bondage and gross darkness of false religion. Only the nation of Israel had the light of Divine Truth. Then
Christ came, laid hold upon the old serpent and bound him with the strong chain
of his omnipotence "that he should deceive the nations no more." Our
mighty Savior has bound the strong one that he might take his spoils and gather
his elect from the four corners of the earth (Matt. 12:29; Rev. 12:5-11). How
is satan bound?
1. Our Lord began to bind satan,
TRIUMPHING OVER HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF TEMPTATION, BY THE WORD OF GOD (Matt.
4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Having bound the strong man, our Lord began to spoil his
goods, casting out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead, and saving the
lost. Satan's power over the masses began to be curtailed.
2. In the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord BROKE THE POWER OF SATAN BY
FAITH AND PRAYER (Matt. 26:36-46). The devil tried to keep our Redeemer from
the cross. But he rose in triumph after he had prayed (Heb. 5:7-9), and went to
the cross with confident faith to lay down his life for us (Heb. 12:1-2).
3. Christ Jesus CRUSHED THE SERPENT'S HEAD BY HIS TRIUMPHANT DEATH
UPON THE CROSS (John 12:28-32). He broke the power of satan's usurped dominion over the earth and began to draw
his elect from every nation to himself by the virtue of his sin-atoning
sacrifice.
4. When our Lord ascended up into heaven, exalted as King over all
things, HE BROUGHT SATAN INTO CAPTIVITY UNDER HIS SOVEREIGN RULE (Psa.
68:18-19; Col. 2:13-15). The slithering serpent of Eden is now under the rule of the Man, Christ
Jesus, our great Savior. He roars against us as
viciously as ever. But he cannot devour, or even harm, God's elect.
5. And satan is bound by the power of
Christ today THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL (Luke 10:16-20). As God's servants preach the gospel
of the grace of God, when it is effectually applied to the hearts of sinners by
the power of the Holy Spirit, satan is bound.
Don Fortner