in my mind if one is depicted bound with a chain, then cast into a pit, then the pit locked up, that equals completely incapacitated. Let me provide a passage from the OT that demonstrates that that this is exactly what it adds up to---completely incapacitated.
Jeremiah 38:6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
This is a real world example. Why would Revelation 20 depict satan in a similar state, but that it wouldn't equal what it does here, completely incapacitated? satan is a spirit being---I get that. Spirit beings can't be detained or held anywhere? Does that mean when satan is cast into the LOF he won't be able to be detained there since he is a spirit being? Probably not, right?
The question is, is the bottomless pit a place? Why wouldn't it be? When is the last time anyone has seen locusts(not literal locusts, yet they are obviously something literal, maybe demons. demons are literal) roaming around all over the place tormenting men with their tails? Revelation 9 records that they emerge from the pit. Where are they at in the meantime if the pit is not literal?
Because we are looking at a symbolic portrayal in the most figurative setting in Scripture. This is apocalyptic language describing the spiritual restraint of Satan today allowing the enlightenment of the Gentiles. Why is that so difficult to grasp?
Let us nail this once-and-for-all.
Revelation 20 is not a literal physical depiction.
· Is Satan a literal snake (Revelation 12:9, 14, 15, 20:2)?
· Is Satan a literal dragon (Revelation 12:3,4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17, 13:2, 4, 11, 16:13, 20:2)?
Of course not. We are looking at figurative language. This symbolism is presented to depict his vicious and subtle malevolence. It shows the danger of his presence and danger of his ability.
Do you believe we are looking at a literal metal chain? Is the abyss a literal physical prison? How can a wicked spirit be restrained by literal metal chains in a literal physical prison?
Imprisonment and chains are constantly used in Scripture to describe spiritual restraint. This is seen in how the Holy Spirit depicts the wicked. For example, Satan is presented in Scripture as imprisoning his followers and refusing to release them from his spiritual prison. The Gentiles are repeatedly depicted in the OT as imprisoned and being in chains. We see this is Lamentations 3:33-34, Psalm 68:6, 79:10-11, 102:19-20, 107:8-16, 146:7-8, Isaiah 14:12-17, 42:6-7, 49:8-9, 58:6-12, 60:1-3, 61:1 and 58:6-12.
So, were the unsaved Gentiles literal "prisoners" walking about in this world in literal physical "chains" confined to a literal physical "prison" before the cross?
Premillennialists have little difficulty accepting the spiritual reality that the wicked today are bound by spiritual chains of sin and are imprisoned by their own lusts in Satan’s prison and yet are able to freely operate physically on this earth. One wonders why they should then struggle with the concept of the spiritual binding of spiritual beings. Why would they dismiss the fact that the kingdom of darkness has been placed in such chains since the first advent?
Imprisonment and chains are constantly used in Scripture to describe spiritual restraint. This is seen in how the Holy Spirit depicts the wicked. For example, Satan is presented in Scripture as imprisoning his followers and refusing to release them from his spiritual prison.
OT evidence of the figurative usage of chains and prison
Psalms 79:10-11 declares,
“Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.”
Were all the heathen literal prisoners? Of course not!
Did this indicate they were immobile? Did this mean they could not kill, steal and destroy? Of course not!
Psalms 102:19-20 says,
“For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.”
Is the Psalmist talking about literal prisoners? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Psalms 107:8-16 describes,
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”
Were these chains literally iron? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Psalms 146:7-8 declares,
“The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous.”
Are these literal prisoners or is it describing the wicked?
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Lamentations 3:33-34 says,
“For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.”
Does Satan have all his devotees in a literal physical prison? Of course not!
Psalms 68:6 prophesied of those in darkness in the Old Testament:
“he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”
Were the Gentiles (before the cross) curtailed by literal chains? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Isaiah 14:12-17 tells us,
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (
helel or shining one),
son of the morning (dawn)
! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?”
Does Satan have all his devotees in a literal physical prison? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Isaiah 42:6-7 says,
"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
Were the Gentiles (before the cross) held in a literal prison house? Of course not!
Does that mean all Gentiles will be enlightened? Of course not. It is a general statement like Revelation 20.
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Isaiah 49:8-9 says,
“Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.”
Does Satan have all his devotees in a literal physical prison? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Isaiah 58:6-12 asks,
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”
Were these chains literally iron? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
Isaiah 60:1-3 says,
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
Were the Gentiles (before the cross) held in a literal prison house? Of course not!
Does that mean all Gentiles will be enlightened? Of course not. It is a general statement like Revelation 20.
Isaiah 61:1 says,
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
Are those that Christ come to set free bound with physical chains? Of course not!
Does this mean the wicked are unable to move freely on this earth, influence others and cause evil? Of course not.
It is wrong to believe that Revelation 20 is a literal depiction describing the devil being physically chained, tossed into a physical abyss, and physically sealed so that he cannot deceive the nations anymore and yet still walk about this earth seeking whom he may devour. Amils don’t accept that this is physical language neither do they believe that spirits are physically chained and that they can be restrained by a literal prison. They believe that they are spiritually chained in a spiritual prison.
