Whereas at the beginning of the Millenium, the two henchman of Satan, namely the two beasts of Revelation 13, being the Antichrist and the False Prophet, have already been consigned to the lake of fire to be tormented for ever and ever, being a period described as “to the ages of the ages”, Satan first spends a 1000 years bound in the Pit before suffering the very same fate. And the question is why? Why would God reserve a somewhat different expression of His ultimate judgement specifically for His arch enemy the devil? And whereas there is no scriptural evidence to suggest this, for the Word adds no further commentary on this, it would appear that God is doing this for a couple of reasons.

     Firstly, it would appear to be in order that God can make a public display of Satan at the end of the Millenium. One to avenge the honour of His Son. For is it not written that vengeance is God’s and God’s alone (Deuteronomy 32:35)? It appears that in much the same way that the devil made a public and callous display of humiliation for His Son at the Cross, the LORD our God has reserved an equal public display of humiliation for the devil at the end of the millennium age. And the reservation of this public display includes all those who, even after a 1000 years of the example of life under righteous reign and loving rule, still prefer to choose complete isolation and independence from God, and therefore from righteousness and love, and to choose for themselves what is right and wrong, and good and evil, being all those who ultimately have the same nature and spirit as their father the devil. For just like Jesus is the radiance of His Father’s glory and the exact representation of His Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3), there will likewise be the sons of the devil, being those who are likewise the radiance of the devil’s glory (pride) and the exact representation of his nature (darkness). For is it not written, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister” (Hebrews 1:3).

     But, secondly, it appears to also be for the benefit of the sons of God in knowing the depths of the generosity and grace of the heart of their Father. For is it not said, “For where sin abounds, grace abounds more” (Romans 5:20)? For whilst Satan was cast from heaven and “incarcerated upon the earth”, he still had a certain measure of complete freedom and power in that incarceration. For although he be constrained to earth, he still RULES his kingdom from a THRONE. For the book of Revelation tells us plainly that the devil has a throne (Revelation 2:13). He has a place to live, and he rules with a government. He has the freedom and power to rule the affairs of the world from his throne, together with all his kingdom subjects.

     However, in the Abyss or the Pit, it is clearly emphasised, through five verbs, that the devil is forcibly bound with huge chains for the entire 1000 years. And, therefore, he is without any freedom at all. That all his erstwhile earthly privileges have been completely removed from him. For it clearly says that a descending angel with a huge chain seizes, binds, throws, locks and seals him in the Pit. In other words, the prince of the air, the ruler of the kingdom of darkness, is rendered entirely impotent and mute for a 1000 years, having had his power of government and authority completely stripped from him.

    And as such, rather than busy himself with the details and affairs of his earthly government, and with ruling the ends of his kingdom, the devil now has a 1000 uninterrupted years to single-mindedly reflect upon his nature and his behaviour, a prolonged and lengthy period without any kind of distraction. For even though the LORD God knows that the nature of the devil is both unable and unwilling to repent, for it has descended into the state of perdition, let no man ever question the generous nature of the heart of the Father, or the extent of the mercy seat of God, to afford everyone more than ample opportunity to turn from their ways, to seek His face, and to genuinely repent. The 1000 years is a way of demonstrating to all of creation that He is truly a kind and forgiving God, that He gave even the devil a 1000 years to reflect upon his ways and his future.

     And if He gave the devil such an undeserving opportunity, what more shall He give us? He will likewise give everyone the same opportunity. But the LORD would have it that no one take His heart or His nature or His generosity for granted. But that we seek Him whilst He may still be found. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-6).

     “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:10‬).

     “And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42).