On Satan’s Binding
and Loosing
By Dean E. Boelt
There are at least
two different senses in which the terms, binding and loosing are
used in Scripture with regard to satanic activity. In Revelation 20:2-3 we read
of Satan being bound for a thousand years, but afterwards he
is loosed for a little season.
There the Devil is
restrained by the Lord God for an extended period of time so that he should no
longer deceive the nations. But after this time period has passed the Divine
restraints are lifted and the serpent is free, for a little season, to express
himself more fully.
In this apocalyptic
language we have an interpretation of the restraint or outbreak, as the case
may be, of wickedness and deception in the earth. In other words the principle
to be seen here is this; wherever wickedness is gaining ground and increasing
in popularity among men, there the Devil has been loosed.
In this sense there
are times and places where the Devil is evidently bound and his influence
greatly restrained, but there are also occasions and localities where he has
been obviously loosed. And so long as we remain in this present evil
world, we are still in the domain where this kind of binding and loosing occurs
intermittently and repeatedly.
The other sense in which
the term, binding, at least, is used is found in such places as
Matthew 12:29 and Mark 3:27. “No man can enter into a strong man's house, and
spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then
he will spoil his house.” And as Christ did with this one who was “possessed
with a devil, blind, and dumb” (Mt. 12:22), so He does with all today who
believe and obey the gospel. He binds the strong man,
Satan, so
that the wicked one touches them not (cf. I Jn. 5:18).
That is to say, the old serpent does not have the power to effectively turn
believing men and women away from the living God, to make them quit relying on
Christ and cleaving to the Lord by overpowering them. Christ has
bound the strong man! Praise be to His Name!
The Devil can still
tempt, seduce, and beguile, to be sure, but this will only prove to be
effective where men and women have quit believing the record that God gave of
His Son. [Such unbelieving ones are open season for Satan’s devices and
delusions (cf. II Tim. 2:25-26)].
In conclusion then,
let us “keep” ourselves “in the love of God” (Jude 21; cf. I Jn. 5:18), and
give thanks that, in such keeping of ourselves, this “strong man,” who would
turn us away from the God of our salvation, isbound and there is no
intermittent or extended loosing of him in this sense.
