Revelation 20 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

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“In that sense--not in every sense--the devil is bound...A dog securely bound with a long
and heavy chain can do great damage within the circle of his imprisonment. Outside that
circle, however, the animal can do no damage and can hurt no one. Thus also Revelation 20:
1-3 teaches us that Satan's power is curbed and his influence curtailed with respect to one
definite sphere of activity: ‘that he should deceive the nations no more.’" (Ibid.)
Over against Hendricksen's view, we observe that the symbolism of being thrown down
into the abyss that is then locked and sealed over is a much stronger symbol than that of a
dog being chained to a post! It symbolizes the absence and elimination of evil forces in human
history during that time of being “bound,” not just their limitation!
Walvoord states that "There are few theories of scripture that are less warranted than
the idea that satan was bound at the first coming of Christ." (P. 292) Walvoord quotes numerous
passages from the New Testament that show satanic activity both throughout the ministry
of Jesus and subsequent to His death and resurrection--Luke 22:3, Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians
4:3-4; 11:14; Ephesians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Timothy 2:26, and especially
1 Peter 5:8, where the warning is given, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. This passage, instead of
saying that satan is bound and unable to deceive the nations, pictures him as a lion which has
been loosed, walking about, roaring, seeking someone to devour...
“That satan is hindered by the protective power of God is evident throughout the scriptures
as in the case of Job. There is no evidence whatever that satan is bound today, but rather
the mounting evil in the world and in the church would seem to demonstrate that he is
more active than ever. The nations of the world are being deceived today and saints are
being opposed by the ceaseless activity and deceptive power of satan.” (P. 293)
However, we ask Walvoord, "Is there then no difference between the situation of Job,
and the situation of the followers of Jesus, as a consequence of Jesus' death and resurrection?"
What about the passage in Jacob (“James”) 4:7, “Resist the accuser (dia,boloj), and
he will flee from you!”? Does that not imply that the accuser is on a “short leash”?
It should be pointed out, in the light of these two sharply conflicting interpretations of
Hendricksen and Walvoord, that both views have valid bases in biblical literature upon which
to build their cases. When such a situation occurs, just as in church conflicts, a third or fourth
(or more) alternative should be sought. Can we not affirm (in the light of the passages affirming
the "binding" of the adversary) that whenever the nations, or individuals, in this present
time "bind" themselves to Jesus as High Priest and King, the demonic power of evil is at least
to some significant degree broken and "bound" as far as they remain loyal to their commitment?
Have they not, by this decision, left the "abyss," and entered into a new, heavenly
environment (i.e., taken their stand on "Mount Zion")?
But must we not at the same time affirm with Valvoord that even in spite of all that the
Little Lamb has done to win the victory for His people, if they do not follow where He leads,
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