Is Satan Bound?

Q

My pastor recently stated that Satan is bound up right now. I thought that this was going to happen during the millennium, he would be released for a short time and then put away forever. My understanding has been that Satan is able to roam the earth and still has access to heaven, too (Job 1: 6&7). Can you help me or direct me to any scriptures that might clear this up for me?

A

I disagree with your pastor. As a well known Christian leader has said, “If Satan is bound now, his chain is too long.” 1 John 5:19 tells us the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Jesus called him the prince of this world (John 12:31) and Paul said he’s the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). That doesn’t sound like he’s bound to me.

Satan will be confined to Earth at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 12:9) and bound for 1000 years at the time of the 2nd Coming (Rev. 20:1-3). At the end of the Millennium, he’ll be released for a short time and then cast into the Lake of Fire to be tormented forever (Rev. 20:7-10).