按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
has caused them to commit。 And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land
not inhabited； so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth； an
uninhabited and dreary wilderness。
The revelator foretells the banishment of Satan and the condition of chaos
and desolation to which the earth is to be reduced； and he declares that
this condition will exist for a thousand years。 After presenting the scenes
of the Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked； the prophecy
continues： 〃I saw an angel come down from heaven； having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand。 And he laid hold on the
dragon； that old serpent； which is the devil； and Satan； and bound him a
thousand years； and cast him into the bottomless pit； and shut him up； and
set a seal upon him； that he should deceive the nations no more； till the
thousand years should be fulfilled： and after that he must be loosed a
little season。〃 Revelation 20：1…3。
That the expression 〃bottomless pit〃 represents the earth in a state of
confusion and darkness is evident from other scriptures。 Concerning the
condition of the earth 〃in the beginning；〃 the Bible record says that it
〃was without form； and void； and darkness was upon the face of the deep。〃＇*
THE HEBREW WORD HERE TRANSLATED 〃DEEP〃 IS RENDERED IN THE SEPTUAGINT （GREEK）
TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW OLD TESTAMENT BY THE SAME WORD RENDERED
〃BOTTOMLESS PIT〃 IN REVELATION 20：1…3。＇
659
Genesis 1：2。 Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back； partially at
least； to this condition。 Looking forward to the great day of God； the
prophet Jeremiah declares： 〃I beheld the earth； and； lo； it was without
form； and void； and the heavens； and they had no light。 I beheld the
mountains； and； lo； they trembled； and all the hills moved lightly。 I
beheld； and； lo； there was no man； and all the birds of the heavens were
fled。 I beheld； and； lo； the fruitful place was a wilderness； and all the
cities thereof were broken down。〃 Jeremiah 4：23…26。
Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years。
Limited to the earth； he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and
annoy those who have never fallen。 It is in this sense that he is bound：
there are none remaining； upon whom he can exercise his power。 He is wholly
cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many centuries has
been his sole delight。
The prophet Isaiah； looking forward to the time of Satan's overthrow；
exclaims： 〃How art thou fallen from heaven； O Lucifer； son of the morning！
how art thou cut down to the ground； which didst weaken the nations！ 。 。 。
Thou hast said in thine heart； I will ascend into heaven； I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God： 。 。 。 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？〃 Isaiah 14：12…17。
For six thousand years； Satan's work of rebellion has 〃made the earth to
tremble。〃 He had 〃made the world as a wilderness； and destroyed the cities
thereof。〃 And he 〃opened not the house of his prisoners。〃 For six thousand
years his prison house has received God's people； and he would have held
them captive forever； but Christ had broken his bonds and set the prisoners
free。
660
Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan； and alone with his
evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has
brought。 〃The kings of the nations； even all of them； lie in glory； everyone
in his own house ＇the grave＇。 But thou art cast out thy grave like an
abominable branch。 。 。 。 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial；
because thou hast destroyed thy land； and slain thy people。〃 Isaiah
14：18…20。
For a thousand years； Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth to
behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God。 During this time
his sufferings are intense。 Since his fall his life of unceasing activity
has banished reflection； but he is now deprived of his power and left to
contemplate the part which he has acted since first he rebelled against the
government of heaven； and to look forward with trembling and terror to the
dreadful future when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be
punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed。
To God's people the captivity of Satan will bring gladness and rejoicing。
Says the prophet： 〃It shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give
thee rest from thy sorrow； and from thy trouble； and from the hard service
wherein thou wast made to serve； that thou shalt take up this parable
against the king of Babylon ＇here representing Satan＇； and say； How hath the
oppressor ceased！ 。 。 。 Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked； the
scepter of the rulers； that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual
stroke； that ruled the nations in anger； with a persecution that none
restrained。〃 Verses 3…6； R。V。
During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection the
judgment of the wicked takes place。 The apostle Paul points to this judgment
as an event that follows the second advent。 〃Judge nothing before the time；
until the Lord come； who both will bring to light the hidden things of
darkness； and will make manifest the counsels of
661
the hearts。〃 1 Corinthians 4：5。 Daniel declares that when the Ancient of
Days came； 〃judgment was given to the saints of the Most High。〃 Daniel 7：22。
At this time the righteous reign as kings and priests unto God。 John in the
Revelation says： 〃I saw thrones； and they sat upon them； and judgment was
given unto them。〃 〃They shall be priests of God and of Christ； and shall
reign with Him a thousand years。〃 Revelation 20：4； 6。 It is at this time
that； as foretold by Paul； 〃the saints shall judge the world。〃 1 Corinthians
6：2。 In union with Christ they judge the wicked； comparing their acts with
the statute book； the Bible； and deciding every case according to the deeds
done in the body。 Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted
out； according to their works； and it is recorded against their names in the
book of death。
Satan also and evil angels are judged by Christ and His people。 Says Paul：
〃Know ye not that we shall judge angels？〃 Verse 3。 And Jude declares that
〃the angels which kept not their first estate； but left their own
habitation； He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day。〃 Jude 6。
At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place。
Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the
execution of 〃the judgment written。〃 Thus the revelator； after describing
the resurrection of the righteous； says： 〃The rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished。〃 Revelation 20：5。 And Isaiah
declares； concerning the wicked： 〃They shall be gathered together； as
prisoners are gathered in the pit； and shall be shut up in the prison； and
after many days shall they be visited。〃 Isaiah 24：22。
（662）
Chapter 42
The Controversy Ended
At the close of the thousand years； Christ again returns to the earth。 He is
accompanied by the host of the redeemed and attended by a retinue of angels。
As He descends in terrific majesty He bids the wicked dead arise to receive
their doom。 They come forth； a mighty host； numberless as the sands of the
sea。 What a contrast to those who were raised at the first resurrection！ The
righteous were clothed with immortal youth and beauty。 The wicked bear the
traces of disease and death。
Every eye in that vast multitude is turned to behold the glory of the Son of
God。 With one voice the wicked hosts exclaim： 〃Blessed is He that cometh in
the name of the Lord！〃 It is not