“He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and BOUND him for a thousand years.” – Rev 20:2

Satan was “BOUND” in the bottomless pit, and was prevented from hindering the spread of the gospel during the transition period from Old to New Testament Covenants in the first century AD. He was operated like the “mob boss” in a prison.

At the end of his temporary sentence, he was released and proceeded to deceive the nation to go to war. This may have included the “war” against the saints in the Neronic persecutions. His deception involved the Jewish-Roman war in which the wrath of God was poured out on Israel. It ended in 70ad with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

In the same sense, Apostle Paul was BOUND by the Roman authorities and kept in chains for years. In spite of this he was able to move around and minister in certain ways. Paul was able to spread the gospel to the Churches; write some of his canonical epistles; and to minister to those around him. His ministry as an Apostle was very effective even though he was “BOUND” or imprisoned at times.

“But after two years Porcius Fetus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul BOUND.” -Acts 24:27

“For this reason, therefore I have called you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN.” -Acts 28:20

BOUND is the Greek word “deo”-[Strong’s #1210-to be bound or be in bonds]. The word “BOUNDARIES” (aka: “bounds”) in Acts 17:26 ins Greek- “horothesia”-[Strong’s #3734= fixing a limit or restricted boundary-line.]

“And He has made from one blood (Adam) every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and has determined their preappointed times and the BOUNDRIES or their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” -Acts 17:26-27

There was a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years so that she could not raise herself up. When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and healed her. This was on the Sabbath and the ruler of the synagogue criticized Him for healing on that day. The Lord said: ” Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has BOUND- think of it- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” – Luke 12:19-16

Now, these examples, (Paul and the woman) show that being BOUND does not mean that the person cannot move around and function at all. Instead, they are able to function, even though with some restrictions or boundaries.

Likewise, Satan was BOUND so that he was restricted from deceiving the nations during the transition period. Satan was loosed from that restriction for a little while in c.63ad. He proceeded to deceive the non-believing Jews, including the Jewish Zealots, to fight against each other and against the Romans. -Rev 20:7-9

The result was that 67-70ad God poured out His wrath on the city of Jerusalem and the temple, destroying them completely by fire. This concluded in 70ad.l The Old Covenant Jewish religious system (aka: old heaven and the old earth) was then fully established going forward in human history.

In 70ad Satan was finally judged by Christ and sentenced to the Lake of Fire in the unseen realm forever. He is a defeated enemy of God.

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” -Rev 20:10

Even though Satan is tormented day and night forever and ever, he is able to function in some restricted manner in the darkness of the unseen realm. After 70ad he has no power against Christ or against born-again Christians who are in the Body of Christ by faitth.

-Michael Alan Nichols

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*I’ve have always known that Satan is a defeated foe for a born-again believer – but didn’t quite understand the timing for him being BOUND and his short time.

For me in the last year or so God has shown me that since the very day of Christ appearing at His first- coming (his birth) that Satan was bound (restricted to a degree). Think about it – our very savior, the very gospel arrived in the flesh to defeat the wiles of the devil; the whole and complete prophecy was born unto us to take away the sins of the world!

For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Until He (the Son in the flesh) died (took our sins upon Himself and paid our penalty) resurrected (defeated death and took back all His past saints from Shelo/ Hades) and ascended to the New heavens and sent His third role (the Holy Spirit/Wonderful Counselor) to then reside in anyone that choose to believe upon Him for salvation (a born-again believer). This is when I believe satan was loosed for a short time to deceive the nations once again until Jesus returned in the clouds in 70ad destroying the temple and burning all of the old system (Old Covenant). Heaven wasn’t open until the resurrection (Christ actual resurrection opened the heavens to all born-again believers- in which we now after the cross are spiritually resurrected upon our “last day” (the day we die- everyone has their own personal day with the Lord!) There is no ONE huge resurrection in the future. We serve a personal, intimate God not a partial, evil God. It’s time we repent for all the lies religion has taught making God out to be a schizophrenic tyrant!

During the real reign of Christ (while He walked the earth) until He ascended unto His throne being crowned Mighty God, Everlasting Father and sent us Him in third role (Holy Spirit/ Wonderful Counselor) I believe satan was restricted because our savior was here in the flesh defeating Him. I believe he (satan) was then loosed to confuse the masses, until Jesus destroyed the temple leaving not one stone – not one jot, not on tittle of the Old oppressive covenant that couldn’t save anyone!

And He answered and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”- Matt 24:2

“IT IS FINISHED” Truley is the pure, unhindered Gospel that we must all come to in order to understand that satan (with a small ‘s’ now) is completely defeated to the BORN AGIN CHILDREN OF GOD! I literally give satan no power! NONE because IT IS FINISHED!

I pray for those that are still kept under the blinding vail – that they quit giving a defeated foe any power over their minds! If we are born again, we must continually lift our mind to Christ!

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND and PURPOSES OF THE LORD, SO AS TO INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].- 1 Cor 2:16

All my BORN-AGAIN- IT IS FINISHED, satan is defeated LOVE, ❤ Diana xo, 🙂

“Now you are the BODY OF CHRIST, and members individually.” -1Cor 12:27

The BODY OF CHRIST is a description that is often used to identify His corporate Church. This includes all spiritually regenerated, elect believers, who are in Christ by faith. Each one is born-again spiritually and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spiritual BODY OF CHRIST. -Rom 12:5; Eph 4:4-6, 11-13.

For as many is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, ARE ONE BODY, SO ALSO IS CHRIST. For by one Spirit we were all BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. -1 Cor 12:12-13

All Christians in the New Covenant spiritual kingdom have been baptized into Christ. There is no longer any division between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. All believers are one in Christ Jesus. Believing Jews and Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promises to Abraham and are true spiritual Jews in Christ. -Gal 3:27-28; Eph 3:6

BOOK OF LIFE

“But there shall by no means enter it (New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s BOOK OF LIFE”. – Rev 21:27

“And anyone not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire.” -Rev 20:15

The BOOK OF LIFE, which God opened for the final judgement that occurred in 70AD, proves without a shadow of a doubt that all of God’s elect are believers in Christ. It shows for all future generations in the New Covenant gospel kingdom that their salvation is secure in Christ. All born-again elect believers, and only born-again elect believers, have their names written in the BOOK OF LIFE.

[Note: Those first century translations saints, between Christ’s first coming in 22-30AD and His second coming Parousia in 66-70AD, were still required to go through the tribulation just before the Parousia. They were required to overcome the extreme persecutions that they encountered from the unbelieving Jews and Romans. The faithful were all found to be righteous in Christ and have eternal life with Him forever. They passed out of judgement into life. – John 5:24]

The Book of Revelation was transmitted verbally to the saints as it was read in the churches. No one, who read it out loud to the saints, was allowed to add to or take away from the words of that prophecy. Any of those who would fall away from the faith would discover that their names were not in the BOOK OF LIFE. This situation only applied to the first century people. It is not applicable to us today in the fully established New Covenant kingdom. – Rev 3:5; Rev 22:19

From all eternity before the foundations of the world, God chose, elected and predestined those who would be saved. His decree was determined by the secret counsel and good pleasure of the triune Godhead. It is for His eternal, immutable, and righteous purpose. It is a demonstration of His glory. It is out of His free grace and love that He predestined His chosen one’s eternal life in Christ, although there is nothing in them to cause Him to choose them. -Isa 46:8-9; Dan 4:35; John 6:64; 10:26-29; 17:2,9; Acts 13:48; 15:18; Rom 8:30; 9:10-13; 15-16; Eph 1:11; 1 Thess 5:9; 2 Thess 2:13-14; 2 Tim 1:9; 2:9

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavely places in Christ, just as HE CHOSE US in Him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we sholuld be holy and without blame before Him in love, having PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL. -Eph 1:3-5

“For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God PREPARED BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them”.- Eph 2:10

Because God is God, He is sovereign and Almighty. Yet even so, He is not the author of sin, nor does He share any responsibility for the sin of sinners. Man is created so that he acts according to his strongest desires. Man, sins because he desires to sin. It is only when God changes a person’s heart through spiritual regeneration that he or she can have faith to believe in Christ. – John 1:12-13; 3:3-5; Eph 2:8-9

The will of creatures is not set aside because God had decreed all that should happen in time. This is a difficult concept for man to grasp. But suffice it to say that God is God; and man is man. God is righteous and Holy. Man is a sinner, always acting accordingly, in varying degrees. Praise, glory, and honor to God for the salvation that we have in Christ by grace. Without God choosing His elect, no one would be saved..

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by HIS OWN DESIRES and enticed. Then, when DESIRE HAS CONCIEVED, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death”. -James 1:13-15

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*When I read the word ‘predestined’, I realize that God knows the end from the beginning; therefore, He knows our every thought we will have and every decision we will ever make before we even existed. He ultimately knows who will believe in HIM before the foundations of the world was created. He knows all HIs creation intimately.

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.- Psa 139:13-18

We receive Christ by believing in and on Christ for our salvation and we MUST rest in the first commandment which Is LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND! – Matt 22:36

All my perfectly woven LOVE, ❤ Diana XO 🙂

Next topic: BOUND

People experience a BODILY CHANGE upon their deaths in this life on earth. Christ has destroyed death’s hold on His born again, elect, believers through His own death and resurrection. He has defeated His enemies, including that last one, which is death. – 1 Cor 15:20, 26

The NT writers talk about the glorified Jesus after the Ascension having a new kind of body. It was still the self-same body but changed or glorified into a kind of body that can inhabitant heaven.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, IT IS RAISED IN INCORRUPTION. It is sown in dishonor; IT IS RAISED IN GLORY. It is sown in weakness; IT IS RAISED IN POWER. It is sown a natural body; IT IS RAISED A SPIRITUAL BODY. There is a natura body, and THERE IS A SPIRITUAL BODY. – 1 Cor 15:42-44

The Above verses were written after the Ascension, but before the Parousia. Paul says that now we know Him according to the flesh no longer. John says that at the Parousia (66-70 AD), we will “BE LIKE HM’, because we will see Him just as He is (glorified) after the Ascension. Christ had His ‘self-same’ body that He had in His incarnation before the cross and after the Resurrection. But it was ‘changed and glorified” at His Ascension.

Now this I say brethren, that FLESH AND BLOOD cannot inherit the kingdom of God; NOR DOES CURRUPTION inherit incorruption.” – 1 Cor 15:50

We need to understand that “self-same’ does not mean flesh and blood, which cannot dwell in the heavenly environment. Christ’s body was changed, glorified, and befitted for heavenly existence. We will also “BE LIKE HIM” in order to dwell in the heavenly setting (unseen realm) for eternity.

Jesus offered His body as a sacrifice for our sins. He was sinless so He could lay down His body and take it back up again! He could ascend to heaven with that same body. But He was changed and glorified in His body for the heavenly life as God.

We also need to know that having a “spiritual” body does NOT mean that we do not have an individual, visible, heavenly body. Each individual “seed” gets its own body. – 1 Cor 15:38 Those first century saints had their bodies CHANGED at the last trump, which was at His Parousia. After 70 AD we have a different kind of bodily change.

Our old flesh and blood body drops away to dust and decay, never to be seen again. We instantly “PUT ON” our new visible, immortal, incorruptible, glorified, heavenly bodies when we die after 70AD. We report into the presence of Christ in the New Jerusalem and shall be with Him forever. -2 Cor 5:8; 1 Thess 4:17.

For this corruptible MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, and this mortal MUST PUT ON THE IMMORTALLITY. So, when this corruptible has PUT ON INCORRUPTION, and this mortal has PUT ON IMMORTALITY, then shall be brought to pass the saying which is written: “DEATH IS SWOLLOWED UP IN VICTORY”. – 1 Cor 15:53-54

Paul said that when he died, his new body from God would be an eternal heavenly body. he looked forward to it and was given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that he would receive his new heavenly body immediately when he died so that he would not experience a period of nakedness with no body at all.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, IS DESTROYED, we have A BUILDING FROM GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be CLOTHED WITH OUR HABITATION WHICH IS FROM HEAVEN, if indeed having been clothed, we shall NOT BE FOUND NAKED. For we who are in this tent grown, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, BUT FURTHUR CLOTHED, that mortality may be SWOLLOWED UP BY LIFE. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us THE SPIRIT AS A GUARANTEE.” 2 Cor 5:1-5.

*I truly found this one extra eye opening and the grand awesomeness of CHRIST DEFEATIG DEATH AND RESTORYING US TO HIM FOR ETERNITY!

All my incorruptible love, ❤ Diana XO 🙂

Next topics: BODY OF CHRIST& BOOK OF LIFE