Some people believe that we are in what they call "SATAN'S LITTLE SEASON".
The phrase "LITTLE SEASON" is only used twice in the King James Version of the Bible.
1) Revelation 6:11 And WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN UNTO EVERY ONE OF THEM; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a LITTLE SEASON, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
2) Revelation 20:3 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.
LITTLE
Word Summary: mikros: small, little
Transliteration: mikros
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-ros')
Part of Speech: Adjective
Short Definition: small, little
Strong's Concordance: least, less, little, small.
Including the comparative mikroteros (ik-rot'-er-os) apparently a primary word; small (in size, quantity, number or (figuratively) dignity) -- least, less, little, small.
SEASON
Word Summary: chronos: time
Transliteration: chronos
Phonetic Spelling: (khron'-os)
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Short Definition: time
Strong's Concordance: time, season
Of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from kairos, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from aion, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay -- + years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.
All of the following Bible Verses are copied from the New King James Version unless noted otherwise.
From Revelation 20:2-3 we know that Satan was loosed after he had been bound for 1,000 years... Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, WHICH IS THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, AND BOUND HIM A THOUSAND YEARS, Revelation 20:3 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.
SATAN ENTERED JUDAS AT THE LAST SUPPER
Many believe that Satan was bound during Jesus earthly ministry but I don't think so.
According to the following verse Satan was NOT bound during Jesus ministry... John 13:27 Now after the piece of bread, SATAN ENTERED HIM. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
So how could Satan enter Judas if he was BOUND?
SATAN WAS BOUND AFTER THE CROSS
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; NOW THE RULER OF THIS WORLD WILL BE CAST OUT. John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." John 12:33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
THEREFORE THE 1,000 YEARS OF SATAN'S BINDING BEGAN AFTER THE CROSS (A.D. 30 or 33).
I believe that Satan was BOUND when Christ Descended into Hades after his death but before his Resurrection... 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:19 by whom also HE WENT AND PREACHED TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON, 1 Peter 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
Christ took some of Hades prisoners at the 1st Resurrection... Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Matthew 27:52 and THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED; Matthew 27:53 AND COMING OUT OF THE GRAVES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, THEY WENT INTO THE HOLY CITY AND APPEARED TO MANY. Matthew 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
Here's something to consider...
Scripture does not say what happened to those who came out of their graves after Christ's Resurrection in Matthew 27:52-53 but I believe the following verse means that when Christ ascended they went to heaven with him... Ephesians 4:8 Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."
It's hard to believe that these saints could have been in Jerusalem for 40 days and then ascended to Heaven with Jesus. It seems to me that if they had been in Jerusalem for 40 days then most of the city would have believed on Jesus. Perhaps Jesus took them to Heaven the Day of his Resurrection. I say that because of the following scripture...
John 20:15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." John 20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but GO TO MY BRETHREN AND SAY TO THEM, 'I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, AND TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.' " John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Why would Jesus tell Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples that he was ASCENDING TO THE FATHER if he wasn't ascending for 40 days? Perhaps Jesus took the resurrected saints to heaven and then returned on the same day as the Resurrection. Of course this is just speculation but it makes sense.
Those who Ascended may have been Martyrs. The reason I say they may have been Martyrs is because John the Revelator was in Heaven when the 5th Seal was opened and he saw Martyrs... Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I SAW UNDER THE ALTAR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD and for the testimony which they held. Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Revelation 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should REST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
According to the Syriac New Testament the New Testament Martyrs were in the group... SYRIAC: (9) "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar, the souls of them who were slain on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony TO THE LAMB WHICH WAS WITH THEM."
The Syriac Peshitta - I like James Murdock's translation the best.
I believe the Martyrs of Revelation 6:9-11 were the same Martyrs as the ones mentioned in Revelation 20:4 and that group may have included Old Testament Martyrs... Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." There's no doubt that New Testament Martyrs were in this group.
I read where one Preterist said that these Martyrs were in Hades but I have never seen a scripture that stated that there was an "Altar" in Hades. There were BARS though... (KJV) Job 17:16 They shall go down to the BARS of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. Just Kidding! LOL
These Martyrs went to Heaven AFTER Jesus' Resurrection because Jesus said... John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. There may have been 2 Exceptions to this: Enoch and Elijah.
The Martyrs were under the ALTAR in Heaven. The temple and altars on earth were copies of the temple and altars in Heaven and the altar of sacrifice was located outside the temple. Here's what Robertson's Word Pictures and Albert Barnes Commentary says about the altar and the location in Revelation 6:9-10...
Robertson's: “Under” (hupokato¯), for the blood of the sacrifices was poured at the bottom of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). The altar of sacrifice (Exodus 39:39; Exodus 40:29), not of incense. The imagery, as in Hebrews, is from the tabernacle. This altar in heaven is symbolic, of course, the antitype for the tabernacle altar (Hebrews 8:5).
Albert Barnes: On them that dwell on the earth - Those who are still on the earth. This shows that the scene here is laid in heaven, and that the souls of the martyrs are represented as there.
Some interpret Hebrews 9:8 to mean that people could not enter Heaven while the Jewish Temple was still standing or had standing (validity)... "the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing." (YLT) Hebrews 9:8 the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy places , the first tabernacle having yet a standing; (Young's Literal Translation).
I'm going with "or had standing (validity)". The veil of the temple was torn when Jesus was crucified and I believe that indicated that the temple no longer had standing or validity. Here's what Cambridge Bible Commentary says about Hebrews 9:8...
Cambridge Bible Commentary: [that the way into the holiest … was not yet made manifest] Entrance into the Holiest symbolised direct access to God, and the “way” into it had not been made evident until He came who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is “the new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-20).
[while as the first tabernacle was yet standing] Rather, “while yet the outer Tabernacle is still standing,” i.e. so long as there is (for the Temple, which represented the continuity of the Tabernacle and the Old Covenant, had not sunk in flames, as it did a few years later) an outer Tabernacle, through which not even a Priest was ever allowed to enter into the Holiest. Hence the deep significance of the rending of the veil of the Temple from the top to the bottom at the Crucifixion. (Matthew 27:51).
Where does scripture say that Heaven was the Most Holy Place? Couldn't the Most Holy Place be the Temple in Heaven?
Scripture states that "NO ONE WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE TEMPLE TILL THE SEVEN PLAGUES OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WERE COMPLETED"... Revelation 15:5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. Revelation 15:6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. Revelation 15:8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and NO ONE WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE TEMPLE TILL THE SEVEN PLAGUES OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WERE COMPLETED.
The Temple in Heaven was not opened until the Last Trumpet was blown... Revelation 11:19 "THEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." Since Revelation shows that there were people in heaven before the last trumpet was blown then maybe they were not allowed in the temple in heaven (Most Holy Place) until it was opened in Revelation 11:19. So, GOD'S WRATH was completed and the Temple in Heaven was Opened. How convenient! It was opened right on time because another very important event occurred WHEN the Last Trumpet was Blown and that was THE 2ND RESURRECTION... 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Jesus said in John 11:26 "And whoever lives and BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE." Obviously he was not talking about physical death of the body. I believe that he meant Separation from GOD in Hades. We know that Believers were Martyred before the 2nd Resurrection. I believe that those who Died in Christ before the 2nd Resurrection went straight to Heaven. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD."
The prophet Isaiah may have been one of those Old Testament Martyrs. According to tradition he was sawn in two. I believe Isaiah prophesied of the 1st Resurrection and he was one of them... Isaiah 26:19 YOUR DEAD SHALL LIVE; Together with MY DEAD BODY THEY SHALL ARISE. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And THE EARTH SHALL CAST OUT THE DEAD.
The word "BODY" is translated from the Greek word NEBELAH and it means: a carcass, corpse.
Word Summary: nebelah: a carcass, corpse
Transliteration: nebelah
Phonetic Spelling: (neb-ay-law')
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Short Definition: a carcass, corpse
Strong's Concordance: dead body, dead carcass, dead of itself, which died, beast that which dieth of itself
From nabel; a flabby thing, i.e. A carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol -- (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself.
NEBELAH is used 48 times in 41 verses in the old testament and always refers to the dead bodies of animals or humans.
Here's what Cambridge Bible Commentary says about Isaiah 26:19... "Here the hope is restricted to Israelites (see Isaiah 26:14) and no doubt to those Israelites who had departed this life in the faith and fear of God. On the other hand, the teaching of this verse is quite different from such passages as Hosea 6:2; Ezekiel 37:1-14. There rising from the dead is but a figurative clothing of the idea of national regeneration, whereas there can be no doubt that here a literal resurrection of individuals is foretold."
The 1st Resurrection was Biological/Physical. It had to be... Who would have believed that Christ had been Resurrected if it had only been Spiritual and no one had seen him after his resurrection? Christianity would never have been established if there were no witnesses to Christ's Resurrection!
A Major Problem that people have who believe that we are in SATAN'S LITTLE SEASON is that they disregard scripture and put the 1st Resurrection in A.D. 70!
The Apostle Paul REVEALED the TIMING of Both Resurrections... 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST ALL SHALL BE MADE ALIVE. 1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS, AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING.
The Resurrection at the time of Christ's Resurrection can't be counted as Resurrection ZERO. That was the 1ST Resurrection! You do realize that in Matthew 27:52 that "THE SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WERE RAISED" is a RESURRECTION don't you?
Here's what Paul said about the (2nd) Resurrection in Acts... Acts 24:14 'And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, Acts 24:15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, that THERE IS ABOUT TO BE A RISING AGAIN OF THE DEAD, BOTH OF RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS; (Young's Literal Translation). The Greek word MELLO is used and it means "to be about to" in English or "fixin' to" if you speak Southern. The book of Acts was probably written in A.D. 61-62 (See the Chart Below).
When talking about the Kind of Body that the Resurrected would have Paul said that they would have a SPIRITUAL BODY and THAT FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD... 1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body, IT IS RAISED A SPIRITUAL BODY. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, THAT FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Some are confused by Revelation 20:5... "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
The phrase "BUT THE REST OF THE DEAD DID NOT LIVE AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED" is not included in about 40% of the manuscripts and is a parenthetical statement.
(GNB) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead (Good News Bible).
(NIV) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection (New International Version).
(NRSV) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection (New Revised Standard Version).
The Syriac Peshitta version leaves out the phrase completely... Revelation 20:5 - This is the first resurrection.
So Revelation 20:5 is referring to Revelation 20:4... "And I saw THRONES, and they sat on them, and JUDGMENT WAS COMMITTED TO THEM. Then I saw the souls of THOSE WHO HAD BEEN BEHEADED FOR THEIR WITNESS TO JESUS and for the word of God, WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS." Obviously, "THOSE WHO HAD BEEN BEHEADED FOR THEIR WITNESS TO JESUS" such as James the Apostle in A.D. 44 and those "WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST" were NOT Resurrected at the time of Jesus so who is correct: John or Paul? I believe both are correct or we have a problem with scripture being inspired by the Holy Spirit! Therefore, from the time of Christ's Resurrection to the time of the 2nd Resurrection in A.D. 70 has to be considered as the 1st Resurrection. Christians who died AFTER Christ's Resurrection and BEFORE the 2nd Resurrection went straight to Heaven to be with him. Remember what Paul said... 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.
DANIEL 12
The prophet Daniel prophesied about the Great Tribulation or Jewish-Roman War, the Resurrection of the Righteous & Unrighteous and their Judgment... Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. Daniel 12:2 AND MANY OF THOSE WHO SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE, SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE, SOME TO SHAME AND EVERLASTING CONTEMPT.
Daniel is also told WHEN these things would happen... Daniel 12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that IT SHALL BE FOR A TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME; AND WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SHATTERED, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED.
The Hebrews Power was the Old Covenant and it was COMPLETELY SHATTERED in A.D. 70 with the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple! That was the END of the AGE and the Old Covenant!
So the Resurrection in A.D. 70 was the 2nd Resurrection and it included BOTH the "RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS". The Great White Throne Judgment was right after the 2nd Resurrection. It was when everyone was JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS... Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a GREAT WHITE THRONE and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And THEY WERE JUDGED, EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Jesus revealed WHEN people would be JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS... Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. Matthew 16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." It would happen within THAT GENERATION!
Jesus also revealed that the Days of the Jewish-Roman War was WHEN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED. Luke 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that ITS DESOLATION IS NEAR. Luke 21:21 Then LET THOSE WHO ARE IN JUDEA FLEE to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. Luke 21:22 For THESE ARE THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE, that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED. Luke 21:23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and WRATH UPON THIS PEOPLE. Luke 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be TRAMPLED BY GENTILES until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Scripture reveals how long Jerusalem would be TRAMPLED BY GENTILES... Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. Revelation 11:2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, FOR IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE GENTILES. AND THEY WILL TREAD THE HOLY CITY UNDERFOOT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS.
Notice how that's equal to the same amount of time as mentioned in Daniel 12:7 (A TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME)!
Luke also said that the SON OF MAN would COME IN A CLOUD AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM... Luke 21:27 Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." And Jesus sald that ALL would happen in THAT GENERATION... Luke 21:31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:32 Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THINGS TAKE PLACE.
SATAN WAS BOUND FOR 1,000 YEARS
Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is THE DEVIL AND SATAN, AND BOUND HIM FOR A THOUSAND YEARS;
The 1,000 years that Satan was bound could not have been a literal 1,000 years or it would cause scripture to contradict itself in several places and 1,000 literal years would put part of the prophecy of the Book of Revelation outside the timeframe given for the Book of Revelation. We can't have scripture contradicting itself or it isn't true! If the Bible is full of contradictions then it should be thrown in the trash!
There's no scriptural justification for putting anything in Revelation outside the timeframe given in Chapter 1. If scripture states that an event is to occur within a specified time frame then any interpretation or speculation about the event must be said to have occurred within that timeframe or the timeframe has been disregarded. To say that an event occurred or will occur outside that timeframe is not scriptural!
(YLT) Revelation 1:19 'Write the things that thou hast seen, and the things that are, and THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME after these things; (Young's Literal Translation). The Greek word MELLO is used in the original text.
Notice in verse 1:19 above that John was NOT TOLD to write about things that were hundreds or thousands of years in the future! All the things John was to write about were in the past, present or about to take place!
Be sure to read my article for more information on the timeframe of Revelation: TIME RESTRICTIONS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
We have to remember that much of the Book of Revelation is a vision and it's full of symbolic and hyperbolic language just like in the prophecies of the old testament and many things were not meant to be taken literally. Just look at Revelation 20:1 above... Was the key and chain literal? How can a spirit be bound with a chain? Was the bottomless pit actually bottomless? Did Satan fall through the bottomless pit for 1,000 years or was he hovering near the top? Maybe he fell for 500 years and then took 500 years to fly back to the top. Hopefully, you get my point!
Look at Strong's definition for the greek word CHILIOI which is translated as 1,000. The definition is not crystal clear to me.
Word Summary: chilioi: a thousand
Transliteration: chilioi
Phonetic Spelling: (khil'-ee-oy)
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: a thousand
Strong's Concordance: thousand.
PLURAL OF UNCERTAIN AFFINITY; a thousand -- thousand.
I don't believe the 1,000 years in Revelation 20:4 when the SAINTS REIGNED is the same 1,000 years as when SATAN WAS BOUND... Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.
The two 1,000 year periods (SATAN BOUND & SAINTS REIGNING) of time may have started at the same time especially if the Souls under the Altar in Revelation 6:9 included the Old Covenant Saints. The 2 periods of time probably overlap but they could not have ended at the same time. The Persecution of Christians started soon after the cross but the greatest persecution of Christians began in A.D. 64 when Nero set Rome on Fire and Blamed the Christians. Satan had already been LOOSED by that time. I will show that from scripture! The Neronic persecution of the Christians probably did not end before A.D. 66-68. The Jewish Revolt started in A.D. 66 and the Jewish-Roman War began officially in A.D. 67 and Nero did not die until A.D. 68. I believe Nero was the Beast and Christians refused to Worship him and many were killed. The New Testament Saints were not all killed at the same time and they probably did not start REIGNING at the same time. Since they are still in Heaven with the Father and the Son who are REIGNING then I guess you could say that ALL the SAINTS are REIGNING NOW. As a matter of fact you DON'T HAVE TO GUESS! Just look at Revelation 22:3-5: "And there shall be no more curse, but THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB SHALL BE IN IT, and HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM. Revelation 22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And THEY SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.
Therefore, the 1,000 YEARS of the SAINTS REIGNING is NOT a LITERAL 1,000 YEARS either since Revelation 22:5 REVEALED that GOD's SERVANTS REIGN FOREVER!
Furthermore, since the two, 1,000 year periods (SATAN BOUND & SAINTS REIGNING) are NOT the Same Length and regard different entities (SATAN & SAINTS) they are DIFFERENT!
What these FACTS REVEAL is the STUPIDITY OF MAN! MAN has created FALSE MILLENNIAL DOCTRINES that are NOT Biblical. The word MILLENNIUM is NOT even in the Bible!
The CORRECT Millennial Doctrine is NOT A-Mil, Pre-Mil or Post-Mil... It's NO-Mil!
THE DEFEAT OF SATAN WAS NEAR WHEN PAUL WROTE ROMANS (57-59 AD).
Romans 16:20 And THE GOD OF PEACE WILL CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET SHORTLY. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
THEREFORE, THE TIME FOR SATAN'S LOOSING WAS NEAR WHEN PAUL WROTE ROMANS!
SATAN (the prince of the power of the air) - THE SPIRIT WHO NOW WORKS IN THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE.
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, THE SPIRIT WHO NOW WORKS IN THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE, Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
SINCE SATAN WAS WORKING IN THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE SATAN WAS NO LONGER BOUND.
THEREFORE, SATAN'S LITTLE SEASON HAD BEGUN.
The following verses in Ephesians also prove that Satan was not bound...
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
WHEN WAS EPHESIANS WRITTEN?
ANSWER: Approximately A. D. 62-63
The following verse in 1 Peter also proves that Satan was not bound...
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.
WHEN WAS 1 PETER WRITTEN?
ANSWER: Approximately A. D. 63
Chart provided by Ed Stevens - www.preterist.org
IF THE BINDING OF SATAN BEGAN AT THE CROSS AND ENDED AROUND A.D. 62 or 63 THEN OF COURSE THAT WAS NOT 1,000 YEARS.
The 1,000 years was a symbolic number in the symbolic book of Revelation much of which people make the mistake of interpreting literally. Look at all of the False Beliefs and Doctrines about the Millennium. It just PROVES the STUPIDITY of MAN! False Doctrines about the End Times Abound!
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that WITH THE LORD ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND YEARS, AND A THOUSAND YEARS AS ONE DAY.
Peter was alluding to this verse: Psalms 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
2nd Peter was probably written in A.D. 64 after the Book of Revelation which was probably written in A.D. 62-63. If 2nd Peter was written in A.D. 64 after Revelation was written in A.D. 62-63 then the thousand years he mentioned may be referring to the thousand years mentioned in Revelation.
Peter was responding to scoffers who doubted the LORD'S coming... 2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS, walking according to their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:4 AND SAYING, "WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
It seems like the LORD was waiting until the last minute of THAT GENERATION to RETURN in order to give as much time as possible for Repentance...
2 Peter 3:9 THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, as some count slackness, BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TOWARD US, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.
SATAN WAS RELEASED AFTER THE THOUSAND YEARS TO GATHER THE NATIONS FOR WAR
When people think about Armageddon they think about a great battle at the end of the world but let's look at what the scripture actually says... Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Revelation 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, TO GATHER THEM TO THE BATTLE OF THAT GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
Instead of using the word "battle" the New American Standard Bible uses the word "war"... (NASB) Revelation 16:14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, TO GATHER THEM TOGETHER FOR THE WAR OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.
Word Summary: polemos: war
Phonetic Spelling: (pol'-em-os)
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Short Definition: war
Meaning: war
Strong's Concordance: battle, fight, war.
From pelomai (to bustle); warfare (literally or figuratively; a single encounter or a series) -- battle, fight, war.
Revelation 16:16 AND THEY GATHERED THEM TOGETHER TO THE PLACE CALLED IN HEBREW, ARMAGEDDON.
Therefore, the scripture could be interpreted to mean that ARMAGEDDON was NOT the name of the battle or war but it was the name of the place where the armies were gathered together to go to war. This actually makes more sense when you know that the war was in the past and you have a written history of it.
The following was copied from Flavius Josephus, WARS OF THE JEWS, Book 3, Chapter 6, Sections 1 & 2.
1. AND now Vespasian, with his son Titus, had tarried some time at PTOLEMAIS, and had put his army in order.
2. But as Vespasian had a great mind to fall upon Galilee, he marched out of PTOLEMAIS, having put his army into that order wherein the Romans used to march.
Look at MAP 1 and Notice how close PTOLEMAIS is to the VALLEY OF JEZREEL.
The Valley of Jezreel is also known as the Valley of Armageddon.
Also, there's what appears to be the same prophecy in chapter 20 of Revelation...
Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison Revelation 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, TO GATHER THEM TOGETHER TO BATTLE, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
(NASB) Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, TO GATHER THEM TOGETHER FOR THE WAR; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.
SATAN PERSECUTED THE ELECT (THE SAINTS) DURING THE LITTLE SEASON
Revelation 12:9 So the great DRAGON was cast out, THAT SERPENT OF OLD, CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN, who deceives the whole world; HE WAS CAST TO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM. Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "NOW SALVATION, AND STRENGTH, AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD, AND THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST HAVE COME, FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN, WHO ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT, HAS BEEN CAST DOWN. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEATH. Revelation 12:13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, HE PERSECUTED THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE MALE CHILD. Revelation 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED FOR A TIME AND TIMES AND HALF A TIME, FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE SERPENT. Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and HE WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.
Luke 21:11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and THERE WILL BE FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN.
Luke 21:12 BUT BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS, THEY WILL LAY THEIR HANDS ON YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, DELIVERING YOU UP TO THE SYNAGOGUES AND PRISONS. YOU WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE KINGS AND RULERS FOR MY NAME'S SAKE.
Did the FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN in Luke 21:11 occur AFTER the GREAT PERSECUTION of the SAINTS but BEFORE the JEWISH-ROMAN WAR?
Read what the Jewish Historian JOSEPHUS wrote in Book 6, Chapter 5, Paragraph 3 in the WARS OF THE JEWS...
..."while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them.
1) Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year.
2) Thus also before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the eighth day of the month Xanthicus, [Nisan,] and at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it.
8th of Nisan, 3826 = Sat, 20 March 0066
3) At the same festival also, a heifer, as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple.
4) Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner [court of the] temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the sixth hour of the night. Now those that kept watch in the temple came hereupon running to the captain of the temple, and told him of it; who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if God did thereby open them the gate of happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared that the signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them.
5) Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one and twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared: I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.
21st of Iyyar, 3826 = Sun, 2 May 0066
6) Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the temple,] as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence."
7) But, what is still more terrible, there was one Jesus, the son of Ananus, a plebeian and a husbandman, who, four years before the war began, and at a time when the city was in very great peace and prosperity, came to that feast whereon it is our custom for every one to make tabernacles to God in the temple, began on a sudden to cry aloud, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!" This was his cry, as he went about by day and by night, in all the lanes of the city. However, certain of the most eminent among the populace had great indignation at this dire cry of his, and took up the man, and gave him a great number of severe stripes; yet did not he either say any thing for himself, or any thing peculiar to those that chastised him, but still went on with the same words which he cried before. Hereupon our rulers, supposing, as the case proved to be, that this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman procurator, where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare; yet he did not make any supplication for himself, nor shed any tears, but turning his voice to the most lamentable tone possible, at every stroke of the whip his answer was, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" And when Albinus (for he was then our procurator) asked him, Who he was? and whence he came? and why he uttered such words? he made no manner of reply to what he said, but still did not leave off his melancholy ditty, till Albinus took him to be a madman, and dismissed him. Now, during all the time that passed before the war began, this man did not go near any of the citizens, nor was seen by them while he said so; but he every day uttered these lamentable words, as if it were his premeditated vow, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" Nor did he give ill words to any of those that beat him every day, nor good words to those that gave him food; but this was his reply to all men, and indeed no other than a melancholy presage of what was to come. This cry of his was the loudest at the festivals; and he continued this ditty for seven years and five months, without growing hoarse, or being tired therewith, until the very time that he saw his presage in earnest fulfilled in our siege, when it ceased; for as he was going round upon the wall, he cried out with his utmost force, "Woe, woe to the city again, and to the people, and to the holy house!" And just as he added at the last, "Woe, woe to myself also!" there came a stone out of one of the engines, and smote him, and killed him immediately; and as he was uttering the very same presages he gave up the ghost."
How much more evidence do you need to prove FULFILLMENT?
Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and THEY WILL PUT SOME OF YOU TO DEATH.
Luke 21:17 And YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL FOR MY NAME'S SAKE.
GREAT PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS BEGAN IN 64 AD WHEN NERO BLAMED THE CHRISTIANS FOR THE FIRE IN ROME!
ED STEVENS - March 17, 2013 Podcast: FIRE IN ROME & PERSECUTION
DOWNLOAD LINK for PODCAST NOTES
PERSECUTION CAUSED MANY TO FALL AWAY (APOSTASIA) BEFORE THE COMING (PAROUSIA) OF CHRIST.
FALLING AWAY = STRONG'S G646
Word Summary: apostasia: defection, revolt
Transliteration: apostasia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Short Definition: defection, revolt
Strong's Concordance: falling away, apostacy
Feminine of the same as apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy") -- falling away, forsake.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless THE FALLING AWAY COMES FIRST, and THE MAN OF SIN IS REVEALED, the son of perdition, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
SATAN WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE
Revelation 20:10 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.
TO CLAIM THAT WE ARE IN THE LITTLE SEASON NOW IS TO DISREGARD SCRIPTURE!
When Jesus prophesied about the Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem he said... Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED. The DAYS OF VENGEANCE refers to GOD'S WRATH on the Judeans via the Jewish-Roman War.
"ALL THINGS WRITTEN" may refer to the OLD TESTAMENT only. Prophecies about the New Jerusalem, New Heavens and New Earth are written about in Isaiah... Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I CREATE JERUSALEM AS A REJOICING, AND HER PEOPLE A JOY.
After the apostle John tells about his vision of the New Jerusalem, New Heavens and New Earth in Revelation 21 he was told... Revelation 22:6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants THE THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. Revelation 22:7 "BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
What verse in the Book of Revelation states that any part of the prophecy is far away in the future?
Luke 21:24 And THEY WILL FALL BY THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO ALL NATIONS. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
According to the Jewish Historian JOSEPHUS in Book 6, Chapter 9, Paragraph 3 in the WARS OF THE JEWS...
"Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be ninety-seven thousand; as was the number of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand, the greater part of whom were indeed of the same nation [with the citizens of Jerusalem], but not belonging to the city itself; for they were come up from all the country to the feast of unleavened bread, and were on a sudden shut up by an army, which, at the very first, occasioned so great a straitness among them, that there came a pestilential destruction upon them, and soon afterward such a famine, as destroyed them more suddenly.
DOWNLOAD THE WARS OF THE JEWS by Flavius Josephus HERE: Wars Of The Jews Download
According to Scripture and History - "SATAN'S LITTLE SEASON" was almost 2,000 years ago!