What will Satan do during the 1000 years?

The concept of Satan’s activities during the 1000 years is a topic that is primarily discussed in Christian eschatology, particularly in the Book of Revelation and related scriptures.

The Millennium (1000 Years)

The millennium is a period that will take place after the second coming of Christ. It is mentioned in the book of Revelation during which Satan will be bound on earth and the righteous will be raptured to heaven after Christ’s second coming.

The Events at the Beginning of the Millennium

A devastating earthquake and hailstorm (Revelation 16:18–21).
The second coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:30, 31).
The saved dead raised to life (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The saved given immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–55).
The saved given bodies like Jesus (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:20, 21).
All the saved caught up into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The living sinners destroyed by God (Isaiah 11:4).
The unsaved dead remain in their graves until the end of the 1000 years (Revelation 20:5).
Christ takes the righteous to heaven (John 13:33, 36; 14:2, 3).
The devil is bound (Revelation 20:1–3).

The Events During the Millennium – Satan Bound

The earth is in a ruined state (Revelation 16:18–21).
The earth is in complete blackout and desolate, a “bottomless pit” (Jeremiah 4:23, 28).
Satan is bound and forced to stay on the earth (Revelation 20:1–3).
The saints are in heaven participating in the judgment (Revelation 20:4).
The sinners are all dead (Jeremiah 4:25; Isaiah 11:4).

During the 1,000 years, every soul who has ever lived on earth will be in one of two places: (1) on the earth, dead and lost, or (2) in heaven, taking part in the judgment.

Jesus will rapture the saints from the earth at His coming as He promised in John 14:1–3. The dwellings are doubtless in the New Jerusalem, which is not transferred to this earth until the close of the millennium (Revelation 21:1–3). The group that is caught up to meet the Lord in the air includes both the righteous dead, who are raised at the time of the advent, and the righteous living, who are “changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). The removal of all the saints to heaven and the destruction of all the living wicked leave the earth totally depopulated.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;  and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1–3, NKJV).

The chains that tie Satan are symbolic because a spirit being cannot be confined with physical chains. During the millennium, Satan is “tied down” because he has no people to deceive, hurt or destroy. The wicked are all dead and the righteous are all in heaven. Satan is confined to this earth. This will give him a chance to meditate over his great sins and see the folly of his ways before God destroys him in the fires of hell with the sinners at the end of the millennium.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them… And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

During the 1000 years, the saints from all ages will participate in the judgment. The record books of all who are lost, including the devil and his angels, will be examined. This judgment will answer any questions the saints might have about those who are lost. In the end, everyone will see that the lost are shut out of heaven only because they did not wish to live for God.

The Events at the End of the Millennium

The third coming of Jesus with His saints (Zechariah 14:5).
The Holy city settles on the Mount of Olives, which becomes a great plain (Zechariah 14:4, 10).
The Father, His angels, and all of the saints come down with Jesus (Revelation 21:1–3; Matthew 25:31; Zechariah 14:5).
The wicked dead are raised; Satan is loosed (Revelation 20:5, 7).
The devil deceives the entire world to capture the New Jerusalem (Revelation 20:8).
The sinners surround the holy city (Revelation 20:9).
The sinners are destroyed by God’s fire (Revelation 20:9).
New heavens and earth are created (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
The saints enjoy eternity with God on the new earth (Revelation 21:2–4).

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 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. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:7-9).

At the end of the 1,000 years, Jesus comes the third time with His saints. The New Jerusalem will settle where the mount of Olives now stands and the wicked will be raised. The devil, loosed from his bonds, will then have an earth full of people (all the nations of the world) to deceive. He may claim that the New Jerusalem that has descended from heaven to earth is really his. He will convince the lost that, if they unify, they can overtake the city. The wicked will then unite and marshal their armies to surround the New Jerusalem.

Then, Fire will suddenly come down from heaven upon the wicked and all will be turned into ashes, including the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). This fire that destroys sin and sinners is called the second death. There is no resurrection from this death.

Afterwards, God will create new heavens and a new earth. Sin and its destructiveness will vanish forever. God’s children will inherit the kingdom promised to them. “They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10, NKJV). The kingdom Christ prepared for His children (John 14:1–3) will be most glorious (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Conclusion

The Bible provides essential references and insights into the activities of Satan during the 1000 years, according to Revelation. During this period, Satan is bound and confined, unable to deceive the nations or exert significant influence. However, his release at the end of the 1000 years leads to a final rebellion and ultimate defeat, highlighting the fulfillment of God’s judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

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In His service,
BibleAsk Team