This is nearly the end of the things the Lord showed John, those things that he was to write and then send to the 7 churches listed in chapters 2-3.


This unnamed angel came down from heaven ( by the way, the Bible teaches that there is an innumerable company of angels that have been created. And, many of them are in heaven )
But, this angel, came down, and he had two things in his hand. 


1. The key to the bottomless pit.
2. A great chain in his hand. 
3. The bottomless pit. 


These would be similar to what we see a police officer having, that is, a key to a set of handcuffs, and a jail cell if you will. 


As far as I know there is not much else said about these two items ( other then a mention here or there in Revelation ) I just don't know much about these things. But, I do believe of course that they exist. The pit, the key, and the chain. 


But, once John sees the angel, the angel then lays hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and binds him in this pit for 1000 years. He will be incarcerated in this pit for this very, very long period of time. 


In fact, it may be like he will be in solitary confinement. Left there by himself, all alone as it were. 


Here is what John says.........

1. He is cast into it.
2. He is bound there for 1000 years. 
3. He is shut up in the pit. ( can't get out, i.e door locked, and in chains. )
4. He has a seal set upon him. ( this apparently has to do with securing Satan there )
5. He will not deceive the nations during this 1000 years. 
6. He will be released at the end of the 1000 years for a little while. 




A few additional thoughts in reflection. 


Things on earth are often a picture of things in heaven, or temporal, physical things, are often a picture of spiritual invisible things. Jails, Jailers, keys, prisons, etc.


I wonder how frustrated Satan will be during the 1000 years.?


Satan will most likely not be able to communicate with the outside world.


Satan will not be allowed any visitors, or receive mail or care packages in the pit. 


He would know that he will be released at the end.


He knows what the Bible says. 


He has a faith in the Bible if you will.


He will still do his deceiving at the end. 


He will ultimately wind up in the lake of fire.




A few more thoughts in reflection.


1. We are free in Christ.
2. We are not going to a pit, but to heaven.
3. We are not chained, but bound with cords of love to God.
4. We know the truth, and are free in a sense from deception. 
5. We have angels who help us not bind us and place us in a pit. 
6. We are in possession now of eternal life.
7. We will ever be with the Lord.
8. We are not going to the lake of fire. 


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia. 

This is our future. Those in Christ have this future. The future is coming, and we will live and reign with Christ. The Bible speaks so often of hope and joy. And, calls us to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rejocing in hope, knowing we have a future with the Lord, is the greatest blessing possible for a human being. You may be in the dumps today, you may have the blues today, you may be confused, discouraged, depressed, wondering what happened to the good old days, or will my life ever get better again etc, etc, ? One thing for sure, it will. You have in Christ the promise of being with Him forever, and of His blessing forever. One of the other wonderful and super truths if you will about God, is that since He is eternal, He is infinte, and His grace is eternal and infinite, it will take Him forever to unfold His grace to us. This means, that there will never come a time when we have come to know His grace completely. He will spend eternity revealing to us the riches of His grace. He will never say, "Ok, that's it, that's all the grace I have for you, there is no mnore " No, that will not happen. So,back to you if your down in the dumps etc. Can I encourage you to look up to the Lord, He is faithful, He will is with you, He is not going anywhere, He has a plan, He will never leave you, He is working all things according to the counsel of His own will, He loves you, He has new mercies for you today, etc, etc, etc. We are on our way to heaven. We are guaranteed safe arrival. We will ge there, He has promised that to us. And, once we arrive with Him, we will not only live and reign with Him for a 1000 years, but, will go on into the new holy city and the new earth, and all that God has planned for us, which extends beyond our ability to comprehend. May the rich blessings of God's peace and mercy be yours today. Pastor Bob Grenier. Calvary Chapel Visalia