1. Whereas it is said that this Angel that came down from heaven had the key of the bottomless pit, we see that our Saviour has all power given to Him in heaven, the earth, and hell itself.
2. That He had a great chain in His hand, shows us that how mighty and malicious soever Satan may be, yet for our comfort Christ has him in a chain, without whose permission he can do nothing.
3. Whereas Satan is called an old serpent, we see to whom they are like who are habituated in wickedness and crafty to do evil.
4. Whereas he is called the devil, or an accuser, we see whose brood they are who in like manner are false accusers of their brethren, slanderers, etc.
5. He is also called Satan, that is, an enemy to God’s glory and man’s good of salvation, therefore whoever by doctrine or practice impairs the one, oropposes the means of the other, they are satanical, and like him.
6. Whereas it is said that Satan was shut up, that he should deceive the nations no more, we see that his task from the beginning hath been deceiving, using fraud where he cannot prevail by force; wherefore we should beware of his deceiving in his subtle instruments, and acknowledge whose brood they are.
7. Whereas it is said that he was bound up so long that he should deceive no more, this shows that on the contrary, therefore, when we see seducers arise and abound, that then Satan in his instruments for the punishment of a nation or Church is set loose to be a lying spirit in the mouth of false prophets.
8. Whereas it is said that after the time of his binding or shutting up he is to be loosed a little season, this is greatly for the comfort of the godly, that Satan’s prevailing in his instruments is determined by God, and shall be but for a little season; therefore with patience let them possess their souls. (Wm. Guild,D. D.)
He laid hold on the dragon.--
The great enemy of humanity
I. The great enemy of humanity described.“Dragon” stands as an emblem of power. His power is seen in the vast authority which he wields.
1. Over fallen angels (Eph_6:11-12). He is the leader of those myriads.
2. The authority he exercises over men. He leadeth the world captive at his will. He worketh in the “children of disobedience.” He opposes God, Christ, the universe. The existence of such a being in the universe as this impresses us with--
(1) The fallibility of the holiest creature.
(2) The independent force of moral mind.
(3) The mysteriousness of the Divine government.
II. The great enemy of humanity imprisoned.
1. His imprisonment is effected by a Divine messenger.
2. His imprisonment is effected by Divine authority.
3. His imprisonment is effected by a Divine instrument.
What is the chain? Gospel truth. What is meant by imprisoning Satan? Limiting the sphere of his agency. Every man who expels himfrom his own heart helps to imprison him, and every man who seeks to expel him from the heart of others helps to imprison him. As liberty binds the influence of slavery, intelligence the influence of ignorance, religion the influence of infidelity, soDivine truth will bind the influence of the devil. Lesson:
1. The true sphere of heroic action. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Resist him as he is on the arena of your own soul; resist him as you find him on the arena of society in everyday life.
2. The grandeur of the Christian character. “Put on the whole armour of God,” etc. (Homilist.)
The scene of mural struggle
I. Redeemed humanity has a fearful antagonist to contend with.
1. The actual existence of such an enemy.
(1) Universal belief of humanity.
(2) The opposite classes of moral phenomena. In the world we have error, selfishness, infidelity, misery, and truth, benevolence, religion, happiness. Can these be branches from the same root?
(3) The general teaching of the Bible.
2. The personality of such an enemy. An evil principle implies an evil person.
3. The characteristics of such an enemy.
(1) Mighty.
(2) Crafty.
(3) Virulent.
II. Heaven has vouchsafed an agency which is destined to master the adversary. Let the word “angel” here stand for every true religious teacher.
1. His authority. Every man who has the spirit and power of a teacher has the “key” or the authority to teach. He has a right to do battle with the enemy wherever he is found; whether in literature or commerce, churches or governments, theories or practices.
2. His instrumentality. “A chain.” Iron, brass, adamant? No. These cannot fetter intellect or manacle soul. Nothing can curb or restrain the influence of Satan but Christian truth. What is meant by binding Satan? It does not mean the binding of his being or faculties, but the binding of his influence. He is to be bound, in the sense of limiting his sway, by closing up human hearts against him. (D. Thomas,D. D.)
Bound him a thousand years.--
Satan bound for a thousand years
I. There is in the world a mighty force of evil.
II. Mightier forces of good, although unseen, are in the background.
III. The employment of the mightier against the mighty has been matter of ancient promise (Gen_3:5).
IV. The stronger force of good has ever been at work. This world has never been given up to the evil one.
V. Wherever the gospel has been preached there a binding of Satan has been and is being effected.
VI. Nevertheless, the passage before us leads us to expect a much greater restraint on Satan’s activity than has as yet been known.
VII. When the binding of Satan is completely effected, there must needs be a period of rest, such as neither the world nor the Church has enjoyed since “sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Note--
1. Let ourfaith embrace all that is in the Word, and we shall then find nothing in the fiercest conflicts of the age to shock or disturb it.
2. Let us thank God for the restraint which we know is even now put upon Satan. He worries, but he cannot devour.
3. Let us be stimulated by the fact that, through the energy of the Spirit of God, the power of evil is being subdued within us and around us.
4. Let us, with renewed faith, energy, prayer, and hope, be found doing our part towards bringing about earth’s time of rest. (C. Clemance,D. D.)
