Quote:
Originally Posted by magprob
I had written a more detailed answer but my computer crashed and I lost all the material. I will reboot to see if that fixes the problem and try to provide scriptural support later today.
In the book of Job Satan is shown having some access to heaven. This fact is confirmed later in the book of Revelations as you shall see.
Job 1:6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. KJV
Then he is shown bringing calamity to Job on earth. This is after the flood so the condition described in Jude as tartarus wasn't preventing him from shuttling between heaven and earth. In Job also a spirit or demon is described as helping Satan against Job via messages through dreams. So they too were active as well.
He and his demons also were busy during Jesus' day as can be seen by the people they harassed.
Matthew 8
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? KJV
So the imprisonment or restraint did not involve their continued meddling in human affairs or even their access to heaven for that matter unless the scripture limits that punishment to the angels who took part in the preflood incident. But we cannot understand it that way because then we would need to exempt Satan from the punishment. In view of these facts, some Bible scholars have concluded that the reference to darkness and being in bonds refers to their being divested of their former heavenly privileges and their being far from God's light. In anyt case, their would come a time when they would be restricted even further by being tewmporarily confined to earth.
The book of Revelations describes this then future event shown to JOhn in a vision:
Revelation 12
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. KJV
Then we are told that this end time would end with a war called Armageddon. Satan and his angels would be restrained for a thousand years during which time they would be prevented from interacting with mankind.
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,
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. KJV
After the thousand years during which the resurrection of the dead and physical and spiritual healing until mankind reaches its former Adamic perfection takes place, they will be permitted to tempt mankind for the final time and then destroyed.
BTW
The time of the end is described as a time of turmoil, confusion, fear, anxiety about the things mankind is experiencing. It is attributed to Satan's knowing he has only a short time before he is retrained and being angered by it. This is described as happening after he's restricted to earth.
Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. KJV
