earth is to be reduced; and he declares
that this condition will exist for a thousand years. After presenting the
scenes of the Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked, the
prophecy continues: "I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key
of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on
the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him
a thousand years, 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."(1143)

That the expression "bottomless pit" represents the earth in a state of
confusion and darkness, is evident from other scriptures. Concerning the
condition of the earth "in the beginning," the Bible record says that it
"was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
deep."(1144) Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back, partially at
least, to this condition. Looking forward to the great day of God, the
prophet Jeremiah declares: "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without
form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the
mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I
beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were
fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the
cities thereof were broken down."(1145)

Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years.
Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds, to tempt
and annoy those who have never fallen. It is in this sense that he is
bound: there are none remaining, upon whom he can exercise his power. He
is wholly cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many
centuries has been his sole delight.

The prophet Isaiah, looking forward to the time of Satan's overthrow,
exclaims: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!...
Thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God." "I will be like the Most High. Yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee
shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man
that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made