earth. He himself
claims to be God and takes the place in the temple of God (in
Jerusalem), and by lying signs and wonders backs up his claims. His
work is described in Rev. xiii:11-18 and 2 Thess. ii:3-12. Fearful
will be those days when the true church is gone and when God, as a
judgment, lets Satan rule over those who rejected the offers of His
love in His blessed Son. Another work of his is seen in the final
Babylon and the scarlet clad woman, who rides the beast (the revived
Roman empire). And finally when the hour approaches of Christ's
visible and glorious return, Satan summons "the kings of the earth and
their armies, gathering them together to make war against Him that sat
on the horse and against his army" (Rev. xix:19). But then his defeat
has come. The King of kings and Lord of lords appears in glory. The
glory-flash, the brightness of His Coming strikes down the beast and
the false prophet (Antichrist). The battle of Armageddon of short
duration is over. Satan and all his hosts are utterly defeated. In
Revelation xx we have the record of what will happen to the dragon,
that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan. He will be chained and
cast into the pit of the abyss for a thousand years so that he can
seduce the nations no more. He is dethroned and Christ is enthroned.
Christ and His Saints reign over the earth. During this millennium
righteousness and peace will reign. Wars will be no more, for the
supreme war-lord is chained in prison. Armies will be unknown, for he
who is behind it all has no more power. Idolatries and its degrading
immoralities are no longer known, for he who deceived the nations has
been arrested. Nor will there be any more cults which deny the Lord,
His virgin birth, His resurrection, for the liar can lie no more and
the visible presence of Christ stops every mouth.

After this millennium of indescribable blessing and glory, Satan will
be permitted to get out of the prison for a little season.[7] His
first work is to begin another war encompassing the camp of the Saints.
A swift judgment follows. "And the devil that deceived them was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophets are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever"
(Rev. xx:10). His eternal dwelling place will be the lake of fire, not
to be destroyed, but to live on forever and ever. There too will be
the beast and the false prophet and all who are no