Bro Berry

It is often said that the Holy Spirit is responsible for drawing a person to Christ, that some how He will enter the heart of a person who God has some how seen has been chosen for salvation. This teaching fits right in the doctrine of John Calvin for he taught that a person can do no good on his own, that he is depraved and without intervention on God's part will in no way receive salvation. Calvin called it "irresistible grace" where a person is elected to salvation by God and they have no choice in the matter.

I have some questions to ask if a person believes this doctrine.
1. Is the action of the Holy Spirit direct or in-direct?
2. What is the means by which the Holy Spirit accomplishes His conversion?
3 Are there any bible examples of a person being converted by the Holy Spirit?

Why is Satan bound for a thousand years?

Your question comes from a passage of scripture found in the book of Revelation, let's examine the verse in context to see if there is a answer.

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 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.

It's important to remember two things when reading the book of Revelation;

1. Whatever interpretation we come up with had to be understandable to the people John was writing to. It makes no sense to have a interpretation so far removed from the time and place of John's audience that what they read would not affect them.

2. Because of persecution the book is full of symbols that would have been understood by John's audience but not by the Roman government.

The apostle John is on the isle of Patmos experiencing one vision after another concerning things pertaining to the church, Jerusalem, and the world at large.

In verse 1 he sees a vision of an angel coming down from heaven with a key and a chain in his hand. We must determine if these are symbolic or if the angel is holding a literal key and chain.

Verse 2 helps us to realize that what we are reading must be symbolic, so what would be the meaning of a key and a chain? Let's determine that first then we'll get to the 1,000 years.

A key is used to lock or unlock something, a chain can be used to restrain, the angel is showing us symbolically that the Devil is bound. What possibly could bind Satan that his power could not be used? The gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 says the gospel is God's power to save. Satan can not defeat a person who obeys the gospel.

We must understand the 1,000 years to be symbolic as well. Numbers mean something in this book, if 10 means a complete number then 10 to the 3rd power indicates a very long period of time.

Verse 6 gives us a clue as to what the number 1,000 might be as well.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The period of time Christ is to reign is 1,000 years as well. If we can find out when Christ will reign we can find out about the number 1,000.

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

God gave Jesus power and authority over all things after his resurrection. He is seated at the right hand of God ruling and reigning on his throne right now. How long will he reign?

1 Cor 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

So there you have it, the Devil is bound by the gospel during the time that Jesus reigns over the church. Does that mean Satan has no power at all? No, we know he does have power but he cannot overcome unless a person chooses to allow Satan into their life.

I hope this helps

Thank you Bro Berry, this is a nice summarized set of verses on baptism.

What are your thoughts on Jesus getting baptised in the River Jordan? Even though he has no sins, he set the example in the symbolic process of baptism that we follow. I think this shows that he is our participative representative, showing that he was made exactly like us and experienced temptation like us Heb 2:17-18; Heb4:15. Empathy and the ability to be tempted was an important characteristic of a high priest. See also Romans chapter 6 for the importance of us identifying with Jesus as our representative, in contrast to Adam in 1 Cor 15.

Thank you sir, as for my thoughts on Jesus being baptized it goes like this.

Jesus was sinless and did not need to repent as did others that came to John's baptism. But Jesus did need to come and be baptized for two reasons that I see in scripture.

1 To fulfill all righteousness. John's baptism was divinely ordered from heaven, if Jesus refused baptism he would have refused a command from God.

Luke 20:3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
Luke 20:4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
Luke 20:5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
Luke 20:6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

2. That Jesus would be manifested to the world. Prior to Jesus being baptized he was Joseph's son, but God told John upon whom he saw the Spirit descend on and remain would be the Son of God.

John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

I was told in one of the other forums that my post was hard to understand and that my point was hard to grasp. I removed the scriptures and just explained it in my own words.

I am trying to show the connection between the blood of Jesus and a clear conscience. Perhaps if I explain and not use scripture it will make better sense.

Before Jesus came the only way man could atone for his sins was through animal sacrifices. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the high priest would take blood into the holiest place and offer for the people. Every year there was a remembrance made of the sins committed giving the worshiper a sense of guilt. He was never able to have a clear conscience because every year he would have to do that.

But now because Jesus has come and one time offered his body as the ultimate sacrifice, paying the debt that was owed and freeing us from the penalty of sin. Man can now have a clear conscience because Jesus remembers our sins no more.

Baptism is how the bible tells us to appeal to God for this clear conscience, according to scripture that is the only way to contact the saving blood of Jesus to atone for our sins.

Again I apologize for making this hard to understand, I hope this clears it up.

May God bless