Satan’s Little Season
The coming of the lawless one
is by the activity of Satan
with all power and false signs
and wonders,
and with all wicked deception
for those who are perishing,
because they refused to love the truth
and so be saved.
Therefore God sends them
a strong delusion,
so that they may believe what is false,
in order that all may be condemned
who did not believe the truth
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9–12)
CEV Circle diagram 9: Satan is no longer bound from fooling almost all the people in all the nations. He gets one last opportunity to prevent God’s great plan, and he is going to take it. The church will endure organized bullying from the nations acting as one, led by a man of sin who is helped by Satan. It will not grow like it did when Satan was bound, and perhaps many churches even shrink, as those who are not serious about trusting and obeying God flee to the world. Even those who trust and obey will be tempted to think that the Lord has forgotten them.
CEV erratum:
None
CEV musings:
None
ESV Story erratum:
None
ESV Story musings:
None
Let’s compare Revelation 20:1–3, 7–10 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12.
a. Bold = Satan restrained for a long, definite period
b. Blue = Satan released for a little while (little season)
and assembles the nations against the church
c. Italic = Lord’s second advent and judgment
The millennium in heaven
ESV Appendix erratum:
None
ESV Appendix musings:
None