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 ."[ The Hebrew word here translated ‘ deep ’ is rendered in the Septugint Greek Translation of the Hebrew Old Testament by the same word redered ‘ bottomless pit ’ in Revelation 20:1-3 ]. Genesis 1:2 . 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 ." Jeremiah 4:23-26 .
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 the world as a wilderness , and destroyed the cities thereof ; that opened not the house of his prisoners ?" Isaiah 14:12-17 .
For six thousand years , Satan ' s work of rebellion has " made the earth to tremble ." He had " made the world as a wilderness , and destroyed the cities thereof ." And he " opened not the house of his prisoners ." For six thousand years his prison house has received God ' s people , and he would have held them captive forever ; but Christ had broken his bonds and set the prisoners free . Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan , and alone with his evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has brought . " The kings of the nations , even all of them , lie in glory , everyone in his own house [ the grave ]. But thou art cast out thy grave like an abominable branch . . . . Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial , because thou hast destroyed thy land , and slain thy people ." Isaiah 14:18-20 .
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