An Evil Influence Removed

Before Jesus Christ can transform the world through the Kingdom of God, he must first remove Satan's poisonous influence from humanity.

What will happen to Satan when Jesus Christ returns?

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:1-3 [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[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.

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Before Jesus Christ can transform the world through the Kingdom of God, he must first remove Satan's poisonous influence from humanity. Satan, that evil, murderous spirit, will be banished and his power over humans broken. Only then will mankind begin to submit to God's law and the rule of Jesus Christ.

Will Jesus Christ then reeducate the world?

"Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
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For thousands of years Satan has held sway over humanity. He has instilled in us a nature of selfishness—of vanity, envy, lust and greed. Jesus Christ will begin a massive reeducation of the world. People will be taught for the first time how to live by God's law.

How will the world be different once Satan is removed from influencing mankind?

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
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With this spiritual blindness removed, humanity at last will learn God's ways, which will lead to a transformed world of peace and plenty.

To remind ourselves of the analogy used by Jesus Christ and Paul, note that the world will go through travail as does a woman giving birth (Matthew 24:8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
See All..., NASB; Romans 8:18-23 [18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

See All...). But that trauma and pain will be quickly forgotten when new life comes into the world—when Jesus Christ begins to transform the world after His return.

In the next lesson we will examine what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says about the world being transformed, Satan's banishment and the rule of Jesus Christ. It will focus on the central message of Jesus Christ: the gospel—the good newsThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . —of the coming Kingdom of God!

To better understand the points covered in this lesson, be sure to request your free copies of the following booklets:

• Is the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. True?
• What Is Your Destiny?
• What Happens After Death?
• God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
• The GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . of the Kingdom
• Are We Living in the End Time?
• How to Understand BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. ProphecyA prediction of events to come. "A discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp[ecially] by foretelling future events" (Revised Thayer's Greek English Lexicon, "Propheteia").
• The Church Jesus Built