The Binding of Satan Pictured on the Day of Atonement

Satan will be put away to stop his influence on mankind when Christ returns.

Jesus Christ's second coming (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). 19:11-16 [11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of GodThe 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..
[14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
[15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

See All...) will be followed almost immediately by the devil being bound by one of God's angels: "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). 20:2-3 [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.

See All...).

Every year in ancient Israel one segment of the solemn ceremonies held on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) pictured the time when Satan's deception of "the whole world" (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). 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
See All...) would be stopped. The people were instructed: "Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement [as a sacrificial cleansing] is made for you before the Lord your God. Anyone who does not deny himself [by fasting] on that day must be cut off from his people" (Leviticus 23:28-29 [28] And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
[29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

See All..., NIV).

The events of that day were rich in symbolism. The main feature of that day's ceremonies was the selection of two goats, the first to serve as a type of Christ's atoning sacrifice for cleansing Israel of her sins committed in ignorance and the second to represent the removal of Satan.

"The Lord said to Moses: Tell your brother AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest not to come just at any time into the sanctuary inside the curtain before the mercy seat that is upon the ark . . . Thus shall AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest come into the holy place . . . He shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering . . . He shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting; and AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel [to represent Satan's role in promoting sin]" (Leviticus 16:2-8 [2] And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
[3] Thus shall AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
[4] He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
[5] And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
[6] And AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
[7] And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[8] And AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

See All..., NRSV).

Verses 15-16 state: "He shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering [representing the shed blood of Christ] that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain . . . sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins" (NRSV).

This goat symbolized Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. But additional spiritual cleansing must be done. Satan's evil influence, not only over the Israelites but also over all of humanity, must also be removed before Jesus Christ can fill the earth with true righteousness.

Therefore we read in verses 21-22: "AaronBrother of Moses, First High Priest shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness" (NRSV).

Like Satan, this goat is sent to an uninhabited location where he can do no harm. The ceremonial banishing of this male goat, with all the blame for the deception and sin of Israel (and the whole world) placed on him, was intended as a portrayal of the banishment of Satan when Jesus Christ returns to set up His Kingdom.

To learn more about Satan and his influence on the world, and how it will finally be brought to an end, download or request our free booklet Is There Really a Devil?