This particular "house", and the "strong man", are symbolic descriptions of people who have evil spirits influencing their lives, who together with satan their leader are the "strong man" referred to by our Lord.

About them, The Christ said: "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out the devils, then be sure the Kingdom of God has already come upon you." (Matt 12:28 NEB). So to be able to drive out devils, to free those people that devils are keeping under their "veil" of darkness (and in some cases under an affliction), the strong man must first be bound. Only the Spirit of God can do this.

Speaking now in a greater sense than individual cases, the revelation given to John says that the Lord will abyss satan for a thousand years. (Rev 20:1-3). After which time, he will be let loose to seduce the nations again. By this action, we gain the understanding that God actually uses satan's malevolence against people of God to prove our loyalty to Him under satanic test. At the end of the coming thousand year period of judgement, the refined ones of the new earth will be finally tested by the loosing of satan and his evil activity. Then, satan will be put into his final place of eternal torment.

The abyssing and sealing over of satan and his devils is best described as their being put into a place of inactivity and powerlessness. The important point to remember is that by God abyssing satan, people who are alive at that time but were overtaken by evil spirit followers of satan in this system, living their lives outside the church of the Lord, will then be freed in their hearts, minds, and spirits, of devils. This will enable them to come to know God without satanic opposition, unless of course their own spirit has become too satanic. Bearing in mind all pertinent things in scripture regarding this matter, it is reasonable to believe that the abyssing of satan and his devils will take place just before God begins His rule over all the nations on earth.

Since the first Adamic sin, and particularly since satan was ousted from heaven and sent down to the vicinity of the earth (residing in humans), God has allowed satan and his devils to persecute and distress humankind, but for a purpose. This was so that extra effort would be necessary from each of us in order we keep ourselves sufficiently under control to survive as communities and nations. While this coercion has gone on, God has been able to turn some wicked ones around; teaching, refining, testing, and spiritually gathering them to become members of His heavenly household, from each generation. In addition, from each generation there will be resurrected ones who will be judged in righteousness by the household members of God in heaven, for their further benefit; living the next stage of their development in the blissful new heaven.

Those who live in the new earth under God's rule will not be persecuted by devils, for satan and his devils will then be abyssed. So it is understandable that previously refined ones in the new earth or in the new heaven who may sin again in a serious way, will do so with full knowledge, and will be instantly punished by having evil called down upon them so that they die as "accursed" ones. (Isaiah 65:20 NWT). However, holy lives will be rewarded with a long life of righteous creativity continuing progressively toward perfection. Hopefully, a great opportunity will then exist in the coming system of the new earth for "ransacking" some of those who were partially lived in by devils (under the authority of the "strong man"), to reconcile some of these humans to God.

17/11/93.