"The devil reigns in the world, because the world is nothing else than darkness"
That doesn't sound like he's bound except maybe to this world where he was sentenced when he fell.
I don't think I said we could be vanquished as far as salvation is concerned, but like Calvin, I think we can be vanquished from the battle by being compromised by sin or defeat. That's why the writer of Hebrews says "laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, let's run the race..."
Well, we're either vanquished or we're not vanquished. It's one or the other.
The real difference IMO is that the Calvinist knows even the actions of Satan are part of God's plan for His creation which will ultimately lead to His triumph and our joy.
The Arminian somehow believes that Satan is autonomous and thus we are under a real and present danger of succumbing to him.
Scripture encourages us to presevere for the very reason that we cannot fail because our victory has been secured by Christ Himself.
***I don't think I said we could be vanquished as far as salvation is concerned, but like Calvin, I think we can be vanquished from the battle by being compromised by sin or defeat. That's why the writer of Hebrews says "laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, let's run the race..."***
Run the race to what? Bind Satan? I think you are way out on a limb trying to defend the idea of binding Satan, now. Even if I have a personal battle to bring my own sin into subjection and run my own personal race, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Satan. That is, unless you seem to believe that somehow Satan sits on my left shoulder and Jesus is sitting on my right.
I'm still looking for this battle against Satan? All I see is the remains of what the Lord did and a horde of Dispyies chasing shadows.