As for the other questions. You haven’t told me who Satan is deceiving after he is released from the pit. Why would I answer your questions? You’re all brave now but couldn’t stand the heat earlier.
I don't believe that I have every shied away from inquiry. Please pardon me if it appears that I have.
I'll admit that there is diversity of opinion among the non-chiliasts as to what exactly it means for Satan being unbound. Quite frankly, to be consistent with what we believe, it must also be observed that Satan has been effectively bound since Paul wrote that the whole world had been evangelized. What this means is, no one today really knows what it is like to live in a world with an unbound Satan. This is where we speculate, and it can be fun as long as we remember its speculation, not dogma.
Personally, I have a wild imagination, and thus I entertain the idea that the competitors of Elijah actually could summon fire from the heavens and that the Egyptian magicians actually could turn the Nile into blood. Even you must admit that the Last Days, such as you define them, will be characterized by fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Lk 21:11)
To answer your question directly, it is only proper to let the Word speak for Himself:
Mark 13:22-23 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand."
I think it should be clear here that charlatans of all sorts will come out and try to divide up the church and render her powerless. I'm not speaking for the others you battle with here, but I do believe that they see the Futurists here as a mission field who are falling or have already fallen under the spell of such false prophets that wants your money while telling you Jesus will return on Rosh Hashana this year.
Our literal interpretation of this passage leaves little doubt that this is a regular M.O. of Satan and that the Church is also a target. I'm not totally sure what the Post-Mills believe in this matter, and I'm not aboard the things that define Post-Mill, yet as an Amil, I think every generation has its false Christs and false Prophets, and I am inclined to believe that when the Dragon is loosed, we will see a profound increase in the signs and great heavenly wonders. (this "we" can mean this generation or hundreds of years from now)
So if you care to speculate, game on; but honestly I don't know, we just happen to have some clues.
Yes we do. He is not bound now. It’s the Holy Spirit that protects us from him at this point. It’s the Holy Spirit that was sent by Jesus when He ascended to heaven. Satan is only restrained by the extent that we remain under the bidding or influence of the Holy Spirit. Look at this Nation. The more they deny the Spirit of God the more influence Satan has.
>>Personally, I have a wild imagination, and thus I entertain the idea that the competitors of Elijah actually could summon fire from the heavens and that the Egyptian magicians actually could turn the Nile into blood. Even you must admit that the Last Days, such as you define them, will be characterized by fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Lk 21:11)<<
I agree with you and what’s more I believe a time like that is coming again. The closer we get to Jesus return, whether you believe in the rapture or not, the more desperate Satan is going to get and the more power he is going to exhibit through his false prophets.
What this means is, no one today really knows what it is like to live in a world with an unbound Satan.
And, it should be pointed out, we fallen humans are quite capable of generating evil, all on our own. There seems to be a curious idea out, that with Satan bound ("so as not to deceive the nations"), everything will be unicorns and rainbows.
Personally, I have a wild imagination, and thus I entertain the idea that the competitors of Elijah actually could summon fire from the heavens and that the Egyptian magicians actually could turn the Nile into blood. Even you must admit that the Last Days, such as you define them, will be characterized by fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Lk 21:11)
The last book through my hands was a re-read of Athanaseus' On the Incarnation. (An African, BTW. As such, not much given to "Jew-hating, Aryan superioty adventures." Ditto Aurelius Augustine. "Just sayin'.") One of his apologetic points, responding to Gentiles, was that in every nation where Christ went, the old gods, the old magic, the old oracles, all ceased.
I think it should be clear here that charlatans of all sorts will come out and try to divide up the church and render her powerless.
Yup. "who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. " Paul's common usage of "temple" points to this being something that happens in the church.
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,