Some can see in this wonderful language only an allegory: the good influences are to gradually bind the influences of evil, and to expect such an event as the literal arrest of the Devil is a wild, irrational, unscientific, unreasonable dream. Our Lord said, speaking of the time of the end, that the same social conditions as prevailed in the days of Noah were to be repeated: wicked ones waxing worse and worse; scarcely any living in the fear of God. To expect to see a gradual regeneration of society, politics, commerce, and the Church--until evil will be overruled, chained as it were--seems to be a gigantic travesty on language and the teaching of the Bible. We prefer to stand by the Book rather than human interpretation--fixed up to justify the methods and results of modern religious propaganda. An angel appears--evidently an archangel: one belonging to the rank of which the fallen Prince formerly belonged. This Sheriff of the skies is equipped for his undertaking; Officers carry handcuffs with which to bind prisoners--the angel has a great chain in his hand; he lays hold--arrests the old skulking, hateful, murderous Devil. This angel-officer has also a key, and it is the key which locks the door of the bottomless pit. This door has been wide open; Satan and his emissaries could go and come at pleasure. Just as an officer arrests a desperado and leads him off to prison--so will the archangel arrest the Devil and lock him up in the pit of darkness and despair. What will be done with his millions of cohorts? We can judge only by inference. We want to stay close to the inspired record; of one thing, however, we are confident: the footstool of God will be absolutely cleared of Devil and demons; "that they shall deceive the nations no more." The prophetic picture of the divine court proceedings is very specific: we have the exact length of the prison sentence--_one thousand years_. When we remember the crimes, unnumbered crimes, the sentence seems to be an example of court leniency. But this is only a "binding over," as it were, to the real trial and judgment yet to come. This will be temporary imprisonment; but oh, it will be such a glad, happy day. The vision of Isaiah, thirty-fifth chapter, will be literally fulfilled. The sceptre so long in the hand of a traitor--usurper--will pass into the hand of the Prince of Peace. Yes, we will strengthen our weak hands and confirm our feeble knees--Satan at last locked up. We shall witness with joy unspeakable and full of glory--"the Restoration of All Things." "And the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Thank God forever. XXXIV THE FINAL CONSUMMATION "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever."--_Revelation xx. 10._