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of the earth for their iniquity： the earth also shall disclose her blood；
and shall no more cover her slain。〃 Isaiah 26：21。 〃And this shall be the
plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against
Jerusalem； Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet；
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes； and their tongue shall
consume away in their mouth。 And it shall come to pass in that day； that a
great tumult from the Lord shall be among them； and they shall lay hold
everyone on the hand of his neighbor； and his hand shall rise up against the
hand of his neighbor。〃 Zechariah 14：12； 13。 In the mad strife of their own
fierce passions； and by the awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath； fall
the wicked inhabitants of the earthpriests； rulers； and people； rich and
poor； high and low。 〃And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one
end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth： they shall not be
lamented； neither gathered； nor buried。〃 Jeremiah 25：33。
At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole
earthconsumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness
of His glory。 Christ takes His people to the City of God； and the earth is
emptied of its inhabitants。 〃Behold； the Lord maketh the earth empty； and
maketh it waste； and turneth it upside down； and scattereth abroad the
inhabitants thereof。〃 〃The land shall be utterly emptied； and utterly
spoiled： for the Lord hath spoken this word。〃 〃Because they have
transgressed the laws； changed the ordinance； broken the everlasting
covenant。 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth； and they that dwell
therein are desolate： therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned。〃
Isaiah 24：1； 3； 5； 6。
The whole earth appears like a desolate wilderness。 The ruins of cities and
villages destroyed by the earthquake； uprooted trees； ragged rocks thrown
out by the sea or torn out of the earth itself； are scattered over its
surface； while vast caverns mark the spot where the mountains have been rent
from their foundations。
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Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day
of Atonement。 When the ministration in the holy of holies had been
completed； and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by
virtue of the blood of the sin offering； then the scapegoat was presented
alive before the Lord； and in the presence of the congregation the high
priest confessed over him 〃all the iniquities of the children of Israel； and
all their transgressions in all their sins； putting them upon the head of
the goat。〃 Leviticus 16：21。 In like manner； when the work of atonement in
the heavenly sanctuary has been completed； then in the presence of God and
heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God's people will
be placed upon Satan； he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he
has caused them to commit。 And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land
not inhabited； so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth； an
uninhabited and dreary wilderness。
The revelator foretells the banishment of Satan and the condition of chaos
and desolation to which the earth is to be reduced； and he declares that
this condition will exist for a thousand years。 After presenting the scenes
of the Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked； the prophecy
continues： 〃I saw an angel come down from heaven； having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand。 And he laid hold on the
dragon； that old serpent； which is the devil； and Satan； and bound him a
thousand years； 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。〃 Revelation 20：1…3。
That the expression 〃bottomless pit〃 represents the earth in a state of
confusion and darkness is evident from other scriptures。 Concerning the
condition of the earth 〃in the beginning；〃 the Bible record says that it
〃was without form； and void； and darkness was upon the face of the deep。〃＇*
THE HEBREW WORD HERE TRANSLATED 〃DEEP〃 IS RENDERED IN THE SEPTUAGINT （GREEK）
TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW OLD TESTAMENT BY THE SAME WORD RENDERED
〃BOTTOMLESS PIT〃 IN REVELATION 20：1…3。＇
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Genesis 1：2。 Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back； partially at
least； to this condition。 Looking forward to the great day of God； the
prophet Jeremiah declares： 〃I beheld the earth； and； lo； it was without
form； and void； and the heavens； and they had no light。 I beheld the
mountains； and； lo； they trembled； and all the hills moved lightly。 I
beheld； and； lo； there was no man； and all the birds of the heavens were
fled。 I beheld； and； lo； the fruitful place was a wilderness； and all the
cities thereof were broken down。〃 Jeremiah 4：23…26。
Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years。
Limited to the earth； he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and
annoy those who have never fallen。 It is in this sense that he is bound：
there are none remaining； upon whom he can exercise his power。 He is wholly
cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many centuries has
been his sole delight。
The prophet Isaiah； looking forward to the time of Satan's overthrow；
exclaims： 〃How art thou fallen from heaven； O Lucifer； son of the morning！
how art thou cut down to the ground； which didst weaken the nations！ 。 。 。
Thou hast said in thine heart； I will ascend into heaven； I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God： 。 。 。 I will be like the Most High。 Yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell； to the sides of the pit。 They that see thee
shall narrowly look upon thee； and consider thee； saying； Is this the man
that made the earth to tremble； that did shake kingdoms； that made the world
as a wilderness； and destroyed the cities thereof； that opened not the house
of his prisoners？〃 Isaiah 14：12…17。
For six thousand years； Satan's work of rebellion has 〃made the earth to
tremble。〃 He had 〃made the world as a wilderness； and destroyed the cities
thereof。〃 And he 〃opened not the house of his prisoners。〃 For six thousand
years his prison house has received God's people； and he would have held
them captive forever； but Christ had broken his bonds and set the prisoners
free。
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Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan； and alone with his
evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has
brought。 〃The kings of the nations； even all of them； lie in glory； everyone
in his own house ＇the grave＇。 But thou art cast out thy grave like an
abominable branch。 。 。 。 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial；
because thou hast destroyed thy land； and slain thy people。〃 Isaiah
14：18…20。
For a thousand years； Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth to
behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God。 During this time
his s