And there are a number of questionable points such as, do the Chiliasts truly believe Satan is bound only at the 1st Coming of Jesus, which WPM seems to assert? But I've pointed out that Irenaeus and later Lactantius are very clear about their Chiliast beliefs that Satan is bound during the Millennium.
As I have previously told you
Victorinus (in AD 270) and Lactantius (writing between AD 304 and AD 311) believed this. Think about this. This is 240 years after the cross. That is go back nearly as long as we are looking back to the formation of the United States. This was unheard of before that.
Can you quote one single "very clear" explicit quote from Irenaeus that mentions Satan being bound during a future Millennium? I am asking for one. Please do not give me Against Heresies Book 3, Chapter 23, 7 which is speaking of the binding of Satan 2000 years ago and makes no mention of a future millennium.
For this end did He put enmity between the serpent and the woman and her seed, they keeping it up mutually: He, the sole of whose foot should be bitten, having power also to tread upon the enemy’s head; but the other biting, killing, and impeding the steps of man, until the seed did come appointed to tread down his head,—which was born of Mary, of whom the prophet speaks: “You shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk; you shall trample down the lion and the dragon;” — indicating that sin, which was set up and spread out against man, and which rendered him subject to death, should be deprived of its power, along with death, which rules [over men]; and that the lion, that is, antichrist, rampant against mankind in the latter days, should be trampled down by Him; and that He should bind “the dragon, that old serpent” and subject him to the power of man, who had been conquered so that all his might should be trodden down. Now Adam had been conquered, all life having been taken away from him: wherefore, when the foe was conquered in his turn, Adam received new life.
This thesis starts off by describing the separation that came “between the serpent and the woman and her seed” after the Fall. Irenaeus identifies man’s great enemy and what he wrought. He then reveals God’s great antidote – the Lord Jesus Christ. He shows how Christ came to correct what was wrong. He testifies how Satan had been “biting, killing, and impeding the steps of man,” until the seed did come appointed to tread down his head, — which was born of Mary.”
Here you go again. You make these false claims and fail to carry through with any evidence. Prove it please.
Most sane theologians relate Genesis 3:15 to the cross of Calvary. They identify the injuring of Christ’s heel with the cross and the crushing of Satan’s head to the same. Once again, the defeat of sin and death are carefully identified with the binding of Satan. Irenaeus once again highlights the successful mission of Christ in addressing the sin issue and its awful consequences death. Sin was “deprived of its power, along with death, which rules [over men].” According to Irenaeus, while Satan conquered Adam in the Garden when he fell, Jesus conquered Satan at his first Coming, which resulted in “new life” to Adam and mankind.
Irenaeus makes it abundantly clear here that “the foe [Satan] was conquered.” He was not describing some future event. He was looking at a past victory which has resulted in an incredible ongoing spiritual victory for God’s people. This is reinforced by the idea that he teaches that the said victory would be evidenced by Satan being subject to the power of man – the New Testament Church. This has been an ongoing reality for 2000 years. This is long been fulfilled. One just has to observe the gospels to see that.
This is therefore not talking about some distant hope in some alleged future millennium after the second coming, it is talking about a current reality in our day. Satan is under the feet of the Church as they spread the good news of the Gospel throughout the nations. Through the binding of Satan, the Church has gained power over Satan.
The ancient Patriarch relates the binding of the devil to the bruising of Satan’s head. He shows, that through this Satan was subjected “to the power of man, who had been conquered so that all his might should be trodden down.” Various Scripture support this. In Luke 9:1 Jesus “called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils.” In Luke 10:17 the disciples testified: “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” He responded: “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:18-19).
The problem with guys like you is you don't accept how someone else uses a word, and try to use that as a weapon in your endless quest to prove your view right. I'm using the term "theocracy" as interchangeable with "Christian State" or Israel. You don't like it? Too bad. You don't get to change how I'm using the term.
