Scripture describes Satan as bound by “a great chain.” Is this a literal chain? No, the context makes clear that it is symbolic—sort of a chain of circumstances. The phrase brings to mind an expression we use when we can’t do someone a favor: “I’d like to help you, but my hands are tied.”

Satan would like very much to continue deceiving and oppressing individuals during the 1,000 years, but his hands are bound by a chain of circumstances. He can find no righteous people to tempt during this period, because they are all in heaven. And he can’t find any wicked to lead, because they are all dead, asleep in the dust of the earth. Satan simply wanders about the desolate, ruined earth without any people under his control. Circumstances “keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended” (Revelation 20:3).

Here we find Satan in the last act of his age-long struggle against God. His evil character remains unchanged. He and his angels are confined to our empty world. Unable to deceive or tempt anyone, he roams an empty world, forced to ponder all the heartaches and tragedy he has caused through the centuries.