“He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Rev. 20:2
According to Amillennialism or Anti-premillennialism, those who deny the coming future Kingdom, Satan is already bound in this era which made the missions and evangelism possible.
However, they have a disclaimer. They say that Satan’s binding does not mean he’s no longer active in the world. It’s just that he cannot prevent the spread of the gospel.
The problem with this claim is that it is unfounded in the text and even contradicts the other scriptures.
Firstly, in Rev. 20:1-3, John saw in a vision that Satan was not only bound in the bottomless pit (the Abyss), he was also locked up and was sealed. So, how can a chained, locked up, and sealed Satan still be active in the world? It must have been a very long chain, a shallow pit, and a useless seal. It doesn’t square well with the text.
Secondly, in Rev. 20:3, John gave the purpose of the binding, the locking, and the sealing: “to keep him from deceiving the nations.” John did not say it was to “prevent him from obstructing the spread of gospel.”
Besides, the Millennial Kingdom described in Rev. 20:1-6 is not a picture of evangelism but of resurrection, reigning, and judgment (Rev 20:4).
The Amillennial interpretation even contradicts the other scriptures such as 1 Jn. 5:19 which says, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” And 2 Cor. 4:4 that says, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel.” Satan even hinders, disguises, outwits, and strays believers (1 Thes. 2:18; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:14; 1 Tim. 5:15)
Third, in Rev. 20:7, when Satan was released he immediately went on deceiving the nations in order to gather them for battle. And the spread of the deception given in Rev. 20:8, is global. It says, “the four corners of the earth,” and their number, “is like the sand of the sea.” This means that when Satan was bound, locked up, and sealed he had no activity whatsoever in the four corners of the earth. He only resumed and even intensified his deceptive activity upon his release, “when the thousand years are over” (Rev. 20:7).
So, is Satan already bound? Not yet. But he’s been judged (Jn. 16:11) and his work destroyed (1 Jn. 3:8) by the death of the coming King (Heb. 2:14). So now his time is short (Rev. 12:12) and he is soon to be crushed under your feet (Rom. 16:20).