Awaken the Soul: A Journey through Daily Devotions

SUNDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2024

TEXT: Revelation 20:2-4

2. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

3. and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

(New King James Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: THE ANCIENT SERPENT

In v2 of today's text, the Adversary is referred to in four different ways: the dragon, ancient serpent, the devil and Satan. It is interesting that the word 'serpent' is used to refer to Satan. For further clarity, serpent is qualified as "ancient serpent."

In Genesis 3, we meet the serpent having a conversation with Eve, leading to the Fall. The serpent there is said to be craftier than any of the wild animals God made.

The dictionary makes a distinction between a snake and a serpent. While snake is said to be the limbless reptile

We know, serpent is described more in figurative terms as a person who is treacherous; exploiting a position of trust in order to betray it. This is different from the brazen snake we find in Numbers 21:8-9, which is a type of Christ.

Whereas the NIV uses the term serpent in Rev. 20: 2, it uses snake in Num. 21: 8. This distinction tends to suggest that serpent is not just a reference to a reptile.

It appears to suggest more of the treachery, exploitation and evil associated with Satan.

This assertion is buttressed by v3 of our text where Satan is said to be thrown into the Abyss to keep him from deceiving the nations.

Until the Millennium when Christ will throw the Ancient Serpent into the Abyss, he is on rampage. He is ‘ancient’ because he has been around since the beginning of human existence. He has mastered his tricks. You stand no chance against him except through Christ!

QUESTION: Who are depending on for victory over the Ancient Serpent?

PRAYER: O Lord, I am helpless without You. Please help me, in Jesus name. Amen.