Where have all the demons gone?

[wonbyone]

According to the premillennial view satan is bound for the thousand year golden age that will be here on earth but what about all of the fallen angels/demons? revelation 20 doesn't mention demons at all.

[The Curtmudgeon]

Opinion: (that is to say, mine) The Bible often uses the figure of speech whereby a leader represents all of the associated people: Adam represents all of mankind, Abraham or Israel (the man) represent all of the Jewish people, a king represents the nation, etc. If only Satan were bound during the Millennial Kingdom, but his cohorts remained "on the loose," then effectively he would still be able to deceive the nations through the lies and deceptions of his subordinates. Therefore, I would argue, the binding of Satan includes the binding of all those spiritual powers who carry out his work, even though Rev. 20 only speaks specifically of him.

The (one man's thruppence-ha'penny, as usual) Curtmudgeon

[RBerman]

I agree, though as an Amillenialist I think the binding is now. The general principle of "the leader represents the people" is known as Federal Headship. It's normally used to speak of the unsaved (for whom Adam is the Head) and Christians (for whom Christ is the Head), but I suppose it would be appropriate to say that Satan is the Head of demons. It's not a topic Scripture deals with much.

[wonbyone]

Thanks for the input guys it really helps.

[RBerman]

(My post was unclear. The "it" of which Scripture does not speak much is Satan's headship.)

[The Curtmudgeon]

(My post was unclear. The "it" of which Scripture does not speak much is Satan's headship.)

I agree with the "much", RB, but do you agree that the following passage certainly seems to speak about his headship?

Revelation 12:7-9

⁷ And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸ And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The (of course, the next step would be to prove that "his angels" are the same as "demons", but I pretty much take that for granted) Curtmudgeon

[RBerman]

Yes, I agree, Curt. It's not a topic that Scripture says a lot about, but there is a little. Unfortunately, the medieval tendency was to take that thimble of information and try to write an ocean of material with it.

[The Curtmudgeon]

:yea-that:

The (thanx!) Curtmudgeon

[eschaton]

One way to look at chapters 17-22 is as an expanision of the seven vials. The chapters start with one of the vial angels (17:1) and close in a similar way (21:9).

In that way it is interesting to compare the time after the millenium to the sixth vial.

16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

In this view Satan, the beast and false prophet correspond to Satan, Gog and Magog. The purpose of Satan being bound is to keep him from deceiving (20:3), whereas the evil spirits go out to perform miracles, gather and deceive (16:14, 20:8). So at least Satan and a couple of his colleagues are understood to be bound during this time.

[Teluog]

Opinion: (that is to say, mine) The Bible often uses the figure of speech whereby a leader represents all of the associated people: Adam represents all of mankind, Abraham or Israel (the man) represent all of the Jewish people, a king represents the nation, etc.

From an article on idioms in the Bible:

Synecdoche

Definition: A figure of speech in which the part stands for the whole or the whole for the part.(16)

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:4)

"Clean hands and a pure heart" stands for the whole person.
Let me know that it is your hand,
that you, O LORD, have done it. (Psalm 109:27)

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father in heaven. (Matt 16:17)

Eponymy is a sub-division of synecdoche in which an individual stands for the whole nation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:6)

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
even against the faithful Holy One. (Hosea 11:12)

Not really sure if this is an instance where this figure of speech is used, though. That would need to be shown.

[RBerman]

Not really sure if this is an instance where this figure of speech is used, though. That would need to be shown.

Federalism is different than eponymy, though. It's not a figure of speech; it's a theological principle, akin to noting that when Congress declares war, the whole country is at war.

[The Curtmudgeon]

From an article on idioms in the Bible:

Synecdoche

Definition: A figure of speech in which the part stands for the whole or the whole for the part.(16)

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:4)

"Clean hands and a pure heart" stands for the whole person.
Let me know that it is your hand,
that you, O LORD, have done it. (Psalm 109:27)

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father in heaven. (Matt 16:17)

Eponymy is a sub-division of synecdoche in which an individual stands for the whole nation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:6)

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
even against the faithful Holy One. (Hosea 11:12)

Not really sure if this is an instance where this figure of speech is used, though. That would need to be shown.

Granted, which is why I carefully labelled the comment as merely "opinion". I do not claim that it is clearly shown by this or any other passage, but I believe that it is a possible interpretation of it.

The (and thanx for the definitions -- I could remember synecdoche, but couldn't remember eponymy for the life of me) Curtmudgeon

[Teluog]

Federalism is different than eponymy, though. It's not a figure of speech; it's a theological principle, akin to noting that when Congress declares war, the whole country is at war.

Not sure how it's different. I would think that using epynomy is how the concepts of federalism is communicated.

But whatever the case, I still think it needs to be shown what the case is and what it means. I've only brainstormed possible interpretations so far. Curt's is one of those possibilities.