Satan and the Pit

Many of my charismatic and pentecostal friends have a habit of commanding satan to “go back to the pit” where he came from. This prompts me to enjoy on days when I see someone about to eat a peach or cherry or apricot to warn them to be very careful with the pit, looking very serious. When they ask why, I respond that you can never tell which pit a careless pentecostal might have cast a demon into…

Actually, satan came from heaven, not from a pit of hell. He still has access to heaven, and he has power in any place in the earth where humans are silly enough to honor his ways or to serve him. Examples are nations or cities or businesses or congregations or false religion meeting places such as North Korea, Somalia, San Francisco, Berkeley, Washington DC, Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Masonic Halls, Mosques, and even congregations of the Church that are being controlled by witchcraft or fear.

One day, satan, a very powerful false prophet, a being called “the Beast,” death, and the grave (sheol or hades) will all be thrown in a place John saw that is called the lake of fire. Some spirits are already bound in darkness, according to Peter (2 Peter 2:4) and Jude (vs. 6), but satan is not one of them. Those spirits are described as having abandoned their places, and Lucifer is described as being removed. Satan is on the loose, prowling about – looking for a soul to harm:

Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.

Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. To Him be the dominion forever. Amen.
(1 Peter 5:8-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible® © )