And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy in their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10.)
Practically everybody has heard about people who kidnap another person and ask for a huge sum of money as ransom in exchange for the kidnapped person’s freedom or release. Unless ransomed, the kidnapped person could end up either as a slave to the kidnappers, being sold to others or, at worst, dead. At best, however, the duly constituted authorities could hunt down the kidnappers, apprehend them or execute them, and rescue the kidnap victim.
The late founder and pastor-general of the Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, wrote about Satan the devil having held captive or “kidnapped” the world, the entirety of mankind. [See this link: https://herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE and select “Books & Booklets,” and scroll down to the booklet titled “A World Held Captive.” See also: Where Did the Devil Come From?]