The Devil's power??

[Frisbinator]

God created the Devil as an angel.

God created the Devil implies that God is much more powerful than the Devil, correct?

So, Lucifer tries to destroy God and obviously fails and is thrown outta heaven and spends his time tempting people away from his enemy, God, so that they may spend eternity in "a lake of sulfur where there shall be nashing of teeth".

Here are my questions:

1. Satan tempting all of us, constantly, every single day to sin implies that he, like God, would have to basically be everywhere at once.

But he is not as powerful as God, so how could he be everywhere at the same time, tempting all of us to sin?

2. Is Satan not basically doing God a favor, by sort of "taking care of the unbelievers"? Did Satan create Hell or did God create Hell? And how come Satan gets to rule over Hell, shouldn't he be suffering in the lake of fire right along with the non believers?

And PLEASE don't say "Well a life without Jesus IS Hell". Perhaps it is very miserable, but I disagree. The bible clearly states that Hell is a pit of fire:

Deu 32:22=> For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

Rev 19:20=> And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev 20:10=> And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20:15=> And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

[pretzelperson]

God created the Devil as an angel.

God created the Devil implies that God is much more powerful than the Devil, correct?

So, Lucifer tries to destroy God and obviously fails and is thrown outta heaven and spends his time tempting people away from his enemy, God, so that they may spend eternity in "a lake of sulfur where there shall be nashing of teeth".

Edited November 22, 2004 by pretzelperson

[Dad Ernie]

God created the Devil as an angel.

God created the Devil implies that God is much more powerful than the Devil, correct?

So, Lucifer tries to destroy God and obviously fails and is thrown outta heaven and spends his time tempting people away from his enemy, God, so that they may spend eternity in "a lake of sulfur where there shall be nashing of teeth". 

No Lucifer DID NOT try to destroy God. Lucifer thought in his heart(?) to BE God, PRIDE, and thus was cast out of heaven.

Here are my questions:

1.  Satan tempting all of us, constantly, every single day to sin implies that he, like God, would have to basically be everywhere at once.

But he is not as powerful as God, so how could he be everywhere at the same time, tempting all of us to sin?

No, it does not mean that Satan is "omnipresent", or everywhere at once. A third of the angels "fell" with Satan and he is their ruler doing his bidding. There is a hierarchy of fallen angels vested with various amounts of power. Some greater, some lesser AND there appears to be enough of these "demons" to go around for all mankind to be effected by them.

2. Is Satan not basically doing God a favor, by sort of "taking care of the unbelievers"?  Did Satan create Hell or did God create Hell? And how come Satan gets to rule over Hell, shouldn't he be suffering in the lake of fire right along with the non believers?

Currently Satan is "the Prince and the Power of the Air", right here on this earth, roaming around like a roaring lion "seeking whom he may devour". At the last judgment, Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire, along with all those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The Lord wishes that NONE should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of Salvation. God allows that when a person becomes so hardened of heart toward Himself, that that individual may be cast into Satan's hands for the destruction of his body, that perhaps his soul might be saved (if he/she repents).

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

P.S. I see that you DO read portions of the Bible, but you may want to set a regular schedule of reading through it at least once each year.

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Yes lucifer was and is a Created being. Man was God's agent on earth. In control of this part of Creation. He ceeded his authority to the enemy when he fell from Grace. Thus mans nature is now one of sin.

That is why the need for the Cross of Christ . He took your sinful nature and in essence nailed it to the Cross. Thus your sinful nature dies when you accept His Grace. Then He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures. Being born from above by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was enabled to defeat death for his nature was Divine. So after nailing your dead flesh to the Cross. He rose again in Triumph and made an open show of your fallen nature. Imparting to those who will His divine nature. Returning to you His agency in this part of Creation. For you too now are enbaled to be a son of God. He was the firstborn of many. Soon He will come to this part of Creation and claim His rightful place putting down and trampling under all of His enemy's.

Why is He waiting?

2Pe

[seraph]

Here are my questions:

1.  Satan tempting all of us, constantly, every single day to sin implies that he, like God, would have to basically be everywhere at once.

But he is not as powerful as God, so how could he be everywhere at the same time, tempting all of us to sin?

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Remember in Luke 8:30

[SkilletRocksMyFace]

I'm not allowed to post my belief on the issue, however I encourage you to look up the words "hell" "lucifer" "devil" and "Satan" In a concordance to find thier orignal meanings. This might help you answer your question about what Satan is and how it relates to scritpure.

Good luck and take care.

[Leonard]

Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Greetings and welcome to Worthy.

Let me disabuse you quickly of one error: satan does not 'rule' in hell. He will simply be screaming and burning with the other fallen angels. Further hell is 'cast into' the lake of fire, and is therefore not the same as the lake of fire.

I tend to think that 'lake of fire,' and the descriptions of hell are merely the biblical writers' way of indicating that which is horrible past imagining, and not literal. I have been take to hell four times, and believe me, fire would have been a mercy!!

With a blessing,

Leonard, a sinner.

[nebula]

I have been take to hell four times, and believe me, fire would have been a mercy!!

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Woah! You've got my curiosity peaked!

[Frisbinator]

Ok, thanks for the info, but one question still remains.

First of all, there seems to be some confusion. I never meant to ask if Satan was omniPOTENT. OmniPOTENT would imply that he is all powerful. I meant to ask if he was omniPRESENT, meaning everywhere at once. I was just confused how an angel could have such a quality.

Let me break this down:

We're all tempted by the Devil, right?

Millions of Christians around the world, at the same time, are being tempted by isolated occurences that are not related, right??

Well, how is that not omnipresent? How can an angelic being be in millions of different places at the same time?

[nebula]

The answer was given here:

No, it does not mean that Satan is "omnipresent", or everywhere at once. A third of the angels "fell" with Satan and he is their ruler doing his bidding. There is a hierarchy of fallen angels vested with various amounts of power. Some greater, some lesser AND there appears to be enough of these "demons" to go around for all mankind to be effected by them.

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