Satan

[Zentheist]

Instead of dwelling who Satan is why not change the topic and tell me how great God is?

I agree ! But, what if there isn't a Satan, then ALL Christians can focusing blame for sin where it belongs, soley out or own two feet-no pun intended

Edited January 10, 2006 by Zentheist

[Zentheist]

Because we need to know what we are up against.

"Up against"???? Why the Scripture says "For this purpose was the Son of God manifested: That He might destroy the works of the devil." Do you think Jesus failed?

He certainly did not fail.

[eric]

Satan is an abstract, neither man animal vegetable mieral or chemical. He is referred to as snake serpent dragon angel and allsorts of things. He is the adversary and and I believe he is credited with more power than he has. People wont take responsibility for the dumb things they do, because it'e easier to blame satan. Take Jack (hypothetical) the pillar of the church. Does all the right things lives a great christian life.....but after church. he sneaks into his room and logs on to a porno web site. Later he confesses to his brothers at church and they all pray and demand satan to release him in the name of Jesus.

Okay what Jack did took courage and confessed his weakness publically, but when all said and done it was his own weakness that caused it not satan.

Jesus said, "if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free," and later on in the same passage, Jesus said, "when the Son shall set you free you will be free indeed.

Jack abandoned that freedom long enough to not abide in His word and gave in to his own weakness and lust and in doing that is as good as saying satan has more control of his life than Jesus.

Satan was defeated at Calvary, and if you don't believe that, you are not reading your bible properly. If you want to be bullet proof, you put on a vest, if you want to be fireproof, you wear an aspesdos suit, if you want to satan proof, you put on Jesus.

Satan started the ball rolling in the garden when the first man fell. Evil is an intrinsic part of the human race, but God in His wisdom gave us a way out to share the victory with His Son and be overcomers. Satan never blew up the twin towers, only people who didn't know Jesus and allowed the influence of satan run their lives. You are out of God little children, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Well that's my start for the day,

eric.

[eric]

you are right about the wars, that is why Paul warns us to put on the full armour of God and take up the sword of the Spirit, but if there's a chink in your armour, you are the one that donned it, not satan. If I decide to be a bit haphazard in my puttung on the armour, and an arrow get's through, then I can only blame myself for being neglident. If you walk headlong into enemy territory and get captured, don't blame the enemy, blame yourself for not abeying orders.

2thepoint, when christians have had bad dreams and claim they've been attacked, they blame satan

Right, who do atheists blame when they have bad dreams. They believe in neither satan or God? Time christians start taking responsibility for their own hangups and mistakes.

cheers,

eric.

[eric]

Job happened before Christ defeated satan at calvary and set the captives free.

Nowhere does it say that following Jesus will be cake walk. He said if you are not prepared to deny yourself everything of the world and take up the cross and follow, you are not worthy of me. So if the cross gets heavy, you don't abandon it, He is with you so you just set it down for a spell and He will annoint the sore spot and encourage you. If you decide to throw it aside and go back to the world,He won't stop you, He has given you a free will, you can do as you please. Paul had a thorn on his side. God said get over it, my grace is sufficient unto you.

Anyway2TP, it's been nice talking to you and I hope you have a good day in Jesus,

eric

[bgoalie35]

Where does satan first appear in the bible?

I know he is mentioned by name in Job (satan = accuser). He asks God to stop protecting Job to see if Job will remain faithful to God.

Job 1:

6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"

Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

A "serpent" is mentioned in Genesis, but it does not specifically name the serpent.

I know he is mentioned by name in Job (satan = accuser). He asks God to stop protecting Job to see if Job will remain faithful to God.

The hebrew means adversary, it doesn't say that this adversary is a supernatural fallen angel, does it?

No, it doesn't, and I don't mean to say it does. You asked where Satan is mentioned in the Bible, I only meant to give you the passage, without my own interpretations. I agree that Christians often push their own problems off on "satan". No one can force you to do anything. If God Himself will allow you free will and not force you into submission to Him, how could He allow Satan that same power that He Himself gave up?

2thepoint, I would like some Biblical reference as to where it says Satan is a fallen angel who took 1/3 of the angels with him. I believe you are unknowingly referring to sources outside of the Bible instead of the Bible itself. I may be wrong, but check and see if you can find a reference to this in the Bible.

I would also carefully reread Job. Satan may have tempted Job, but he could not force Job to do his bidding. Job had the free will the entire time to either curse God or stay faithful to God. The whole point of the exercise was to see if Job would stay faithful to his God simply out of faith and love, instead of out of thankfulness for the nice, perfect life.

Anyone can tempt us, but in the end, we are responsible for our own behavior, our own responses to the temptation.

[bgoalie35]

2thepoint, I would like some Biblical reference as to where it says Satan is a fallen angel who took 1/3 of the angels with him. I believe you are unknowingly referring to sources outside of the Bible instead of the Bible itself. I may be wrong, but check and see if you can find a reference to this in the Bible.

Here is what I wrote in posts 15 and 16:

...There is a section in chapter 12 that describes "a woman clothed with the sun...". It goes on to describe a "dragon with seven heads and ten horns... swept away a third of the stars of heaven... the woman gave birth to a son a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod..." This clearly represents Israel (see Joseph's dream imagery in the OT) who had already given birth to the Messiah. The purpose of the descriptions here is to identify the woman as Israel and the dragon as Satan by using past events. In chapter 20 verse 2 we see the dragon called "the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan".

...You were the signet ring of perfection... you were in Eden, the garden of God... I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God... you were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you... (Ezekiel 28:12-19)

In Revelation 9:11 we see Satan called an angel:

They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

It takes some digging, but what we wind up with is that there is at least some support for saying Satan is a fallen angel who may have been involved in tempting Eve, and who was originally created perfect.

This is where I get the idea. I don't recall reading other books about this, so rest assured I get it only from the Bible.

I would also carefully reread Job. Satan may have tempted Job, but he could not force Job to do his bidding. Job had the free will the entire time to either curse God or stay faithful to God. The whole point of the exercise was to see if Job would stay faithful to his God simply out of faith and love, instead of out of thankfulness for the nice, perfect life.

Not sure, but I don't think you were addressing me about this, were you?

Good point on the interpretation from Revelation. I'm not sure I could say for certain that this is the way the passage was intended to be interpreted, but I can definitely respect the way you have interpreted it. Revelation is quoted often on these boards, and I need to go back and study it (its been awhile). Let me look into it further on my own.

Anyway, yes the part about Job was directed to you. I was responding to this comment:

"Satan does attack people, so we can't say it's always our own fault. Look again at Job; whose fault was his suffering? Purely Satan's"

Now that I reread it, you were saying that Job's suffering was the fault of Satan. I thought you were trying to make the point that Satan forced Job into cursing God, thus saying Job's sin was Satan's fault. You did not, and I read your post too hastily. My mistake, ignore my comments.

Thank you for the response.

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Revelation is a book of astrology, nothing more.

HMMM? Yes, that would all be good and well if we simply didn't have statements in the text itself contra-wise.

The Scripture, the God Breathed Word of God tells us from where this Book is derived.

Re

[Rania]

Where does satan first appear in the bible?

First in Isaiah then in Ezekiel. Chronologically, that is.

Ezekiel 28:13-18

13 You were in Eden,

the garden of God;

every precious stone adorned you:

ruby, topaz and emerald,

chrysolite, onyx and jasper,

sapphire, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made of gold;

on the day you were created they were prepared.

14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,

for so I ordained you.

You were on the holy mount of God;

you walked among the fiery stones.

15 You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you.

16 Through your widespread trade

you were filled with violence,

and you sinned.

So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,

and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,

from among the fiery stones.

17 Your heart became proud

on account of your beauty,

and you corrupted your wisdom

because of your splendor.

So I threw you to the earth;

I made a spectacle of you before kings.

18 By your many sins and dishonest trade

you have desecrated your sanctuaries.

So I made a fire come out from you,

and it consumed you,

and I reduced you to ashes on the ground

in the sight of all who were watching.

-------------------------------------------------------

I just realized this passage speaks not only of how Satan fell, but also speaks of his ultimate demise. Am I understanding that correctly or missing something?

Tap

Edited January 11, 2006 by Totallyatpeace

[angels4u]

Revelation is a book of astrology, nothing more.

THE constellation Draco, the Great Serpent, was at one time ruler of the night, being formerly at the very center of the heavens and so large that it was called the Great Dragon. Its body spread over seven signs of the Zodiac, which were called its seven heads. So great a space did it occupy, that, in mystic language, it "drew a third part of the stars from heaven and cast them to the earth."

The woman attacked by the great red dragon, Cassiopea, was known as Nim-Makh, the Mighty Lady. For many centuries, at intervals of about three hundred years, a brilliant star suddenly appeared in this constellation, remaining visible a few months, then as suddenly disappearing. In mystic phraseology this star was a child. It was seen A. D. 945, A. D. 1264, and was noted by Tycho Brahe and other astronomers in 1562, when it suddenly became so brilliant that it could be seen at midday, gradually assuming the appearance of a great conflagration, then as gradually fading away. Since thus caught up to the throne of God, this star-child has not again appeared, although watched for by astronomers during the past few years.

The crown of twelve stars upon the head of the apocalyptic woman are the twelve constellations of the Zodiac. Clothed with the sun, woman here represents the Divinity of the feminine, it spirituality as opposed to the materiality of the masculine; for in Egypt the sun, as giver of life, was regarded as feminine, while the moon, shining by reflected light, was looked upon as masculine. With her feet upon the moon, woman, corresponding to and representing the soul, portrays the ultimate triumph of spiritual things over material things-over the body, which man, or the male principle, corresponds to and represents.

Tubal Cain,

Are you a born again Christian who has Jesus living inside of you?

If you do believe it examine yourself if you are really born again and what Gods word means to you.

If you do you can't believe this garbage you just posted.

Ro 3:4

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

This is Gods word and Tubal do you think you will be justified by God with your statements?

My guess is that your are in New Age stuff?