What is Satan's motivation?

[David from New Bern]

Certainly the Devil is aware of the certainty of His defeat. If it is a lost cause, why continue to battle the eventual victor? Some have said that he targets Christians with a greater zeal than the general population of this world. If we are more than conquerors, why is He still around in light of the certainty of the saint's salvation? Is it jealousy that motivates him? Is he angry that there is no recourse for his fallen state, but restoration is possible for us? Feel free to add in questions you have that follow this chain of thought.

Edited March 13, 2006 by David from New Bern

[Gerioke]

He's the destroyer and he want's to take as many down with him as he can.

[apothanein kerdos]

Certainly the Devil is aware of the certainty of His defeat. If it is a lost cause, why continue to battle the eventual victor? Some have said that he targets Christians with a greater zeal than the general population of this world. If we are more than conquerors, why is He still around in light of the certainty of the saint's salvation? Is it jealousy that motivates him? Is he angry that there is no recourse for his fallen state, but restoration is possible for us? Feel free to add in questions you have that follow this chain of thought.

I honestly do not think he accepts his defeat. He knows what is said, but I honestly believe that he has narcissism. Those who know what this psychological disorder is understand it causes extreme arrogance. A person actually creates a false reality within their subconscience and conscience in order to fit their extreme self-love. If Satan knew he was defeated, why would he kill Christ? He would have known that killing Jesus would bring about the salvation of man, which would only aid in his defeat. It therefore makes no plausible sense of why he would have done this unless he actually thought he could win (based upon his own created reality).

Just a theory, but a pretty solid one.

[Kabowd]

Certainly the Devil is aware of the certainty of His defeat. If it is a lost cause, why continue to battle the eventual victor? Some have said that he targets Christians with a greater zeal than the general population of this world. If we are more than conquerors, why is He still around in light of the certainty of the saint's salvation? Is it jealousy that motivates him? Is he angry that there is no recourse for his fallen state, but restoration is possible for us? Feel free to add in questions you have that follow this chain of thought.

I honestly do not think he accepts his defeat. He knows what is said, but I honestly believe that he has narcissism. Those who know what this psychological disorder is understand it causes extreme arrogance. A person actually creates a false reality within their subconscience and conscience in order to fit their extreme self-love. If Satan knew he was defeated, why would he kill Christ? He would have known that killing Jesus would bring about the salvation of man, which would only aid in his defeat. It therefore makes no plausible sense of why he would have done this unless he actually thought he could win (based upon his own created reality).

Just a theory, but a pretty solid one.

This is what I believe is the key here: pride. If we look to his original downfall, pride is the very reason he fell in the first place. Thus, I believe pride and arrogance are part of his character, it's who he is. Pride drives him to persecute christians because he can boast when we fall (this pride is also evident in his interaction with God over Job).

[Guest NewPilgrim]

He is the empitomy of evil, what more reason do you need? He hates God, he hates mankind, he hates the fate that awaits him. "Kill em, Kill em all!"

[apothanein kerdos]

He is the empitomy of evil, what more reason do you need?

Well we can all agree on that. The problem is it doesn't explain why he does certain things.

[Guest NewPilgrim]

Care to suggest an example Kerdos?

[apothanein kerdos]

Care to suggest an example Kerdos?

I did

"If Satan knew he was defeated, why would he kill Christ? He would have known that killing Jesus would bring about the salvation of man, which would only aid in his defeat. It therefore makes no plausible sense of why he would have done this unless he actually thought he could win (based upon his own created reality)."

If Satan knew the future, or at least accepted his fate, there would be no explanation for what he does. Yes, we could argue, "he's trying to get all that he can," but this would not make any sense either. Why would he waste his time in Heaven pleading before God to punish us instead of just comming down here and causing as much destruction as he possibly could? The theory is, in his blinding arrogance, Satan actually believes that he can win. He does not accept what is written (if he did accept it then he would not have killed Christ). The only time we see him acknowledge that his time is short is in Revelation when he is kicked out of Heaven (after waging a war). The first question in my mind is, if he knows what will happen, why in the world does he wage a war regardless? Secondly, at this point we see him rampage against mankind completely, because then he knows his time is short.

Make sense?

[Trinity]

:huh: I believe he Believes he will win! Edited March 13, 2006 by Trinity

[jamie]

He's blinded and delusional because of his own tremendous hatred and pride...

Isaiah 14:12

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

He still believes this.