Spartan Rex
Super Freak
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Cute.
I think I'm keeping the better company.
Yes, Satan is a real individual.
...and Jesus (remember him? The historically verifiable figure of the New Testament) gives us the best insight to Satan's real character.
In John 8:40-44, Jesus made a statement to the Jews. He said: “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” By this He simply meant that, “You are controlled by the devil and his desire you will perform.” Then Jesus added, “He was a murderer from the beginning.”
What did Jesus mean by, “He was a murderer from the beginning.” In order that we come to grips with the full import of this statement, we must answer two further questions: 1. Who did Satan murder? 2. What did Jesus mean by the word “beginning”? Did He mean from the time Lucifer was created or from the time Lucifer became Satan?
Before we can answer these questions we first need to define the word murder. To human beings murder is the act of killing somebody. But in God’s eyes murder begins with a cherished desire or unwarranted hatred, as shown in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus made it clear, if you are angry with somebody without a cause, or if you hate somebody without a reason, you have already committed murder in your heart. (Matt. 5:21, 22) So, according to God’s law, murder doesn’t have to be an act. Murder is a cherished hatred against somebody else.
In Ezek. 28:15. verse 14, Lucifer is described as “the anointed cherub.” In this chapter, the fall of Satan is linked with the fall of Babylon, because Babylon represents Satan’s kingdom. In verse fifteen we read these words concerning the anointed cherub, which is Lucifer: “Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Now the Hebrew word, “iniquity” means “crooked” and when applied spiritually means “to be bent towards self.” Sometime in the history of Lucifer his mind became perverted. Instead of his love going toward God and toward his fellow angels it made a U-turn towards himself.
In Isaiah 14:12-14, the prophet Isaiah describes to us what was the essence of that iniquity. Summarizing these verses, this is in effect what Lucifer said in his heart, “I am going to get rid of God and take His place.”
Now you cannot take the place of God unless you first get rid of God. It is in this sense Lucifer, turned Satan, was a murderer from the beginning.
Now Satan did not say to God, “Move, I want a place with you.” That is not what Satan desired. He desired to get rid of God that he could have His place instead. It is because of coveting the place of God in his heart that Lucifer, turned Satan, desired to murder God.
Addressing the Jews, who were victims of Satan, Jesus one day told a parable, recorded in Matthew 21. In this parable there was a man who had a vineyard and he went off to a far country. He left his vineyard in the care of his servants. Every year he would send a man to collect the profits. Each time the person he sent was either stoned or kicked out, and so the owner got nothing.
Finally the owner said, “I will send my son. At least they will respect him.” But, as it turned out, they did the very opposite. Instead they said, “We will get rid of him. Then we can take all that he will inherit for ourselves.” So they decided to kill the son. Jesus, of course, was talking about Himself and the Jews. Remember that the Jews were to do the lust of Satan. Satan wanted the place of God. He had never told anybody this. That would be foolish. What he probably told the angels was, “If I was in the place of God I would make life wonderful for you. You can have anything you like, enjoy anything you want without any restrictions. You can eat, drink, and be merry.”
Unfortunately, one-third of the angels fell for his lies. Satan thought that was enough to begin a revolution. Then the first war took place in heaven and is described in Revelation 12:7-9. If you read this passage in Rev. 12, you will discover that Lucifer, or Satan, was defeated in that war. But God did not destroy him at that time, for the simple reason that nobody knew what was in the heart of Satan. The only means by which God could expose Satan was to let him have his own way.
So, instead, God cast him out of heaven. Following this incident, Satan came to this world and deceived Eve, and through Eve he brought about the fall of Adam. Since God gave our first parents dominion of the world (Psalms 8:4-8), by defeating Adam and Eve Satan gained control of this whole world. Satan then established his kingdom here on earth, under his own system, the system of self.
Everything, therefore, in this fallen world is based on three fundamental drives found in 1 John 2:15,16, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Underlying these three basic drives of sinful man is the principle of self, the very essence of Satan’s kingdom.
But one day, many centuries later, Satan heard some beautiful singing. It was, “Glory to God and peace to men on earth.” (Luke 2:14) The Son of God, his bitter enemy, had come to this world to redeem the human race from his hands. In response, Satan said, “I am not going to wait till you grow up.” Satan doesn’t believe in fair play. “I’m going to get you the first chance I have.”
Recorded in the New Testament are many incidents of how Satan’s many attempts to kill Christ failed. The first attempt recorded was the destruction of the babies in Bethlehem by Herod’s army. Herod the great was a victim of Satan who was simply using him as a tool. This familiar story, as we all know, ended in failure as far as getting rid of Christ. Incidentally, all of Satan’s agents are “great.” That is what he promises, “If you follow me our your own bent, you will be free and great.” But remember, he is a liar.
We read this in Matthew 25:41. Christ will say to the those who took Satan’s side, the unbelievers: “Depart from me into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” The eternal fire was not prepared for mankind but Satan has deceived many. They believed him, chose his way, and now will have to join him.
Again, in John 10:31-59, we see how the devil used the Jews to try to stone Jesus to death. The word “again” in this passage indicates that this was not the first time he tried it. As we read these verses we will discover that Satan failed again. We must ask ourselves why. Why did Satan fail? Here are two texts that will help us realize why all these attempts of Satan failed. The first one is in John 7:30, which records one of the instances where Satan tried to destroy Jesus through human beings. “Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, [John tells us why] because His hour was not yet come.”
Keep that in mind because God is sovereign and nobody ever touches us if our hour has not yet come. In chapter eight, verse twenty we find the second text: “These words spake Jesus in the treasury as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for his hour was not yet come.” In other words, God would not allow anyone to touch Him until His hour was come. His hour did come in Gethsemane.
In Luke 22:53, when Jesus was in Gethsemane, the priests brought the soldiers and they took Jesus captive as if He was a criminal. Listen to what Jesus tells them: “When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me: [we know why—his hour had not yet come] but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
This “power of darkness” is Satan. In other words, God said to His Son at Gethsemane, “Son, I am going to remove my protection from you and let Satan do with you what he wanted to do to us from the beginning.” This was the only way that God could expose the secrets of the hidden heart of Satan to the universe. Of course God being the better tactician turned Satans "victory" into his defeat.
The real victory and glory of course belongs to Jesus and those who believe on him for his sacrifice, a fully restored relationship with God is now possible.
So Satan didnt liberate mankind in the garden, he en-shackled mankind to sin and rebellion to God (Adam, mankinds representative went along willingly) Satan wasnt trying to do mankind any favors.
Folk who get a derisive chuckle out of the Genesis story and those who believe its authenticity are one side of the coin that also says, "Heaven!? Ugh, how boring. Sitting on a cloud,strumming a harp?"
Talk about ignorant. Scripture mentions no such thing. Praise him? Sure, you bet, but this verse is one of many that give us a future insight.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1Cor 2:9
If you thought God was creative making the Earth and the Heavens then you aint seen nuthin yet. ...and you wont if you continue to worship at the altar of your own heart and limited knowledge and wisdom.
This concludes my contribution to this thread.
Anything more would be *ahem* "Casting my pearls before swine..." Matt 7:6
Sorry Pixeltwin Im afraid I dont hold the Book of Mormon in as high esteem as the LDS do.
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