Is Satan Really Bad?

I grew up Catholic so I'm somewhat familiar with the Catechism. Christians seem to have two Gods. You have the jealous, vicious one who loves to smite in the Old Testament. Then there is the loving forgiving God of the New Testament. Anyway, just this Pagan's two cents.

"Noh flo-it-all you are merely pointing out that you have no grasp of humor, in any form and your "joker" photo is a huge improvement over your old avatar which was also of a delusional clown... at least you have improved your fashion style. I don't post numerous stories in your honor --- if you had a proper grasp of the English language and reality you would know that mocking and humiliating a basement dwelling sanctimoniass isn't honoring them... its merely pointing out how hard they fail... if you didn't give me so much material I wouldn't have numerous stories... one would think it would hard to maintain life sustaining functions and be so brain dead... i do hope you will try really hard and create more material i can use to laugh at you. Does it surprise you that others have posted mocking you? It seems once alerted to your lulziness others have taken up the mockery as well... maybe when your done with your penny experiment you can try and harass them??? Or are you still exclusively stalking me???"

>Oh I have a fine grasp on the reality of your hypocrisy and your attempts to mock me that end up just proving me right about your lack of any credibility. Keep dancing. LOL Oh and it doesn't surprise me that other dumb ***** have mocked me for pointing out bigotry. I've pointed out this self-debasing behavior of bigots many times, and you lot keep proving me right about it. Yes, keep laughing, like a group of grade school bullies. Also, you should continue to stalk me and claim, I'm the one stalking you, when I reply. I do so relish the hypocrisy you unwittingly advertise to the world.

I've often mused on this myself. :)
i asked a lot if very uncomfortable (for them) questions at church when I was very little. I didn't get satisfactory answers, so I opted out aged seven. I just don't think it's good enough to fill in the blanks with conjecture - with regard any subject!
I've never understood why people refuse to admit when they don't know something. Like genuinely when you haven't got a clue of the answer. It's okay, 'cause no one else does either!

"Noh flo-it-all you are merely pointing out that you have no grasp of humor, in any form and your "joker" photo is a huge improvement over your old avatar which was also of a delusional clown... at least you have improved your fashion style. I don't post numerous stories in your honor --- if you had a proper grasp of the English language and reality you would know that mocking and humiliating a basement dwelling sanctimoniass isn't honoring them... its merely pointing out how hard they fail... if you didn't give me so much material I wouldn't have numerous stories... one would think it would hard to maintain life sustaining functions and be so brain dead... i do hope you will try really hard and create more material i can use to laugh at you. Does it surprise you that others have posted mocking you? It seems once alerted to your lulziness others have taken up the mockery as well... maybe when your done with your penny experiment you can try and harass them??? Or are you still exclusively stalking me???"
>LOL More entertaining hypocrisy from you. Bravo! LOL I have plenty of grasp on humor. You're hilarious, in the way you have been prodded to dance around like this for my amusement. Keep up the good work in making bigotry look this ridiculous. Keep proving your failure by telling me how I've failed. LOL The only material I've given you is your own stupidity at attempting to insult me for pointing out your bigotry. You'd think that would be ironic, but I very much expect this behavior from prejudiced people. Keep using that, "Nuh uhh, you are," tactic. It's a classic in the foolish bigotry genre of humor. Yes, keep "mocking," me. LOL Right. YOU are mocking ME. No, it doesn't surprise me that bigots like you keep proving me right, by attempting to ridicule me. My persistence has prodded you to keep on doing what I hoped you would. Thanks again, for helping me prove how absurd bigotry is. You're my best supporter. :) Keep on dancin'! LOL

"Wow ... Please ask for a refund from your professor who taught your "satire and sarcasm 101" class"

>I'm merely pointing out how foolish that hyperbole is in politics, even it is just "satire and sarcasm." Don't be a dumbass. Oh, were you offended by that? Maybe you should heed your own advice, instead of creating numerous stories in my honor. LOL

It is my belief and also the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that Satan has a purpose. That Satan is part of God the Father's plan. That there MUST be opposition in all things.





We cannot understand the goodness of God without the evilness of Satan. We cannot comprehend life without death. Neither happiness without sadness.





Central to God's plan is free will. Just as we have our free will to choose how we behave, react, improve or regress, Satan (Lucifer) also had his free will. And he blew it. Just as good choices bring MORE choices, bad choices remove choices. His ch oice to rebel against God REMOVED his opportunity to be born and live as we do. All those who have ever lived on earth, who do now, and who ever will live, chose to follow God. And the result of that good choice was the opportunity to be born, to live, and to grow - and this opportunity to have a body enables MORE choices. Choices than will or will not bring more depending upon how we use our free will.





God knows us better than we know ourselves. He is all knowing, all powerful. But above and beyond that, and I believe more importantly, he is a FATHER. A father who wants his children to reach their utmost potential, just as any parent would want for their child. And free will is essential to that progression from baby to adult. From a spirit child to all that He could ever want for us. He won't force us. Our progression is up to us. But it is through the scriptures, through holy prophets and inspired men and women of God that teach us, that He has given us landmarks, a map, detailed instructions on how to find our way back to Him. If we don't read, don't listen, don't DO, then we are choosing our own destiny -- Apart from God. BUT. . .THERE IS ALWAYS A RIGHT CHOICE. And it is continual "right" choices that will lead us home to Him.

One of the mysteries we encounter is why God didn’t just destroy Satan immediately after he rebelled. We know that God will one day defeat Satan once and for all by throwing him into the Lake of Fire where he will be tortured day and night forever (Revelation 20:10), but sometimes we wonder why God has not destroyed Satan already. Perhaps we will never know God’s reasoning in this particular situation, but we do know certain things about Him.



We can know He is absolutely sovereign over all creation, and this includes Satan, who is “on a very short leash.” Certainly, Satan and his demons wreak havoc in the world, but they are only allowed to go so far and no farther. We also know that God has planned everything from the beginning of time to the end. Nothing can thwart His plans, and things are proceeding exactly on schedule. “The LORD of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand’” (Isaiah 14:24).



Also we know that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Whatever God has planned for Satan, that plan will be the best one possible, resulting in God’s perfect wrath and justice being satisfied and His perfect righteousness being glorified. Those who love Him and who wait for His plan to be fulfilled will be thrilled to be part of that plan and will praise and glorify Him as they see it unfold.



Alos know that calling into question God’s plan and its timing is to call into question God Himself, His judgment, His character and His very nature. It is not wise to question His right to do exactly as He pleases. The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). Whatever plan comes from the mind of the Almighty is the best plan possible. It is true that we can’t expect to understand that mind perfectly, as He reminds us: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to know and obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not. In the case of His timing for Satan’s demise, it has to be the best possible plan because it is God’s plan.



"Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." John 17:5

"The only evidence we have to conclude Satan's utter evil is God's word, and frankly, God's word isn't worth too much."



As I have pointed out, you need to make up your mind - either you trust God's word to be just that: God's word and the only trustworthy revelation about the unseen world - or you don’t. To claim that God's word is not worth too much and then cite it over and over again trying to make your point - that is a contradiction.



Second: Why do you believe I am offended? There is just no ground in my first post to think I am offended. Why should I be? I am not and I am very relaxed. You are free to reject Christian faith. That does not offend me. You are the one who seems to have problems with some basic biblical truth. You write in your response, “I put these articles out just to provoke thought and answer some questions I have but not to be attacked.” My first response was just that – a provoked thought. You asked for that. I did not attack you. All I did was pointing out the problem with your post: “But it appears strange to me to quote from the bible and take its witness at face value only to conclude that the God of the bible cannot be trusted or loved. That just does not make sense.”



Why did you ignore my question? Here it is once more: “Do you really think that millions of believers over the centuries are "bigots" and dumb? Do you really feel adequate as judge over all the devout and sincere believers?”



Since you posted your thoughts in the group “I call people out on their bigotry” you do come across as someone who believes that the accepted Christian faith and especially trust in the God of the bible is bigotry. Well, that is nonsense to me. But I need to clarify why I asked as I did. Maybe you should look for another group when you post stories, if this is a misunderstanding.



“Like any good propoganda machine, Christian authorities have made sure to limit the disenimation of information on the enemy (Satan) to what "they" want the public to know. For example, we are never told "why" Satan rebelled against God.”



Which “Christian authorities” do you mean? Any information we have about Satan comes from God through the bible. And everyone who is able to read the bible for himself does not depend on so called “authorities.” You state that “we are never told” – I can tell you that Satan rebelled against God because he wanted to be like God. He was not happy with his status. That is the opinion of some at least based on Isa 14:12ff. Well, my opinion is that “we” are told, but not all want to search and read for themselves.



“God cast Lucifer and those who followed him into Hell, a place of eternal torture and despair, where God was not present.”

The name Lucifer did not belong to Satan at any time. Lucifer comes from the Latin translation of the term “shining one” in Isa 14:12. Some translations then picked up on this Latin word and used it instead of a proper translation. The bible therefore gives no ground at all to call Satan Lucifer.

Second, Satan and all his followers including all people who are lost will be cast into hell at the end of all ages. “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Rev 20:10 The place called hell is yet to come. Hell is generally defined as the eternal fate of unrepentant sinners after this life. If God had already cast Satan into hell as you claim, then life on earth would be very different.



“There is no biblical record of Satan engaging in the murder of torture of any human being, unlike God, … “

“Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:9ff) If you read onward, you must admit that your claim is wrong. The book of Job portrays Satan as a murderer once God allowed him to take the lives of people except Job. I prefer to trust Jesus Christ who said, „He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.” (Joh 8:44)



I recommend reading the end of the book of Job, chapters 42 It can be helpful whenever humans think they are smarter than God, speaking of things they do not understand.



Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6

Satan (also known as Abaddon, Accuser, Adversary, Angel of light, Angel of the bottomless pit, Anointed covering cherub, Antichrist, Apollyon, Barack Obama, Beast, Beelzebub, Belial, Deceiver, Devil, Enemy, Evil one, Father of lies, George W Bush, God of this age, King of Babylon, King of the bottomless pit, King of Tyre, Lawless one, Leviathan, Little horn, Lucifer, Man of sin, Power of darkness, Roaring lion, Ruler of the darkness, Ruler of demons, Ruler of this world, Saddam Hussein, Serpent of old, Son of perdition, Tempter, Wicked one, and Anonymous) and is notably the best known troll in the history of the universe.

In our continuing discussion of Satan, from what we know of him/her, he/she is a spiritual being who led a heavenly revolt against God and was subsequently cast down into the earth (Luke 10:18).Her personal name, “Satan,” means “adversary.” This name indicates Satan’s basic nature: he is the enemy of God, of all God does, and of all God loves.



He/she is also called “the devil” in the New Testament. The word “devil” means “false accuser” or “slanderer.” Satan plays this role in Job 1–2 when he attacks Job’s character.



In Matthew 12:24, the Jews refer to Satan as “Beelzebul,” an epithet derived from “Baal-Zebub” (“lord of the fly”), a false god of the Philistines in Ekron (2 Kings 1:2-3, 6).



Other titles of Satan include the tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5), the wicked one (Matthew 13:19, 38), the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), and—three titles that point to Satan’s authority in this world—the ruler of this world (John 12:31), the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). Second Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan transforms himself into “an angel of light,” a description that highlights her capacity and inclination to deceive.



There are a couple of passages which refer to the judgment of earthly kings but may very well also refer to Satan. The first is Isaiah 14:12-15. This is addressed to the king of Babylon (verse 4), but the description also seems to fit that of a more powerful being. The name “Lucifer,” which means “morning star,” is used here to describe someone who sought to overthrow God’s very throne.



The second passage is Ezekiel 28:11-19, addressed to the king of Tyre. As in the “Lucifer” passage, this prophecy contains wording that seems to go beyond the description of a mere mortal. The king of Tyre is said to be “anointed as a guardian cherub,” but he was laid low by pride and “expelled” by God Himself.



In addition to providing names and titles of Satan, the Bible uses various metaphors to reveal the character of the enemy. Jesus, in the parable of the four soils, likens Satan to the birds that ****** the seed off the hardened ground (Matthew 13:4, 19). In another parable, Satan appears as the sower of weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:25, 28). Satan is analogous to a wolf in John 10:12 and a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8. In Revelation 12:9, Satan is the “great dragon . . . that serpent of old”—obviously, a reference to the serpent who deceived Eve (Genesis 3:1).



To Be continued ...........next time God & Satan - if God is all-powerful, why does He not just kill Satan?

There is ZERO doubt that Satan is the most evil being in existence! Not only does the Holy Bible confirm this, but if you ever made a real, solid attempt to live by Bible teachings, then you will be attacked over and over by this same being!

I have tried hard to live by Gods' Word (need to do better, even now), and I know from personal experience (in dreams, especially) just how TRULY "bad" Satan is!

Just my truthful and honest thoughts on this matter.

Please, Clarify/Quantify the Word 'BAD'....

DID Satan get kicked out or did he leave because he chose to?

I suppose that there is an audience for this article. As a Christian, I do not feel adressed. And I do not see a need to explain why I have no problem with all the supposed problems listed in this article. God does grant every human being the freedom to reject His love and His word.



But it appears strange to me to quote from the bible and take its witness at face value only to conclude that the God of the bible cannot be trusted or loved. That just does not make sense.



Do you really think that millions of believers over the centuries are "bigots" and dumb? Do you really feel adequate as judge over all the devote and sincere believers?

Interesting post thanks for sharing, beliefs concerning Satan range from the silly to the abstract from a little red guy with horns who sits on your shoulder urging you to sin, to an expression used to describe the personification of evil. I for one, joined by many other scholars associated with the study of history, philosophy, theology, science, and psychology , gives us a clear portrait of who Satan is and how he may and may not affect our lives.



Rather than going to the Catholic Church's Catechism, or any religious creed or statement of faith regarding a faith tradition and a social construct, I as well as many others prefer to go to the source of the discussion of this topic.



The word 'satan' is the Hebrew transliteration of the word 'adversary.' It is therefore, assumed that Satan is the one who opposes God. Satan is considered the most powerful of the fallen angels. Satan, also nicknames as Lucifer and the Devil, is said to be the one who entered the Garden of Eden and convinced Eve to disobey God. There is debate among scholars regarding the time of the fall of Satan. Some say that he fell when he moved Eve to disobey God. Others state that Satan fell sometime before that and merely manifested his adversarial nature in the Garden. Still others say that there was a great battle in heaven long before the Garden of Eden and that Satan took one third of the angels with him.



The first mention of the adversary is found in the Garden of Eden, but it isn't until the post-exilic period (538 B.C.) that the figure of Satan is more prominently displayed: Job 1-2 Zech. 3:1-2; and 1 Chron. 21:1.1.



Put simply, the Bible defines Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to sin and is now completely opposed to God, doing all in his power to thwart God's purposes.



Satan was created as a holy angel. Isaiah 14:12 possibly gives Satan’s pre-fall name as Lucifer. Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been created a cherubim, apparently the highest created angel. He became arrogant in his beauty and status and decided he wanted to sit on a throne above that of God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15; 1 Timothy 3:6). Satan’s pride led to his fall. Notice the many “I will” statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Because of his sin, God barred Satan from heaven.



Satan became the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). He is an accuser (Revelation 12:10), a tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and a deceiver (Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:3). His very name means “adversary” or “one who opposes.” Another of his titles, the devil, means “slanderer.”



Even though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does, hoping to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God's kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult and world religion. Satan will do anything and everything in his power to oppose God and those who follow God. However, Satan’s destiny is sealed—an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).



To be continued ........I have more to say about this topic, but out of time today.