2006-12-30 02:26:01 · 23 answers · asked by josie 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.
The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of Gods plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.
Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.
Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.
Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It’s meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.
Love and blessings
don
2006-12-30 02:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe the return of the Lord Jesus Christ may well happen soon; and I am constantly urging believers to obey the scriptural injunction that "teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13). At the same time, I am aware that the Lord's return may be thousands of years away. The Bible says that "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8).
While there are indications that we may be approaching a crisis in history, and biblical descriptions of the last days fit our times, it would be unwise to make any prediction about the exact time of Christ's return. When on earth, Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). The important thing is that we should be ready for His coming: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour" (Matthew 25:13). Read also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and 2 Peter 3:3-15.
2006-12-30 10:54:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do. The things described in the Bible are very apparent to the spiritually aware. But I don't think it's even close to the end; things are going to get a lot worse. For Christians this is good news though, because we are that much closer to going home to be with our Heavenly Father. To you guys who don't believe that Satan exists; just wait and you'll see.
2006-12-30 10:38:14 · answer #3 · answered by Texas Pineknot 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We've been living in the "last days" ever since the Resurrection of Jesus. As far as when the actual 2nd coming/last judgment/end of the world/apocalypse will happen . . . . well if Jesus Himself said no one knows the day or the hour, I doubt anyone on Yahoo Answers does. Don't worry about it - you're just as dead if you get hit by a car tomorrow or the 2nd coming happens tomorrow. Imitate Paul the apostle and work out your salvation in fear and trembling in the meantime.
2006-12-30 11:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by Sass B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,Satan"s headed for Solitary confinement,for 1000 yrs.
He is mad at God ,so He comes after the Creation God loves the most,Man.The Flood of Hate,war ,Rage ,Persecution,will increase for the next few yrs,There are two choices for Man.
Christ's way,or Satan:s" ( Man"s Freewill ") God placed a High value on this,Man"s Eternal Residence by words man speaks. .
2006-12-30 13:35:11 · answer #5 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes very much so, both more blatant and more subtle. For instance he will increase the easiness of viewing porn on the Internet and at the same time work on people to look at porn as a normal thing with no spiritual, mental, or physical consequences. Once a person is hooked on porn it is like any other drug you cannot get enough, you then start to look for more graphic pictures and a lot end up in child porn then trying to act out the perversion. Porn leads to a lot of different problems from divorce to prison.
2006-12-30 10:41:02 · answer #6 · answered by saintrose 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes we are. Sadly,most people will not or refuse to believe this. We are in the latter days and even God's patience has a limit.
2006-12-30 10:47:43 · answer #7 · answered by Jeff C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do believe we are living during the last days, but I don't believe in Satan. I think humans will bring about the end themselves.
2006-12-30 10:29:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't believe in any "last days" except as how right-wing fundamentalists are trying like crazy to create from their own minds and I don't believe in any "Satan". The only temptation to evil rests in your own mind.
2006-12-30 10:43:58 · answer #9 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As I trust my Savior, Jesus the Christ, I hope so, for that only means that He will be coming soon. Don't worry, the Bible does NOT say that ALL will suffer, just one fourth of the earth. YBIC
2006-12-30 10:29:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋