Why does God allow Satan to continue doing evil, and why is he immortal? How does Satan also have the "power" to enter peoples' heads and try to command them to do things? Doesn't this make him the next most powerful thing after God? How did he reach this status-- was it God given? Why?
2007-01-20 02:22:25 · 11 answers · asked by reba 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God wants eternal companionship. When he made angels first (even before he made the universe), he made them so they could be with him forever. It was only long after that when the archangel Lucifer went bad. (Whether this was a lack of foresight on God's part
God had created Lucifer with great power, and gave him authority over the earth (Luke 4:5-6), and over other angels (apparently 1/3 of them). The exact nature of his job on the earth is not known, whether to beautify or construct, etc..
So, yes, the archangels are the most powerful beings under God at this time.
God's plan was to create man. And humanity was to be greater than the angels (it is speculated that this caused Lucifer to be jealous). Part of Lucifer's job may have been to teach humanity the way of God (this gathered from the meaning of his name -- light bringer).
When Lucifer turned from God's way, God planned to use that to advantage in teaching humanity the contrast of living God's way and not.
But, as a consequence of turning against God, Lucifer, now named Satan (which means enemy or adversary), would no longer hold his place of authority on the earth forever.
The angels have the ability to posses a human, but not always the authority. The person has the right to let Satan or his angels (called demons) have control or not. Also God limits what Satan and his angels can do (read Job 1:10-12 and Luke 22:31-32).
Satan and his angels do have the authority most of the time to tempt humanity. That is not the same as control. Tempting means you still have the choice to follow the temptation or follow God's way of doing right.
As for whether or not Satan is immortal, it seems that he is. The Lake of Fire is typically where God puts an end to the wicked. But Rev. 20:10 suggests that Satan will be tormented forever. One cannot be tormented if not alive. But it is not the fire that will bring him torment; it will be the eternal imprisonment -- never to be free again.
BTW, such imprisonment is not man's destiny. Those human beings who refuse to live God's way of life of love and peace and joy, will be destroyed forever. Their lives will cease in the Lake of Fire. Man is not immortal like the angels (read Matthew 10:28).
2007-01-22 07:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by BC 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Satan is not immortal. Immortality means to never die. Satan will die when God punishes him at the end of the world. Rev. 20:10
Satan has "the power" to enter people's heads only when they allow him to. God will always give people that choice because He is a God of love and does not want worship by force. James 4:7 says to "resist the devil and he will flee from you." That does not sound very powerful to me. If all you have to do is to make a consious choice for God and the devil has to leave....that is no power on the devil's side. God did create the Lucifer who became the devil and Satan but God did not create sin....that was Satan's choice. Satan has told the universe that he has a better way that they do not need to obey God. God is allowing Satan to show the results of his way of doing things to the whole universe and then when the whole world is full of sin and everyone has had a chance to choose...God will end sin.
2007-01-20 02:52:06 · answer #2 · answered by bethybug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan was an angel and angels are immortal. Satan really doesn't have any powers. He is just a good deceiver. He just implants things in people's minds but he can't make anyone do anything. Now he can posess someone but that person would have to be willing to allow that to happen. But see satan doesn't have the power over people sin does. Our sin nature is what holds dominion over us unless you are a bought by the blood of Jesus born again christian. Satan just uses tools to deceive us but he doesn't have any powers over us.
2007-01-20 02:32:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have asked far too many questions at one time to give you a complete answer right here and now. You can read a little bit about Satan in the 28th chapter of Ezekiel. Satan is an angel (a bad one that rebelled.) Angels are eternal. God has promised at the right time to cast him into the "lake of fire" and end his evil deeds. (Rev 20:10.)
2007-01-20 02:42:54 · answer #4 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan is immortal because all spiritual beings are immortal, including humans. Angels are very powerful spiritual beings. They are not hindered in their efforts like humans are, but it is better to be human, because angels have no potential to share in God's nature, whereas we do. Lucifer was the most beautiful angel in heaven before he arrogantly declared that he would be like God. Michael and his angels fought a great war against Lucifer and the angels who followed him. Lucifer and his angels were beaten and cast from heaven. Evidently he is not the next most powerful thing to God, since Michael beat him.
Satan only has power over you to the extent that you give it.
2007-01-20 02:51:24 · answer #5 · answered by infinity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan has the power of influence, rationalization, and suggestion. he does not have the power to make our decisions for us unless we let him.
He is immortal because all spirits are immortal, as well as us spiritually.
Why is Satan still allowed to deceive us? because without him we wouldn't know pain, sorry, agony, and death. We also wouldn't know comfort, joy, elation, and life. Nor would we have the free will to chose anything we want.
Satan does want our demise, but without him. we wouldn't even be here, and he knows that.
2007-01-20 02:28:36 · answer #6 · answered by Coool 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has given satan the power. Right now though it is limited. When the Rapture happens the restrainer will be removed from satan and he will have full power here on earth until Christ returns for the final battle. Place your faith in Christ and you won't have to endure it all. If you think the world is messed up now it is nothing in comparison to after the Rapture.
2007-01-20 02:28:32 · answer #7 · answered by gtahvfaith 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
give me a source of light. Sun, a candle, a torch etc. Ok now give me a sorce of darkness. there is nothing . Likewise Satan just exists just like the bad side of people. Satan is only a representation of our evil side. everyone has a good sidde and a bad side as ling as there are humans, ther will be Satan
2007-01-20 02:52:50 · answer #8 · answered by damelody 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the bible Satan was one of Gods favorite angels who got really arrogant and thought he should be in JCs shoes, so God cast him out. Bit like the thugs who think its alright to rob and beat innocent people, I think as an angel he started out immortal tho.
2007-01-20 02:29:09 · answer #9 · answered by minimouse68 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Satan like all humans will live forever. Our bodies will die but our soul will live forever. Some in heaven,some in hell.Where will you be?That is the question that is asked by me.
2007-01-20 02:44:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋