I don't buy it that Satan was only motivated by sadism. Such a creature would be mentally insane not evil. What did he disagree with God about? And please don't say the usual answer...he was greedy. What kind of Heaven would still let you be greedy? And if he was prideful then state why he was prideful. Is it his own fault that beauty led to his vanity when God knew this would happen?
2007-02-02 20:04:53 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous 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
2007-02-06 09:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Gnostics tell this story a little differently. Gnostics didn't call him Satan, they called him Yaldaboath, also known as Jehovah in the OT. The motivation was jealousy. Notice that Jehovah of the OT announces that he is a jealous god, his name is Jealous. In a way, according to the Gnostics, Yaldaboath did overthrow the true Father of all and does control this world. The NT says that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. According to the Gnostics, Christ's mission is to save us from Yaldaboath and return us to the true father in the Pleroma (realm of light).
The Gnostic conception actually explains a lot of the disparity between the god of the Old Testament and the Father as talked about by Jesus in the New. Notice that Jehovah is often associated with darkness, sometime thick darkness. Then notice that the NT describes the Father as pure light with no darkness at all. Maybe the Gnostics were on to something.
BTW, the Gnostics did not believe that Yaldaboath was evil per se, but that he operates in ignorance.
2007-02-03 04:51:04 · answer #2 · answered by Wisdom in Faith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Satan have overthrew God,he would be the god. If you are aware of what is happening in the world,you would have the smallest idea of what the world could be under Satan control. Satan is at this very moment,operating freely,until the day God himself will put an end to this system of things for a better one. This is God purposes to give human the promised ever lasting life.
From the way the world is going,we can see what Satan and his demons would do if he Satan, overthrew God.
2007-02-03 04:36:18 · answer #3 · answered by Gianna V 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He felt like God was holding human beings over angels. He didn't like it because angels were created first and not reguarded as much as humans. The reason he had those emotions (jealously) is because angels have freewill just like us. They can choose to serve God or not. Some did go with the devil. He wasn't cast out alone.
Not too sure about the pride apart though. Maybe he was too proud to admit he was a douche? I don't know. I doubt he would do anything great if he had won the war. He's not a huge fan of people so I doubt things would've kept on going or anything.
2007-02-03 04:11:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can the thing that is created overthrow the one who created it? It was not sadism that was satan's downfall - it was enthroning self in place of the Almighty within his own heart. A thing that still occurs everyday. satan did not have to choose to enthrone himself in his heart because of the perfections and beauty that God had given him. he could have used it to be grateful and worship God all the more. Just because God knew what satan's choice would be does not mean He will withhold free will - even from satan (who was Lucifer - son of the morning at the time).
2007-02-10 00:23:08 · answer #5 · answered by wd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually think that Satan is a good and necessary "evil". I think that Satan never wanted souls to have to have a body and have to use their agency to get back to heaven. I think he actually wanted every single soul to be able to go to heaven without a "test". I think the major war in end times will be the working out of the two philosophies. Either way I believe everyone will end up in "heaven".
Also I don't believe that "evil" really exists.
Thanks for the interesting question!
2007-02-03 04:14:46 · answer #6 · answered by katiebug 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the bible has hints of a council that was held before the world was. during this council it was proposed that an earth would be created and that we would gain bodies to help us work toward the goal of becoming like our heavenly father. during this council two plans were proposed.
one plan was by Lucifer. His plan was that we would all go down and he would force us all to return. this would have required the loss of our agency. also Lucifer demanded All the glory.
the other Plan was Proposed by The first Born Jehovah known on earth as Jesus Christ. In this plan we would all go down and be given the ability to use our agency. while on earth we would be given the chance to recognize and follow the true Gospel. this plan required a Saviour and a second chance at hearing the gospel after birth. also the Glory would go to Heavenly Father.
the Hosts of heaven were split with two thirds following Jesus Christ and one third of our brothers following Lucifer and being cast out of heaven.
This ending of the council is spoken of in the book of revelations
Revelations 12:3-4
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
"Wisdom in Faith" is highly mistaken.
the new testament says that Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament and that he was the one that created this world.
Colossians 1:15-18
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
2007-02-03 04:46:38 · answer #7 · answered by Kuraimizu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Satan had overthrew God, he would of put an end to the world, and then died himself, because there would be nothing left to rule. Satan was the brother of god, and wanted to share the power, but could not prove himself. I wonder if God and Satan were brothers, who were their mom and Dad?
2007-02-03 04:16:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God didn't know this would happen. When you give the keys to your teenage kid and he wrecks the car, did you know it was going to happen? Did you know it could happen? Did you make it happen? Was it your fault that it happened? There is no way to answer you except hypothetically, but I would say given that Satan is in charge now of this earth and things aren't going so good, well it wouldn't have been any different if he had won the war against God - except worse and hopeless. Completely hopeless. Thank God for Jesus Christ. Literally.
2007-02-03 04:13:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pride and Jelousy that led to the revolt in heaven.
You already know he was jealous of God's love of men as his greatest creation. But where is the pride from?
The Pride is in his belief that he was greater than man. Or atleast that's what we are told.
2007-02-03 04:21:43 · answer #10 · answered by special-chemical-x 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋