ANSWERS: 48
  • If you believe in all of that, then sure he could have.
  • Sounds reasonable to me!
  • Yeah, and what would have stopped "just some dudes" from doing the same thing?
  • He has impersonated God. False religions are all around us, entwined with governments around the world. The book of Job shows that God puts limits on the actions of Satan.
  • Speaking in Christian logic, of course "Satan" could have influenced any one of the contributors to what has now been accepted as the definitive "Word of God" Bible. Even if you go back to the supposed "Original" transcripts recovered from caves in the middle east, haven't some Christian authorities used the argument of "Satan" placing archaeological evidence in the past to dodge logic on the subject of evolution? and to carry it even a step further, who's to say that "Satan" couldn't have placed every piece of archaeological evidence used to "Prove" that Jesus was a real person? It's almost humorous sometimes, the way so the "Logic" of so many religions seems to be almost self-destructive. But then again, I guess that's what they need faith for... But personally I don't believe in "Satan" or "God" or any of that, so I prefer to just go by the archaeological evidence alone and assume that the Bible is just a book that came from *Humans* who wanted to promote their ideologies by calling them the "Word of God".
  • Assuming Scripture to be true (which many on here do not; that is their prerogative), God has control over all things. So, yes, Satan could have influenced writers. In fact, I believe he did; I think that's where we get gospels which conflict with the accepted canon of Scripture. The difference is, I believe that God controlled which books were accepted as the Word of God. I believe that He guided events to ensure that we have an accurate testament of His teachings for us.
  • I am not sure about the devil, sometimes people will interfere with scripture to use it as a vehicle to carry their own message or write into the scripture their own interpretation. Take the KJV, as one example, it is very widely used, held in high regard and people swear by it and "yet the King James Version HAS GRAVE DEFECTS" and "these DEFECTS ARE SO MANY AND SO SERIOUS as to call for revision . . ." The quotations are from the preface to the revision of the KJV written by orthodox Christian scholars themselves. The Holy Qur’an condemns interference with scriptures in HQ 2:79 by saying “Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for what their hands have written, and woe unto them for what they earn thereby.” The translation from the original text of the HQ is by Mr Pickthall.
  • God is stronger than Satan, and would not have allowed something like this to happen. Remeber in Starwars, when luke asks, "is the dark side stronger?" and Yoda says it is not. There IS some Christian symbolism in starwars, but not as much as there is in the Lord of the Rings, as JRR Tolkien was a Christian.
  • Biometric ID cards would stop him.
  • This isn't an answer per se, but are you aware that this is the exact premise of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, except that it's applied to the Koran instead of the Bible?
  • The flaw in this argument is this: God created Lucifer, just as he created the other Angels, the Universe, the Earth, Humanity, etc, etc (according to Christianity). Lucifer, aka The Morning Star, aka The Devil, is a creation of God. Lucifer, therefore, is not equal to God, and therefore is incapable of impersonating Him. Those chosen by God to hear His word through Christ were, by all accounts, impervious to the trickery of Satan. It can be argued that Judas is the exception, and that his betrayal of Christ is a perfect example of the weakness of man (which it is). But, Judas was chosen to betray Christ, which then led to Christ's persecution, crucifixion, and the cleansing of human kinds sins in the eyes of God. So, ultimately, Judas was the very essence of all of mans sin's, because God chose him to be.
  • Yes, the devil could have influenced the writers of the Bible, and probably gave it lot of effort. . Yes, he could have also tried to impersonate God, because that was/is part of his job. . I believe he succeeded in neither, but that he continues to try every day, and will not abate until final judgment.
  • The devil could have and yet he did influenced the writers of the Bible.as when he denied God just coz of his rudeness and his pride over himself he was thrown out of the skies and God gave him the freedom untill the day of judgement as he showed contempt for human beings and especially for Adam when Adam told all the names of the things that the angels couldnt.it was a challenge that he would disturb the human minds and souls leading them to sin and Allah Almighty has given us the intellect and knowledge to distinguish between evil and good. even in the prophet,s times people used to make fun of the revealations and also denied the prophets ,they used to mock at the prophets and denied them and their preachings and their holy books.The Israelites denied moses several times they made fun of the revealations although god gave them several chances and they changed the words of God for little profits,it was the work of Satin but also God has given us the power of reasoning mind and the ability to dintinguish evil and good so one is always free to choose his path so one can fight the devil or join him. "You have no power over my servants. You only have power over the strayers who follow you." [15:42] God said this in Holy quran "The devil has possessed them, and has caused them to disregard God's message. These are the party of the devil. Absolutely, the party of the devil are the losers." [58:19] "He said, 'my lord, since you have willed that I go astray, I will surely entice them on earth; I will send them all astray.'" [15:39] in the following verse the devil himself admits that he wont b able to send astray the true believers "Except those among your worshipers who are devoted absolutely to you alone." [15:40] "He said, 'this is a law that is inviolable'." [15:41] "Do you not see how we unleash the devils upon the disbelievers to stir them up?" [19:83] these are all Quranic verses indicating the devil's job and his promise to make the people go astray and God,s promise that his servants ,his believers will not follow him. the bible was also affected by different entities as the emperor constantine and there are so many versions of it even the translations have been changed although one should read the book in the language of the God and the holy prophet as it was said by them. the Holy quran which testifies all the prophets and the holy books is the last holy book of God among all the other books it tells about the bible the jews' book and the other books and the prophets who were sent before the last prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and it is in Arabic in the original format no one has changed it ever since and every muslim no matter what mother tounge he has he learns to read it in Arabic and then read the translation to understand it.so holy quran is the same as it ever was also coz it was the last book of all and it was not just for a specific nation or clan but it was for the whole word and Mohammad(PBUH)was also a prophet for the whole word.even reciting it in the original words of God and prophet feels so exciting and effective. and devil couldnt b able to make any changes in holy quran is because of the fact that God promised the safety of the holy quran,and even if some people tried they were failed.
  • No, God is The Almighty. He is stronger than Satan. His Spirit would have prevented Satan from doing this. His Spirit would safeguard the writers as they recorded His Word. “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17)
  • The Bible is the Lord's work. He did not let Satan interfere with it.
  • No he could not have. God is the almighty and Satan the devil is unable to go against God's will. The Bible clearly exposes Satan as the ruler of this world (2Cor 4:4) and Jesus cleary denounces the devil at John 8:42-47. The Bible teaches the truth about God and also about the devil so it cannot be from the devil
  • Satan doesn't impersonate God, he simply takes what God says and twists it. The Garden of Eden is a classic example and what he said to Adam and Eve. The scriptures hold nothing that could possibly tell us that evil was behind the writing of the books. BTW: There are some religions that impersonate Christianity that have books that were 'divinely inspired'.. without naming them you can see the difference.
  • i did.
  • Personally, I highly doubt that the devil could have influenced the Bible. The Old Testament and the New Testament compliement each other. The old prophets taught and forsaw that which took place during the New Testament, and the New Testament verifies the visions and what-not from the Old Testament. The Old Testament was the only part of the Bible which existed during the time of Jesus Christ. And during that time, most Jews were using the Old Testament as their main basis for their religion. Based on logic, we can conclude that the Bible was not influenced by Satan. If it had been, the Old Testament would have been tampered with also, and Jesus would have called that out during His sermons. Therefore, if the Old Testament is pure truth, then the New Testament is too. The Bible couldn't have been influenced by Satan.
  • Good question. Satan is crafty and powerful, but he not all powerful. Satan has attacked the Bible by means of mans governments which he influences. All through history, men have tried to ban this marvelous book. Why would Satan do this if he had already succeeded in undermining the word of God? God produced the Bible by means of His Holy Spirit. God is stronger than Satan. Bible writing dates back to the year 1513 B.C.E., when Moses was directed to begin the record. It was late in the first century C.E. when the apostle John finished his writing, thus bringing Bible writing to an end—after about sixteen centuries. No other book took so long to complete as the Bible. The Apostle Paul said: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial . . . for setting things straight.” (2 Timothy 3:16) He also wrote: “When you received God’s word, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13. Jesus said, “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) They were confident that the Bible was God’s word, and I am too.
  • No. one reason... all who wrote the Bible for God had the Holy Spirit with them. It is God Whispered , so to speak, they were merely the LORD"S secretaries, think of Moses when he wrote the 10 Commandments. God would have stopped satan from HIS children, just like HE did not let satan destroy Job .. He has NEVER LEFT any of HIS people, children, and HE never will..
  • Oh, and also: The devil couldn't have impersonated God, because Jesus Christ dying on the cross was a deal that God had between Himself and satan. And in order for that deal to be confirmed, the real Jesus had to die. In the garden, satan tried to barter with God, saying that humanity could be washed of sins in trade for Jesus's death. So really, it all worked out in the end. And because Satan can't see the future, he had no idea that God could raise Himself from the dead! :)
  • Hi! Well, I guess "deal" is too harsh of a word really for me to use. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins to be forgiven, otherwise we wouldn't have forgiveness and the type of salvation we have now. You know, where we can just "believe in the name and be saved." That kind of salvation. And you are right in a sense: I can't technically prove that Satan and Jesus "bantered" about humanity's fate. (Once again, I'm a high school student:I have limited vocab, and it's hard for me to put things exactly the way I think them.) But I ~can~ prove that Satan tried to tempt Jesus into a trap, so that Satan could gain control and so that humanity couldn't be saved. Matthew 4: 1-11, and also Mark 1: 12-13. And also: If Jesus really was an impersonator, why would the devil try to tempt himself with something that he already believes he has? Isn't that a little redundant? And why would he die for a lie, and for the most profound and sound doctorine humanity has? I'm sorry I'm kinda hard to follow. And I know that I don't have my doctorine perfect or anything, but I think it's pretty clear that Jesus Christ ~was~ the Son of God. In all seriousness, I know how you feel; I constantly quesion everything. But I read a book a while ago, which really broke down the logic and critical analysis of the Jesus's claims. The book is "More Than A Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. I don't know how much you like to read, but that book put a lot of my questions to rest. :) I seriously suggest it. And I'm sorry if I offend you or anything. I don't mean to if I do. It's just, it's hard for me to accurately tell how I believe because normally no one wants to hear it. I hope that helps! :)
  • John states Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Word of God means His will expressed i.e. "Let there be Light." Or "Go. Tell the Israelites I have heard their cries." Christ is the living incarnation of the Will of God. Alive and Active. The assurance we have of this isn't in historical accuracy of the Bible or archelogical digs. In fact, though we call the Bible the WORD OF GOD, the books of the bible never did. The Bible is a snap shot but the entire Word of God is not contained within it. Even the Bible claims that. In fact, how could an infinite God fit completely in one book. Also, if we read the prophecies of the Bible, there is a good chance there is another testament to be lived out if not written before God creates a New Heaven and Earth. What I am saying is faith is not in the Bible, it's in the Word of God, able to change you, bring you back to life, give you sight. This is written on your heart and is an act of God inside of you and others. The Bible is inspired yes. But a verse may not clarify things for you like the Word of God promises to. The WOrd of God is alive and active giving light to your path. The Devil can pose as an angel of light. Paul's letters say he can confuse and influence the understanding of people who first believed the Gospel. HOWEVER, believers are saidto be sealed with God's Spirit,protected. The Word can Illuminate through the darkness and confusion and bring us back to a steady path. Like sheep hearing a Shepard's voice, we will recognize truth when it calls and come back to Him. He promises to look for us when we wander and promises to teach us by HIS SPIRIT not through studying "scripture". He even goes so far to say that studying scripture puffs up but love builds up AND told the pharisees that though they studied scripture diligently and though it spoke of them and though they sought it for eternal life, they would not have it because they didn't turn to Him. My point, Satan may have been able to influence thewriters of the Bible, BUT, he most assuredlly had no influence over the Living, Eternal, Alive and Active Word of God. Place your trust there for Him to do what He said He will do.
  • Impersonate God, OK??? To what "End", fooling the "Writers" to say "Good Things" about him??? Just to "Bash Himself" using the Scriptures??? Boy he sure put one over on them!!! Satan DOES IMPERSONATE GOD and has ever since he was "Cast Out of Heaven"!!! Enjoy! John DOCTRINE OF SATANIC STRATEGY A. The Person of Satan. 1. He was the highest ranking of all angels, and ruler of all fallen angels Mt 8:28, 9:34, 12:26; Lk 11:18-19. He is the most perfect and beautiful creature to come from the hand of God. Ezek 28:12, "Son of man [Ezekiel], take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyre and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord God, "You were the one sealing a pattern of perfection, full of wisdom and great beauty." He has a voice like a pipe organ. He is superior in genius, beauty, personality, persuasiveness, and is invisible. As a creature Satan had a throne, "I will raise my throne above the stars [angels] of God." a. He was the chief of angels and his name was Lucifer, the Bright Morning Star. He was the most spiritual being that ever existed. This is why as even a fallen angel he can transfer himself into an angel of light, 2 Cor 12:11-14. b. Satan is his name as the enemy of God. c. Angels were created for the purpose of serving and praising God, Ps 103:20-21. d. According to Ps 8:5, angels are superior to mankind and have rank and organization. (1) Cherubs or covering angels guard God's holiness, Isa 17:16; Ezek 1:10. (2) Seraphim or the burning ones lead in worship, Isa 6:2-3. (3) The archangel is the commanding general of angelic armies, 1 Thes 4:16. (4) The heavenly host and the demon armies are in continuous unseen warfare, Dan 10:13; Eph 6:12. e. Angels are confined to the earth (the atmosphere around the earth is the first heaven) and the universe (second heavens) except when there are special convocations of all angels in the third heaven, Job 1:6; 2:1. The third heaven is the abode of God, Eph 1:20-22; 4:10. 2. He is a prehistoric super-creature, Isa 14:12-17; Ezek 28:11-19. He was so brilliant in his defense during God's trial that God created man to resolve the conflict. 3. He has three falls; two are in the future. a. His angelic sin of arrogance in which he said, "I will be like the Most High God." He revolted against God, taking one-third of all angels with him, Isa 14:13-14; Ezek 28:12-19. b. He is cast out of heaven in the middle of the Tribulation, Rev 12:7,9,20. c. He is cast into the lake of fire, Isa 14; Ezek 28; Rev 12,20. (1) Rev 12:9-17, "Then the great dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who keeps on deceiving the entire world was thrown out [of heaven]; he was hurled to the earth; furthermore his angels were thrown out with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, which said, 'Now the deliverance has come, also the power [Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union], even the kingdom of our God [Father] and the authority of His Christ [millennial reign of Christ], because the accuser of our fellow believers, who constantly brings charges against them before our God day and night, has been thrown out [of heaven]. Furthermore, they [Tribulational saints] overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of doctrine by means of their testimony, in fact they did not love their life to the point of death. For this reason, keep celebrating, You heavens [elect angels and Church Age believers] and you [Old Testament saints and Tribulational martyrs] who dwell in them [the heavens (in interim bodies)]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down face-to-face with you, and he foams with fury, knowing that his time is short. Now when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he persecutes the woman [Israel] who gave birth to the male child [the humanity of Christ]. Nevertheless, the two wings [logistical grace divine protection of Israel, Ex 19:4; Deut 32:9-12] of the great eagle had been given to the woman [regenerate Israel], so that she might fly to her place of refuge [Edom, Moab, Ammon, Dan 11:41; Mt 24:16; Rev 12:6] where in that place she will be sustained for three and a half years from the presence of the serpent. Then the serpent [Satan] projected from his mouth water [third demon army] like the rapids [tidal wave, or floods] to overtake the woman [Israel], in order that he might cause her to be swept away by the flood [tidal wave, rapids]. Nevertheless, the land mass [the army of Israel with divine power] helped the woman [Israel], in fact the land mass opened its mouth and swallowed the flood waters [attack of third demon assault army], which the dragon projected from his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged with the woman, consequently he went off to make war against the survivors of her posterity, those who keep observing the mandates of God and who keep on having the testimony of Jesus." (2) Rev 20:1-10, "Then I saw an angel [officer of arms] descending from heaven, and he had the key to the Abyss [the prison for all fallen angels during the millennium] and a great chain in his hand [a pair of giant handcuffs]. Then he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, even Satan, and bound [incarcerated] him for a thousand years. Then he cast him into the Abyss, he both locked and sealed over him, that he should no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After these things, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw the thrones and they [Tribulational martyrs] sat on them, and judgment was given to them; furthermore I saw the souls of those who had been decapitated because of the witness for Jesus, really because of doctrine from God; and these who are such a category as who do not worship the beast, nor his image and do not receive the mark on the forehead or on their hand, they both came to life and ruled with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead unbelievers did not come to life until the thousand years was completed. This is the first resurrection. Happy and holy [sanctified] is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no jurisdiction, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ; in fact they shall rule with Him for a thousand years. Now when the thousand years shall be completed, Satan shall be released from his prison, then he will appear to deceive the nations which are in the four hemispheres of the earth, Gog [code name for Satan] and Magog [code name for Satan's followers], to concentrate them for battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Then they marched [came up] over the wide terrain of the land and they surrounded the bivouac of the saints and the beloved city [Jerusalem], then fire came down from heaven and destroyed [devoured] them. Then the devil who had deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, where both the beast [dictator of the Revived Roman Emperor] and the false prophet [the dictator of Israel] are located; and they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever." 4. He has two advents. a. His first advent is in the Garden of Eden, Gen 3. b. His second advent is when he returns at the end of the Millennium to start a revolt against perfect environment, Rev 20:8. His advents are always related to perfect environment. 5. He is the central antagonist of the angelic conflict, Heb 1-2; Gen 6; 1 Pet 3:18-22. 6. He is an organizational genius with a great organization of demons, Eph 6:10-12. There are four major demon attacks on the human race. a. The genetic attack on the antediluvian civilization in Gen 6:1-13. b. The attack of demon possession. c. The attack of demon influence, which involves cosmic one and cosmic two. d. The attack of demon armies in the Tribulation, Rev 9. 7. He is the origin of murder and violence in the human race, Gen 6:4-11; Jn 8:44. He doesn't play by any rules. 8. He is the enemy of Bible doctrine, Mt 13:9, 39, Rev 12:13,15 and attacks your capacity for life. 9. He is the enemy of the Church (the royal family), Rev 2:9-13, 24. 10. He is the enemy of Christ, Rev 12:4. 11. He is called the Anointed Cherub. As such, he held the highest position of all angelic creatures. He is now lower than the Seraphim which are in command of the elect angels. 12. He is the greatest deceiver of history. To be such a deceiver the devil must be the greatest and most effective liar in history, Jn 8:44, "You are from your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; because he is a liar, and the father of lies." a. When there is no doctrine or establishment truth circulating in the stream of consciousness of either believers or unbelievers, they will automatically lie. When Satan is the mentor of anyone, they have no truth and follow in the function of the mentor. Satan never tells the truth. The power of the truth in your soul as a believer is one of the greatest factors in insulating you against the power of Satan. b. Satan works through human beings who are liars, 2 Thes 2:9-10, "that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with every deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love for the truth with the result that they might be delivered." Believers are deceived as easily as unbelievers by the satanic strategy. c. Two illustrations of the satanic lie. (1) Socialism. The basis for socialism in modern history goes back to Sir Thomas Moore in his book Utopia where there was political and social perfection. This is the Devil's lie. Utopia, therefore, became a synonym for any visionary system of political or social perfection or perfect environment. The theory of utopian socialism is a lie, an economic tinkering with the laws of divine establishment, whereby a false premise is inculcated--that if capitalism voluntarily surrendered its ownership of the means of production to the State or to workers, unemployment and poverty would be abolished. This is a lie because people do not understand that capital and investment creates jobs, not government. The theory establishes slavery to the State rather than freedom of self-determination with the government protecting that freedom. (2) Christian Activism. The Devil sponsors Christian activism on the one hand, while arrogance skills sponsor Christian activism on the other hand. 2 Cor 11:3, "But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the purity and virtue which belongs to Christ." Truth brings purity and virtue to the unbeliever and believer respectively. Our Lord did not become involved in activism ("Deliver us from the Romans.") and we take our precedence for the Church Age from the dispensation of the Hypostatic union. Satan's objective is to distract you from the spiritual skills to the political solution. Truth causes Satan to flee, Jam 4:7, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (a) Christian activism combines the arrogance skills with legalism--self-righteous arrogance plus crusader arrogance. Christians involved in activism think they are serving God when they are serving Satan. This is self- deception. Temporal solutions to the problems of life are not spiritual solutions. (b) Paul's warning against the arrogance skills is found in Rom 12:2-3, "Stop being conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your thought, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For I say through the grace which has been given to me to every one who is among you stop thinking of self in terms of arrogance beyond what you ought to think; but think in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion, as God has assigned to each one of us a standard of thinking from doctrine." The basis for all satanic religions has always been human sacrifice and the basis for human sacrifice is always a satanic lie. Activism is a way of thinking of self in terms of arrogance. Thinking in terms of sanity is thinking truth. 13. In relationship to the angelic conflict Satan also has certain principles of activity and power. a. Satan gets at believers by intruding into their prayer life through religion and legalism, Ps 109:7. b. He has the power to shorten life within the framework of God's permissive will, Ps 109:8a. This power has to do with our punishment when we fail. c. He has the power to remove people from authority, Ps 109:8b. d. He even has the power to kill under certain circumstances, Ps 109:9 e. He has the power to persecute children, Ps 109:10. f. He can remove wealth, Ps 109:11. g. He can turn people against you, Ps 109:12. h. He can cut off the posterity of families, Ps 109:13 i. He can cause disease, Job 2:6-8; 2 Cor 12:7. j. He can cause the infiltration of false doctrines in the concepts of the human soul, such as human good, religion, legalism, resulting in garbage in the subconscious, 1 Tim 4:1. k. Satan can use none of this power apart from the sovereign will of God. God permits Satan to test or punish believers. God is always under control of the situation. (1) The permissive will of God is always related to the testing of believers. (2) While Satan is involved, he cannot use the power involved apart from God's permission, especially in the case of death. God never lets it go beyond the boundaries of the punishment He has already ordained. (3) Each of these satanic strategies to get at the believer must be regarded in relationship to certain categories. (4) Is Satan permitted to execute power as punishment, or does Satan have the power of testing? (5) There is constant satanic attack against believers in the form of condemnation as a part of Satan's appeal trial. He always picks on carnal believers for punishment and mature believers for testing. (6) It is necessary for the believer to examine his own life privately in regard to the ten points of satanic strategy listed above. (7) It is necessary for the believer to under these things categorically in the light of God's punishment, in the light of divine blessing, in the light of advancing to the high ground, or in the light of the testimony of all angelic creatures. (8) Believers must understand that the appeal trial of Satan is a constant and on-going function both in heaven and on earth. (9) God is never unfair. (a) All of us will experience the possibility of punishment for perpetual carnality through the permissive will of God. God permits certain evil forces to attack us as a means of punishment for perpetual carnality. (b) However, through rebound and the double column advance we experience the fantastic blessings of glorification of God. (c) God must have all your attention at all times. (d) If we do not give God our attention, God will take steps to get our attention. (e) God's grace extends to severity to bring us back in line and to teach us lessons the hard way, as in Heb 12:6-7, "For those whom the Lord loves He punishes, And He skins alive with a whip every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you must endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not punish?" (f) God never changes whether He is blessing us or whether he is disciplining us. He always loves us. (g) Where believers are concerned, it is impossible for God to do anything apart from grace, which means, apart from love. (h) The punishment is designed under the love of God under the principle of a fair shake. Under the principle of a fair shake, God often uses wicked people or even Satan himself as a means of bringing us around. (i) This means that Satan enters into the permissive will of God and punishes us in hatred. God punishes us in love. Satan is always willing to punish any believer. (j) True love for God is built on foundation of the combination of humility and respect. Humility is recognition of and obedience to the authority of God. This humility forms a respect, which is true love for God or reciprocity. Reciprocal love for God is the motivation for advance to the high ground of spiritual maturity and meeting all the testing that would come your way. 14. The inscrutable question. a. Many biblical students have asked the question, "What kind of redemption solution was available for Satan and the fallen angels?" But no one has ever properly answered the question. Instead they say it is inscrutable. (1) The word inscrutable means not easily understood, unfathomable, incomprehensible and undiscoverable. (2) The answer is "None." There was no redemption in eternity past with regard to Satan and the fallen angels. (3) The angels did not have something they had to believe in order to be elect angels. (4) The fallen angels knew what the consequences of their decision to follow Satan would be before they made their decision to follow Satan, but they believed that Satan could set aside God. They knew they would go to the lake of fire and share Satan's judgment in the lake of fire, but decided to follow Satan. b. The Bible does not associate redemption with the fall of Satan as an alternative solution. Why? Because all angelic creatures were created perfect with perfect volition and eternal life. c. Scripture. (1) Col 1:13-16, "For He delivered us from the authority of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Because by agency of Him [LJC] all things were created in the heavens [angels] and on earth [mankind], visible [mankind] and invisible [angels], whether thrones or angelic powers or ruler-angels or angels with the right to decide, all things have been created through Him and for Him." Cf. Jn 1:3; Heb 1:2, 10. (a) The Greek word THRONOS is the name of a class of supernatural beings (angels). i. In the phrase in Isa 14:13, "I will raise my throne above the stars of God" the word for throne is the Hebrew word is KESSE. ii. It is used figuratively for rulership. Satan revolts against the eternal rulership of God. (b) The Greek word KURIOTES refers to a special class of angelic powers. (c) The Greek word ARCHAI refers to a special class of ruler-angels. (d) The word "authorities" is an incorrect translation. The Greek word EXOUSIA means freedom of choice, the angelic right to decide in eternity past. The right to decide was not directed toward redemption as with the human race, but since angels already had eternal life, the decision was within the sphere of that eternal life, i.e., eternal life with God in heaven or eternal life with Satan in the lake of fire. (2) Eph 6:11-12, "Put on the full armor from God, that you might always be able to stand your ground against the strategies of the devil. Because our warfare is not against blood and flesh, but against ruler-angels [demon general officers], against authorities [demon officer corps], against the demon world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil [rank and file demons] in the heavenly places [the atmosphere around the earth]." d. At the fall of Satan all angels made a decision to follow God or follow Satan resulting in two categories of angelic creatures. The angels who rejected the temptation to follow Satan and remained faithful to God are called elect angels. The angels who rejected God and followed Satan are called fallen angels or demons. e. All angels were created perfect, at the same time, and with eternal life. They had eternal life before Satan's fall and had eternal life after making their decision to follow Satan. All angels made their decision in eternity past when Satan fell. Only two human beings were created perfect. f. The issue was clear to all the angels in the fall of Satan: either eternal life with God or eternal life with Satan. One-third of all angels followed Satan. No redemption was needed for fallen angels because they were created perfect. They were perfect and only had to choose for God or Satan; they did not need a redemption solution. Christ did not die for the angels in any sense of the word because they were already created perfect and did not need eternal life. g. All of the angels had to make the same decision that Adam made when he faced the fallen woman. Adam had to decide between the fallen woman outside of the garden and Jesus Christ inside the garden. He had to make the same choice as all of the angels made (except Satan). All human beings after the fall of Adam and the woman are born spiritually dead, and therefore, need redemption. Man has to make one decision for or against Christ, just as the perfect angels only had to make one decision to follow God or Satan. h. The fallen angels went from perfection to following Satan. They were condemned, judged, and sentenced for making their decision to follow Satan. Their sentence was the lake of fire forever, Mt 25:41; Rev 20:10. Elect angels will spend eternity in heaven with God, just as we will. Satan appealed his sentence and was granted an appeal trial. The angel witnesses had all been used, so God had to create a new set of creatures to be witnesses in the appeal trial. But all the witnesses in Satan's appeal trial are born spiritually dead. i. Since all fallen angels in a state of perfection by creation made their decision in eternity past, no redemption was necessary. But with mankind it is different. Redemption is only necessary for those who are spiritually dead. God had to provide salvation for the human race only. (1) Only two human beings were created perfect, just as all angels were created perfect simultaneously and designed to live forever. (2) Both Adam and Ishah were created perfect, given perfect environment, given sex for their pleasure as an expression of soul compatibility, but without eternal life. (3) After Satan's condemnation, trial, and judgment, Satan requested an appeal trial, and God granted that request with the creation of mankind to be witnesses in that trial. (4) Adam's pattern began like Satan's--Adam was created perfect; Satan was created perfect. (5) Adam's had an original sin; Satan had an original sin. The fall of Adam is analogous to the fall of Satan. Adam had to make a decision for or against God, just as the fallen angels had to make a decision for Satan or for God. But that is where the analogy stops. Theology wants to push past this point in the analogy, but you cannot. There was no redemption in eternity past, except in the divine decrees related to the future human race. (6) The entire realm of angelic creatures were created simultaneously with no gradual development. The angelic decision to have eternal life with God or the eternal lake of fire with Satan was made as a result of Satan's fall. Satan's fall, not redemption, was the issue in eternity past. They already had eternal life. Angels were created with eternal life, not human life. Those who choose to follow Satan follow him forever. (7) Satan himself attacked mankind in a state of perfection. For mankind there is a new decision issue that did not exist in the angelic realm called redemption. There is no redemption issue with angels. (a) Because there is a new issue called redemption Jesus Christ became a human being, Heb 1. This is the origin of the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union. Jesus Christ is the only person ever born perfect. (b) All human beings are born spiritually dead. Redemption is for the spiritually dead human race. When anyone takes the redemption solution, they are not only saved and will have a superior body to angels but also have a spiritual life which angels do not have. (c) Angels were all created perfect and made their decision. We are born spiritually dead and have to make our decision, Jn 3:18, 36. (8) After the fall of man a new dimension in sex is introduced into the human race--procreation for the perpetuation of witnesses for Satan's appeal trial, which is the doctrine of Christian marriage. The corporate testimony of marriage breaks the back of Satan in every generation of the Church Age. (9) Every person who believes in Christ accepts the redemption solution provided by the judgment of personal sin in Christ on the Cross, and they become a witness against Satan in the appeal trial. j. What is the issue in the appeal trial of Satan and all fallen angels? 1 Cor 15:22, "For as in Adam all die [spiritually], so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 2 Cor 5:20-21, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God was entreating through us; we beg you as the representative of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin as a substitute for us, that we might become the righteousness from God in Him." We are ambassadors for Christ to angels. k. The doctrine of angelic observation of the human race. (1) In order for there to be order and fairness in the court, all angelic creatures have been allowed to come into the court and observe you. (2) 1 Tim 3:16, "And by consent of all, great is the mystery of the spiritual life; the unique One who became visible by means of the flesh, this same One was vindicated by agency of the Spirit; He was observed by angels; He was proclaimed among the Gentiles; He became the object of faith in the world; He was taken up into the place of glory." (3) 1 Cor 4:9, "For I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all as men condemned to death because we have become a spectacle in the arena of life to the entire universe, to angels and to mankind." Paul is referring to the end of the gladiator show, when the greatest of the gladiators fought and were killed. The show lasted all day, and the best battles were saved for last. Paul is comparing the spiritual battles which the apostles are waging with the gladiators. (4) 1 Tim 5:21, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, and His elect angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in partiality." Paul was telling Timothy not to let anyone in his congregation push anyone else around or malign them. (5) 1 Pet 1:12, "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preach the gospel to you by agency of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things which angels bend down to get a good clear look." (6) Lk 15:10, "In the same way I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who changes his mind." 15. The Fall of Satan. a. Each of Satan's five boastful presumptions against the will of God are an expression of negative mental attitude and reveal the author of negative volition as Satan. b. Volition always implies the existence of free will. Negative volition reveals activities from a creature independently of God. c. There are five "I wills" in Isa 14:12-14 in which Satan made a decision. Isa 14:12-14, "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, (1) 'I will ascend to heaven;' Satan wanted to be the ruler of the third heaven. This was his desire to displace God as the ruler of the third heaven. (2) 'I will raise my throne above the stars of God,' The stars of God refer to angels, Job 38:7; Rev 12:3-4. He wants to take over all the angels, not just one third of them. (3) 'And I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north.' This is the place where Satan's trial took place. He believes he will change God's mind. (4) 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;' He believes that once he breaks down his judgment to the lake of fire, then he will be able to take over from God. This indicates Satan's obsession to supplant God and to control all God's creation, which would save him from being cast into the lake of fire. (5) 'I will make myself like the Most High.' Satan thought he would take God's authority away from Him. d. The first sin ever committed was in the realm of the mind. Sin comes first to the realm of the mind. There is always some kind of thinking before a person commits a sin. e. The failure of Satan is established in Isa 14:15, "You shall be brought down to hell by the side of the pit." Rev 20:10, "And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast [dictator of the revived Roman Empire] and the false prophet [dictator of Israel] are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." f. Matt 25:41, "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared in the past with the result that it continues forever for the devil and his angels.'" B. Rulership of the Devil. 1. Satan rules all fallen angels. 2. Satan has greater power than any human and rules the world through his cosmic systems. Since the fall of Adam, Satan has been the ruler of this world, Lk 4:5-7; Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2. He is called the god of this world. a. The devil rules all unbelievers through demon possession and demon influence. b. The devil rules certain believers though demon influence (not demon possession) and the involvement of the believer in the cosmic system. Negative volition in the soul creates a vacuum in the soul which sucks the doctrine of demons into the stream of consciousness in the soul. 3. However, because of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union overflowing into the Church Age, the body of Christ ruled by the head, our Lord Jesus Christ, has received the delegated divine power to resist the devil, as per 1 Jn 4:4. "Greater is He who is in you [omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit] than He who is in the world [power of Satan as ruler of the world and cosmic system]." 4. As ruler of this world, Satan has two designations since his fall. a. Originally, Satan was called Lucifer, the Son of Light. He was the bright and shining angel in the throne room of God, the highest ranking creature of all time, the most beautiful and attractive in appearance and personality. b. Once his fall occurred in prehistoric times, Satan was called SATAN in the Hebrew, which means "enemy and adversary," having greater power than we have. However, Satan's power is not greater than God's. This reminds us of God's grace; He has made available to us His power. As humans, we are an inferior, rational creation. All angels are superior to us. Satan is the ARCHON (ruler) of all angels, whose power is therefore far greater than ours. c. But God has made available to us Church Age believers His power, i.e., the omnipotence of the Father in our portfolio of invisible assets, the omnipotence of God the Son who preserves the universe and history daily, and the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit who provides the power to execute the protocol plan inside the divine dynasphere. We have greater power than Satan. d. Even for the unbeliever, God in His grace has provided a power to resist the power of Satan under the laws of divine establishment. e. Satan's second name is the Greek word DIABOLOS, which means slanderer, vituperater, traducer. One of the functions of the devil as the ruler of this world is to express his antagonism, slander, and enmity, which he does from a position of great beauty and attractiveness. f. So although Satan is far superior to us in every way, God has provided two factors for us in grace. (1) The protection of the laws of divine establishment. These laws protect our freedom, privacy, property, and life and unbelievers. We needed this protection because the power of Satan as the ruler of this world is far greater than any power we could ever muster. Satan is under restraint now, though this restraint is removed during the Tribulation and its results are evident in the tremendous violence and warfare. (2) The protection of the divine institutions. Throughout all dispensations, even the Tribulation, man continues to live on the earth because he is protected by the laws of divine establishment, by divine institution number three, the family. 5. Satan expresses his antagonism, slander, and enmity toward the following things. a. Satan is the enemy of Israel. All anti-Semitism is satanic. Rev 12:4, 13, 15 specifically documents this. In every generation, he uses all his power to destroy Israel, but he will never succeed. Beware of anti-Semitism, for it has destroyed so many nations, such as Spain from its Inquisition of Torquemada, and almost France from its Edict of Nantes. b. Satan is the enemy of all unbelievers. He is the greatest deceiver of all time. In 2 Cor 4:3-4, he blinds the minds of unbelievers, which is demon influence or the demonization of the soul. When the unbeliever rejects Christ as Savior, he opens himself to the opportunity of demon influence. (1) 2 Cor 4:3-4, "If our Gospel be hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Cf. Col 2:8. (2) 2 Thes 2:7-10 adds some reasons as to why people remain unbelievers. One is because they are impressed with miracles. Satan is in the miracle-performing business, with a bag full of tricks. He knows that many people are stupid and impressed with miracles. For example, demons can produce illness (Mk 5), and then be removed to imitate a miraculous healing. People are entertained by miracles. (3) Lk 8:12, "Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved." c. Satan is specifically the enemy of the Church, the royal family of God, the new spiritual species, the body of Christ because God has done more for the individual believer in the Church Age than ever before. (1) The Church is unique because we are the royal family for our Lord's third royal warrant, a direct result of His strategic victory in Hypostatic Union. These unique things, given to the ordinary Christian, make his life the battleground for this dispensation. Through the forty things given to us at salvation, we are designed to be a battleground to win a tactical victory to complement our Lord's strategic victory. (2) Rev 2:9, 13, 24 teach that Satan is the enemy of the Church. d. Satan is the enemy of the Church Age believer, 2 Cor 2:11, 11:3; Eph 6:10-12; Jam 4:6-10; 1 Pet 5:6-9. e. Satan is opposed to Bible doctrine. He's always trying to distort it or distract us from it, as is taught in Mt 13:9, 39. f. Satan is the enemy of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union, Rev 12:4. That alone caused Satan greater frustration than almost anything that has ever happened to him. g. Satan is the chief antagonist in the extension of the angelic conflict into human history, Heb 1-2. h. Satan is the enemy of nationalism, which he often opposes with internationalism. This is because nationalism is divine institution number four. Divine institutions are designed to keep the human race, believer and unbeliever alike, from destroying itself. The world is now divided into nations. Prior to this division, the human race almost destroyed itself. The first United Nations is found in Gen 11, and it almost destroyed mankind. That Satan is the enemy of nations in found in Rev 12:9, 20:3, 8, "and he will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth." 6. All world systems apart from the laws of divine establishment are a part of Satanic policy and administration. All environmental programs, socialism, and welfare programs are of Satanic origin. C. Satan has a power system for control of others. 1. Satan has a organization of angelic creatures. He has a system of aristocracy among fallen angels. They demons have extensive powers. a. Abaddon or Apollyon is mentioned in Rev 9:11; Prov 15:11; Job 28:22. He commands one of the demon armies. b. Beelzebub is mentioned in Mt 10, 12; Mk 3:22, and is one of Satan's powerful aristocrats. 2. How Satan functions as an enemy. a. He is the enemy of the Church, Rev 2:9,13,24. (1) The Church is called the synagogue of Satan when it is full of legalism, Rev 2:9. (2) When the Church is attacked by religion, it is called the throne of Satan, Rev 2:13. (3) When the Church is attacked by false doctrine, it is called the deep things of Satan, Rev 2:24. b. He is the enemy of Bible doctrine, Mt 13:9, 39. c. He is the enemy of Israel, Rev 12:4,13,15. d. He is the enemy of Christ, Rev 12:4. e. He is the originator of all violence and murder, Jn 8:44; Gen 4:11; 6:4-6. D. Satan has a strategy to control nations. 1. His strategy is based on conspiracy and deceit, which explains the basis of war. 2. He does manipulate nations, Rev 12:9,23; 20:3,8. 3. He is the author of every world peace movement, and of all Soviet strategy. 4. He is the chief opponent of the laws of divine establishment and seeks to breakdown freedom and sovereignty of any nation where establishment, evangelism, and Bible Christianity is functioning. 5. Internationalism is Satanic in any form. 6. His policy is power politics: violence, tyranny, and change. Part of his function is to malign law and order. 7. He is the father of religion, liberalism. He is anti-military and pro welfare-state, pro-communist and against free enterprise. He is against marriage and the family. E. Religion is a part of Satan's strategy. Religion is the creation of Satan's genius to counterfeit the plan of God. Religion is man seeking to use his own merits, his own works to gain the approbation of God. Satan's counterfeits of the plan of God in religion include a counterfeit: 1. Gospel, 2 Cor 4:3-4, "Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are perishing. In whose case the god of the world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbeliever that he might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2. Ministers, 2 Cor 11:13-15, "Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their deeds." 3. Doctrine, 2 Tim 4:1, "some will fall away from the faith paying attention to deceitful spirits and the doctrine of demons." 4. Communion table, 1 Cor 10:19-21, "they sacrifice to demons...you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons." 5. Spirituality, Gal 3:2-3. 6. Righteousness, Mt 19:16-28. The Mosaic Law is distorted into self-righteousness, which rejects faith in Christ for relationship with God. This self-righteousness is based on morality in the cosmic system. Gal 2:16, "Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." 7. Modus vivendi (mode of thinking)--self-righteousness, Mt 23:13-36. 8. Power and dynamics (miracles, healing, tongues) 2 Thes 2:8-10. 9. System of gods, 2 Thes 2:3-4, "Let no one in any way deceive you; for these things will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed as the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God." F. False teachers are a part of his strategy, 1 Jn 4:1-3. 1. They have a phoney, hypocritical facade. They are bleeding-heart do-gooders, who "love" everyone, being all things to all men apart from any standards based on Bible doctrine, Mt 7:15. They seek to stimulate your ego, Rom 16:18. 2. They use human public relations systems and legalistic flirtation and activism to court believers, Gal 4:17-18; 2 Tim 3:5-7. 3. They appeal to human ego, arrogance, and pride to distract believers from grace, 2 Cor 10:12. They use mutual admiration society ideas. They love to counsel others to promote their arrogance. 4. They promote idolatry as a part of Satan's communion table, Hab 2:18-19. 5. They promote legalism as a system of pseudo- spirituality, 1 Tim 1:7-8. They encourage people to gossip. 6. They possess a false spirit, 1 Jn 4:1-3, "because many false teachers have gone out into the world." They are inspirational but do not function by the power of the Holy Spirit. G. Satan has a specific policy--evil. 1. This was first seen in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 2. See also the Doctrine of Evil. 3. Human good is the application of evil. 4. 2 Tim 3:13. All reversionists have been deceived by Satan to the extent they are influenced by good and evil. 5. 2 Tim 2:25-26. The pastor is to take disciplinary action toward those opposed to doctrinal teaching, so that they will recover from reversionism and be delivered from the devil's trap. 6. Chafer's Systematic Theology, Vol. II, pp. 100, 108-110, gives a fantastic description of Satan's system of evil. H. Satan has a strategy regarding the Cross. 1. Satan's greatest strategy is the doctrinal attack on the Cross and principle of salvation by faith alone. "If our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to them who are lost, that the god of this world might blind the minds of those who do not believe." This attack is accomplished by adding various types of works to salvation, such as: making Christ lord of your life, walking an isle or raising your hand, inviting Christ into your heart or into your life, etc. Satan must obscure that fact that salvation is by faith alone. 2. The genetic attack on the line of Christ. a. Through Adam's seed. (1) After the original sin of Adam and the woman, God came into the Garden of Eden and promised eternal salvation. Adam was promised that the line of Christ would come through the children of Adam and Eve. Satan inspired Cain to murder Abel who was a believer to keep the Savior from coming into the world. Seth also became a believer, so the line of Christ comes down through Seth. (2) Gen 6:1-3 tells of the angelic attack through sexual intercourse to destroy true humanity on the earth. Except for Noah and his family, there were only half angel half human beings on the earth. b. Through Abraham's seed. God promised that the line of salvation would come down through the child of Abraham. When Abraham became a new racial species at age ninety-nine, sexual ability was restored to Abraham and Sarah and the line of Christ came down through Isaac, Jacob, and Judah. There were several attacks on the line of Abraham. Sarah had to be delivered from being in the harem of an Egyptian king, Gen 12:10-20. Pharaoh's mandate to kill all the first born children was an attack upon the line of Christ. Pharaoh's attempt to annihilate Israel was an attack upon the line of Christ, Ex 14:13ff. c. Through David's seed. (1) The case of the son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat had a son, Jehoram, who he married off to a princess of a Gentile nation in order to make an alliance, 2 Chr 18:1. Jehoram killed all his brothers, the royal seed, 2 Chr 21:4. The Arabs killed all the sons of Jehoram except one, 2 Chr 21:16- 22:1. The line was down to one person through whom the line of Christ could come. (2) The case of Hezekiah, who was childless when attacked by the king of Assyria, Isa 36:1. God preserved him until his son was born. (3) One of the greatest attacks was the Haman conspiracy to annihilate all Jews, the book of Esther. d. Through Joseph's seed. Joseph was tempted to divorce Mary since she was pregnant prior to the consummation of the marriage. Herod sent a command to kill the royal line of Israel, Mt 2:13-18; Rev 12:4. 3. The necessity for the humanity of Christ. a. Jesus Christ had to become true humanity to become the savior of the world. Eph 2:15, Col 1:22, Phil 2:2-8, Heb 10:5-10, 19-20, and 1 Pet 2:24, 1 Pet 3:18 tell us that it was the humanity of Christ that was judged. (1) Jesus Christ, as God, cannot go to the Cross because deity can have nothing to do with sin except condemn it. Sins cannot be imputed to deity. Only perfect true humanity fulfills the concept of "the lamb without spot and without blemish." (2) "This is My body which is given for you" indicates that it was not His deity that suffered spiritual death on the Cross but His perfect humanity that was judged for our sins. b. Jesus Christ had to be true humanity to be the mediator between God and man. The mediator must be equal with both parties; therefore, Jesus Christ must be true God and true man to be equal with both parties. Job 9:32-33; 1 Tim 2:5-6, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind-- the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom as a substitute for all, a testimony in its own times." c. Jesus Christ had to become true humanity to be our high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The high priest had to be both a king and a priest, Heb 7, 10. Under the Jewish system, Jesus Christ was not qualified to be a priest since He came from the ruling tribe of Judah, not the priestly tribe of Levi. He is a priest under the King-Priest line. d. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the unconditional Davidic covenant. God promised David that he would have a son who would reign forever. David's greater son is the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Sam 7:8-16; Ps 89:20-37. 4. Doctrinal attacks on the Cross. a. Limited atonement is a great doctrinal attack upon the Cross. Christ died for the sins of the entire world, not just for the sins of the elect. Satan had a strategy regarding the Cross: to eliminate the idea that man has a free will, a volition--the idea that Christ died for all members of the human race so that they could make a choice. b. The erroneous idea that Christ bled to death on the Cross. The blood of Christ is a metaphor for redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, imputation, unlimited atonement, and justification. This strategy attempts to confuse people into believing that Christ died physically (rather than spiritually) for our sins. I. Satan has a strategy regarding Israel: anti-Semitism. 1. The divine attitude toward anti-Semitism is given in Gen 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, but the one who curses [or despises] you I will curse, and through you all the races [individuals and nations] of the earth shall be blessed." 2. Anti-Semitism is a person, group, organization, or nation who is hostile to the Jews. It does not refer to all the descendants of Shem, but only to the Jews. 3. Anti-Semitism is hatred, intolerance, prejudice, opposition, persecution, and violent opposition to the Jewish race. Rev 12 details the future of anti-Semitism during the Tribulation. 4. Satan has two major objectives in the strategy of anti- Semitism. a. His historical objective was to keep our Lord Jesus Christ from going to the Cross. This strategy failed. b. His prophetical objective is to destroy Israel so that the four unconditional covenants cannot be fulfilled at the second Advent. 5. There is a correlation between the rise and fall of nations and their attitude toward the Jew. Individuals, nations, and empires have been destroyed by anti-Semitism. Individuals, nations, and empires have been blessed by kindly treatment of the Jews. J. Satan has a strategy against believers and the Church. 1. Some of Satan's strategies include: a. Satanic strategy is to discredit the Canon of Scripture with emphasis on the mystery doctrine of the Church Age. b. Satanic strategy is to discredit believers through involving them in the cosmic system and Christian degeneracy, so that they shock other believers who then get out of fellowship and involved in false doctrine trying to explain them away. c. Satanic strategy is to encourage rejection of Bible doctrine and to by-pass and ignore post salvation epistemological rehabilitation by emphasizing experience. Satanic strategy is to hinder or distract believers from the execution of the protocol plan of God. Satan tries to distract the believer from postsalvation epistemological rehabilitation in the following ways. (1) Through negative volition toward the teaching of the Word of God and Bible doctrine. (2) Through getting the believer out of fellowship so that there is no filling of the Spirit. (3) Through getting the believer to understand doctrine academically rather than spiritually. (4) Through hindering the circulation of doctrine in the stream of consciousness through the filling of the Spirit. (5) Through the sin nature and the garbage from the subconscious of the soul. Satan tries to control the believer through the old sin nature by tempting the believer to commit sin and to perform good deeds. Believers are distracted into thinking that simple morality is the Christian way of life. d. All the strategies of Satan are directed toward the free will of mankind, not the sovereignty of God. 2. 2 Cor 2:11 states the general principle, "hold your ground against the devil, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his strategies." Satan has a strategy to keep the believer in the cosmic system, Jam 4:6-8, 1 Jn 2:15-18, 1 Jn 3:4-12. 3. Satan is the enemy of the Church. a. The Church is attacked by legalism which in Rev 2:9 is called "the synagogue of Satan." b. The Church is attacked by religion which is called "the throne of Satan" in Rev 2:13. c. The Church is attacked by false doctrine which in Rev 2:24 is called "the deep things of Satan." 4. Satan's strategies against believers include the following. a. He tries to make believers feel guilty. He accuses believers of sin, therefore, of being under his control, Job 1:6-11; Zech 3:1-2; Rev 12:9-10. However, Jesus Christ defends us in heaven, 1 Jn 2:1-2. b. Satan sponsors reversionism and all principles related to Christian degeneracy, 1 Cor 10:19-21; 2 Cor 11:3, 13-15. c. Satan sponsors fear of death and anger to distract the believer from the protocol plan, Heb 2:14-15. d. He seeks to frustrate the will of God with regard to your life. (1) The mental will of God, i.e., Bible doctrine, Rom 12:2; Eph 4:14. (2) The geographical will of God for you, 1 Thes 2:18. (3) The operational will of God for you, James 4:7-8; Gal 5:7. e. Satan tries to neutralize consistent doctrinal perception, metabolization and application (1 Chr 21:1; 1 Cor 10:19-21; 1 Cor 4:17-18; 2 Cor 11:3, 13-15; 1 Tim 4:11) through: (1) worry, fear, anxiety, mental attitude sins, and reaction to historical disaster, 1 Pet 5:7-9; (2) getting the believer to be disobedient to the Word and the Pastor's authority involved in teaching it; (3) ignoring doctrine you have learned, 1 Chr 21:1. f. Satan tries to destroy the believer's focus. He uses both cosmic one and cosmic two (the two cosmic systems) to keep the believer from occupation with Christ. (1) He causes you to get your eyes on self and feel sorry for self, Gen 3:4-5; 1 Kg 19:10, 14; 1 Cor 1:10-11. (2) Satan causes you to get your eyes on people, Gen 19:28, 20:1; Jer 17:5. (3) He causes you to get your eyes on things, Heb 13:5-6. g. Satan sponsors Christian activism, trying to get the believer to become involved in improvement of his (Satan's) world through becoming occupied with temporal solutions, such as: improving the environment, "the greatest good for the greatest number," socialism, social action, the social Gospel, welfare state, and temporal solutions to man's problems. 5. God allows Satan to administer the momentum tests in which he attempts to keep the believer from advancing to maturity. 6. We are commanded in Eph 4:27, "And stop giving opportunity to the devil." a. We are on the defensive against Satan and are never commanded to go on the offensive against Satan. The Ephesian believers were taking offensive action against Satan and Paul commanded them to stop doing what they were already doing. b. Believers serve Satan through many things like Christian activism, which plays right into the hands of Satan. We give opportunity to the devil in two ways. (1) Through the failure to execute the unique spiritual life of the Church Age and reach Jeshurun status. (2) To live a life in perpetual carnality and die the sin face-to-face with death. K. Satan has a strategy concerning the unbeliever. 1. He blinds the unbeliever's mind to the Gospel and motivates every form of unbeliever reversionism, 2 Pet 2; 2 Cor 4:3-4; Lk 8:12; 2 Thes 2:7-10, Rom 1. He takes the gospel away from their right lobes so that they may not believe. 2. When Satan cannot deceive through good and evil, he uses religion, Col 2:8; Rev 17. He uses religion to blind the mind. 3. Whenever the unbeliever rejects establishment or the believer rejects doctrine or establishment, he falls into the Satanic sphere of influence. 4. Satan's strategy regarding the cosmic dynaspheres is found in 2 Cor 4:3-4 and 2 Thes 2:7-10. L. Satan has a strategy to deify mankind, Gen 3:5. M. Satan has a strategy to indwell or possess unbelievers to hinder salvation, or to use believers and unbelievers in his service. These are called the disciples of Satan, 1 John.
  • That seems plausible to me because Christians seem to fear him so much, that I am guessing he has tremendous powers
  • Excellent question, some quotes attributed to Jesus sound uncannily similar to what the devil would speak. For example, I come here to set father against son, and brother against brother, he obvously did not, but the remark has remained a weak link debating point for many critics of christianity.
  • the writers had the HS, which is God. Satan is powerful but HE will never be more powerful than the Almighty.. answers, no.....I AM would not have allowed Satan to get away with it and Satan himself knows that... Satan knows he is not equal to God.... God has gave free reign of this earth right now and we also are free to choose. It will not stay this way . Christians know it and Satan knows it. hope this helps..Barbara
  • no, the writers had the HOLY SPIRIT which is way more POWERFUL than Satan...because the HOLY SPIRIT is a personality OF GOD .
  • This is a very good question, one that i'm sure many people have been debating for a long time. Heres what i think One of the gifts of the spirit is the gift of discernment: this is the ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to distinguish between truth and error, and to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is in reality ;divine, human, or satanic.[thank you cyberspaceministry.org] The bible talks about this gift in 1 corinthians 12:10 1 John 4:1 says this "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The writers of the bible had the holy spirit in them, so i think that God gave them the gift of discernment in order to know whether it was God speaking to them or not.
  • If the devil impersonated God, why would he GLORIFY him in the writings? ~+~
  • well.... the thing is...this is a question that one can argue forever about....its jus about the faith u have in god,...in divine powers.... coz if u do...then u'll believe that its true...n no devil messed arnd.... while if u have doubts...then u cn have em for ever...coz there are probably very less chances that one can find out....only future excavations related 2 the same can help us find out.. but the chance sof that are very scarce....almost negligible.... so its left jus to u n ur faith....
  • Yes, for anyone with a human nature and a mortal body can be influenced if they do not truly know God. Any how many of us can claim we *REALLY* know God? Yes, every priest and every religious person will think that they know the difference between God from someone impersonating God; but if that was the case then there would only be ONE religion and just about everyone would know it was the "true" religion. This is not the case though, so I am certain a fair number of them would be at least partially wrong in their assumption that they know God. As such, any of the writers of the Bible could have been influenced by a number of things; not only the devil, but also their own upbringing, the society they lived in and their own prejudices. In regards to the second question I actually believe that the only One who could have stopped the devil from impersonating God is God -- so the true question lies if this was what God wanted or not. Most people will automatically say "no" and go on with their lives. Yet I can think of a few very valid reasons why such may have been permitted by God on a number of occasions. Perhaps it was God's way for assuring people would try to build a personal relationship with their Creator rather than listen to the talking and beliefs of others (Blindly following). Perhaps God gave us inherent knowledge of what was right from wrong, and let Him/Herself be impersonated to *make* us use this knowledge to know what was from God and what was not! Interesting things to think about, your mileage may vary! HayaH ---
  • The devil did better than that... HE HIMSELF QUOTED THE BIBLE!!! He used Bible verses to tempt Christ out in the desert. So this shows very clearly that the Bible can be used for good or bad. Jesus used the term "Word of God" in the parable of the Sower long before the New Testament came along. The Word he was talking about was not the Bible. This resource explains what that Orginal Word of God was all about... "Gospel Enigma" It's the 10 free eBook on this website: http://newfreebooks.com
  • He influenced people to make the Bible a matter of personal interpretation...thats why you have so many different Christian denominations and non-denomination.
  • No, I do not believe the devil influenced writers of the Bible. The Bible says it is God-breathed...that means it is inspired by God, not the devil. What wouldn't stopped the devil from impersonating God?-- Who do you think?--GOD!
  • Why would the Devil write a book about his own damnation and the glorification of his enemy?
  • they both have the same power and we may never know... when he says alpha and omega that must mean they are both part of him... explaining why god is all forgiving and all vengefully deserving of the title... both!
  • It's true that the devil can impersonate God, however the men who wrote the Bible were Holy Ghost men. Filled with the spirit of God. They were filled with God. To be influenced by the devil would only mean that they weren't holy ghost filled, cause you can't live for both. you chose God or satan. And not one place does the bible contradict itself. People only think that when they only have a part of the story. It's very in depth and you have to be deep about a lot of the writings. If you knew the bible front and back you wouldn't think that.
  • Other than God Himself? I dare say not much. What you have to ask yourself is whether the Sermon on the Mount and 1st Corinthians 13 sound like something the devil had a hand in writing.
  • It may be possible that the devil tried to influence the writers of the Bible but I don't believe that God would allow something as important as the Bible to be corrupted by the devil. The created (devil) is never greater than the Creator but that doesn't stop Satan from trying to imitate God. The writers of the Bible were inspired and protected by the Holy Spirit, hence were able to see through the attempts of the devil to defraud Scripture while they were writing it.
  • This is a common discussion that I have with Chistians. We are told that Satan is the Father of Lies and will always seek to decieve people, whereas God is Truth and the Bible is the Word of God. But where are we told all this? In The BIBLE! So how do we know that Satan is the liar and God tells the truth, given that we only have God's word for it? It COULD be the complete opposite way around and that God is the Liar and that Satan is the one that tells the truth. The point is that when one can only judge from one side's word for things, then one cannot possibly have full possession of the facts enough to make a true and informed decision.
  • Well, if Scripture *IS* God's special revelation of Himself, then, NO - God wouldn't have allowed it. Of course, Christian's who know their history contend that the Quran was dictated by Satan or some other devil masquerading as Gabriel -- or it was just the ravings of a schizophrenic. So, if you want to know whether Scripture is the work of Satan or God, read the Sermon on the Mount and 1Corinthians 13, and decide for yourself whether this sounds like something originating from Satan or God.
  • Satan is not that powerful..he wishes he was..as with Job, Satan has no power over us if we have Faith as Job did....God allowed temptation of Job by satan but HE did not allow satan to kill him...so, know, the writers of the Bible had God's POWER with them , the Holy Spirit..as the Apostles had the H S..help...he simply does not have the power to stop God ....he does impersonate himself as good to us...but he is not...sometimes something will be so tempting and we take a chance knowing deep down we shouldn't ..thats the devil in desguise..he is very crafty and clever....knows the right tools..:)justme
  • I think the devil corrupted the translation process. The Bible seems too harsh and dividing to be written by an all-powerful and wise God. All though some of the things are quite beautiful.
  • God would have stopped him. He has far more power than the devil and would stop anything that would effect the integrity of the bible or the people writing it. Omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent, you might wanna look up these words then re-think you question.
  • I suppose the devil would have tried to influenced the writers of the Bible if God would have allowed it but He didn't allow it.

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