What do you think about Satan?

[Junker P Hoodwink]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

 

[BBAS 64]

The devil is God's Creation and as such he is "Gods" satan and he serves the purposes of the creator.

 

[brinny]

The devil is God's Creation and as such he is "Gods" satan and he serves the purposes of the creator.

Doesn't "Satan" mean "adversary"?

On another note, how did Jesus the Christ describe Satan?

On yet another note, what is Satan's destination?

 

[brinny]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

Rather than what i think about Satan, what does Jesus think about Satan?

 

[1am3laine]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

I hate Satan. He is a literal evil spirit who doesn't reign over hell actually that is Sheol's territory.
It is possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune = Mark 8:36-37

There's are devils that are red and gargoylish with horns, and pitchfork but also they're ones that resemble good things too = 2 Corinthians 11:14

Satan is definitely negative

 

[Maria Billingsley]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

He is the deceiver, the tempter and the angel of light.

 

[Brian Mcnamee]

Satan and Lucifer and the same entity. Satan is a high ranking angel who exalted himself as if he were as god and got 1/3 of the angels to join him in rebellion. He has had a role in history that we can only get a glimpse of as we see him in garden at the fall of man we see him accusing Job and Joshua the high priest before the LORD. We see him possess Judas at the last supper before Judas betrayed Jesus. We see him in the gospels tempting Jesus for 40 days and Jesus noted he desired to sift Peter like wheat. In Rev we see the beast who is the anitchrist given power by the dragon who will rule over the whole world for 42 months by Satan the dragon identified in Ch 20. We see he is to be bound for 1000 years at the time the LORD returns and he is released after that to tempt the nations one last rebellion is allowed and he is then cast into his eternal punishment.

He is not a metaphor and as an angel his is not omnipresent or omniscient. He is given over to pure evil and for some they can accept that. He is a deceiver and will disguise evil for good and is behind the secret societies and the dark arts as has his own legion of angels also fallen in league with him. He tempted Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of this world at a time if Jesus would worship him. Jesus called him the prince or ruler of this world. The angel in Rev shouts out
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms[fn] of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

This is when the 1st prophecy in the Bible is fulfilled that the seed of the woman crushes the head of the serpent. This is not the kingdom starting one Easter but when the rightful king puts away the imposter. In Zech 14 teh LORD is seen coming with his saints and fighting against His enemies on a day when the MT of Olives splits in two and a new river is formed and on that day it is the LORD is king over all the earth. Look at human history and the nations have been deceived a long time and Satan be not yet bound. This transfer of power is coming and there is much scripture about it. Resist the devil and he will flee from you is a promise that applies to all temptation. We have powers and principalities all around us shaping our world and the one led by the Holy Spirit will be contrary to this worlds values and direction.

 

[AvgJoe]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

Question: "Who is Satan? Who is the devil?"

Answer: People's beliefs concerning Satan range from the silly to the abstract—from a little red guy with horns who sits on your shoulder urging you to sin, to an expression used to describe the personification of evil. The Bible, however, gives us a clear portrait of who Satan is and how he affects our lives. Put simply, the Bible defines Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to sin and is now completely opposed to God, doing all in his power to thwart God's purposes.

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

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

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

www.gotquestions.org/who-Satan.html

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Doesn't "Satan" mean "adversary"?

On another note, how did Jesus the Christ describe Satan?

On yet another note, what is Satan's destination?

Ha SaTaN...The Adversary...in Hebrew

 

[eleos1954]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

We have sin on earth because Satan sinned against God and they were cast to the earth. The war between good and evil (sin) started in heaven with them. Satan and his demons (fallen angels) are very real and are continuously tempting humans to sin against God and creating havoc on the earth.

Hell is the grave. Right now we are influenced by Satan and his minions. At the second resurrection all the unsaved will be brought up from the grave ... and yes he will be the leader of all of them .... so in that sense ... he will reign over them (hell) until God destroys all of them forever.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

The above, along with much more is part of satan's character. To hate sin, is to hate satan because he is the cause of all of it. There is no good in him at all.

Satan is a master at deception.

Revelation 12

9 The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels.

Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Yes, Gods Word says so.

2nd Corinthians 11:14

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

As to Satan, or the devil, he is definitely a personal being (literal) — the supreme adversary of God and man. Christ called him the "wicked one" Matthew. 13:19. He was, however, once an angel of light, the highest of the angels. He was named "Lucifer, son of the morning" Isaiah 14:12-14. But he fell from his high estate Ezekiel. 28: 13-18; Luke 10:18; John 8:44, and drew down with him a host of angels, first into disaffection and then into open rebellion against God and His government 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6. He is now the prince of devils/demons Matthew. 12:24, and heads an opposing kingdom, with legions of evil angels, in deadly conflict with the kingdom of God and Christ Revelation 12:7-10.

Satan was originally created of the highest rank in heaven. He was once called the "anointed cherub that covereth" Ezekiel. 28:14. He was described as "full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" (verse 12). He was the embodiment of created perfection, and apparently led the worship of the universe. He was in the "mountain of God," where God manifests His glory, and was "perfect" in his ways until "iniquity" developed in him (verses 14, 15). His heart became lifted up because of his beauty, and his wisdom was corrupted because of his brightness (verse 17). Unholy ambition and jealousy ruined him, and he led a host of angels in rebellion against God and Christ Revelation. 12: 7-9. As a result he was "cast" out of the mountain of God Ezekiel. 28:16, and down to the "ground," or earth (verse 17); Isaiah. 14:12. He is now leader of the realm of demons Luke 11:14-18

Yes, people can choose to serve satan.

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

We are in a battle on earth, but we know the war has been won by Jesus.

We are enduring and waiting for Jesus to take all the survivors (the saved) home to live in total peace and harmony (no sin) with God for eternity. Amen ... and ... Amen!

God Bless.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

The devil is God's Creation and as such he is "Gods" satan and he serves the purposes of the creator.

that is the Jewish concept

 

[miamited]

HI avgjoe,

I would add my agreement to your description. I too, believe that Satan is an individual creature created by the same God who created Adam and Eve. I believe that one of the differences found in this realm of God's creating from the angelic realm, also of God's creating, is that God has given mankind the ability to procreate, but reduced the power and strength that we have as living creatures from what is shown in the Scriptures as the power and strength of the angels. The Scriptures seem to describe that God created each of the angels individually and specifically. In our realm, we are given the ability to procreate ourselves.

However, I believe that the ability to procreate will not be available to us in the eternal realm. Jesus seems to allow that in the eternal life, we will be like the angels and not given to marry. God's current plan of our procreating seems to be held, if it's done in His purpose, to those who are married.

The Scriptures seem to describe the angel, who is now known as Satan, as a beautiful and perfect angel in his initial creation, but then, much like Eve, became somehow dissatisfied with what God allowed and turned to iniquity. So, we have two realms of creation with living creatures of God's creating. Both with some who have refused to be satisfied with what God has provided them to live their lives eternally in peace and satisfaction in and with Him. For our realm, and I imagine that it may have something to do with the fact that we don't have the same physical proof that God exists as those in the angelic realm have, we have been given the opportunity to turn from our wickedness back to accept God's ways and purpose for our lives. That same process of repentance doesn't seem to be available to the angelic realm, although I do allow that the Scriptures really don't seem to have been written so that we know all about that realm. Just some basic information and that it does, in fact, exist.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[John 1720]

What do you think about Satan? Do you love him or hate him? In your opinion, is he a metaphor for sin? Or is he a literal evil spirit who reigns over hell? Do you think it’s possible for people to make bargains with him for fame and fortune, only to be cast into hell and work for him in the hereafter? Do you picture him as a reddish gargoyle with horns and a pitchfork? Or do you think he looks like an angel of light? Is your view of him positive or negative? Is he the Lord of Darkness? Let us all know what you think about Satan.

I think he is the embodiment of the fall of the human race; in that he planted the seeds of rebellion towards God that is still with us today. As we know, evil can takes many shapes and forms, as well as deceive many but in the end truth will reveal all schemes and deceptions; for their is no evil within God, His Truth, His mercy or His justice.

 

[brinny]

Ha SaTaN...The Adversary...in Hebrew

Thank you.

 

[Strathos]

I think he has a lot of people fooled, especially many people who think they're on to him.

 

[JackRT]

God didn't create Satan, man did. Satan (ha'shaitan) occurs by name in the Old Testament in the Book of Job, and here it's clear that the angel Satan is not the Devil! The Devil is supposedly banished from the presence of God, yet in Job, Satan is allowed to talk with and to come and go from God's presence and on a mission for God yet! What's going on? Satan here is not "the Devil" but sort of God's prosecuting attorney. The very name Satan or “adversary” actually suggests this. There is also a very common perception that the 'Lucifer' in Isaiah 14:12ff refers to Satan, the supernatural personification of evil. This misconception comes from two sources. The first is wishful thinking in the sense that it is nice to think that 'the Enemy' will get his come-uppance eventually. The second has to do with the old caution that scripture is to be read only 'in context'. This requires going back and reading all of Isaiah 13 and the earlier verses in Isaiah 14. When this is done we suddenly realize that scripture is not speaking of a supernatural Satan at all but of a Babylonian king with an immense ego. Read Isaiah 14: " 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:" What follows is a long rant against this oppressive king filled with numerous reference to his human nature like Isaiah 14: "16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17 the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?" This passage is in no way a reference to Satan or the devil. The Jews did not originally believe in devils but they picked up this concept during the Babylonian Exile from the Persians who followed Zoroastrianism. The Zoroastrians believed in both a god of good (Ahura-Mazda) and a god of evil (Ahrulman) engaged in a cosmic struggle. The Jews picked up and ran with this idea. It was easy to cast YHWH in the role of the God of good. They took also the angel ha'shaitan (Satan) in the book of Job and recast that character as Satan the near divine force of evil. Up to that time, their concept of God was of a being responsible for everything, both good and evil. Isaiah 45:”7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” is just one quote that demonstrates this. The Jews never connected Satan to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. It was the second-century Christian martyr, Justin of Samaria, who was first to argue that Satan appeared as a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve to disobey God.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

God didn't create Satan, man did. Satan (ha'shaitan) occurs by name in the Old Testament in the Book of Job, and here it's clear that the angel Satan is not the Devil! The Devil is supposedly banished from the presence of God, yet in Job, Satan is allowed to talk with and to come and go from God's presence and on a mission for God yet! What's going on? Satan here is not "the Devil" but sort of God's prosecuting attorney. The very name Satan or “adversary” actually suggests this. There is also a very common perception that the 'Lucifer' in Isaiah 14:12ff refers to Satan, the supernatural personification of evil. This misconception comes from two sources. The first is wishful thinking in the sense that it is nice to think that 'the Enemy' will get his come-uppance eventually. The second has to do with the old caution that scripture is to be read only 'in context'. This requires going back and reading all of Isaiah 13 and the earlier verses in Isaiah 14. When this is done we suddenly realize that scripture is not speaking of a supernatural Satan at all but of a Babylonian king with an immense ego. Read Isaiah 14: " 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:" What follows is a long rant against this oppressive king filled with numerous reference to his human nature like Isaiah 14: "16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17 the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?" This passage is in no way a reference to Satan or the devil. The Jews did not originally believe in devils but they picked up this concept during the Babylonian Exile from the Persians who followed Zoroastrianism. The Zoroastrians believed in both a god of good (Ahura-Mazda) and a god of evil (Ahrulman) engaged in a cosmic struggle. The Jews picked up and ran with this idea. It was easy to cast YHWH in the role of the God of good. They took also the angel ha'shaitan (Satan) in the book of Job and recast that character as Satan the near divine force of evil. Up to that time, their concept of God was of a being responsible for everything, both good and evil. Isaiah 45:”7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” is just one quote that demonstrates this. The Jews never connected Satan to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. It was the second-century Christian martyr, Justin of Samaria, who was first to argue that Satan appeared as a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve to disobey God.

Lucifer is "light bringer" in Latin. It is also a term for the planet Venus, the bright morning star. Helel in Hebrew. HaSaTaN is "the adversary" in Hebrew and is not a name but a description or title. The "snake" in Genesis is "nahash" in Hebrew.

The understanding of Satan in Judaism and Christianity is a bit different. In Judaism it is still under God's command and is not an independent source of evil. It gives resistance to our spiritual progress to actually strengthen it by fighting against it. As you grow spiritually, you will be tested even more (similar thought in Orthodoxy BTW). Genesis 6:5 mentions the "evil inclination" (Yetzer Hara).

Samael is in Talmudic and Kabbalistic sources and is associated as the head of the demonic hosts. He is associated with the serpent in Genesis. Eve was supposedly impregnated by him and Adam with Lilith. It is looked at as a sexual sin. So Samael is more like Satan in Christianity for sure.