Thinking About Science Fiction’s Basis in Religious Sources

March 5, 2013

6:55 pm

wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan

First, the full passage:

In traditional Christian understanding of the holy Hebrew scriptures, the Torah, Satan is a synonym for the Devil. For most Christians, he is believed to be an angel who rebelled against God—and also the one who spoke through the serpent and seduced Eve into disobeying God’s command. His ultimate goal is to lead people away from the love of God—to lead them to fallacies which God opposes. Satan is also identified as the accuser of Job, the tempter in the Gospels, the secret power of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, and the dragon in the Book of Revelation. Before his insurrection, Satan was among the highest of all angels and the “brightest in the sky“. His pride is considered a reason why he would not bow to God as all other angels did, but sought to rule heaven himself. The popularly held beliefs that Satan was once a prideful angel who eventually rebels against God, however, are not portrayed explicitly in the Bible and are mostly based on inference (e.g., Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14:12–17). In mainstream Christianity he is called “the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24), “the ruler of the world” and “the god of this world”. (2 Cor. 4:4). The Book of Revelation describes how Satan will be cast out of Heaven, down to the earth, having “great anger” and waging war against “those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Ultimately, Satan is thrown into the “Lake of fire,” not as ruler, but as one among many, being tormented day and night forever and ever.^[33]

Next, let’s take some of it a piece at a time:

“Before his insurrection, Satan was among the highest of all angels and the “brightest in the sky“. His pride is considered a reason why he would not bow to God as all other angels did, but sought to rule heaven himself. The popularly held beliefs that Satan was once a prideful angel who eventually rebels against God, however, are not portrayed explicitly in the Bible and are mostly based on inference (e.g., Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14:12–17).”

We’ve seen a lot of evidence of Satan being overly-proud and wanting everything for himself.

“In mainstream Christianity he is called “the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24), “the ruler of the world” and “the god of this world”. (2 Cor. 4:4). The Book of Revelation describes how Satan will be cast out of Heaven, down to the earth, having “great anger” and waging war against “those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” “

“ruler of demons.”   check.

“ruler of the world.”  well, he was ruler of everything in 2012.  so, check.

“ruler of this world.”  during the past 2 months, he’s had his control of spiritual plane removed, but maintains much control of physical plane, earth, “this world” vs. “heaven” or “spiritual plane.”  so, check.

“Ultimately, Satan is thrown into the “Lake of fire,” not as ruler, but as one among many, being tormented day and night forever and ever.^[33]”

This one’s from the New Testament Book of Revelations so it refers to events that, when it was written in the first century AD/CE, were being predicted or prophesied for the future.  In other words, it’s what’s going on today, the past 2 months.  Leave out the lake of fire idea … no, God’s saying fire is how he does hell for spirits like Satan … ok … the “not as ruler, but as one among many, being tormented day and night forever and ever” works too for where he seems to be headed.  So, check again.

Wow, was I ever wrong during most of my life about some parts of the Bible being just myth.

Here’s another from the same passage:

“the secret power of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:7″

That’s as true now as it was when Paul wrote it in the first century AD/CE.  He wrote it from jail in Rome to the people in what today is the northern part of the nation of Greece.  He was in jail because the Roman Empire didn’t stop persecuting Christans until around 300 AD/CE when Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and made it the official state religion of the empire.

Eve — as in Adam and Eve — just showed up esaoe to say she is real too.  Satan showed up esaoe to say yes she was and is; he clearly was not pleased at the fact that she was showing up in t and on the broadcast.  She, apparently, has had a role in the ctpe in t that she’s released from now that satan’s power has been reduced.

Here’s another.  Different sources for Revelations chapter 20 verse 3:

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

New International Version (©1984)
He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

That matches today, but the Abyss, the bottomless pit, seems to be a toilet on sh*tbird island in the pacific.