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and given the ability to interact with and influence our world?
If God was so wrathful at Satans rebellion, could he not have cast them 'somewhere else', (like a distant planet, or dimension, where there is NO LIVING SOUL?)
It seems odd to me, that the supposed reason for Satans rebellion was because Satan did not agree with humans being more important than angels...why then, would God cast them to earth, AMONG US? LOL
**If Gods reason for doing this was to 'test' mankind, or for us to have true free will...that would mean, Satan did not rebel at all, and it was Gods plan that he did this. ( this has some very serious implications)
and given the ability to interact with and influence our world?
If God was so wrathful at Satans rebellion, could he not have cast them 'somewhere else', (like a distant planet, or dimension, where there is NO LIVING SOUL?)
It seems odd to me, that the supposed reason for Satans rebellion was because Satan did not agree with humans being more important than angels...why then, would God cast them to earth, AMONG US? LOL
**If Gods reason for doing this was to 'test' mankind, or for us to have true free will...that would mean, Satan did not rebel at all, and it was Gods plan that he did this. ( this has some very serious implications)
You have to understand that Satan has earned the right to do what he does.
God made rules in the beginning that He abides by and holds Satan to.
I created a thread on those rules.
When Satan enticed Adam and Eve to sin against God, he legally became the possessor of man's soul.
He is the possessor of man's soul today until they are set free by Christ.
Again...what verse actually says that? I don't mean to give you a hard time, but it's just not something I've ever seen in Scripture.
Let's take the first one first.
I'm sure you remember the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. When the rich man died and lifted his eyes in hell, he was tormented by the flames. He looked over and saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, but there was a great gulf that divided the rich man from Lazarus.
The rich man was in the burning side of hell, Lazarus was in Paradise, and there was a great gulf that separated them.
Jesus told the thief on the cross, today you will be with me in Paradise. The thief believed in Christ and was saved on the cross, he didn't go to heaven when he died, he went to Paradise where all the saved were held captive by Satan.
Eph.4:7-10
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
While Christ's body was in the tomb His spirit went down to Paradise and set the captives free from Satan.
Rev. 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Christ took those keys from Satan that day, praise God, He has defeated Satan and set man free, that is, those who take Christ at His Word.
I'm sure you remember the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. When the rich man died and lifted his eyes in hell, he was tormented by the flames. He looked over and saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, but there was a great gulf that divided the rich man from Lazarus.
The rich man was in the burning side of hell, Lazarus was in Paradise, and there was a great gulf that separated them.
Jesus told the thief on the cross, today you will be with me in Paradise. The thief believed in Christ and was saved on the cross, he didn't go to heaven when he died, he went to Paradise where all the saved were held captive by Satan.
Eph.4:7-10
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
While Christ's body was in the tomb His spirit went down to Paradise and set the captives free from Satan.
Rev. 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Christ took those keys from Satan that day, praise God, He has defeated Satan and set man free, that is, those who take Christ at His Word.
I think that's reading into things a bit. None of those mention Satan as owning our souls.
I think that's reading into things a bit. None of those mention Satan as owning our souls.
It's self evident that Satan owned the souls of all those in Paradise he held captive.
It took a sinless Christ dying on the cross to defeat sin and Him rising from the dead to defeat death, in order to take legal control of what Satan owned.
There is now no need for Paradise that Christ has accomplished His mission.
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