Posted on 11/01/2018 8:29:20 AM PDT by AJourneyOf1000Miles
You know what a nation is. Sometimes called a nation-state, it is a geological area under some common authority. That authority is legitimate and just if it operates only with the consent of the governed. A kingdom can be the same, that is, a geological area, with the authority being a monarch. Our progenitors didn’t like the monarch ruling this land and argued, successfully, by war, that we were to be a federation of nation-states, separate and equal, and, recognizing His authority, under the King of kings with every man also a king, every woman a queen, not subject to government except by consent. But “kingdom,” (as is “principality” or “empire”), is also a term that can be used to mean an area of influence or interest including some not geological, but commercial or power-wielding. We hear of publishing kingdoms (or media empires) or energy kingdoms (or empires). Maybe “kingdom” in this sense can be likened to “corporation?” These kingdoms/empires are areas of influence or interest which are run by those in authority, such as magnates, (like monarchs), who make decisions regarding them. I believe that a great many of them are fine men and women. The Devil said that he could give all the kingdoms (or empires) of the world to anybody he wanted and offered them to Jesus, if only Jesus would worship him. (Luke 4:5-7) Jesus rebuked Satan and did not agree to take possession of the kingdoms of the world at that time and rejected doing the will of Satan. (Luke 4:8) After that, Satan might have gone off looking to give some of the empires of the world to others, making princes of those willing to do the Devil’s work. Whaddayathink? Did the Devil find anybody willing
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Beat me to it.
This is not about authority it is about dominion. Adam was given dominion over the earth and its creatures, and with sin that dominion was given unto lucipher whom certainly had the power to grant those kingdoms. Ultimately the lake of fire awaits lucipher and his minions both human and demonic, and it will be by the Word of GOD, as in not even a struggle when Jesus walks out to win the battle.
And, no, of course Satan does not have absolute power on the earth, only what God allows him to do. Do you dispute that Satan can exercise some power?
But the point being, as I remember, is in Job we are told that satan has been given rule over the earth.
What a hideously ugly and gloriously triumphant day that will be.
I would dispute that any such supernatural entity as Satan existed, anytime, anywhere...
Hillary said yes.
Amen, it will be more than my human mind can imagine...
Luke 21
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Jesus, definitely the anti-Establishment type. The fall of the political Establishment should be an obvious sign that no statist too-big-to-fail earthly temple (house of human dogma) is going to remain standing.
Red sky at night
Sailors' delight.
Red sky in morning
Sailors take warning.
Reads like election evening-morning.
After Jesus turned down Satan for control of earthly empires, Satan likely found people to run those empires in Satan's name.
Verse 8: beware those "end times" prophecy merchants saying "in Jesus' name".
First comes the political EQs, upheavals:
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...
Gotta luv the paradox of the time of the end being when all the bots are saying that the end is near, but those are the ones that are not to be followed.
And the ability to offer up empires to those who would work to please him, Satan.
Then you are disputing the one true GOD and his WORD. There is no belief in the infallible Word and not believing in Satan and Hell.
Noted. But, by supernatural, do you mean just intangible?
You beat me to it.
Thank you for that insight.
The only way to know the truth is through the gift of discernment, politically it abounds here at FR, as in my belief Trump would win due to discussions here...spiritually im not as certain, thst is not meant as disparagement
Well, they will get what’s coming to them.
Sooner or later, although IMO, the sooner the better.
An area of influence is a kingdom which means we have power in that area. This can be good because we need to exercise power to survive. But are we doing Satan’s biding? It seems, at least according to Machiavelli, that to survive means doing evil to some extent. Machiavelli uses the idea of a Christian Prince who forgives his enemies and spares their children. The Prince is thought to be truly Christian. However, by sparing the children, the children go to the next kingdom, raises an army and invades, killing the Christian Prince. Safety and survival would dictate that the Christian Prince kills his enemy’s children.
Usually there is no perfect solution for morality in this world and we might have to choose the lesser of two evils. Our choice will always be tainted and sometimes we don’t even know the evil we do. Such is the nature of this world. If we really are too good for this world then we will suffer Christ’s fate and perhaps die horribly trying to do good. This is truly imitating Christ, but many of us cannot or will not do this. Many feel that the standards of going good are too high and it opens us up to a needless world of pain. Others feel that doing good gives us dignity and salvation.
Satan gets our help one way or another, but if we can minimize it that is great.
Of course Satan can exercise power. What does that have to do with the original post on this thread?
To paraphrase Baudelaire, “Satan’s greatest accomplishment is convincing the world he doesn’t exist.”
**My interpretation of that Gospel passage is that Satan put Jesus Christ to that “test” because he didn’t know who Jesus was, and wanted Him to just come right out and say He was the Messiah.**
Satan knew who he was alright. Satan knew the prophecies. Herod tried to kill Jesus after he was born. The devil just tried to get the Son of God to fall to the temptation of pride. It would be a logical test: see if the most powerful man in history could refrain from showing his God-given power.
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