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Christians were WRONG to brand Satan evil as scientist insists devil is good
Express ^ | PUBLISHED: 11:01, Sat, Jul 22, 2017 | UPDATED: 14:41, Sat, Jul 22, 2017 | Sean Martin

Posted on 07/27/2017 4:12:15 AM PDT by vannrox

The shock claim comes from a scientist who has spent more than 40 years researching the subject.

According to Henry Ansgar Kelly, a research professor from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), there is actually “no evidence” to sugges the devil should be portrayed as evil.

Instead, Professor Kelly suggests Christians have got it wrong and Satan was actually trying to do good and is on God’s side, but got “overzealous” in his judgements.

He said: "There's little or no evidence in the Bible for most of the characteristics and deeds commonly attributed to Satan.

"A strict reading of the Bible shows Satan to be less like Darth Vader and more and more like an overzealous prosecutor.

"He's not so much the proud and angry figure who turns away from God as he is a Joseph McCarthy or J. Edgar Hoover.

“Satan's basic intention is to uncover wrongdoing and treachery, however overzealous and unscrupulous the means. But he's still part of God's administration."

The professor blames the misrepresentation of the devil at the feet of third century philosopher Origen of Alexandria.

In his best known work, ‘On First Things’, Origen argued that the mention of Lucifer in the Old Testament must refer to Satan, but Professor Kelly says there is no reference to ‘Satan’ or ‘the Devil’ in the Old Testament and followers of Christianity have simply confused the two.

Professor Kelly says "'Lucifer' is Latin for light-bearer”, and Lucifer in the Old Testament is actually a reference to a tyrannical Babylonian king who is “cast to the ground”, which is where the confusion begins.

He said: "Origen says, 'Lucifer is said to have fallen from Heaven. This can't refer to a human being, so it must refer to Satan.'

“Subsequent church fathers found this reasoning persuasive, and so did everyone who followed them."

More confusion comes from the story of Adam and Eve, says Professor Kelly, where once again, people have assumed that the serpent is the Devil.

He said: "Nobody in the Old Testament — or, for that matter, in the New Testament either — ever identifies the serpent of Eden with Satan.

"The serpent is just the smartest animal, and he's motivated by envy after being jilted by Adam for Eve.

"Everyone else has said that by the time Satan gets to the New Testament, he is evil, he's an enemy of God, but that's not so.

"The whole biblical picture of Satan is that of a bad cop to Yaweh's good cop in the Old Testament, and to Jesus' good cop in the New Testament. Throughout, Satan is someone who works for God."

Professor Kelly admitted: "What I'm saying will be scandalous to some people.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bble; democrat; denial; devil; evil; religiousleft; satan
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To: kearnyirish2

There is a Christian archeologist that is claiming such a thing linking it as well to the abrupt destruction of the Minoan civilization at the same instant. He doesn’t deny that God had a hand in it however....indeed he thinks a meteor impact was God’s instrument.


81 posted on 07/27/2017 8:06:47 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: vannrox
Actually, it's true. There are no fallen, rebellious angels and "Lucifer" really was the King of Babylon (whose royal raiment was so over the type he was called Lucifer which is actually the planet V----.

The chrstian "devil" doesn't exist.

I'm just wondering what any "scientist" is doing researching such a subject. Did he discover this in a test tube?

82 posted on 07/27/2017 8:07:50 AM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Viriycho sogeret umesuggeret mipnei Benei Yisra'el; 'ein yotze' ve'ein ba'.)
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To: mdmathis6

Good for him; I’m surprised he was given a platform from which to share that. Cable TV shows concerning Christianity/Jesus are almost all designed to weaken faith, either questioning events in the life of Jesus or trying to explain His Father’s Old Testament punishments with natural alternatives.


83 posted on 07/27/2017 8:13:55 AM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: TigerClaws

That was the Gotthard Tunnel opening ceremony.


84 posted on 07/27/2017 8:16:31 AM PDT by Disambiguator (Keepin' it analog.)
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To: vannrox
Let's just ignore all the writings of Biblical scholars over the last 150 years (and while there are bad ones, there are many good ones) AND all the theological writers over the last 2000 years.

Fool.

85 posted on 07/27/2017 8:20:46 AM PDT by Patriotic1 (Dic mihi solum facta, domina - Just the facts, ma'am)
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To: vannrox

They’ve been paying him for 40 years to do the “research”? MORONS!


86 posted on 07/27/2017 8:36:33 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Building the Wall! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: chesley
He believed that we exist to suffer. We dwell on the negative nature of happiness and well being rather than the positive nature of pain and suffering.

IOTW(eg) we are captivated by a ingrown toenail rather than how fantastic and healthy the rest of the body is acting.

So to answer your question, we can never eliminate pain(according to him) because that is what we live for.

87 posted on 07/27/2017 8:55:56 AM PDT by deadrock (I is someone else.)
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To: Vaquero

Reptiles AND amphibians!


88 posted on 07/27/2017 9:01:51 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Everybody loves to talk about 'values' because there is no math involved.")
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To: vannrox

Science can’t and doesn’t deal with the supernatural as there is no way to falsify the hypothesis. So this article is a waste if time.


89 posted on 07/27/2017 9:28:13 AM PDT by JimSEA
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

Well, he can present his paper to God; maybe straighten Him out and all that.

I’m guessing he won’t get an A+. But that’s just my guess.


90 posted on 07/27/2017 12:04:44 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: odawg

[How does he ignore the plain statements of Jesus? The man is insane.]

Because he’s a liar like the Devil’s tool Barack Hussein Obama? Calling evil as “good” and good as “evil’? (Isaiah 5:20)


91 posted on 07/27/2017 12:10:03 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: vannrox

There will be more than this character that will fall for Satan’s lies. Obviously this ‘scientist’ ignores the fact that Satan has already been judged to death...


92 posted on 07/27/2017 12:14:36 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: sickoflibs; Roman_War_Criminal; Lera; 444Flyer; SkyPilot; SVTCobra03; boatbums; DoughtyOne
[ RE:”He said: “Nobody in the Old Testament — or, for that matter, in the New Testament either — ever identifies the serpent of Eden with Satan.” ]

That's because he lies like Obama. Oh, it doesn't say "Eden" --- keep up those lies, "professor". Maybe your parsing with work with God. As a matter of fact, it won't.

-----

Revelation 12:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
93 posted on 07/27/2017 12:19:11 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: kearnyirish2

correct


94 posted on 07/27/2017 12:20:00 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: ETL

Saul Alinsky can enjoy the Lake of Fire with his idol.


95 posted on 07/27/2017 12:21:37 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: ETL

Yes, one of Obama’s first nationwide public lies.


96 posted on 07/27/2017 12:22:46 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: bgill
Isn't there a saying, there's no fool like an old fool?

Not slamming "old", just saying he epitomizes 2nd Timothy 3:7



2 Timothy 3:7 King James Version (KJV)

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
97 posted on 07/27/2017 12:28:14 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all...)
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To: SaveFerris
"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English..."

From Investor's Business Daily (IBD), August 27, 2008:

"Ayers, now a tenured distinguished professor of education at UIC, works to educate teachers in socialist revolutionary ideology, urging that it be passed on to impressionable students.

One of Ayer's descriptions for a course called 'Improving Learning Environments' says prospective K-12 teachers need to 'be aware of the social and moral universe we inhabit and ... be a teacher capable of hope and struggle, outrage and action, teaching for social justice and liberation.

The Annenberg papers are quite extensive - 132 boxes containing 947 file folders with 70 linear feet of material. They undoubtedly contain more surprises regarding Obama's relationship with Ayers, one of many relationships Obama has sought to hide.'..."

Article: Annenberg Papers: Putting On Ayers?
http://web.archive.org/web/20090131022531/http://www.ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=304729375940845
___________________________________________________

REVOLUTION: Voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA [Maoist]
[Revolution] Interview with Bill Ayers, Revolution #63, October 1, 2006:
"On Progressive Education, Critical Thinking and the Cowardice of Some in Dangerous Times"
http://web.archive.org/web/20110727113745/http://rwor.org/a/063/ayers-en.html

98 posted on 07/27/2017 1:23:05 PM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, the REAL Russia-US scandal (UraniumOne Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes) See my home page)
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To: vannrox

I interviewed a man once who told me one of the drawbacks to spending a significant amount of time alone with your thoughts is you begin to think very highly of them, and subsequently of yourself. This professor has fallen victim to that condition.


99 posted on 07/27/2017 1:37:48 PM PDT by Hoffer Rand (God be greater than the worries in my life, be stronger than the weakness in my mind, be magnified.)
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To: SaveFerris; jbb247; monkeywrench; PROCON; Bulldaddy; Mrs.Z; Aragon; RobinOfKingston; Mom MD; ...

He is doing the same thing the serpent did in the garden “hath God said? “

This is like the jerks that ask if God has feathers and wings?
(Psalms 91:4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

In Hebrew it’s the same word used when Ruth asks Boaz to cover her with his garment and the same context too

You have to take the text seriously because it’s full of idoms /similes and you dig into when you don’t understand it at face value .

Jesus said man doesn’t live by bread alone , but by every word of God

Luk_4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

He is quoting

(Deuteronomy 8:3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Lets see what is written

(Job 1:6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

(Job 1:7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

(Job 1:8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

(Job 1:9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

(Job 1:10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

(Job 1:11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

(Job 1:12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

So now we know Satan is an accuser and an adversary

(Job 2:1) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

(Job 2:2) And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

(Job 2:3) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

(Job 2:4) And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

(Job 2:5) But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

(Job 2:6) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

(Job 2:7) So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

We can see he likes to try to trap people , he wants them to curse God . This is why we have to thank God and praise when
the enemy does bad things to us .

He mentions the name Lucifer .
When you see it Hebrew you see the meaning

Isa_14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Lucifer = Heylel means star
Lucifer son of the morning is a NAME - Heylel ben Shakhar
Heylel ben Shakhar is literally the devils NAME

The word heylel comes from the root word halal
Halal means to shine , to boast , to rave , to be foolish
(It’s funny cause the Muslims call their so called clean stuff halal as in their halal food )

(Isaiah 14:12) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

(Isaiah 14:13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

(Isaiah 14:14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

(Isaiah 14:15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

(Isaiah 14:16) They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Oh and if God is going to cut Lucifer down for weakening the nations that means he isn’t friends with God and God isn’t happy with his behavior . Oh and look he wants to be like God and upon the mount of the congregation (BTW he is what is behind Islam and why he has his mosque sitting where it is in Jerusalem and he is behind all the ruckus to keep that spot too)

Lets look at another one

(Ezekiel 28:12) Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

(Ezekiel 28:13) Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

(Ezekiel 28:14) Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

(Ezekiel 28:15) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

(Ezekiel 28:16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

(Ezekiel 28:17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

(Ezekiel 28:18) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

(Ezekiel 28:19) All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

So when was the literal King of Tyre in Eden ?
He was not but the serpent was there and that verse lets us know why he isn’t God’s friend and it also lets us know what God is going to do to him .

No we don’t get our idea of who Lucifer is from Origin .
He is trying to link this to him because he was a heretic and a lot of gnostic stuff came from him .

I just pulled a small sampling from the Old Testament scriptures . If you want from the New Testament
look at some of these other names he is called by

Abaddon

Rev 9:11;

accuser of our brethren,

Rev 12:10;

adversary,

1Pe 5:8;

angel of the bottomless pit,

Rev 9:11;

Apollyon (greek: destroyer),

Rev 9:11;

Beelzebul,

Mat 12:24; Mar 3:22; Luk 11:15;

Belial,

2Cr 6:15;

the devil,

Mat 4:1; Luk 4:2, 6; Rev 20:2;

enemy,

Mat 13:39;

evil spirit,

1Sa 16:14;

father of all lies,

Jhn 8:44;

gates of hell (hades),

Mat 16:18;

great red dragon,

Rev 12:3;

liar,

Jhn 8:44;

lying spirit,

1Ki 22:22;

murderer,

Jhn 8:44;

old serpent,

Rev 12:9; 20:2;

power of darkness,

Col 1:13;

prince of this world,

Jhn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11;

of devils,

Mat 12:24;

of the power of the air,

Eph 2:2;

ruler of the darkness of this world,

Eph 6:12;

Satan,

1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6; Jhn 13:27; Act 5:3; 26:18; Rom 16:20;

serpent,

Gen 3:4, 14; 2Cr 11:3;

spirit that works in all disobedient people,

Eph 2:2;

tempter,

Mat 4:3; 1Th 3:5;

the god of this world,

2Cr 4:4;

unclean spirit,

Mat 12:43;

wicked one,

Mat 13:19, 38.

(you can find this list on the blueletterbible.com

here is another list

Satan:

Gen 3:1; Gen 3:4-5; Gen 3:14-15
1Sa 16:14
2Sa 23:6-7
1Ki 22:22
1Ch 21:1
Job 1:6-7; Job 1:9-12; Job 2:3-7; Job 9:24
Psa 109:6
Zec 3:1-2
Mat 4:1-11; Mat 12:24; Mat 12:29; Mat 12:43; Mat 13:19; Mat 13:30; Mat 13:38-39; Mat 16:18; Mat 25:41
Mar 3:22-26
Luk 4:2; Luk 4:6; Luk 10:18; Luk 11:15; Luk 11:21-22; Luk 13:16; Luk 22:31; Luk 22:53
Jhn 8:38; Jhn 8:41; Jhn 8:44; Jhn 12:31; Jhn 13:2; Jhn 13:27; Jhn 14:30; Jhn 16:11
Act 5:3; Act 13:10; Act 26:18
Rom 16:20
1Cr 7:5
2Cr 2:11; 2Cr 4:4; 2Cr 6:15; 2Cr 11:3; 2Cr 11:14-15; 2Cr 12:7
Eph 2:2; Eph 4:27; Eph 6:11-16
Col 1:13; Col 2:15
1Th 2:18; 1Th 3:5
2Th 2:9
1Ti 1:20; 1Ti 3:6-7; 1Ti 5:15
2Ti 2:26
Hbr 2:14
Jam 4:7
1Pe 5:8-9
2Pe 2:4
1Jo 2:13; 1Jo 3:8; 1Jo 3:10; 1Jo 3:12; 1Jo 5:18
Jud 1:6; Jud 1:9
Rev 2:9-10; Rev 2:13; Rev 2:24; Rev 3:9; Rev 9:11; Rev 12:3; Rev 12:9-12; Rev 20:1-10

So what’s this guy saying and doing ? The same thing the serpent said in the garden

God bless you and keep you


100 posted on 07/27/2017 5:27:07 PM PDT by Lera
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