Replies

You previously said in reply 13,302 to betty boop:

Christianity does not consider Satan a necessary "soteriological" factor, let alone part of the divine Economy of our salvation!

I said at 13,317 “to the contrary” and quoted Jude 1:8-11 where it is shown that even Michael the archangel does not directly accuse Satan but rather says “the Lord rebuke thee.” We see the same thing in Zech 3:2 by the way.

Satan has a purpose which is beyond our comprehension – which is the point of Jude 1:8-11. His end is already written (Revelation 20) – but note in the self same chapter that Satan is merely bound for the term of Christ’s 1,000 year reign on earth and then must be released for awhile:

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. – Rev 20:3

It is not recorded why this must be so – or indeed, the full mission of Satan. Jude cautions the believers not to be presumptuous about Satan.

But I will hasten to point out that Christ could have healed everyone when He was enfleshed. He could have begun the new heaven and the new earth. Children of Abraham could have been made from the stones laying around. And so on.

Everything that is happening is according to God’s will - either His creative will or His permissive will.

My understanding in the Spirit is this: “all that there is” is the Father revealing Himself, establishing a family, His only begotten Son as the head of the household - a family with whom He will ever dwell and commune. It is not about this heaven and earth, but the next heaven and earth. From Alpha to Omega, everything is working together to that end. Romans 8 is the map, Colossians 1:15-20 is the summary.

Thus I strongly disagree with you, and strongly agree with betty boop. Satan has a purpose known to God.

As to why I sometimes merely quote Scriptures (as Dr. Eckleburg also is wont to do) - spiritual Truth is hidden in plain sight and can only be spiritually discerned. (I Cor 2)

Seems to me that some things - such as the body and the blood in John 6, the spiritual rebirth of a Christian in John 3, the purpose of good v. evil - should be presented in His words alone, trusting the Spirit to reveal whatever He wants to reveal, personally to each one of us according to His own will.