"because in the natural realm, the physical world, mankind is the only being that possesses both free will and the ability for the spirit of God to live within us"
Interesting nugget, this. What are the Scriptures that undergird this?
The answer is a long and detailed Bible study I’d be glad to have as long as you’re interested in doing it. It’s not just 1 scripture, it is a major theme of all the scriptures.
I'd definitely be interested in learning more. You have my e-mail address if you want to send it privately, or if you have a link here, I'd be happy to follow that.
Great word, thank you Steve. I did a pretty deep study of eschatology several years ago. Part of that study included Ezekiel, who was a watchman for God. About 13 or 14 years ago, I received a strong feeling from the Holy Spirit that I was to be a watchman as well. When I warn people of what we will face in the future, if we turn away from God and refuse to accept Jesus I get interesting reactions. I have many, many friends and acquaintances who claimed to follow Jesus and believe in the Holy Trinity, but almost every time I say anything about Satan, it is met with eye rolls. I point to the scripture, I read them the scripture. Far too many people the devil is someone wearing a red suit with horns and a long tail, carrying a pitchfork. That is not what scripture says about Satan at all. Ezekiel 28 describes him as perfect and beautiful. I think they came up with the red suit and tail and horns to make him less desirable, but in the end, it only makes him a cartoon. Every single day without fail, I see post on social media claiming so-and-so is the antichrist, and I wish people would actually read the scripture and find that although he may be boots on the ground, he has not been revealed to us. There is so much happening in the political world that is turning people off to Christianity and our job as watchmen has become more critical every day. Please don’t stop what you’re doing . Now more than ever it is really important.
"Far too many people the devil is someone wearing a red suit with horns and a long tail, carrying a pitchfork. That is not what scripture says about Satan at all. Ezekiel 28 describes him as perfect and beautiful. I think they came up with the red suit and tail and horns to make him less desirable, but in the end, it only makes him a cartoon."
Good point. Is this an "innovation" that we credit to Dante in his "Inferno", or did this imagery exist before the Italian poet took a stab at it?
"because in the natural realm, the physical world, mankind is the only being that possesses both free will and the ability for the spirit of God to live within us"
Interesting nugget, this. What are the Scriptures that undergird this?
The answer is a long and detailed Bible study I’d be glad to have as long as you’re interested in doing it. It’s not just 1 scripture, it is a major theme of all the scriptures.
I'd definitely be interested in learning more. You have my e-mail address if you want to send it privately, or if you have a link here, I'd be happy to follow that.
Great word, thank you Steve. I did a pretty deep study of eschatology several years ago. Part of that study included Ezekiel, who was a watchman for God. About 13 or 14 years ago, I received a strong feeling from the Holy Spirit that I was to be a watchman as well. When I warn people of what we will face in the future, if we turn away from God and refuse to accept Jesus I get interesting reactions. I have many, many friends and acquaintances who claimed to follow Jesus and believe in the Holy Trinity, but almost every time I say anything about Satan, it is met with eye rolls. I point to the scripture, I read them the scripture. Far too many people the devil is someone wearing a red suit with horns and a long tail, carrying a pitchfork. That is not what scripture says about Satan at all. Ezekiel 28 describes him as perfect and beautiful. I think they came up with the red suit and tail and horns to make him less desirable, but in the end, it only makes him a cartoon. Every single day without fail, I see post on social media claiming so-and-so is the antichrist, and I wish people would actually read the scripture and find that although he may be boots on the ground, he has not been revealed to us. There is so much happening in the political world that is turning people off to Christianity and our job as watchmen has become more critical every day. Please don’t stop what you’re doing . Now more than ever it is really important.
"Far too many people the devil is someone wearing a red suit with horns and a long tail, carrying a pitchfork. That is not what scripture says about Satan at all. Ezekiel 28 describes him as perfect and beautiful. I think they came up with the red suit and tail and horns to make him less desirable, but in the end, it only makes him a cartoon."
Good point. Is this an "innovation" that we credit to Dante in his "Inferno", or did this imagery exist before the Italian poet took a stab at it?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante%27s_Satan
I was able to find such images dating back to early 1200’s. Further research showed it is actually somewhat Biblically represented in Revelation.