Re: I'm not the one replacing Jerusalem with saints - II

@ refreshed - Your faith has never been the issue. It's taken as read. The issue is your understanding (or lack thereof) of the great eschatological themes of the Bible, including those you mention above. Though truth be told, I regard them as secondary to the much greater themes of the advent itself, the accompanying general resurrection & jugdment, and the inauguration of the eternal kingdom after the new creation.

Are you saying that satan can not read scripture? 

I'm not aware of any discussion about old nick's predilection for reading the sacred text. He is certainly capable of misquoting it, but when it's correctly quoted back at him, he has a habit of showing us a clean pair of heels (Mt 4:1-11). He's certainly not omniscient - that would make him God. But whether he reads Scripture regularly and fully understands it is at least open to doubt. Have you ever read (or seen any of the many film adaptations of) TLTWATW by C S Lewis? Lewis had a good understanding of Satan's limitations. And 461 knows all about them.

Oh that's right... you have him bound...no scripture for him to read I guess. He is busy playing tiddlywinks.

Yes, I sense your frustration at your inability to answer the numerous challenges I have put to you, coz ordinarily, comments such as this would be beneath you. Both vektek and I have already dealt with this at length, and you have not even attempted to explain how the 'disarming' of Col. 2:15, the 'destroyed' of Hebrews 2:14, or the 'crushed head' of Gen 3:15 is one iota less severe than any 'binding' in Rev. 20. Neither have you made any attempt to explain why it is that after almost 2,000 years of apparently unrestrained activity, he has been unable to achieve what he apparently accomplishes in what is described as a 'little season'. This is actually one of the topics I'll be addressing at greater length in the near future, so I don't wanna pre-empt too much of what I hafta say on the subject. Just watch this space, be a little more patient, and all will be explained in due course. 

Whether it will ever be to your satisfaction is another matter, but in the meantime you can do a lot worst than to take a fresh look at Rev. 12 in the context of this discussion. This extended account of the curtailment of Satan's power is yet another example of how the Apocalypse has the uncanny habit of interpreting itself. Only this time, the subject is the very same one that seems to exercise you so much. Furthermore, this event is undeniably associated with Jesus' first advent, and is in no way inferior to Rev. 20 in its scope and achievement. So the challenge to you still stands. In what way do you imagine that Rev. 20 achieves any more than is set out in all these passages?

The answer is therefore no, he's not playing tiddly winks. He's far too busy 'prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour' (1 Peter 5:8). This picture of Satan ties in perfectly with Rev 12:17, which, please note, follows his defeat in and ejection from heaven. There is thus no contradiction between Satan's abiility to deceive us now as individuals or even groups, and his inability to organize and unite the entire world in one final assault against the bride of Christ.

There is nothing 'easy going' about this account of Satan's present powers. He is both an implacable and indefatigable foe, and Christians will always be the objects of his unwelcome attentions until 'That Day' comes.

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17-20 (cf with Gen. 3:15)