Regarding a Divided heaven:
Jude does tell us this:
Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
What I find interesting, and consoling, too, is that the devil is not, and does not think he is, on an equal footing with God. This bizarre argument has been circling christianity for like 15 centuries!
Job tells us that the devil came before God, along with the other host, and there is some talk going on there. He has to get permission to do various things to Job, and he does not dare do worse than what God allowed.
Now, what kind of a war is that? Can you imagine if one country had to get permission to attack the territories of the country it wished to attack? Crazy stupid.
But this is what we see Satan doing, with God in heaven, against Job.
The conclusion I draw from that, is that the devil is not in the least mistaken about his role and what authority has been granted him by God. He also knows his time is short, as we read in Revelation 12.
Personally, what I believe has a dilemma about it, but so do all the alternative theories. I think, since Jesus said the devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning, and when he lies he speaks of his own nature, for he is the father of lies... that God did in fact make the devil the way he is, as a provocateur.
Job speaking, sheds a little light on this matter in chapter 12. Read the whole chapter, and do keep this particular verse in mind as you contemplate it:
Job 12:16 With him (God) are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
The dilemma is that God cannot tempt anybody, and yet the devil does tempt people. It's difficult to reconcile, and the best arguments only put the issue one step further away, but not gone. A little more help comes from James who writes:
Jas 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (lust).
Jas 1:15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
It is not a "spirit of lust" responsible (I don't think any such thing exists), but man's OWN lust.
Interesting stuff.
How am I comforted? I know that God is 100% in control, despite our free will, and He is working all things out for good for us who are called by Him.
And regardless of the type of pain, torture, death, whatever, levied against me (either brought about by my own stupid sins, or by being tested by God (which may include the devil trying to do things to me -- see how difficult this is to figure out? hahaha), I know the Jesus is worthy of all praise and honor.
Jude does tell us this:
Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
What I find interesting, and consoling, too, is that the devil is not, and does not think he is, on an equal footing with God. This bizarre argument has been circling christianity for like 15 centuries!
Job tells us that the devil came before God, along with the other host, and there is some talk going on there. He has to get permission to do various things to Job, and he does not dare do worse than what God allowed.
Now, what kind of a war is that? Can you imagine if one country had to get permission to attack the territories of the country it wished to attack? Crazy stupid.
But this is what we see Satan doing, with God in heaven, against Job.
The conclusion I draw from that, is that the devil is not in the least mistaken about his role and what authority has been granted him by God. He also knows his time is short, as we read in Revelation 12.
Personally, what I believe has a dilemma about it, but so do all the alternative theories. I think, since Jesus said the devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning, and when he lies he speaks of his own nature, for he is the father of lies... that God did in fact make the devil the way he is, as a provocateur.
Job speaking, sheds a little light on this matter in chapter 12. Read the whole chapter, and do keep this particular verse in mind as you contemplate it:
Job 12:16 With him (God) are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
The dilemma is that God cannot tempt anybody, and yet the devil does tempt people. It's difficult to reconcile, and the best arguments only put the issue one step further away, but not gone. A little more help comes from James who writes:
Jas 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (lust).
Jas 1:15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
It is not a "spirit of lust" responsible (I don't think any such thing exists), but man's OWN lust.
Interesting stuff.
How am I comforted? I know that God is 100% in control, despite our free will, and He is working all things out for good for us who are called by Him.
And regardless of the type of pain, torture, death, whatever, levied against me (either brought about by my own stupid sins, or by being tested by God (which may include the devil trying to do things to me -- see how difficult this is to figure out? hahaha), I know the Jesus is worthy of all praise and honor.
