OK since no one has started a discussion yet, I will.

[janelle]

We can discuss things on here again, can't we? Maybe we are all walking on eggs not wanting to offend anyone. Well I'll give it a try.

The question I was asking when the discussions were banned was this. Any and all replys are welcome.

Can anyone tell me why the devil was in the Garden of Eden in the first place? If the Garden of Eden was a beautiful paradise and the devil was banished to hell why was he there?

[MySweetLord]

You have given me a very deep sabbath study. I have been looking for answers all morning!

First off most of my replies will be copy & paste from web sites. Not only because of limited use of my typing fingers, but because this is a serious study for Christians. I believe a scholar can answer better than I.

Second, I always start with a prayer that God will open my heart and mind and let me see the answer from the Bible. We need study guides but as you know human interpretation can be misleading.

I pray you study all you can on this subject and find the answers to your questions. :)


Satan, Our Enemy
Introduction: In our last two lessons we learned how to develop a relationship with God. In this lesson we will study about Satan. Who is he? Is there really such a being? And if there is, has he existed from all eternity? Is he therefore another god, an enemy god, who is in conflict with Jehovah? We will answer these questions in this lesson.

1. Where did Jesus say Satan came from? Luke 10:18 [The Further-study verse is Jude 6]

2. Why did Satan fall from heaven? Isa. 14:1215 [2 Peter 2:4]

3. How did Satan come into being, and what was he like? Eze. 28:15 [Note: In verse 12 of this chapter Satan is referred to as the "king of Tyre." Just as the Lord was the real king behind the human ruler in Israel (I Chron. 29:23; Zeph. 3:5), so Satan was the real king behind the pagan kingdoms of Babylon and Tyre. Thus at certain points the prophecies of Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 reflect in a graphic manner Satan's own characteristics. Col. 1:16; Ps.148:1,2,5]

4. Since Satan was created as a holy and perfect angel, what change took place in him that caused him to be cast out of heaven? Eze. 28:13, 14, 17 [Note: Satan was "perfect" until "iniquity was found" in him. Ezekiel 28:16 says, "You sinned . . . O covering cherub." Satan thus became the first sinner, or, according to 1 John 3:4, 8, the first transgressor of God's law. 1 John 3:8 says, "The Devil has sinned from the beginning." In other words, he was the originator of sin. Ps. 80:1; John 8:44]

5. Who were expelled from heaven with Satan? Rev. 12:7-9, 12 [ Matt. 25:41]

6. How did this world become involved in Satan's rebellion? Gen. 3:1-6 [Note: As Satan later worked through the king of Tyre, so in Eden he used a serpent as his medium. Therefore the "serpent" also became one of Satan's titles (Rev. 12:9). [ Rom. 5:12]

7. In the beginning, Adam was made the ruler over this world (Gen.1:26). But after Satan caused Adam to sin he lost that dominion. Who then claimed rulership of this world? Luke 4:5-7 [ John 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12]

8. What does Satan do to those who oppose truth? 2 Tim. 2:25, 26 [John 8:34-44; Eph. 2:13]

9. What warning does Peter give to Christians living in the last days? 1 Peter 5:6-9 [Eph 6:10-18]

10. How will Satan work in the last days, and who will he deceive? 2 Thess. 2:8-10 [Rev. 16:14]

11. How will Satan disguise his work and workers in the last days? 2 Cor. 11:1315 [Matt. 4:5, 6]

12. How can we overcome Satan? Rev. 12:11 [1 John 3:4-8; James 4:7, 8]

Commitment: Many people have wondered how a God of love could permit the sin and suffering in the world today. But God never intended it to be thus. God never made sin or suffering. He gave all His beings, including the angels, the power of choice; and one of those angels, the highest angel in heaven, chose to rebel. Then our first parents joined him in that rebellion. Thus sin entered our planet. Satan is at war with God and is seeking through intrigue, deception, and force to cause our eternal destruction. The Bible reveals his plans and disguises. It also reveals a Savior--Jesus Christ--who will save us from Satan. Will you study His Word and allow Him to save you from the wiles of the Devil?


http://www.stepstolife.org/studies/english/lesson3.html

[MySweetLord]

Where did Satan come from? It’s in the Bible, Revelation 12:7-9, TLB. "Then there was war in heaven; Michael and the angels under His command fought the Dragon and his hosts of fallen angels. And the Dragon lost the battle and was forced from heaven. This great Dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down onto the earth with all his army."

(my comment- he wasn't banished to hell- he was banished to EARTH with 1/3 of the angels )

Was Satan created sinful? No, he was created perfect, with freedom to choose. It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 28:15, TLB. "You were perfect in all you did from the day you were created until that time when wrong was found in you."

What led to Satan’s downfall? It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 28:17, TLB. "Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor."

Satan, known as Lucifer before he sinned, wanted to be equal with God. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 14:12-14, TLB. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! . . .For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and rule the angels. I will take the highest throne. . . I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High."
Where did Satan come from? It’s in the Bible, Revelation 12:7-9, TLB. "Then there was war in heaven; Michael and the angels under His command fought the Dragon and his hosts of fallen angels. And the Dragon lost the battle and was forced from heaven. This great Dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down onto the earth with all his army."

Was Satan created sinful? No, he was created perfect, with freedom to choose. It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 28:15, TLB. "You were perfect in all you did from the day you were created until that time when wrong was found in you."

What led to Satan’s downfall? It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 28:17, TLB. "Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor."

Satan, known as Lucifer before he sinned, wanted to be equal with God. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 14:12-14, TLB. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! . . .For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and rule the angels. I will take the highest throne. . . I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High."



http://www.bibleinfo.com/bibleinfo_default.asp



click Bible topics, then enter lucifer

[MySweetLord]

Just my opinion

Satan was sent to earth to help us choose God's way. If he was destoyed in heaven for trying to usurp God's authority-we would never have freedom of choice.

Like an abusive spouse that truly loves the other spouse

God does not want our love to be forced. Forced love is not truly love- it is power.

God wants us to choose between good and evil- not be forced by threat of destuction


Happy Sabbath

[ahippiechic]

It was my understanding the Satan was banished to earth, because of his pride, with other angels. Not to hell.

[janelle]

Ok I need to read my bible again. Thanks for the passages MSL. I thought he was banished to hell but then one could say our world is kind of like hell sometimes. lol It certainly not like heaven--perfect.

I guess no human will understand why God set some things up the way he did until we are with Him in heaven. I just hope we won't be able to sin anymore which the bible says. See, now I'm wondering why God didn't set it up that way in the first place but went with free will. After we get to heaven we will be there for all eternity so we won't ever sin again but if we have free will how can that be? Now my head hurts. lol

[Sweetberries]

the reason why Satan was placed in the Garden of eden was because God placed him there to be a temptation for Adam and eve because God was testing them to see if they would obey what he said was to be for the Garden of eden and they both disobeyed

[Judasknot]

:o

[Sweetberries]

newfieslady
are you referring to me ?

[Judasknot]

never mind, I didn't notice the ban had been lifted. I'm sorry if I offended. It was not directed to you personally though.

[Judasknot]

Sweetberries-
Out of curiosity, wouldn't the Devil have been free to come and go as a visitor even if he had been banned from there? It's an interesting question.

[Sweetberries]

let me get back to you later on this ok :)

[janelle]

Ok, I now understand it better, I asked my hubby, lol. Well he does study the bible more than I do.

He said God gave Satan dominion (territory) over the whole earth when he banished him from heaven. So that is why he was in the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve having free will didn't have to listen to Satan.

When Jesus was on earth and went into the desert to be tested forty days and forty nights, Satan tempted Him and one of the temptations was to offer Jesus dominion over the whole world because he could give it to Him. Of course, Jesus being God was the one who gave Satan the dominion in the first place.

Now, why God put the Garden of Eden on earth, the same place Satan was is in my view a test to man to see if they would love God and obey Him or turn away from Him and sin. They failed. :(

[Gitty]

I was taught that God knows everything before it happens. So by this teaching, God knew what Satan would do. And God knew what Adam and Eve would do too.

[RainyStorm]

This raises the age old question. Is there really a fire-burning Hell?




God once said:

Jeremiah 7: 31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

[jasmine]

It's like, in the book of Job, chapter 1 starting with verse 7, The Lord said to satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. Then the Lord said to satan, Have you considered my servant Job?.. read on through this chapter.
I believe God brings us many things to go through, to see if we really trust and believe in him, and the fact that we have free will, one of the many great gifts God gives.

In the Garden of Eden, seems like this also happened there, to perhaps test and see if Adam and Eve would listen to God. Sadly, just like many of us here fail, and give into temptation.... but God always loves us, and takes us back again.

[momtofuss]

here are some views of Satan in Islam
http://www.submission.org/islam/introduction.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan