<OBVES@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:81ee0187-fcaf-4c32-8dc8-0cde00178890@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Lars Wilson" <siaxa...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ---
> It seems that Satan will be destroyed at the second coming of Jesus
> Christ ; before his 1000 -year rule . And it is difficult to imagine
> how Satan can deceive nations and attack saints when Paradise will be
> so firmly established for 1000 years.
I understand why some might think that. But it's not surprising when you
consider the angels in heaven and Satan himself. Heaven was perfect and
like a paradise, but look what happened? If one-third of the angels who
actually see the very face of God rebel against God then certainly one
might
expect the same ratio of perfect mankind to. After all, look at Adam. He
rebelled.
Therefore, the LIFELINE connected to eternal life is LOVE. Love is a
powerful emotion and if you love someone, you will do anything for that
person. So the universe is ****fted in a way that makes it difficult if
you
don't actually love God and are very happy to die for him. Thus, you must
love God more than yourself. Those who rebel against God can't attain
that. They love themselves too much.
Thus the Bible says the "meek" will inherit the earth. Just the nicest,
sweetest, kindliest and charming persons will be chosen to live forever.
Contrary to what the dualists think, perfect harmony is not the balance
between good and evil, like Satan would have us think to justify his
continued existence. Harmony comes from those of like mind.
Some thus might think of eternity as a boring process with a lack of
variety. But not if you're in LOVE. Love makes it seem like eternity is
never going to be long enough. People who are obsessed are never bored.
But to help a little bit more, here is the BROAD VIEW: God gives mankind
and Satan 6000 years to do their own thing, try different governments,
experience what imperfection, pain and death are like. Under these
cir***stances people make different choices. But then there will be a
sabbath "rest" from Satan and the world's governements when Christ rules
his
way for 1000 years. Then Satan is released to see the effect of testing
persons who know God, know his requirements and know what they are doing
when they make a choice, like Satan and the demons have. This thus sets
up
the parameters for judging all of mankind. The effect of imperfect
governments and imperfect and evil influences on mankind are subtracted
from
the equasion for judging them on Judgment Day. But there will also be
seen
what types of persons, even under perfect conditions under the influence
of
Satan would still turn against God. So it provides a perfect backdrop to
know who would be faithful or not under righteous vs unrighteous
conditions.
That is why Satan is not destroyed right away. Just as Adam, a perfect
man
who knew God's law found a reason to give up his life and break those
laws,
and just as the angels in heaven did the same thing, this test will be
able
to deterimine who truly love God and who are just going along. Thus the
same fundamental rule will apply, that high standard: Those who lose
their
soul for the sake of Christ will gain it. Those who try to hold onto
their
soul will lose it. You have to be the type of person who can fit through
the eye of the needle. Any extra baggage from Satan's world and way of
thinking will make you too fat to pass through.
Two thirds of those in heaven manage to achieve this. I suspect the same
ratio will end up reflected among mankind. That in the end, a third will
be
put to death and two-thirds will gain life. Those are ratios Jehovah and
Christ are willing to accept to get the end result they wish and to rid
the
universe of Satan.
FREE MORAL AGENCY: Freedom of choice, therefore, only works two out of
three times. In the real universe, one out of three choices will cause
chaos.
Lras
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