If you were Satan....

[Athetotheist]

I remember a TV preacher once asking his broadcast audience, "If you were Satan....." I don't remember the rest of the question, but I seem to remember that he was talking about prophecy and arguing that Satan was up to some diabolical mischief ("If you were Satan, isn't that what you would do?").

A lot of detail in Christian scripture about what is to happen before Jesus returns is tied to the activity of "Satan". The appearance of the "antichrist", in particular, is supposed to be part of Satan's last gambit before he goes down to utter defeat.

Since it was asked of me how I would react if I were Satan, I think it's fair for me to answer. I know that "Satan" is supposed to be a being of superhuman intelligence, but I can't help thinking that if such a being actually existed and if I were that being, I could do a lot better.

If I were "Satan", I would scrap the antichrist plan. If it's all laid out in the Bible, then everyone knows what to expect and you've lost the element of surprise. With that one simple deviation from the prophetic scenario, the whole thing would be gummed up. No antichrist, no mark of the beast, no abomination of desolation, no anything I was supposed to do as Satan to set the stage for the return of Jesus. And without those prophetic components in place, Jesus couldn't return to fulfill prophecy. And how could anyone stop me? I wouldn't be taking some action which could be prevented; I would be defeating prophecy by not taking action.

So let me pass the preacher's question on to you. If you were "Satan", what would you do----or not do----to thwart prophecy?

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to Tcg in post #150]
I ask for nothing. You asked for documentation.
Researching internet is not as hoplesss as digging up decades of newspapers.

But anyway, the article failed to clarify if this good christians managed to barbecue the real antichrist.

Perhaps the reporter was a (*shudder*) sceptic ?!

[Tcg]

You asked for documentation.

Yes, I did. You've yet to provide it.


Tcg

[JehovahsWitness]

I have heard it explained that the antichrist isn't really an individual but rather, a system of things built upon greed tyranny manipulation oppression deceit pride et al...

That is our belief, not a commercial system lead by greedy individuals ("big business" would be symbolized by tye merchants in the book of Revelation) but a sector of Christedom, which is the most promenent part of Baylon the Great another individual* in the bible that is jn fact symbolic of an entire system (false religion).



* a common beginners error is to fail to understand that scripture often presents metaphor so a"a man"may well be symbolic of a system or a group

...if that were the case, then there has been no noticeable attempt to thwart prophesy.

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted. Biblically prophecy is hisgory written in advance, history cannot be changed , opposing it is futile.

[JehovahsWitness]

I have heard it explained that the antichrist isn't really an individual but rather, a system of things built upon greed tyranny manipulation oppression deceit pride et al...

That is our belief, not a commercial system lead by greedy individuals ("big business" would be symbolized by tye merchants in the book of Revelation) but a sector of Christedom, which is the most promenent part of Baylon the Great another individual* in the bible that is jn fact symbolic of an entire system (false religion).



* a common beginners error is to fail to understand that scripture often presents metaphor so a"a man"may well be symbolic of a system or a group

...if that were the case, then there has been no noticeable attempt to thwart prophesy.

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted. Biblically prophecy is hisgory written in advance, history cannot be changed , opposing it is futile.

[JehovahsWitness]

IS THE ANTICHRIST (THE "MAN OF LAWLLESSNESS" ) AN INDIVIDUAL MAN OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS?

I have heard it explained that the antichrist isn't really an individual but rather, a system of things built upon greed tyranny manipulation oppression deceit pride et al...

That is the Jehovahs Witness view. The antichrist is not a sjngle man but a group of people /organisations. The Man of lawlessness (The antichrist) is not a commercial system lead by greedy individuals ("big business" would be symbolized by the "merchants" in the book of Revelation), but a group or individuals (plural) show similar common characteristics. These people may also be part of Baylon the Great another individual* in the bible that is in fact symbolic of an entire system (false religion).



* a common beginners error is to fail to understand that scripture often presents metaphor so a"a man"may well be symbolic of a system or a group

...if that were the case, then there has been no noticeable attempt to thwart prophesy.

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted. Biblically, prophecy is history written in advance, history cannot be changed. Opposing history is futile; all one can do is try and be on the right side of it.

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

RELIGION, BABYLON THE GREAT and ...THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS

[Tcg]

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted.

What you may or may not believe is irrelevant in a sub-forum dedicated to debate. Evidence is what is needed here. Your claim of what you believe is evidence only that you claim to believe something. It isn't evidence that your belief is valid. In fact, it is perfectly useless here.


Tcg

[JehovahsWitness]

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted.

What you may or may not believe is irrelevant in a sub-forum dedicated to debate.

No I dont believe it is irrelevant. We are discussing views on the identity of the antichrist and I have presented what I believe on the subject. If you believe my view is "irrelevant" so prove it. Otherwise your claim is dismissed.


Over to you,

Evidence is what is needed here.

I have pesented evidence (with supporting references) for why we Jehovahs Witnesses believe the antichrist is NOT an individual in my initial post.



JW

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

RELIGION, BABYLON THE GREAT and ...THE ANTICHRIST/ MAN OF LAWLESSNESS

[Tcg]

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted.

What you may or may not believe is irrelevant in a sub-forum dedicated to debate. Evidence is what is needed here. Your claim of what you believe is evidence only that you claim to believe something. It isn't evidence that your belief is valid. In fact, it is perfectly useless here.


Tcg

No I dont believe it is.

What specifically is it that you don't believe?


Tcg

[JehovahsWitness]

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted.

What you may or may not believe is irrelevant in a sub-forum dedicated to debate. Evidence is what is needed here. Your claim of what you believe is evidence only that you claim to believe something. It isn't evidence that your belief is valid. In fact, it is perfectly useless here.


Tcg

No I dont believe it is.

What specifically is it that you don't believe?


Tcg

(See edit above)

[Tcg]

I don't believe prophecy can be twarted.

What you may or may not believe is irrelevant in a sub-forum dedicated to debate. Evidence is what is needed here. Your claim of what you believe is evidence only that you claim to believe something. It isn't evidence that your belief is valid. In fact, it is perfectly useless here.


Tcg

No I dont believe it is.

What specifically is it that you don't believe?


Tcg

(See edit above)

No thanks. Please answer my question.


Tcg