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?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to Athetotheist in post #129]

I tend to follow through re the mythology - Christianity evolved the mythological character of Satan - very loosely based upon the Judaic mythology. Satan re Christian mythology is an indispensable antagonist - without which - Christianity could not have become what it currently is.

I have no horse in that race.

Loosely based on the Judaic, and probably more closely on the Zoroastrian.

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #124

So what better chance for a disguised Satan to visit the Nephites and do the least expected thing.

This presumes, against archaeological evidence, the existence of Nephites.

So what? Satan would be in good company there!

Lets look at the actual archeological evidence for Satan;

All unearthed Dinoaur bones. They are supposed to be buried there by Satan to fake evidence for evolution.
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-devil ... s-on-Earth

The Footprints of the Devil from Devon, England 1855
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Footprints

All this proof is highly doubted today. And if we have no better evidence for Satan than for Nephites, than why not should they met?

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to Athetotheist in post #129]

I tend to follow through re the mythology - Christianity evolved the mythological character of Satan - very loosely based upon the Judaic mythology. Satan re Christian mythology is an indispensable antagonist - without which - Christianity could not have become what it currently is.

I have no horse in that race.

Loosely based on the Judaic, and probably more closely on the Zoroastrian.

Yeah! Google Ahriman

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #115

So what if Satan instead of sending antichrist made a church for Christ on earth?

Even if "Satan" were to do such, which he presumably wouldn't since it wouldn't bring praise to him, it would require taking action which could be prevented with counteraction. Inaction on "Satan's" part would be impervious to counteraction.

Would the inaction of this Satan character [re whatever prophesies are designated to him] mean he would have to forfeit praise?

It would say more for him than it would say against him.

So forfeiting praise would amount to gaining praise?

If "Satan" were the god of this world, anything not said against him would be said for him.

Humbug !

Who is grasping at straws now ?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #124

So what better chance for a disguised Satan to visit the Nephites and do the least expected thing.

This presumes, against archaeological evidence, the existence of Nephites.

So what? Satan would be in good company there!

Lets look at the actual archeological evidence for Satan;

All unearthed Dinoaur bones. They are supposed to be buried there by Satan to fake evidence for evolution.
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-devil ... s-on-Earth

The Footprints of the Devil from Devon, England 1855
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Footprints

All this proof is highly doubted today. And if we have no better evidence for Satan than for Nephites, than why not should they met?

Is this more comic book reasoning? If you weren't suggesting a Nephite connection seriously, you shouldn't have suggested it at all.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #115

So what if Satan instead of sending antichrist made a church for Christ on earth?

Even if "Satan" were to do such, which he presumably wouldn't since it wouldn't bring praise to him, it would require taking action which could be prevented with counteraction. Inaction on "Satan's" part would be impervious to counteraction.

Would the inaction of this Satan character [re whatever prophesies are designated to him] mean he would have to forfeit praise?

It would say more for him than it would say against him.

So forfeiting praise would amount to gaining praise?

If "Satan" were the god of this world, anything not said against him would be said for him.

Humbug !

Who is grasping at straws now ?

Humbug compared to what? A nonexistent Satan appearing to nonexistent Nephites?

[The Nice Centurion]

Is this more comic book reasoning? If you weren't suggesting a Nephite connection seriously, you shouldn't have suggested it at all.

Nephites are not comic book characters, but a legit part of christian mythology.
LDS denomination has 16,663,663 members

You dont believe in Satan, yet you try to get answered a very hard and special question about his probable behavior, if he succesfully chooses to thwart christian prophecy.

Even for me, your reasoning was very hard to understand at first.

Now I finally found a proper answer and you are not happy with Satan interacting with his mythological buddies?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #137

Nephites are not comic book characters, but a legit part of christian mythology.

According to your own logic in post #106, that's the Book of Mormon's "opinion".

[William]

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...

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

[Athetotheist]

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...

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

At the same time, how is anyone to know when prophecy has been fulfilled?.....