Don't punish the Devil, until he knows what he's done wrong, who he's done wrong to and where those following him are going to end up wrong (patient?)

[Gottservant]

As you have not demonstrated that the devil is always a snake, this verse is irrelevant.

Where does it say "the Devil is not always a snake, therefore ruling over him is irrelevant"?

 

[Angelina]

Hi there,

So there is a simple lesson to learn, here: don't just punish the Devil. When Satan entered Judas, Jesus didn't say "now I condemn you!" - He said "What you do, do quickly" (gospels, from memory). This implies that the Devil can only do so much and that if we contradict him, the Lord's plans can't completely be worked out. Do we want the Devil to act on the Lord's plan? We should! That's the only way that we can bring an end to suffering into focus. For how long, is another matter, but again the Lord was certainly not prohibitive of the Devil's attempt to make being a son of God attractive (that is, something that could be sold at a price). Did Judas retain the evil, by which he did this? No! But he died.

So when is it safe to punish the Devil? There are three considerations: first, he needs to know what he has done wrong - if Jeus says "do it quickly" he is not saying 'it is wrong' (something can be unrighteous but not wrong). When Adam fell into sin, he did not confess that his sin "was good", the Devil must realize that his sin (tempting Adam) was not therefore 'good' - this implies that the Devil's sin, was pride about the fall of Man, but its still too early to punish for that alone.

Secondly, the Devil needs to know who he has done wrong to. The Bible says that the seed of Abraham paid tithes, because Abraham paid tithes (letters, from memory), so we must conclude immediately, that Adam was not the only one that was wronged, by the Devil's tempting Adam to fall. In Christ we understand that it was every generation of Man from the Cross forward, that was redeemed from the curse of sin. So there is a question of whether the Devil realises that he has wronged every generation after Adam. You can't punish someone, if they do not understand the full extent of their sin. This is case in point.

Thirdly, where those following him (the Devil) are going to end up wrong, is reason to keep the punishment in view. If you can't provide the reason in terms of real consequences, there is nothing to punish. But there is a reason: if the Devil is proud about the fall of Man, mistaking it for good and it affects every generation from Adam on, then those that the follow the Devil are going to end up calling good, that which is not good. This is a travesty! Generation after generation calling good that which is not good, even if the Devil knows what he has done wrong - will not suffice: there must be punishment! If then it has been set out, at the Cross, that the sin go no further, the punishment will certainly come about! This is the honesty of the Cross, the Diligence of God and the Power of the Holy Spirit's Conviction.

The honesty of the Cross, because every sin has been measured, jot for jot, tittle for tittle in the eyes of the Law. The Diligence of God, because that which needs to be punished, will not be slack in punishment, but in the fullness of time, for an end to that sin. The Power of the Holy Spirit's Conviction because once the punishment has been established, He will not let it pass from the memory of Mankind, until the very end of Mankind, what that sin was, who it affected and why. There will be no escape. These things are forgone conclusions in the mind of the Great Witness, and duly taken to heart again and again, in the Justice-One of Christ.

Now, there is no remission of sin, without blood, but we have the blood of Christ, to remain our bedrock - the lives that are sacrificed to come, will attentuate the completeness of that bedrock. I hope this has been of some encouragement to you.

God bless.

Hi @Gottservant. Let's see if we can unpack some of you're thoughts re: Satan as it is difficult to understand your premise.
Your post -

So there is a simple lesson to learn, here: don't just punish the Devil. When Satan entered Judas, Jesus didn't say "now I condemn you!" - He said "What you do, do quickly" (gospels, from memory). This implies that the Devil can only do so much and that if we contradict him, the Lord's plans can't completely be worked out.

First of all, who is punishing the devil? Re: Judas: Jesus already knew what God's plan was for him. His death and resurrection was the reason he was sent to earth. To save the world through him. It is true, that the devil can only do what God has allowed him to do and I am guessing that you are referring to (believers) when you say that the "Lords plan can't completely be worked out" due to sin on our part? or are you saying that "the Lords plan can't be completely worked out" if we resist Satan because the devil cannot fulfil God's plan if we resist him? If this is your point, it goes against -
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Please elaborate?
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[ButterflyJones]

We need remember. God made Satan,who roams the earth like a hungry lion seeking souls to devour, lord of this world.

Job lost everything,including his family because God testing Job's faith made a wager with Satan. Who enters Heaven and confers with God who cast him out.

After all that, God is going to punish a fallen angel that can only do what God allows.

 

[Windmillcharge]

The snake is a metaphor for the evil one and his legions and how they disrupt and interact with humanity negatively.

Actually the devil became or possessed the snake in order to tempt Eve, but that does not mean that all snakes are of the devil.

 

[Windmillcharge]

Where does it say "the Devil is not always a snake, therefore ruling over him is irrelevant"?

In Genesis we have one account of the devil using a snake, can you show other occasions when the bible says the devil was or used a snake?
One example is not prove that that incident is what always happens.

 

[Gottservant]

Hi @Gottservant. Let's see if we can unpack some of you're thoughts re: Satan as it is difficult to understand your premise.
Your post -


First of all, who is punishing the devil? Re: Judas: Jesus already knew what God's plan was for him. His death and resurrection was the reason he was sent to earth. To save the world through him. It is true, that the devil can only do what God has allowed him to do and I am guessing that you are referring to (believers) when you say that the "Lords plan can't completely be worked out" due to sin on our part? or are you saying that "the Lords plan can't be completely worked out" if we resist Satan because the devil cannot fulfil God's plan if we resist him? If this is your point, it goes against -
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Please elaborate?
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You're not coming to the point, where you crush the Devil consistently?

I am saying there is a way of doing that.

 

[Angelina]

You're not coming to the point, where you crush the Devil consistently?

I am saying there is a way of doing that.

I still feel that we are not on the same page and it could be due to English being your second language? anyway, to get to the point. Please explain the "way of crushing the devil consistently?" I am interested in your thoughts...

 

[Gottservant]

I still feel that we are not on the same page and it could be due to English being your second language? anyway, to get to the point. Please explain the "way of crushing the devil consistently?" I am interested in your thoughts...

It really is quite simple: the Devil can be crushed (Luke 10:19); and doing it (crushing) consistently, is easier if you follow the guidelines I set out (what is the Devil guilty of, who has he wronged and where will those who follow him end up wrong).

The Devil is guilty of sin, his unrighteousness has wronged God and those who think God is ignorant will end up judging themselves worthy of eternal condemnation.

Does that mean the Devil will give up? No, at least not yet; therefore we must learn to watch what we have been taught.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Luke 10:19 "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

Elsewhere the Devil is referred to as the unfruitful servant and such that is punished.

Snakes and scorpions are snakes and scorpions , not Satan or demons. We can overcome the power of Satan, his influence, temptations if we have Christ, Who has already defeated him on the cross.

We don't nor can we punish Satan. After our resurrection we will be granted ability to judge angels - not til then.

God uses Satan for His purpose- read Job. Satan can't do anything without God's permission. God is sovereign. He will allow Satan to come into the Antichrist, take over the world for up to 7 years ( I think it's 1260 days) and then Christ will return and lock him up for 1000 years.

Resist, not fight or rebuke. We wrestle with his power and influence.

James 4:7. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Eph. 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

>>> Even Michael, who wars against Satan, does not accuse or rebuke Satan!

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”