What is your take? Satan was the Religious Zealots of that time.

[MatthewG]

Is recorded in the Bible that it was "pride" that influenced satan to which was/IS darkness to GOD'S eyes.
And yes! People do love the darkness more then the "light!"
Why?
It's like "water" and takes the path of less resistance!
It IS and becomes much harder to "stand" in one's faith against and amidst the "stream" of "running/falling water" as it has this tendency to erode or wear down that which "stands!"
Which pretty much is become the beast that rises out of the bottomless pit.
And why the name/number of the beast is "man!"

Well I believe that spoke of a specific man, but alas, Darkness seemed to exist when God had started creating. Anyway, thank you for your comments.

I dont believe Satan is around like millions of other peoples.

Darkness for sure, it's been there since creation supposedly.

 

[Stumpmaster]

I’m not stumped, but you’re more than free to believe whatever and however you like. I don’t want to dominate your faith, so thank you for sharing, and communicating with me. However I’m done with the conversation.

I hope you’ll accept that and not be like “Ah Ha! I got gott’em” or anything of that nature cause it’s immature.

I don't do "gott'em", or "immature", but I do use the Word of God as it is intended to be used.

For further discussion:

2Th 2:7-12 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, (9) whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, (12) so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

 

[NayborBear]

I dont believe Satan is around like millions of other peoples.

Yannno that is satan's greatest accomplishments?
Getting people to believe he isn't around?!

 

[MatthewG]

I don't do "gott'em", or "immature", but I do use the Word of God as it is intended to be used.

For further discussion:

2Th 2:7-12 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, (9) whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, (12) so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

He didn’t quote the very first several verses of that book that you just quoted so that’s your own fault. You’re making a context which was written to a specific group of people for yourself. That’s not how context works.

 

[MatthewG]

Yannno that is satan's greatest accomplishments?
Getting people to believe he isn't around?!

The Bible is self proclaimed that Satan is no longer around, so either he is or he isn’t and whatever you believe is up to you. I choose to believe that he is not around any longer because Satan was basically the Jewish Pharisees and leaders of that day, who were using the law and making themselves basically God, so whatever you think about that is totally up to you. I believe darkness is very much around still, but again whatever you wanna believe is up to you.

 

[Stumpmaster]

He didn’t quote the very first several verses of that book that you just quoted so that’s your own fault. You’re making a context which was written to a specific group of people for yourself. That’s not how context works.

He being who?

My verse were good for further discussion about the working of Satan, obviously not a reference to Pharisees.

 

[MatthewG]

He being who?

My verse were good for further discussion about the working of Satan, obviously not a reference to Pharisees.

Okay, I am just personally done talking to you now.

Thank you.

No matter what you may share, you wont change my mind...

People forget this verse exist or something?

“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” — Revelation 20:10 (ESV)




Im not scared of the devil, or satan, they were done away with....

It's the darkness which troubles the heart and souls of individuals today.

People make excuses, and take out personal accountability.

"Oh that wasn't me that was the devil." Bunch of malarky.

 

[Hiddenthings]

I don't do "gott'em", or "immature", but I do use the Word of God as it is intended to be used.

For further discussion:

2Th 2:7-12 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, (9) whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, (12) so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

So we are talking about those who were lawless in their practices and who God sent strong delusion upon because of they rejected the truth.

Which group of people known to the ministry of Christ and Paul is being referenced @MatthewG ?

Keep in mind, we're dealing with serious warnings about apostasy here, not some childish tale about a monster under the bed.

This was a real and visible issue in Paul's time, just as it remains evident in discussions on this forum today.

 

[MatthewG]

So we are talking about those who were lawless in their practices and who God sent strong delusion upon because of they rejected the truth.

Which group of people known to the ministry of Christ and Paul is being referenced @MatthewG ?

Keep in mind, we're dealing with serious warnings about apostasy here, not some childish tale about a monster under the bed.

This was a real and visible issue in Paul's time, just as it remains evident in discussions on this forum today.

First off, Hidden things there is a lot being mentioned here;

2Th 2:7-12 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst.

(8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,

(9) whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

(10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.

(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie,

(12) so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But this was also addressed to, and also what was happening among them, from Paul

1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

​

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are these both context important to me they are.

 

[NayborBear]

The Bible is self proclaimed that Satan is no longer around, so either he is or he isn’t and whatever you believe is up to you. I choose to believe that he is not around any longer because Satan was basically the Jewish Pharisees and leaders of that day, who were using the law and making themselves basically God, so whatever you think about that is totally up to you. I believe darkness is very much around still, but again whatever you wanna believe is up to you.

Please! Please!!
Come out of confusion (babylon) and STOP making satan cause you in playing these games that are making you such a semanticist!

Acts 26:18 (KJV)
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

By doing THIS:
1 John 4:3 (KJV)
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

And? (and this also shall happen)
AS you "PRESS ON to the HIGH CALLING of God IN Christ Jesus OUR Lord and Savior?"
Should these "nethinim" confess Christ is come in the flesh? (and they will)
"MAKE" them spell "confess!" (because the Power of God (aka AUTHORITY is with/in you)
(i know.....sounds silly right?....yet? this is what pressing on to the High Calling oft times entails!)

Then?
You shall be on the road to accomplishing THIS:
1 Peter 2:5b (KJV)
......an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The "problem" with modern christ/church-ianity?
OVER ROMANTICISM! (which causes blindness{darkness}/deciet/and strong delusion)

What I gave you?

The "Exit Ramp" OUT of babylon!

Having said that?
Is it easy coming out of (*a) strong delusion?

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (*age), against spiritual wickedness in high places.

* added by me

 

[MatthewG]

Please! Please!!
Come out of confusion (babylon) and STOP making satan cause you in playing these games that are making you such a semanticist!

I don't have anything to say.

 

[Stumpmaster]

This was a real and visible issue in Paul's time, just as it remains evident in discussions on this forum today.

Agreed. Global Developments - an indicator of the Apocalypse

 

[MatthewG]

Apocalypse just means unveiling? Revelation.

Exactly, Matthew. The word apocalypse comes from the Greek ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis), which literally means “unveiling” or “revealing”. It’s not originally about destruction or chaos—it’s about pulling back the curtain to show what’s really going on behind the scenes.
In biblical terms, it’s the moment when hidden truths are made known, especially about God’s plan, justice, and the destiny of creation. That’s why the final book of the New Testament is called Revelation—it opens with:


“The revelation (apokalypsis) of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1)




So when people talk about “apocalyptic literature,” they’re referring to writings that reveal divine mysteries, often through vivid symbols, visions, and cosmic drama. Think Daniel, Ezekiel, and of course, Revelation.
It’s less about doom and more about clarity, hope, and divine intervention. The world may shake, but the veil is lifted—and the faithful are called to stand firm.

 

[MatthewG]

Sha-blam!