VI. Satan’s Doom

  I begun noticing the nothingness of Satan's being http://bible.cc/revelation/20-10.htm (Revelation 20:10), http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/1-1.htm (Genesis 1:1-31) http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/2-1.htm (Genesis 2:1-25) when I came across the book of Revelation that speaks of its doom and likewise, in the book of Genesis.  It does not state that God ever created Satan.  I asked myself, how can something so daunting, so powerful, could be ever be doomed--if it really is a spirit?  Since for what we ordinarily could perceive, is that a spirit is something that lingers, stays, or immortal, even.  But as the Holy Scripture has claimed of Satan’s doom, I have pondered ways for its possibility and when it could happen.  And by God's grace-it is all along there, right in our midst.

 

  The two books of the holy scriptures found in beginning and end is my exhibit to illustrate Satan’s doom-they have worked best for our quest to a new beginning-a new heaven and a new earth.  There are numerous support structures to this claim.  First, if Satan really exists with all the spirit of evil attributed to its character, then why would it be able to be locked out in doom forever?  If it is so ever powerful, why can it be locked away forever.  My answer to this is also the story of Genesis that was handed to us with regard to the creation of all the heaven and the earth and all that is in it.  Never was it mentioned that Satan was ever created.

  People’s inclination to God over the ages to indulge and cling to goodness are reasons behind the imaginary, fictitious personality of Satan’s being.  The dreadful truth is even always amplified by the retribution of crime and sin.  Satan’s character and qualities have come to life with practical results of day to day transgressions.  They are conundrums that we now want to clarify and make use of.

   Indeed the man, woman, were created-the creatures, the skies, the heaven and the earth.  Though, men who were inspired by God wrote the Holy Scriptures, however, we should remember that we intend to realize and attain a state of common good, and happiness-a society free of threat and sin-a life with God who is love.  To live in harmony, peace, and prosperity.

  We have stated a while back how early societies acquired knowledge of their religious conviction through causal effects in their day to day interpersonal experiences.  It is of an enormous help to curb people in a spiritual level as well.  As much as men have souls, which propel our intent, so should practice be pure and contrite as well.   While men for the meanwhile were primitive, yet in the process of maximizing and utilizing full potentials to reach the present age era, Satan has been a good “spirit-proof" strategy to tame the beast in men.  Liken to a leash for training a horse or a whip for wild animals at the circus.  We can only contain figures of speech and limit them to the text at hand, especially with animals.  Knowing we are far more domesticated than any animal that one can think of.  We are human beings who are vested to care for them and their habitations http://niv.scripturetext.com/psalms/8-4.htm (Psalm 8:4-8).   

  We are top brasses of this company and organization called the ecosystem.  No other creature can head and influence the earth more than humans do.  It is a fact, with all its form.  We are able to study human genetics as well as those of animals.  From DNA to vaccines, from silicon to CPUs, to fiber optics and into every information superhighway known to the imagination.  In our case here, it is high time to settle Satan of its doom.   

  Every conceivable crime, people ultimately categorize them as sin and attribute them as works of Satan.  We see government and church, ever so vigilant to curtail incidents of crime and sin in all fronts possible.  We see value formation and ethical standards from global economics and free trade to religious respect and freedom of religious choice.  People in church and government would do anything and everything, just so to make peace and prosperity sustainable.    Unlike animals, people know how to maintain and sustain happiness, even without struggling to fight and learn through the roughs, pains, and sufferings of the wild--in order to survive and have a convenient life.  At least, supposedly, right?

  The question is, are we to hate and war or does reality let people practice civility.  We can not afford to loose lives, which could have been a manpower resource in the production of goods.  We are precious beings far more than animals.  An absolute stop on the life's viciousness and ingress to the true human headship over all creation is what should and must await us.

  One would ask, why then the Holy Scriptures mention about Satan taking a form of a snake?  Again, we have to consider the primitive age, the scripture was written and how men have only clues through associations with co-existing forms of beings and their attributes the writer Abraham could have only fully expressed himself by.  Let me explain the parallelism leading to the snake being the form of the horrifying figure of Satan which is linked with absolute negativities in life.

  Imagine anything that is in the brink of dying--either plants, animals, human beings or any living thing.  Their tendency before dying is to grope for life, for last breaths.  Take the example of the photo above where there is a vulture awaiting the child's death.  Its manifestation in terms of what is known to the sight is that it struggles by either falling on the ground, crawling, or simply being straight flat on the ground.  Picture out in your mind a person dying in pain, hunger, or perhaps a fatal injury from a gun shot.  There would definitely be a manifestation wherein that person would crawl for life until its last breath.  Not to mention the emotional feat one may undergo or any bereaved person for that matter.  The pain is as venomous as a cobra’s sting. 

  As a patriarch, a rancher, and an affluent owner of livestock and a manager of ranch-hands, Abraham’s innate impression of death or suffering was equated with ordeals, so much so in this day and age.  And since Abraham was vested with great responsibilities, the loss of anything or anyone translated to diminishing assets.  Once men and materials are reduced we could say that it is already an ordeal and at some primitive level of language--an enemy.

  Satan has become the enemy of good since time immemorial.  Death from poverty and the struggle for dear life, from a deadly gun battle in war, could basically fit the physical manifestation of dying people. 

  Liken to a snake, which crawls on the ground.  All these torments are of any responsible person’s anguish all together.  And Abraham is no exception.  He has leveled the pain of death and suffering of an animal and "animals" that stay on the ground on its belly-that is his enemy/ies.  Though it may be plain as simple as put, but it is.  We have discussed the analogy angled towards physical leverage with the serpent.  Now, why the legendary phrase, “the knowledge of good and evil http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/2-16.htm (Genesis 2:16-17).”

  Life would be a pitiful vicious cycle if we do not make a stand on what is relevant to the cause of making life better.  I’m writing this book as my share to alleviate good living among peoples and nations.  Also by making known to men that “knowledge of good and evil”  always have been correct, ever since the beginning of life.  But it would not be quite so, for the contrite and holy Abraham-a friend of God.  He was confronted with a painful decision of death sentences as illustrated by the account of Cain and Abel. 

  If I may once again remind you that Abraham was at enormous responsibilities about what was both socially and spiritually sound.  A contrite spirit so profoundly expressed that intertwines holiness with a bold act of killing (murdering) which left people a two-pronged knowledge of sharp examples.  First, the holiness and virtue of offering one's own or one's self (Abel) and second, the murder committed (Cain) out of these very own goodness as illustrated how Cain was vested with perpetual protection from death by God.  And eventually became a predecessor of a serendipitous being-Enosh.

  Even in killing people whom we say are “bad” or wrongdoers, we still feel remorseful and in Abraham’s case, his contriteness had resulted to insightful cascades of people and events out of his very own sentiments through his experiences as a patriarch, a leader and a business mogul.  A loss of people would mean a loss of possible good human resource/ranch hand, as his case was.

  Therefore, as an ultimate illustration or definition of the “knowledge of good and evil” is truly expressed in life and death situation.  The feeling of death is always sad.  It may not always be the case for everyone, especially if one is abused and the death for the offender just seems to be the only justice for reparation.  But Abraham is vested with immense responsibility that he had to have a heart for everyone-to be objective in all circumstances.

  The words, “it’s not in my own hands to take anyone’s life but God's (hands),” have become a byword of partiality to death.  By which Abraham is no exception, and he may even be considered to have transcended this virtue to people of today.  The resolve of someone’s death is the “knowledge” being thought and felt in this case.

  Moving forward, with the enormity of death sentences-it just is unbearable to see the equivalent number of bereaved families, which I suppose, would be greater in number.  If a husband was sentenced to die, then there would be the wife, the parents of both his and the wife, the children, the brothers and sisters and their children.  You can imagine how birth rates are at an all time high in that era.  And how these contribute to sympathy over certain families’ anguish on executions and burials. Some people die slowly, some immediately, but always leave a mark of despair.

  So, the story unfolds with the serpent in the Garden of Eden where it caused God to dismiss Adam and Eve (also Abram and Sarai) to leave the garden.  And a cherub (remember this plural in form) with flashing swords going back and forth at the gates to guard it.  Abraham’s literary work on the account of Adam and Eve is more than skin deep.  It is profound.  Encompassing people, time, and personal and spiritual convictions and contriteness in passing up verdict of death.  Seeing death unfold among people through the times.

  Abraham himself died in himself quite a bit every now and then, and then some, with the knowledge of good and evil.  But somehow as man of God, Abraham had to pass judgment, no matter how harsh to protect man and materials-God’s creation.  This sums up the passage, “the knowledge between good and evil.”  Since, ultimately, there is not supposed to be any death or suffering to anyone.  From this time of Abraham until today, tomorrow, until when the time comes when death and suffering is no more-the Holy Spirit of God shall always speak in our hearts that peace, happiness and prosperity is what life is all about.

  My dear readers, we have not left the Garden of Eden.  The Garden of Eden is where we are, where we go and where we please and desire to go-where people across the globe inhabit-our respective pieces of the planet.  Its guardians are our governments and churches, supposedly, to say the least.  The story depicts how a man and a woman should find their way, to live and manage, to acquire and subscribe to ideas and convictions, which are beneficial.  The story of Adam and Eve’s departure is like a newborn baby trying to have his first breath of air from the real environment itself-to be viable.

  Whenever there is a new beginning I can liken it to the account where our primal parents have managed.  Again, no parent, even more so God, would allow His children to go on their way without being guided.  God shall always make a way to find His presence felt and known to everyone.  Adam and Eve have had the greatest share of it, since it was of fear with thunder and serpent and all!  And as the wise King Solomon once said, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”   Avoiding simple boldness (nudity) that could become a bridge of fascination toward immorality.  The story unravels how we are now safe, secure and even protected, not only from possible perverse inclinations but also from environmental hazards-in being "dressed or clothed".  Laws stand firm to rule and guide us, to maintain order and harmony necessary for growth and happiness.  They are knowledge of good to shun evil.  Knowledge of the law protects us from any lingering danger and its ill-effects in life. 

  God never could be contradicting nor His precepts too irreconcilable to a point of distress and death, through war or economic predation.  He means wellness and life for all.  And that’s what I advocate-shedding clarity for people to glean, acquire, and subscribe to His love, in His spirit, and in His truth. 

  The beginning of wisdom, was indeed by fear of the Lord when He inspired the book of creation with an imaginary being--an extreme opposite of His grace and splendor-should anyone disobey.  Adam and Eve’s depiction of disobedience was so immense when God expressed displeasure-and from then on, they had to suffer enormous wrathful consequences.  Consequences that were elaborately articulated in writing, putting Adam and Eve as mere subjects of extreme hate as opposed to the magnificent splendor of their beginnings and creation.  As much as disobedience to God is nerve-racking, so does in being far from Him.  More so, to be in the other tip of the scale favoring Satan.

  On the other hand, the grandeur and comfort in pleasing God by obeying Him, is as magnificent as being one with Him.  This extreme direction of good and evil is as clear as night and day.  And it was very, very, very well established from the beginning of time, literally speaking.

  The book of Genesis conveys hope and a lot of purposeful ideas for man to inculcate obedience and magnify authority.  It strikes sharp to the dissident, an agonizing feat of disturbance and discomfort, should evil ways are consummated.  As much as a thunder jolts and shocks, it was how God's voice was described to accompany the incident of God’s conversation with Adam and Eve.  An active guideline and consistencies with symbolical and eventful spiritual interventions, of the power of the Holy Spirit, to cling to the ways of God- The One who is, who was, and is to come. 

  This active inculcation to obey God has been carried on throughout the ages.  Interestingly also, we’ll be able to see how certain rulers and characters of the holy scriptures propagate decrees of holiness using the same principle of good versus evil or God versus Satan.