Well sure. This would all be a very valid arguemnt if the only book in the Bible was revelation. However it is not. The Bible makes a much bigger cause out of spreading the word of God and opposing evil.
And of course it’s a double bind, you might want the Kingdom of God ASAP, but if you help to bring about Armageadon (either by going along with the antichrists or by not opposing them when you had a chance) do you seriously think you’re going to be on the winning side?
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Destroy? have you been watching too many “omen” movies and such? has some group actually killed someone who they thought was the antichrist?
Now, if is was me, I would have to 'destroy" the Pepsi girl, but…
I suppose it’s a catch-22 (as many things in religion are).
Another thing to consider (taken to ludicrous extremes): If everything is God’s Will, even Satan does his bidding. Therefore, those who worship and support Satan are acting in accordance with God’s wishes.
Bluepony, that’s funny!
Which brings up the question, “Does Satan have free will?”
No, but he does have the director of “Free Willy.”
“Free Willy” would also make a good title for a pornographic movie.
I’m not sure, but I think it’s already been done.
I know they’ll spoof ANY movie/TV show name for pornos. My personal favourites are “Sex Trek, the Next Penetration” and “Edward Penishands”–real movies, I swear!
So if I were to see Free Willy in the naughty section of a video store, I won’t be surprised. But I WILL switch it’s box’s contents with the other one.
–“Free Willy” would also make a good title for a pornographic movie.
ACtually… when they were handing out movie paraphenalia at a convention I was at, I was handed one of these “Free Willy” pins.
I think it only took about two drinks and thirty seconds to find an approprite place to pin it… and leave it there for the weekend.
…I got a few phone numbers…
Grrrrraaaauuuughh!
It happened again! Do you people have nothing better to do than hijack this thread? Why not go pick on jally or somethin.
What about tracer’s question? What is the teaching on that? I was under the opinion that the official line on angels is that they were made with no free will. So Lucifer was just operating according to plan when he became jealous?
If he does have free will, could some very slivertongued preacher convert him?
jb
Exellent question. The angels are supposed to be servants of God, but as Lucifer puts it: “Better to rule in Hell than serve in heaven.” But, now if hell is a requirement of justice, such that those who disobey God’s will in life are duly punished, then having a hell is a requirement once there is a man, having free will, who dies out of God’s favor. But, Hell is a place of separation from God, so someone has to run things down there. So, I would say Lucifer does not have free will, he is eternally separated from God and is not free to reconcile with him (although he thinks he is free, it is an inherent character flaw).
So, what this all comes down to is God may have made Lucifer flawed on purpose, knowing he would betray him such that God could make Hell which would be a required realm for a God who disires justice and yet wishes to imbue man with free will.
Or, we owe our existence to Lucifer being flawed as he is, otherwise we could not have free will under the auspices of a loving God. So All Hail Lucifer!
Er, Oops. Scratch that. But anyway, Lucifer falls into line with that playful God idea to begin with. While he was making perfect angels to serve him, he probably wondered what would happen if he made an angel who only served himself. Not exactly a free being, but not bad for a working prototype.
aaaaahhh, I see. So Lucifer could be an angel with no free will, who (instead of being directed towards god-worship like other angels) is directed towrads himself? Wow, I never ever thought of that.
If that’s true, what would that say of God? And would Lucifer be tormented in hell, or would this be exactly what he wants (being inherently separated from god and all)?