Lucifer

The idea of this ultimate agent of evil as the Prince of Darkness was most likely introduced (or strongly influenced) by the Iranian (Persian) prophet Zoroaster, whose ideas would later influence Judeo-Christian beliefs[1] Although Zoroasters beliefs concentrated on the duality and struggle between ultimate good and ultimate evil, it was the Judaic adaptation of these beliefs which portrayed Satan as the inferior enemy of God (Zoroaster saw the enemy as also omnipotent). Satan plays various roles in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocrypha and the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, Satan is an angel that God uses to test man for various reasons usually dealing with his level of piety (e.g. the test in the Book of Job). In the Apocrypha and New Testament, Satan is portrayed as an evil, rebellious demon that is the enemy of God and mankind. However, in both Jewish and Christian theology Satan is not understood as a true equal to God (as he is perhaps so seen in Zoroastrianism, depending on whether one considers Ahura Mazda or Zurvan to be the proper parallel to the trinity)[citation needed] Since both religions are intentionally monotheistic, Satan is seen, rather, as a creature created by God--originally good, but now fallen of his own choosing. This prevents a true dualism in both religions. Good is the original status of all things made by God. Corruption comes later at the hand of created moral agents (consider Augustine's notion of privation here). Thus Satan is always under God's providential control and at times even his unwilling agent.In Christio-Islamic tradition, Satan is generally viewed as a preternatural that is the central embodiment of evil.[citation needed] Satan is also commonly known as the Devil[citation needed] (Latin Diábolus, Diaboli, from Greek Diábolos, meaning slanderer), the "Prince of Darkness," Beelzebub (direct translation is "Lord of the Flies"), Belial, Mephistopheles, and Lucifer ("lightbringer").In the Talmud and some works of Kabbalah, Satan is sometimes called Samael; however most Jewish literature is of the opinion that Samael is a separate angel.[citation needed] In the fields of angelology and demonology these different names sometimes refer to a number of different angels and demons, and there is significant disagreement as to whether any of these entities are actually evil.[citation needed]In Islam, Ibls (Arabic ), is the primary devil. He appears more often in the Qur'an as being the Shaitan: Iblis is mentioned 11 times, and Shaitan "al-Shaitaan" () 87 times. He is chief of the spirits of evil, and his personality is similar to that of the devil in Christianity. He suffered from pride and refused to bow down to Adam at Allah's command. He subsequently rebelled against Allah, and was therefore thrown out of Heaven, and was henceforth known as Shaitan ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------Biblical description of SatanThe following passage is taken by Christians to describe Satan, although in the Hebrew Bible it is said to be addressed to the King of Tyre[citation needed]:Ezekiel 28:1219 "...You were the perfection of wisdom and beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone red carnelian, chrysolite, white moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. Your great wealth filled you with violence, and you sinned. So I banished you from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire from within you, and it consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All who knew you are appalled at your fate. You have come to a terrible end, and you are no more."------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- -Satan is the adversary of God. Thus, Satan is evil personified. Many followers of the Bible consider Satan to be a real being, a spirit created by God. Satan and the other spirits who followed him rebelled against God. They were cast out from Heaven by their Creator. Theologians might speculate as to why the Almighty did not annihilate the "fallen angels," as He is said to have done to his other creations when they failed to be righteous (save Noah and his family, of course). Satan was allowed to set up his own kingdom in Hell and to send out devils to prowl the earth for converts. The demonic world seems to have been allowed to exist for one purpose only: to tempt humans to turn away from God. Why God would allow Satan to do this is explained in the Book of Job. When Job asks why God let Satan torment him the answer is blunt and final: Hath thou an arm like the Lord? The story of Job is interpreted in many different ways by theologians but my interpretation is that nobody knows why God lets Satan live and torment us. God is God and can do whatever He wants. Ours is not to question why, ours is but to do and die.----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------Tha t is what people think of me. But they olny way to truely know me, is to deny God. I guess you will find out about me soon. And just for the record, you dont go to hell for swearing. What a stupid rumor.