Satan

One of the topics that came up through our discussion last week was Satan.  How much power does he have in this world?  Why does God allow him to exist?  How could a loving God create a place like Hell?  These questions led me to do some research in this area.

Satan:  What are the powers he does and doesn't have?

I really like this article in the Apologetics Press:  http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/112.  In the section on Satan's powers, it says:  As powerful as he is, however, Satan is not omnipotent—a fact that even he recognized. During his temptation of Christ, he admitted that his earthly reign “hath been delivered unto me” (Luke 4:6). When the devil robbed Job of his family and earthly possessions, and even when he afflicted Job physically, he did so only with the expressed permission of God (Job 1:12; 2:6). When he sought to “sift” Christ’s apostles as wheat, he first had to “ask” for them (Luke 22:31). It is evident, therefore, that his powers do have limits.

In the same artcle, it lists powers that we know he possesses due to scripture:  Among Satan’s powers are these. He perverts the Word of God (Genesis 3:1-4). He instigates false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-3). He blinds men to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). He sows tares among God’s wheat (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43). He steals the Word of God from human hearts (Matthew 13:19). He lays snares for men (2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Timothy 3:7). He tempts (Matthew 4:1; Ephesians 6:11). He afflicts (Job 2:7; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38; 2 Corinthians 12:7). He deceives (Revelation 12:9; 20:8-10). He undermines the sanctity of the home (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). He prompts both saints and sinners to transgress the laws of God (1 Chronicles 21:1; Matthew 16:22-23; John 13:2; Acts 5:3). He hinders the work of God’s servants (1 Thessalonians 2:18). And he even makes accusations against God’s children before Heaven’s throne (Job 1:6-11; 2:3-6; 21:1-5; Zechariah 3:1-4; Revelation 12:9-10).



Hell

Ravi Zacharias' description of Hell:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw4YkpzEVg4

The concept of Hell seems very ambiguous to me.  Is it because it isn't described fully in the Bible or are we just unable to understand this concept.  It seems so unfair.  Yet, I know that God is just.  This article shares the scripture that we have to help us understand the concepts of eternity, heaven, and hell.  http://bible.org/article/what-bible-says-about-hell