 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2005-11-01 16:19:00
Hell and Satan: real or myth?
: Is it myth or is it real that satan was an angel? What happened? Did God create the hell of today for the devils at the time of their sin?
ANSWER: The Bible never gives a detailed explanation of the Devil, but there are many references to him by the names of Satan, Devil or Lucifer...Isaiah 14:12-15 speaks of his rebellion and fall: "Oh, Lucifer, Son of the Morning, you have been cast down to the earth. You said, 'I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will sit enthroned on the utmost heights, I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High'. But you are brought down to the depths of the pit."Rev. 12:7 also describes Satan's rebellion; "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back...and they lost their place in Heaven."Jesus spoke of Satan's fall in Luke 10:18: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven."Jude wrote of the angels who followed in Satan's rebellion. Jude 6: "And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority, but abandoned their own home...these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgement on the great Day."I think most scholars would say that Satan was an Archangel like Michael or Gabriel. Jesus referred to Hell as "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:41).The Devil is a main character in the Bible, from Adam and Eve to the Battle of Armageddon. He was the tempter of Eve, of Jesus and of every person on earth. Christians are told to "resist the Devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7) and that "greater is He that is in you (the Holy Spirit) than he that is in the world (the Devil)," (I John 4:4).When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, the Devil's fate was sealed. He had lost the ultimate battle. But for us to share in this victory, we must join Jesus. Each of us must acknowledge that Christ's death was for our personal sinfulness and throw ourselves on His mercy. We must receive Him as our Savior and as master of our life. He promises to give each one a new birth of power, joy and sensitivityto sin...a new lifestyle in fellowship with other believers. The devil will continue to be the tempter, but we will now have power over him.
