 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
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: Angels and humans and devils are not myth, but are real beings, made by God. God created both angels and humans with the gift of intellect and free will. The word "angel" is derived from the Greek word angelos, meaning messenger. This word is applied by the Bible and Tradition to all the spiritual non-corporeal beings, although not all spirits are messengers. Each angel is a distinct personality, endowed with a free-will and an intelligence, which far surpasses that of the most brilliant human beings. To human beings God allows multiple choices of free-will, all in preparation for each person's final choice of God or self. But God limited the freedom of the angels to one definitive choice, made by each angel before the creation of this world.After He had created the heavenly spirits, God the Father showed them His plan for the universe He was about to create, including human beings and the incarnation of His Son. Some of those spirits exercised their free-will in sinful pride, becoming jealous of human beings and of the honor that God intended to bestow on mankind by the Son of Godassuming human nature. They were offended that God would choose to identify with a nature lower than themselves. They chose to side with Lucifer, one of the highest angels, who considered himself equal to God, and who led a revolt in heaven. Refusing to acquiesce in God's plan, they were thrown out of heaven into hell. They became the devils.They hate intensely, are terribly unhappy and are jealous of human beings: because we still have an opportunity for eternal happiness. Since the Creator knows all things, past and present and future, it is probable that God created hell at the same time He created the heavens. So it was hot, and ready to receive those who choose to rebel against God. In the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter one, we read: "The Son of God is greater than the angels" and "all God's angels must worship Him. . .They are spirits who serve God and are sent by Him to help those who are to receive salvation." Throughout our life, each human being has the freedom to choose good or evil, to prefer the Creator to the creature, to choose between God or self. All these choices are in preparation for the one ultimate choice, on which will depend whether we spend eternity in heaven or in hell.The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" (para. 390-395) teaches that "satan was at first a good angel, made by God. The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God; but they became evil by their own doing." There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death. The power of satan is not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit; but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's kingdom! Although satan may act in this world out of hatred for God, and although his action may cause grave injuries of a spiritual nature and even indirectly of a physical nature to each human being and to society, such action is permitted by God's Providence, which continues to guide human history. It is a mystery that Divine Providence should permit diabolical activity; but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him" (Rom 8:28).
