What is Satan and how does he influence my life?

[mee]

I also notice that the Bible actually says that the Holy City is going to come down from Heaven to Earth, oquote]




yes as revelation 21 ;3-4 informs us the tent of God will be with mankind .

the new rulership and the new earthly society of people are what it is all about, gone will be that sea of mankind that is tossing and turning and bringing up the mire .
yes the tent of God will prove to be over mankind, and the former things will have passed away.
there will be no ungodly men around



But by the same word the heavens (rulerships of men)and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the UNGODLY men.2 PETER 3;7


Not litral fire of cause ,but just as litral fire destroys for good ,so the rulerships of men will be destroyed for good and any who are ungodly

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”


and it will be VERY GOOD

 

[mee]

The question is, as you remain resolutely sure of yourself with no possible doubt that you or any other JW might not have it all figured out, quote]



thats the way to do it I did mention that i was an old barnicle stuck like cement to Jehovahs channel matthew 24;45-47 and while i am stuck on that rock there is lots of waves going on around me , but like a barnicle it is real good cement that i am using .


and that rock is full of other barnicles around me and they are also using good cement . only the best will do for MEE

 

[Marsh]

The question is, as you remain resolutely sure of yourself with no possible doubt that you or any other JW might not have it all figured out, quote]



thats the way to do it I did mention that i was an old barnicle stuck like cement to Jehovahs channel matthew 24;45-47 and while i am stuck on that rock there is lots of waves going on around me , but like a barnicle it is real good cement that i am using .


and that rock is full of other barnicles around me and they are also using good cement . only the best will do for MEE

You're assuming, Mee. You have no idea how strong your cement is, because you've never tested it. You just assume that it's strong.

Nebuchadnezzer thought that everything was perfect, just before it all came crashing down...

 

[Quahom1]

The question is, as you remain resolutely sure of yourself with no possible doubt that you or any other JW might not have it all figured out, quote]



thats the way to do it I did mention that i was an old barnicle stuck like cement to Jehovahs channel matthew 24;45-47 and while i am stuck on that rock there is lots of waves going on around me , but like a barnicle it is real good cement that i am using .


and that rock is full of other barnicles around me and they are also using good cement . only the best will do for MEE

What do JWs do to help those that are less fortunate than we?

What charities, or food banks, or medical teams, or a missionary concept is established to assist the less fortunate or mankind?


And what have you done for your fellow man lately? Preach the good news?

man listens better on a full stomach...

 

[mee]

You're assuming, Mee. You have no idea how strong your cement is, because you've never tested it. You just assume that it's strong.

Nebuchadnezzer thought that everything was perfect, just before it all came crashing down...

very true Nebuchadnezzer thought that he was the greatest and he trusted in his own power , but he was made to know that JEHOVAH is the TRUE GOD , even if he didnt become a worshiper of JEHOVAH he certainly knew just who the true God was , because
EVERYTHING CAME TRUE . Nebuchadnezzer became just like the beasts of the field ,as foretold . trusting in the true God JEHOVAH is the best cement out there, and following his channel is the best way to go.

 

[mee]

And what have you done for your fellow man lately? Preach the good news?

man listens better on a full stomach...

we listen to Jesus matthew 28;19-20 we do not lose our focus
luke 9;35

 

[mee]

What is Satan and how does he influence my life?



Satan is the true Gods adversary, and he is also in great opposition to those who are inline with the True God .


yes there is great opposition to the true God and those who are doing the will of God

 

[Marsh]

very true Nebuchadnezzer thought that he was the greatest and he trusted in his own power , but he was made to know that JEHOVAH is the TRUE GOD , even if he didnt become a worshiper of JEHOVAH he certainly knew just who the true God was , because
EVERYTHING CAME TRUE . Nebuchadnezzer became just like the beasts of the field ,as foretold . trusting in the true God JEHOVAH is the best cement out there, and following his channel is the best way to go.

Nebuchadnezzer thought that he had it all figured out. Sound familiar?

 

[mee]

Nebuchadnezzer thought that he had it all figured out. Sound familiar?

Jehovah restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity at the end of seven times.

Then acknowledging the Most High God,(JEHOVAH) the king said: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation.

And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’” (Daniel 4:34, 35)

Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did come to realize that the Most High (JEHOVAH)is indeed the Sovereign Ruler in the kingdom of mankind.

 

[Marsh]

Jehovah restored Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity at the end of seven times.

Then acknowledging the Most High God,(JEHOVAH) the king said: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up to the heavens my eyes, and my own understanding began to return to me; and I blessed the Most High himself, and the One living to time indefinite I praised and glorified, because his rulership is a rulership to time indefinite and his kingdom is for generation after generation.

And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’” (Daniel 4:34, 35)

Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did come to realize that the Most High (JEHOVAH)is indeed the Sovereign Ruler in the kingdom of mankind.

No one except for Jehovah's Witnesses, because they have God all figured out, yeah? And though the inhabitants of the earth are considered merely nothing, the rest of us are more nothing because we're not going to be among the ruling class in the kingdom of God, right?

 

[mee]

No one except for Jehovah's Witnesses, because they have God all figured out, yeah? quote]

Jehovahs witnesses certainly know who the true God is psalm 83;18

That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth. ​

psalm 83;18​

and they just love promoting him , thats why they are his witnesses ISAIAH 43;10-11

 

[mee]

the rest of us are more nothing because we're not going to be among the ruling class in the kingdom of God, right?

what is so great ,is that even though i am NOTgoing to heaven , and i am NOT going to be a king or priest in the heavenly kingdom ,i still have a GREAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

my hope is to live on a paradise earth with A great crowd of other sheep , REVELATION 7;9-10 yes it will be good to survive the GREAT TRIBULATION REVELATION 7;14


and the even better thing about it all is that ANYONE can have that wonderful hope IF THEY WANT IT.



its great isnt it?

 

[17th Angel]

I think some count the chickens before they've hatched...... "ruling class" *titters*

 

[mee]

I think some count the chickens before they've hatched...... "ruling class" *titters*

hope is a good thing to have , along with faith , and of cause LOVE


Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. HEBREWS 11;1

 

[17th Angel]

Hope or conceit(Vainglorious)?

 

[mee]

Hope or conceit(Vainglorious)?

which brings Tyre to mind,
Tyre was an ancient city (Isa 23:1, 7),

Tyre grew to be very great at the expense of other peoples, including Israel.

She was a manufacturer of metal objects, glassware, and purple dyes and was a trading center for the overland caravans as well as a great import-export depot.

Along with this industrial and commercial growth came riches, conceit, and pride.

Her merchants and tradesmen boasted of being princes and honorable ones of the earth. (Isa 23:8)


Tyre in time also developed an attitude of opposition to Jehovah and conspired with neighboring nations against God’s people. (Ps 83:2-8)

So it was her bold defiance of Jehovah that eventually brought upon the city adverse judgment, downfall, and destruction.

its not a good thing to be in opposition to JEHOVAH ,

IT LEADS TO DOWNFALL

 

[Bruce Michael]

I'm going to be honest here. I am a Buddhist and a non-theist (if that's even a word). I make plenty of mistakes every day. I often choose to follow a course of action that is not wholesome. I am prone to selfishness, laziness and arrogance. All of these things I see as my shortcomings, my "faults", my responsibility to fix.

But lately, I've been reading (skimming) a lot of posts about Satan, and I wonder how would you describe his influence on your life and the lives of others?

What impact does Satan really have?

Hello,
Take a look at my previous post and you'll realize Lucifer has his place in Buddhism- along with other demons.
http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mara-and-buddha-7532.html

Consider the meaning of "nightmare" and its relationship to the story of the Buddha.


-Br. Bruce

 

[citizenzen]

Hello,
Take a look at my previous post and you'll realize Lucifer has his place in Buddhism- along with other demons.
http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mara-and-buddha-7532.html

Then why didn't Buddha talk about Satan and demons in the Four Noble Truths or include them in the Eight-Fold Path [to enlightenment]?

I would bet that any mention of demons in Buddhism are cultural artifacts and not part of the teaching itself.

In the 2600 years after the Buddhas existence it's not hard to believe that his teaching has been sullied by cultural influences. It is a wise person who is able to separate that out from the true teaching.

 

[Bruce Michael]

Then why didn't Buddha talk about Satan and demons in the Four Noble Truths or include them in the Eight-Fold Path [to enlightenment]?

I would bet that any mention of demons in Buddhism are cultural artifacts and not part of the teaching itself.

In the 2600 years after the Buddhas existence it's not hard to believe that his teaching has been sullied by cultural influences. It is a wise person who is able to separate that out from the true teaching.

Since you like Wikipedia, here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon)
And yes, the teaching was there in early Buddhism.


Little demons in Tibetan Buddhism, are known as Tulpas.
Tulpa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History of Mara:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/evil/hod/hod10.htm
This Universe is not short of beings- in fact "All is Being".

 

[citizenzen]

Since you like Wikipedia, here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon)
And yes, the teaching was there in early Buddhism.

Does early Buddhism mean from the Buddha's lips? I will be happy to research what the Buddha taught to see if I can find reference to demons.

If it isn't from his lips than it is a cultural influence and one that doesn't interest me. I'm trying to separate true teaching from what occurs after the death of the prophet. It is inevitable that after the prophet passes his word gets diluted and altered to appeal to the culture that practices it.

I think it's important to understand this distinction.

But I will search. Feel free to post anything you run across.