If you were Satan....

[Athetotheist]

I remember a TV preacher once asking his broadcast audience, "If you were Satan....." I don't remember the rest of the question, but I seem to remember that he was talking about prophecy and arguing that Satan was up to some diabolical mischief ("If you were Satan, isn't that what you would do?").

A lot of detail in Christian scripture about what is to happen before Jesus returns is tied to the activity of "Satan". The appearance of the "antichrist", in particular, is supposed to be part of Satan's last gambit before he goes down to utter defeat.

Since it was asked of me how I would react if I were Satan, I think it's fair for me to answer. I know that "Satan" is supposed to be a being of superhuman intelligence, but I can't help thinking that if such a being actually existed and if I were that being, I could do a lot better.

If I were "Satan", I would scrap the antichrist plan. If it's all laid out in the Bible, then everyone knows what to expect and you've lost the element of surprise. With that one simple deviation from the prophetic scenario, the whole thing would be gummed up. No antichrist, no mark of the beast, no abomination of desolation, no anything I was supposed to do as Satan to set the stage for the return of Jesus. And without those prophetic components in place, Jesus couldn't return to fulfill prophecy. And how could anyone stop me? I wouldn't be taking some action which could be prevented; I would be defeating prophecy by not taking action.

So let me pass the preacher's question on to you. If you were "Satan", what would you do----or not do----to thwart prophecy?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #290

I would know that "All prophecy must be fullfilled or all christianity is wrong." is a false dichotomy.
I would know that especially, because as Satan I would live in a biblical context.

Calling a logical conclusion a "false dichotomy" doesn't make it one.

I am sure that Satan is aware of more details of all kinds, and so his action or inactions would be according to his greater wisdom.

Aren't you the one who questioned "Satan's" intelligence? How would his greater wisdom not inform him that he could nullify prophecy by not carrying it out?

is "god" in your scenario supposed to be omnipotent, so that nothing Satan thinks or does escapes him?

How would knowing what 'Satan" was going to choose not to do force him to do it?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #289

So it has to matter to him what happens then.

It is not up to you to decide what doesnt matter.

What would happen instead of Christian prophecy being fulfilled wouldn't matter.

If I am wrong you have to be able to eyplain how your scenario helps Satan.

If "Satan's" part in prophecy weren't fulfilled, what could he be accused of doing? If he couldn't be accused, what could he be found guilty of? If he couldn't be found guilty, how could he be punished?

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #290

I would know that "All prophecy must be fullfilled or all christianity is wrong." is a false dichotomy.
I would know that especially, because as Satan I would live in a biblical context.

Calling a logical conclusion a "false dichotomy" doesn't make it one.

A false Dichotomy naturally tends to pose on a logical conclusion, as you are poving here.

I am sure that Satan is aware of more details of all kinds, and so his action or inactions would be according to his greater wisdom.

Aren't you the one who questioned "Satan's" intelligence? How would his greater wisdom not inform him that he could nullify prophecy by not carrying it out?

I questioned his Super Intelligence, whatever you meant by it.
And you do not have his greater wisdom, so how can you tell him how he has to act on it?

is "god" in your scenario supposed to be omnipotent, so that nothing Satan thinks or does escapes him?

How would knowing what 'Satan" was going to choose not to do force him to do it?

If he is all knowing, would he really make a prophecy without knowing that Satan would try to thwart it by not acting on it?

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #289

So it has to matter to him what happens then.

It is not up to you to decide what doesnt matter.

What would happen instead of Christian prophecy being fulfilled wouldn't matter.

Not to you now, but for all involved then it would matter!
Why do you debate this way? It is far from reasonable.

If I am wrong you have to be able to eyplain how your scenario helps Satan.

If "Satan's" part in prophecy weren't fulfilled, what could he be accused of doing? If he couldn't be accused, what could he be found guilty of? If he couldn't be found guilty, how could he be punished?

According to bible he is guilty of insurgence against "god", of talking Eve into eating fruit, of allegedly doing mischief since then . . .

[Avoice]

[Replying to POI in post #2]

If Jesus is like anyone he is like Satan.

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to POI in post #2]

If Jesus is like anyone he is like Satan.

According to mormon doctrine Jesus and Satan are Brothers.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #293

I questioned his Super Intelligence, whatever you meant by it.
And you do not have his greater wisdom, so how can you tell him how he has to act on it?

You keep talking about "Satan" as if you believe that he exists. I thought you didn't.

If he is all knowing, would he really make a prophecy without knowing that Satan would try to thwart it by not acting on it?

Would he really be all-knowing if the prophecy didn't come true?

According to bible he is guilty of insurgence against "god", of talking Eve into eating fruit, of allegedly doing mischief since then . . .

If the prophecies weren't fulfilled, how much else could be counted on to be accurate?

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #293

I questioned his Super Intelligence, whatever you meant by it.
And you do not have his greater wisdom, so how can you tell him how he has to act on it?

You keep talking about "Satan" as if you believe that he exists. I thought you didn't.

If you ask questions about how Satan would act in a certain Situation, given certain possibilitys of course everyone to answer that, of course answers it in a context where Satan & Co are real.

Is like on a Star Trek Convention you ask:" If Kirk and Spock were on a Secret Mission on Klingone Homeworld Kronos, ans Kirk would suddenly Murder Spock would then the Klingons put Kirk on a Klingon Trial for Murder?"
And then you cry: "Of course not, for Kli go s do not exist!"
Its not even funny, and no one would want to debate you this way!

If he is all knowing, would he really make a prophecy without knowing that Satan would try to thwart it by not acting on it?

Would he really be all-knowing if the prophecy didn't come true?

You tell me!

According to bible he is guilty of insurgence against "god", of talking Eve into eating fruit, of allegedly doing mischief since then . . .

If the prophecies weren't fulfilled, how much else could be counted on to be accurate?

You tell me!

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #297

Would he really be all-knowing if the prophecy didn't come true?

You tell me!

Why can't you tell me?

If the prophecies weren't fulfilled, how much else could be counted on to be accurate?

You tell me!

Same question.

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #297

Would he really be all-knowing if the prophecy didn't come true?

You tell me!

Why can't you tell me?

If the prophecies weren't fulfilled, how much else could be counted on to be accurate?

You tell me!

Same question.

Because it is your OP, your question, your very own biblical scenario. And here you only allow answers that you like. Everything I put up you resist to accept.
Therefore I conclude that you make your own biblical standards and contexts in this scenario of yours.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to The Nice Centurion in post #297

Would he really be all-knowing if the prophecy didn't come true?

You tell me!

Why can't you tell me?

If the prophecies weren't fulfilled, how much else could be counted on to be accurate?

You tell me!

Same question.

Because it is your OP, your question, your very own biblical scenario. And here you only allow answers that you like. Everything I put up you resist to accept.
Therefore I conclude that you make your own biblical standards and contexts in this scenario of yours.

I've been trying to keep a hypothetical scenario within a biblical context, without interference from Spiderman.