@joefromchicago,
Quote:But why would Satan do any of that if he knows how it all ends?
Because Satan is that much of an asshole!!
Quote: After all, Satan can read the bible (Matthew 4:6), and if Revelation is an accurate description of how everything is going to end, why would Satan willingly play that role?
Because right now, he is allowed too...And thinks he can't lose...How else would a Creature apposing God, Who is cunning and clever, with evilness gonna think??
Quote:Wouldn't he rather play out the scenario where he doesn't end up in a lake of fire?
Yes, If he was truly smart enough to stand down as opposition against God...and let every soul he tortures out of his pits he would...Since the Devil I have seen, Is way to wicked indeed to think like we do...And his intelligence is clearly cunning, deceptive ways...He does not think like us...Hence why humans were above, him...and why God threw him out for rebellion...The very act of how God describes himself telling Satan to bow, before us...Shows that God clearly knew how it was gonna end before it began...Based on Satan's beliefs....Same thing with Judas...It was gonna happen, but it did not have to be Judas, he had a choice, and If Judas was righteous enough, he would have rejected, and another would have taken his spot to betray Jesus...Same thing with the devil...If the devil stood down...then the earth would go on, with another angel apposing God, to be the actual devil...
Since he isn't smart enough to realize how dumb he truly is by his actions, he will end up in the lake of fire...
Quote:The only way this makes sense is if Satan's actions are predestined, so that he can't choose any other option but the one outlined in Revelation. But if he is predestined, then he must be predestined by god. And if god has predestined Satan's actions, then it can't really be said that Satan is evil, since he has no control over his actions. Instead, if anyone is evil in this scenario, it's god, since he's the guy who is pulling the strings and making Satan do all those horrible things. In which case, Satan isn't to be despised so much as pitied, as he is just a pawn in god's game. The inescapable conclusion to be drawn from this, therefore, is that god is a dick.
No, you are trying to read into it way too much...No one actions are predestined...It may all be a test in the end, and not a soul is lost ever...God does not predestine peoples actions...He is not pulling the strings for Satan, and others, he is allowing us to live as we wish freely...and Us reaping what we sow in the end for it...Same thing with Satan, only he thinks he can beat God...and thinks he can't cheat, escaping Hell...Much in ways that you portray above...
Do not feel bad, and sympathy for the Devil...You have no idea, how cynical he truly is...He would use what you just said, to kinda defend him...and throw you to the pits, if it meant 10 minutes less pain he will have to endure...
It is not going to pan out good for the Devil...One way or another...
I would never pity the Devil...Like I said, Seems he is utterly incapable of expressing any kind of righteousness...Whatsoever...
God is not to blame...The devil is to blame for being so cunning and beautiful...and thinking he could defeat God, and have things his way...and deceive humans for the pride of deception...and think by him doing that, he wasn't and isn't less than a human being...When God nailed it, right from the start...His well calculated plans (the devil) were so cunning, evasive..and utterly wicked...there was no other option, than that chosen by the Devil at the time of his departure...Till now....Only thing is, God held back his total rage, fury, and wrath...till the end...So that he again out-thinks the Devil...