Where IS the devil?

  • Thread starter Thread starter catholic1seeks
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

catholic1seeks

Guest
When we speak of the devil, we usually speak of him as though he were everywhere or that he has the capability of being in being in many places. Of course, only God is omnipresent.

What is our understanding of the devil? Can he tempt me and you at the same time even though we’re so far away?

Obviously, all of creation is finite: I know angels are created, finite beings. Also, demons are fallen angels. Therefore, demons are finite. But whenever we talk about the Devil it seems as though we’re talking about someone who is always next to us. (We may not realize we think this, but we usually do.) But can he really be next to everyone? Another reason to think that demons are limited and finite and cannot be in more than one place is demonic possessions.

So I’m confused: we always hear “don’t the let the devil tempt you.” But wouldn’t be rare for the devil to tempt us if he is finite and limited to space?

Help me understand!
 
I think the 1st chapter of Job tells us he is wherever God permits him to be. But obviously, more than one person is tempted at a time!
 
In the details.

Idle hands.

Gossip.

When Satan was tempting Christ in the desert, or Mohammed in the cave Satan was not other places but his influence was.
 
She’s at work right now, but she’ll be home soon… Oh, you weren’t talking about my wife… sorry, my bad…
Yes she know’s I joke like this…
 
You ask as if there is a unique devil. There is only one The Devil, but the devil and his minions are legion. 1/3 of the angles fell. There is (at least one) guardian angle for each of us. So there is at least 1/3 of a devil for each of us.
 
Okay…anything else?

Also, is Satan one demon or is just another term for the collection of demons/fallen angels (like “the Devil” is used).
 
*Evan,

Read C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters.

Ishii *

Sorry Evan, I intended that for the OP.

Ishii
 
Evan said:
You ask as if there is a unique devil. There is only one The Devil, but the devil and his minions are legion. 1/3 of the angles fell. There is (at least one) guardian angle for each of us. So there is at least 1/3 of a devil for each of us.
Click to expand...
Interesting!

Is there a way to know the exact population of the angels based on the total population of the planet?
 
This is what I know about the Devil based on much studying of the Scriptures and the like.
  1. He is not in hell. He says himself in the Book of Job that he walks up and down throughout the world. St. Peter says that he “roams to and fro” like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. This tells us that he’s a busy person apparantly, moving from place to place, looking for the weak and weary to plague and tempt.
  2. He cannot be everywhere at once. Only God is omnipresent, the Devil cannot be. Thus it stands to reason that not every person is being tempted by the devil personally. So he must be tempting people via his servants, the fallen angels and demons. He can, however, move very quickly, probably at the speed of light if he has to, in order to get where he wants to be.
  3. He cannot know everything. Only God knows everything. The devil would then have to learn something in order to know it. He probably gathers information via his servants, sending them out to spy out our weaknesses and report back to him. He is, however, extreamly wise and intelligent, Ezekiel says that he was wiser than Daniel (the King of Tyr being a parallel to Satan in this passage I believe.).
Those three things I know about the enemy. I like to call him “Ol’ Slew-foot”, because he likes to trip Christians up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top