The battle between good and evil

[dtknowles]

I saw a post today that said Satan was winning.

In times like these it seems we see the best in people come out but we also see some evil.

Tim

[Hickory]

Evil will ultimately loose.
But, in the mean time....good people are doing nothing.

[dverna]

If we could defeat evil, Jesus would not need to return. We are unable or unwilling to defeat it. God did not design us to be perfectly "good". We can show goodness but we would victims in the world we live in...so we show goodness to those we love. The phonies show "goodness" to those they want to impress.

[square butte]

The way things appear in the natural are one thing - What is going on behind the scenes in a world that God made and God controls is another. I continue to believe in the supremacy of the Will of God - and will also continue to due the best i can to do what I think he wants me to do or not do.

[1hole]

The way things appear in the natural are one thing - What is going on behind the scenes in a world that God made and God controls is another. I continue to believe in the supremacy of the Will of God - and will also continue to due the best i can to do what I think he wants me to do or not do.

You got it. All any of us can do is do the best we can, we are not accountable for anyone else. And I refuse to "feel bad" because evil is still moving the world toward the Rapture.

The future is all in God's capable hands - as it's so clearly explained to us in his holy Word - and I can't stop it. Nor do I want to, his way is best! :)

[GhostHawk]

Evil may be winning now, but it shall not triumph in the end.

I think both sides have strategy's they think will work.

I'm putting my money and soul on the Lord winning.

Evil may be wining, may have the numbers. But I do not believe they can stand before the Lord come again in glory. I think they will break.

[sparkyv]

Evil/Satan is winning at this time because it's all in God's plan. When Jesus died on Golgotha, Satan's fate was sealed. God is in control, He wins!

[DCP]

Evil was defeated when Christ died on the cross 'He descended into Hell', the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil 'who has the power of death' (Hebrews 2:14).

[Gobeyond]

@dverna. Adam was perfect, @dcp. He conquered death through His resurrection. It is the beginning of sorrows that is why there is more evil in the world. Trials are to break us into seeing that God is sovereign and that we need a Savior. What happened to that thread about hell or being annihilated?

[adcoch1]

Evil is making a decisive impact on this battlefield(earth), but the war is already won. When Christ came off the cross the spiritual butt kicking started, and didn't take long. We are just living out the final death kicks of this broken evil sin nature infested reality. The Evil one is just trying to take as many with him as possible. We as humans just need to Do justly, love mercy, Walk humbly with our God.

[dtknowles]

Devils advocate thought. If evil wins a single soul has not evil won?

Tim

[Rizzo]

Devils advocate thought. If evil wins a single soul has not evil won?

Tim

In that case evil won that battle, but not the war.

[Rizzo]

Is evil winning over good?

Evil:
Evil, in a general sense, is the opposite or absence of good. It can be an extremely broad concept, although in everyday usage is often used more narrowly to talk about profound wickedness.
Wikipedia

How does one measure this?

I guess it would be one's own personal observation of what one sees going on in "their world".
Certainly the "news" is one input for information to gauge this but the "news" is so skewed that it projects a sense that no one is being accountable for their bad actions.
In that sense, evil would appear to be winning.

If one does not follow the "news" and his life revolves around going to church, church gatherings, etc. Then their input would probably be good by what they see, hear and discuss with like minded folks.

I do watch the "news" (local and national) and from my point of view, America (and the world) has generally fallen from having God as a focus in their lives. Things like greed, "me first you later", and disregard for others seem to be their focus.

Hmmm,...evil,....from a Theological view it would be Satan's efforts to entice us to do things that would be contrary to our progression towards God.
Like the thief that sees that another has $50.00 in possession and thinks "Hmmm, if I kill that guy, I can have that $50.00", with no regard for human life etc.

A lot of "evil" things going on in this world, but also a lot of good folks doing good things also.
I voted that I do not know the answer.

[Hick]

If you look back in history, you will see that almost every generation thinks the worst has arrived and the end is near. It's all perspective. Things are good.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I saw a post today that said Satan was winning.

In times like these it seems we see the best in people come out but we also see some evil.

Tim

What inning, do you suppose we are in?
I'd guess were are in the ninth...but as Hick stated, many other generations from long ago, also thought they were near the end.

Anyway, when I look at our society, I often think Satan is winning, so I can understand this post that you saw, as I could easily have posted that. But after a prayer to Jesus, I am quickly reminded there is no "real" winning for Satan.

[Leslie Sapp]

Whenever you get down and feel like the world is just headed to hell in a handbasket, read 1st Kings 19, especially the Lord's answer in verse 18 to Elijah's despair and belief he was the only righteous man left.

There's lot's of good, decent people in this old world, it's just that stories about them don't draw as many clicks and make as much money as "if it bleeds, it leads".

[Blackwater]

Questions like this come from our misunderstanding of what this world was originally INTENDED to be. It was never intended to be a place of peace and tranquility, where we get just about everything we want. It was intended from the beginning to be a place where we could and would be tested in many ways, and at many times. If we weren't tested, how could we prove whose side we're really on? God created a world of beings, and gave us a CHOICE whether to hear, worship and follow Him, or our own wishes and desires. Thus, we have an OPPORTUNITY to show Him which side we're really on, and how devout we are about this. So it's natural and to be expected that "evil" will have its way in our world at times, and in many ways. It's up to US how we handle that, and whether we add to or detract from evil's influence and presence in this world.

Sadly, I believe the reason the world is in the shape it's in today is largely, if not primarily, because professing Christians have abandoned their true role in the world around us. Many sit and expect God to reach down His mighty hand and make things like we want them to be. That's folly of the highest sort! God put us here to do these things OURSELVES! And we've largely fallen down on the job in doing that.

One believer sits alone, and asks, "But what can I, one man, do to stem the tide of evil around us???" The answer is for each and every one of us believers to ACT on the basis of what we know to be true and good and righteous, and TOGETHER we CAN stem the tide of evil in our world. But instead, we sit and gawk and say, "Somebody ought'a do something!" And we point all around us, never remembering that when we point a finger, there's three pointing right back at us.

No, there's no solution to evil in our world as long as believers sit and do nothing. Remember that old adage, "The way to allow evil to overcome good is to sit and do nothing?" Well, it's true, and Satan and political correctness has found ways to encourage us to sit and do nothing. Many preachers are so reluctant to speak the full truth, and perhaps anger some among their throng, that they only preach "milk," and never "meat", and thus, Christians keep getting "dumbed down" and less and less motivated or courageous enough to get off their butts and actually DO something.

And when evil is unrestrained by active Christians, he dances and prances for a while, until God intervenes, and we get Armageddon. And we're seeing it all play out like a Shakespearian play right before our eyes, right now. God be with us, and keep us strong and righteous. Without Him, and all he taught us, we'd all be totally and completely lost forever. But I went and read the last chapter of the book, and I know how everything ends up, in the climax. Rest assured, the world truly IS in God's hands, and always has been since He created it. If we get dismayed by the evil that surrounds us, it's only our "human nature" because we just want what we want, and we don't want things to go bad for us. But that's not how this world works. Life is a long string of problems and pleasures, strung out like a clothes line, and we have to have the problems and trials to get to the next pleasures.

And truly, if we never encountered trials and enigmas, how could we ever really grow in our knowledge of and realization of Christ? We are lazy at heart - every lovin' one of us! And you know where laziness ends up, eventually - in despair and lack of the things we need, even for our very existence!

Thank God when things are tough. We're in the midst of learning a lesson, IF we play our cards right. "Count it all joy," when we encounter trials, for it's God's way of teaching us (or at least trying to) the things we really need to know and understand and do. It's US who have fallen down on the job, and who are neglecting our bounden duty to our Lord, to counter and fight the good fight to overcome and vanquish evil from our world. God help us realize this, and DO what we know needs doing. Amen.

[OutHuntn84]

There is always more good than evil. All you have to do is go look for it. It wont be on the news, radio or online; because lets face it good news isn't nearly as entertaining. So get out there, be the good you want to see in the world and a guarantee you will be overwhelmed with what you see

[roadie]

Devils advocate thought. If evil wins a single soul has not evil won?

Tim


Seems to me that the same would apply to good.......would that mean there are no winners or losers?

Would having a devil's advocate thought be considered evil? If it brought one person to the light as a result, would it be considered good?

My own thinking is that it's always best to live your life as "good" as possible, avoid "evil" and try not to hurt anyone. Acknowledge the transgression if you do commit one and strive to correct it. I'm not in it for brownie points, and probably as tough a judge on myself as any other I may encounter when all is said and done......it'll be whatever it is.

Good and evil are concepts, entirely dependent upon someone's viewpoint. I've heard rumors that the only viewpoint that matters isn't on Earth.......not that I'm rumor mongering, just what I've heard.

[1hole]

"Winning" in this instance is a deadly serious personal matter, not a silly contest for all humanity. Personally, I love knowing I'm on the winning side.

[Hickory]

Devils advocate thought. If evil wins a single soul has not evil won?

Tim

If I kill one person in battle, do I win the war?

[Dapaki]

Satan is wining. This is his domain, he rules the earth. Revelation is pretty clear on the rise of evil and we MAY indeed be in the end times.

[fiberoptik]

May?? Is there any doubt???


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[roadie]

The end times have been coming for centuries, a century from now they'll still be coming. What we see today has been seen many times in the past.

If I'm wrong, I'll admit it.

[ioon44]

OK, when in the past have we seen what we are seeing now?

[roadie]

OK, when in the past have we seen what we are seeing now?

At one time, the Roman Empire was the greatest power on Earth, much like the US is today. It experienced all the things we see today, pandemics, riots, lots of wars. It apparently failed for the same reasons that the US is failing today. I may be wrong, but I think the prophesies about end times was just getting started around that time. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they had their own version of doom and gloom, mankind seems to need the fear factor.

As a young boy, I heard the same prophesies from the elderly people around me.....the end is here.....they heard those things when they were young, from people who heard the same when they were young and yet, here we are today. Now, granted, the ability of man to utterly and completely destroy the entire planet is in place and has been for some time, yet even the more radical countries seem to understand the results of hitting that button.

There have been riots since man organized in groups. Crooked politicians are the norm for that profession, always have been. Pandemics come around on a regular basis, the yearly flu affects millions in the US alone, not much new there. There have always been nasty things trying to kill us. Wars and rumors of war have been with us ever since man learned how to beat his neighbor with a stick......nothing is new, and sometimes these things occur at the same time. When they occur together such as now with crooked politicians supporting rioters in a pandemic, well, that's when the beating with sticks is needed......even politicians settle down if beaten with a stick.

[ioon44]

All that is still not what we are seeing now.

[Thundarstick]

All that is still not what we are seeing now.

Explain "what we'r seeing now"? I don't see anything happening now days that hasn't been going on since man was ejected from the garden.

[1hole]

Explain "what we'r seeing now"? I don't see anything happening now days that hasn't been going on since man was ejected from the garden.

Point by point, I believe you're right. BUT ... the difference today is the scale of social degeneration of "good" vs. "evil" that has drastically shifted away from good in one lifetime. My great-grandchildern will grow up in an immoral, ignorant and crude society that's vastly different from mine. World communications technology has finally reached the point that so-called "liberals/progressives" finally have enough influence over the world's people to implement Satan's plans.

As useful socialist idiots, modern idealistic progressive's planned social corruption by political power and PC thought control is rapidly moving the world towards social anarchy and then, eventually, despotic rule under the "one world" government of anti-Christ. Meaning this time IS much different from anything the world has yet experienced.

[Thundarstick]

Perhaps your rite, but God's in charge and don't discount his will!

[Shawlerbrook]

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Sir Edmund Burke

[1hole]

Perhaps your rite, but God's in charge and don't discount his will!

My rant was/is in recognition of what God has planned and told us about as opposed to those who say, in effect, "Behold, all things continue like always so this worsening mess doesn't mean anything to be concerned about." (2 Pet 3:4)

To those who can't/won't see the significance of the signs of these times (Mat 6:3) I say, "...even so, come quickly Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

[exile]

Revelation 20:1-3.

exile

[Idaho45guy]

I think the biggest difference between the Roman Empire and the United States is that the Roman Empire began as a group of pagans who used intelligence, technology, and sheer brutality to control the world.

The United States began as a group of Christians who used the concept of freedom, personal responsibility, and hard work to spread freedom and influence throughout the world.

Now the US has abandoned it's Christian roots and morals and is imploding directly because of it.

[1hole]

The United States began as a group of Christians who used the concept of freedom, personal responsibility, and hard work to spread freedom and influence throughout the world.

Now the US has abandoned it's Christian roots and morals and is imploding directly because of it.

Absolutely. BUT, while the country (government) has connived to distance us from the "faith of our fathers", all is not yet lost. God has - once again - sheltered a remnant for himself; this forum is proof of that! (1 King 19:18)

The Great Serpent is vastly more powerful than we but Satan isn't nearly as strong as our Messiah. As a group, Satan's forces have once again knocked others of God's people down but none of us have really been whipped as long as we struggle to stand back up and limp again into our assigned place on the bloody battlefield fields of spiritual warfare.

No matter what life-pains you have suffered, I pray all of you find yourselves blessed by Jesus in a true worship service tomorrow.

[roadie]

As far as end times having arrived, I think I'll wait and watch things. When I see the current craziness in the US happening worldwide, that'll be a signal that times are indeed getting somewhat dicey.

If I should see believers and patriots actually get off their butts and do something besides whining, moaning, and trusting in those they elected to fix things......well, when I see that, I'll be pretty sure that end times are indeed upon us......until that happens, it's really just another day in Paradise.

I'll admit to not knowing, but does the bible instruct believers to assume a passive position against evil? Are believers simply to believe, while watching the sword come down on their heads?

Are they to adopt a defensive position as opposed to an offensive position?.......seems like a good way to be surrounded real fast. It's all well and good to gird loins and beat some plowshares back into swords, but neither is of much use without the will.

[1hole]

....If I should see believers and patriots actually get off their butts and do something besides whining, moaning, and trusting in those they elected to fix things.....

I understand your well expressed feelings and absolutely agree with your frustrations about the current situations but I really don't know what specific and legal "something" you think Christians and patriots can or should be doing.

I don't know what we can legally do that matters except vote against Democrats; I've understood that and done it all of my adult life but I've often been out voted. So, I wonder, excepting your understandable frustrations, what are you now doing about changing the way things are and how might we help you accomplish something more productive????

IMHO, voting - rightly - seems to be the key. As I see it, rich RINOs dominate the GOP establishment (but, thank God, they don't own all of it) and they're just Democrats in disguise anyway. Truth is, establishment RINOs only help a different flock of America's wealthy sheeple but the alternative is to vote for Dems and their establishment (super-wealthy) parasites and I've never been able to make myself do that ...

[roadie]

Patriots and believers should be doing everything legal that they can. It's legal to peacefully protest, yet there are few to none occurring. It's legal to assemble and let leaders know that they're not doing the job they were elected to do. This doesn't happen.

This brings up another point. It's legal to do these things.....despite some governors rulings that it's not.....yet virtually all believers and patriots will obey that illegal ruling. It may have been noticed that the Left doesn't obey such rulings.

What happens when the rioters descend on their homes and the governors rule it illegal for the home owner to defend that home with firearms? Do they break the "law" and defend it, or do they exit their homes on their knees, while confessing to their privilege and sins against those rioters?

[abunaitoo]

Evil has the upper hand.
People are, by nature, selfish, greedy, power/attention hungry, vain.
It is so easy for Evil to grab hold you.
Evil will say, promise, even grant anything to coerce you to fall into their camp.
Looking at the way things are these days, how can we not see Evil is growing.
It's not that religion is failing, it's our moral compass that is way off.
In my opinion, morals have gone down the toilet in the past 10 years.
Many, many people attend church with the idea they are doing correct because they go to church.
So they have it in their minds everything they do is good.
All is forgiven every time they go to church and are granted forgiveness for their sins.
Then they can start all over again for a week.
Many churches these days don't help, by changing their morals, just to attract more people.
People are attracted to winners.
We all want to be on the winning side.
Sometimes the euphoria of thinking you are on the winning side, makes you forget right from wrong.
When this happens, Evil is taking over.
Yes, Evil is winning the battle.
It's to be seen if Evil will win the war.

[Idaho45guy]

There absolutely has to be a spiritual component to things going on these days. There is no other explanation.

Just today, I had a coworker who is a great guy, very smart, very conservative, but former Mormon and struggling spiritually, just announce on Facebook that he's no longer supporting President Trump due to the George Floyd thing. I have/had much respect for this guy who is former Special Forces and was contemplating becoming a law enforcement officer.

Now he's posting a bunch of BLM crap and woke content. He went from a respectable, conservative, intelligent person to a raving leftist loon literally overnight. It makes no sense.

Then another friend I've known for decades, a decorated state trooper, super nice guy, devout Christian, and pillar of the community announce that his wife of 31 years, a sweet, kind, smart Christian woman, is divorcing him.

You could not find a more stable, picture-perfect family and example of the ideal husband/wife team than these two. Then out of nowhere, she starts spewing crap about wanting to find herself and go on her own journey.

There is some pretty strong evil out there and it is infecting people's hearts and minds. It's absolutely terrifying.

[hoodat]

There are many of us who are coming to, or back to Gods army, and turning our will and our lives over to him. Times like these will make a man sit up and notice that there is indeed a war between good and evil. Our prayers and confession of our faith is indeed important and needed.

I've never been very active on this forum, but lately it is almost as if God led me here to bump elbows with kindred spirits. I'm thankful to find a site where folks are openly and enthusiastically sharing their faith.

God hears us, and when we stand with him, who can stand against us?? jd

[ioon44]

When believers stand in agreement and unity then we are a mighty force to defeat the evil attacking our land.

[Crow_Eater]

There can only be one Power in the universe. There can't be two; there is no war.
Our job is to get in tune with that Power, individually.
Didn't Jesus say, "Resist not evil?"