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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: False Messiahs (Jesus as a Tool of Satan)
Message-ID: <588@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Apr-84 10:04:27 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.588
Posted: Thu Apr 19 10:04:27 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Apr-84 01:27:38 EST
References: <391@houxa.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 34

> Consider the following scenario:

> Satan brings into the world yet one more "messiah," endows him with
> god-like power and influence, causes him to perform miracles, even to
> be killed and resurrected, all of which convince a following that he
> is indeed the prophesied messiah, even a deity.  All for the purpose of
> luring unwitting souls away from the true "God" as known by the people.

> This ploy has obviously achieved outstanding success, as attested to by
> the millions of this messiah's followers (Christians), even to this day.
> Why, Christians eat unclean meat, don't circumcise their males (at least
> not for religious reasons), and most don't even worship on Saturday.

> Satan must be laughing his ass off in anticipation of all those souls that
> think they are saved but have been tricked by his false prophets.
-----
Actually this all fits in with one line of Christian thought (not necessary
the "party line", but I have heard it employed a number of times).  It has
been said that during the millenium (or two?) following Jesus' death (until
the second coming), it is Satan who will have control of the realm of the
earth, sort of an attempt by god to let Satan have his chance (his day in the
sun??).  Though this line is often used to explain why there is so much evil
in the modern world ("It's *his* fault!"), it neatly fits in with the notion
that Tom Addison (houxa!tca) puts forth, in that the whole concept of
Satan in control, in conjunction with the prominence of Christianity in the
western world, somehow ties it all together... :-)?

Of course, it need not have been a "Satan" that did the deceiving.  There are
human beings who have done a pretty good job of it themselves.  And the notion
of a "Satan" could actually refer to actions like theirs.  But that's another
story...
-- 
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
				Rich Rosen    pyuxn!rlr