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Response
In the early hours of October 16, 1946, ten condemned Nazi war criminals were hanged for crimes against humanity. None showed even a hint of remorse. No final regret or last-minute apology was spoken from the gallows. On the contrary, Julius Streicher, whose relentless and inflammatory attacks against Jews incited mob violence and anti-Semitic persecution, shouted “Heil Hitler” as he climbed the steps to the platform where the hangman solemnly stood (Manchester Guardian, 10/17/1946). These ten were rebels until the end.
The more elevated the being, the greater its capacity for wickedness. A lunatic is more frightening than a rabid dog, and a fallen angel is more fearsome than a wicked man. While Hitler and his unrepentant followers were responsible for dragging the world into a bloody, six-year war, Satan and his legion of demons have been launching a full-scale assault against God and His people, as well as all of creation since humanity’s fall. All instances of suffering can be attributed to Satan. His influence can be detected in every graveyard, prison, abortion clinic, crime scene, drug cartel, pornography studio, and wherever human depravity exists. He exerts significant sway in every nation’s capital. He occupies a position in numerous corporate boardrooms. He acts as a ruler in most of the world’s colleges and universities. He is familiar with a film set, a newspaper editorial board, a back-alley drug transaction, and, unfortunately, an increasing number of church pulpits. Satan is unrelenting, and Scripture teaches that he will battle until the end.
Why doesn’t God pardon Satan? Satan does not seek God’s forgiveness. He has no interest in divine mercy. Satan’s sole aim is conquest; his primary aspiration is to govern all of creation (Isaiah 14:12-14). His tactics and schemes are numerous:
• He is the instigator of temptation(Genesis 3:1-5)
• He is the originator of sinful deeds «He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.», (1 John 3:8)
• He is a deceitful murderer «Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.», (John 8:44)
• He encourages avarice and ill-gotten gains «But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?», (Acts 5:3)
• He falsely accuses God’s people (Job 1;Zechariah 3:1-2)
• He is a fierce, well-equipped adversary (Ephesians 6:11-16)
• He can infiltrate and control the unsaved (Luke 22:1-6)
• He oppresses the believers «Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.», (Revelation 2:10)
• He can perform miraculous signs and wonders «even him, whose coming is after the woWorking of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”, (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
