Ezekiel

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NASB	Ezekiel 28:12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	Ezekiel 28:12 "Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the king of Tyre and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "You had the full measure of perfection and the finishing touch [of completeness], Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

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Bible Question: I have been reading alot of interpretations on satan. And am begining to conclude that "satan" is being referred to in symbloic terms. Meaning advisary. In otherwards anytime satan is referred to in the bible they speak of any one that falls from God. But I have always been raised that satan is a real entity. A fallen angel of emmence power and intellect. He is not God but someone or thing that should not be fooled with. What is all this interrpretation of satan just being symbolic in nature. Does not that fall within something satan would want to do. Kind of like that fad some years when none believers were saying that God was dead. Please comment.

Bible Answer: My opinion is that there are enough clear mentions of Satan as a physical 'someone' that a strict reading of the bible won't allow the interpretation that Satan is just a general accuser or advisary.
We are told that he uses flaming arrows against us(Eph 6:16), that he asked God permission to tempt Job(Job 1:6-12), that he lead a revolt in heaven that lead to 1/3 of the angels being cast out of heaven(Rev 12:1-9(there is a more clear statement of this but I can't remember where it is)), etc. Also, if Satan is not real who was the advisary in the garden that lead to man's fall?
I'm not sure where the idea that Satan doesn't exist has come into the church. Perhaps it is from more liberal readings of the bible, or from attempts to please non-christians. For example people say stuff like Satan is christianities boogieman that is supposed to make you follow it's teaching, or that God is just waiting for us to mess up with a thunderbolt in hand.
I personally believe that Satan is real, but gets a lot of his power from our free choice not to do what God wants. God took a big risk giving mankind free will. He gave us the ability to chose to worship Him(which is really the only way He could have true worship) but also the ability to chose not to worship Him.
So way does evil exist? In a perfect universe where no one sinned and hell were empty they would be no need for God's grace in sending Christ to the cross on our behalf. Love, faith, and wisdom all demand that we act on them(James 2). In a strange way God needed an imperfect world so that His love and wisdom would be declared, and He would get the praise that He deserves.
God created the universe and said that it was good(Gen 1). He also created Satan, and still he said it was good!? Satan fullfills a useful role in the universe to test and accuse, and in so doing prove genuine our faith(1 Pet 1:6-7). With out cowardess, courage wouldn't be impressive, with out evil a good life would be unremarkable, and I put to you without Satan and hell, God and heaven wouldn't be the longing of people's hearts.

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Ezekiel

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