Temple: What does the Garden of Eden symbolize/immitate?

[CV75]

3 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said:

In addition, God the Father and His Son must be confronted by a true opponent, not merely a symbolic one.  There must always be an opposition.  In all things.  In Job we see how formal and powerful an opposition it truly is.  Satan must have permission from God before he can display his full power.  But, whether Job is a drama in parable form or an actual account of a man's life, you will note how formal it is.  Satan has an important function, one we must benefit from, regardless of our distaste for the process.

I think their respective power is in the power we grant them. We can submit to God or to the devil and make that one the more powerful. While they are in opposition, they are not inherently of themselves of equal power; only we can grant them that, and that from a limited perspective because they are more intelligent than we (Abraham 3:18-19 for God, and D&C 76:25-26 for Lucifer). Our mortal perspective and knowledge may have some disadvantages, though faith is also an advantage.

It is interesting to me that the war was, and is, not between God and Satan, but between their followers, and as children of God, I think there will always be more that follow and sustain Him (to whatever degree) than those who will submit to someone without a body or glory, which is how he got cast out. Their approaches are different, and I think that might be why (God invites and shares while Satan beguiles, coerces and takes).

[Robert F. Smith]

3 hours ago, CV75 said:

I think their respective power is in the power we grant them. We can submit to God or to the devil and make that one the more powerful. While they are in opposition, they are not inherently of themselves of equal power; only we can grant them that, and that from a limited perspective because they are more intelligent than we (Abraham 3:18-19 for God, and D&C 76:25-26 for Lucifer). Our mortal perspective and knowledge may have some disadvantages, though faith is also an advantage.

It is interesting to me that the war was, and is, not between God and Satan, but between their followers, and as children of God, I think there will always be more that follow and sustain Him (to whatever degree) than those who will submit to someone without a body or glory, which is how he got cast out. Their approaches are different, and I think that might be why (God invites and shares while Satan beguiles, coerces and takes).

Satan cannot by himself coerce or take.  Only God the Father can permit him to do that, and then only for a specific purpose.  You need to look closely at Job.  Satan is the prosecutor.  Yahweh is the advocate and defender.  A trial scene, with witnesses giving their opinions.  Even his wife advises that he should curse God and die.

[MiserereNobis]

12 hours ago, CV75 said:

It is interesting to me that the war was, and is, not between God and Satan

This has always been the Catholic point-of-view. There is no war possible between God and Satan. God is, well God, and Satan is an angel. The war was between God and Michael, the archangel.

ETA: Oops! That was supposed to say between Satan and Michael  

Edited September 12, 2018 by MiserereNobis

[CV75]

7 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said:

Satan cannot by himself coerce or take.  Only God the Father can permit him to do that, and then only for a specific purpose.  You need to look closely at Job.  Satan is the prosecutor.  Yahweh is the advocate and defender.  A trial scene, with witnesses giving their opinions.  Even his wife advises that he should curse God and die.

Yes, but I was saying that his approach is to coerce and take, which is not following the rules. The more he does this as time goes on, the more he will be bound, and the less he is permitted to actually do, though his nature and his approach escalate (downward).

[CV75]

8 hours ago, MiserereNobis said:

This has always been the Catholic point-of-view. There is no war possible between God and Satan. God is, well God, and Satan is an angel. The war was between God and Michael, the archangel.

That is a great point of view!

[MiserereNobis]

37 minutes ago, CV75 said:

That is a great point of view!

Just to clarify my post, it was supposed to say between Satan and Michael.

[Robert F. Smith]

3 hours ago, CV75 said:

That is a great point of view!

Yes, but only with "ETA: Oops! That was supposed to say between Satan and Michael  "

[CV75]

2 hours ago, MiserereNobis said:

Just to clarify my post, it was supposed to say between Satan and Michael.

Oh... well that's different... I was envisioning  God, Michael and the rest of God's children that stood behind Christ vs. Satan and those who followed him.

12 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said:

Yes, but only with "ETA: Oops! That was supposed to say between Satan and Michael  "

Edited September 12, 2018 by CV75