3

Who/What is the greatest adversary of mankind?

Is the evil thoughts in our minds, Satan himself, pride, something else?

Clarify Share Report Asked October 25 2014 Image Thomas K M Supporter

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

3
Picture004 john babirak Supporter
There's three: the world, satan, & the flesh. For me the FLESH is the greatest Enemy. I am my worst enemy.

October 26 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


3
Mini Billy P Eldred Supporter
I believe our greatest adversary is apathy. 

At least in America, it seems to me that we don't care enough to get involved. We don't care enough that people are turning away from God. We don't care enough that our government is turning away from God. We don't care enough that we don't call ourselves a Christian nation anymore. We see these things happening and what are we doing about them? 

We see people in need and we don't care enough to do something about it. We know those who need Jesus and yet we don't care enough to tell them about Him. 

I know that some do and I apologize to them but as a nation and probably as a world, we don't. 

Apathy! Satan's biggest tool.

October 27 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


1
05a00e36 4298 4314 84c7 d5f047bb0a9a Rotimi EWEDEMI Supporter Very keen Bible Researcher
That was a very good question. And, what is the answer from the Bible?

"And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him " (Revelation 12:9 ASV).

"Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world "(1 Peter 5:8 - 5:9 ASV).

From the above, Satan the Devil is our great adversary.

Death is also described as man's last enemy.

"For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death" (1 Corinthians 15:25 - 15:26 ASV). 

We are happy to note that God by means of Jesus will conquer those two greatest enemies of man and set obedient mankind free. 

Satan, who was symbolized by the Serpent, will have its head crushed by Jesus, the " seed of the woman, according to Genesis 3:15, quoted below:

"and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15 ASV)".

The above prophesy will be fulfilled as outlined below. First, the Devil will be imprisoned for 1000 years:

"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut [it], and sealed [it] over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time" (Revelation 20:1 - 20:3 ASV).

And finally Satan will be destroyed in the lake of fire and sulfur:

"And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison "(Revelation 20:7 ASV), and then,

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever". (Revelation 20:10 ASV)

"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire " (Revelation 20:14 ASV).

We may want to ask: what is the greatest way that the devil is acting as our adversary? 

It is by blinding us from understanding the glorious good news about the Christ::

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them " (2 Corinthians 4:3 - 4:4 ASV)

And who is the god of this world? The Bible answers: "And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine" (Luke 4:4 - 4:7 ASV)

"We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5:19 ASV). 

"Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out "(John 12:31 ESV).

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that" (John 14:30 - 14:31 ESV).

The evil one; the ruler of the world; the god of this world; the one who is our great adversary who blinds people's mind is the Devil. 

Thanks be to God for his wonderful loving kindness expressed towards mankind.

October 28 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


1
1340324413 Chris Eleam Supporter Chris Eleam
Enemies of God. Since that time Satan has been the chief enemy of God. (Mt 13:25, 39) He has exercised influence over mankind, and they have yielded to that influence, so that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1Jo 5:19) This world is therefore the enemy of God. (Jas 4:4) Yet God has been long-suffering with his enemies and merciful to those from among them who desired to serve him. He has provided a means of reconciliation for such ones through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Ro 5:10; Col 1:21, 22) He has constituted those who are in union with Christ “ambassadors” to a hostile world, with the ministry of reconciliation.—2Co 5:18-21.

On the other hand, there are many who become God’s hard-set enemies, including Satan and the wicked demons, who gather the nations in opposition to God (Re 16:13-16); the apostate “man of lawlessness,” who sets himself in opposition to God (2Th 2:3, 4); “Babylon the Great,” whose “sins have massed together clear up to heaven” (Re 17:5; 18:5); “the wild beast” out of the sea, which gets its power and authority from Satan the dragon (Re 13:1, 2, 6); the two-horned “wild beast,” which promotes worship of that sea “beast” (Re 13:11, 12); the “scarlet-colored wild beast” that is “full of blasphemous names” (Re 17:3); and those who persist in supporting them (Re 19:17-21). These God will destroy.—De 32:41; Isa 59:18; Re 20:10.

Enemies of Christ. The enemies of God are also the enemies of Christ. (Joh 8:42-47; Mt 10:40) When on earth Jesus Christ suffered much at the hands of the enemies of God. Nevertheless, he did not repay them in kind; he did not seek to work injury to them. (1Pe 2:21-23) He even healed one man in the crowd that came out with clubs and swords to seize him.—Lu 22:49-51; Joh 18:10, 11.

However, after his resurrection he “sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Heb 10:12, 13; Lu 20:41-43) This prophecy was recorded at Psalm 110, stating Jehovah’s command to his Son: “Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.” (Ps 110:2) These enemies of Jehovah and of his “anointed one” are shown to be composed of “nations,” “national groups,” “kings of the earth,” and “high officials.” (Ps 2:1-9) At Revelation 19:11-21 the one called “Faithful and True,” “The Word of God,” and “King of kings and Lord of lords” is described as leading the armies of heaven against his enemies. His enemies are here described as “the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies,” and the “false prophet,” all of whom Christ annihilates.

Enemies of Mankind. Those who are enemies of God are at the same time enemies of mankind because they fight against man’s reconciliation with God and God’s purposes toward the human family. They oppose the proclamation of the truth and are therefore against the interests of all men, just as were those who persecuted the early Christians.—1Th 2:15.

Additionally, because of the entry of sin into the world through Adam, death spread to all men, and it has been, as the Bible calls it, mankind’s “enemy.” (1Co 15:26; Ro 5:12) Death cannot be overcome by man’s efforts. (Ps 89:48) Only Jehovah God through Jesus Christ will do away with this enemy of man.—1Co 15:24-26; Isa 25:8.

November 03 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


Add your Answer

All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.

What makes a good answer? ▼

A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.

  1. Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
  2. Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
  3. Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
  4. Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
  5. For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible
Header
  1. 4000 characters remaining