Hi everyone,
Godrulz: After the millennium, the victory will be ACHIEVED with Satan and evil cast in the lake of fire forever.
In between the cross and the consummation is a period of cosmic spiritual warfare with casualties. It does not mean Jesus has failed or the cross is ineffective.
The point was about
all evil works of the devil being
destroyed, though. Yes, he will be cast in the lake of fire, but can there be real harm for God's children? If so, Jesus will not destroy the works of the devil, though Jesus came to do that, and we must say he failed in this.
Godrulz: The fact that millions of Jews were killed is unmitigated evil.
Real harm can come to those who do not take refuge in God, and who do not know his Son.
Jesus did destroy the devil's work by making redemption possible.
A possibility does not destroy the devil's work, though.
It is unreasonable to say that my example of the dead baby is zero evil.
That is evil indeed, and for those who trust God, the warfare worldview indeed lacks consolation here, that is real tragedy.
Ecclesiastes 4:1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed--and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors--and they have no comforter.
Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."
But we have promises of overcoming completely even the worst evil:
Psalm 91:9-10 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
Proverbs 12:21 No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you
Luke 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
Godrulz: In eternity, the books will be settled, but not always now (see Psalms).
Lighthouse: God does not immediately turn everything around for good. And some effects of wrong are wrong. The good comes eventually, but not always immediately.
Yes, I agree, the good results for those who trust God are not all immediate.
Hebrews 11:35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
Godrulz: If God made the effects of evil of zero effect for believers (this is contrary to reality...we are not immune to some things in a fallen world), it would blur the distinction between good and evil. It would make evil not real, but an illusion (cf. Christian Science).
But how does overcoming evil deeds completely make evil not be real? We are indeed not immune to pain, but for those who trust and obey God, they cannot be harmed.
Psalm 121:5-8 The Lord watches over you-- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Blessings,
Lee