the foreign gods were not good to me

[anti_nietzsche]

Hello,

I know that in the past months I asked some odd questions about foreign gods and went to exploring them, but I regret that now. The hindu gods do not want to accept Jesus and I guess they are only angel beings who are dark and angry at believers who do not follow them. Jesus is so different and gave himself for us.

First was, two years ago, I had an experience of Zeus. He came to me at night and he had a beautiful face. Then i went to a catholic service two years later and asked God urgently if there were other gods. Suddenly I saw an image of a demon angel who held up an image of an angry old face that looked much like the formerly beautiful face that came to me at night. Guess God wanted to show me, the demons make up the other gods.

I also explored hinduism. They have some good music that is very powerful if you need energy. But the problem is the same, these "gods", which are really also angel beings, rebel against Jesus and His Father as well. I prayed to Shiva and Durga and they wanted sacrifices from me. I went to other hindus and most of them wanted nothing to hear about Jesus Christ. I was so disappointed.

So I am left with Jesus. Last night I went to youtube and listened to UR videos and lutheran church hymns and found back my peace and happiness. Jesus is much better than Zeus or Shiva. It's harsh that so many people on the world belong to such alien religions. They're not alien to them I know, so that's the problem. Gandhi recognized Jesus and one could talk with him about the Savior of the World. Jesus hates nobody but these guys ... I guess Father always knows and will have to soften their heart.

It was a necessary exploration. That is something I know. But now I need to return to Jesus even more. He is love and tenderness. He does not hate me and gave himself for me and for all of the world. Now it's our turn to reach back to him.

[marie glen]

 :thumbsup: oh yes! I believe "the story" / the truth.. the epic story is in Jesus.. the redeemer come.. not asking.. rich and powerful.. but as meek and teacher and healer.. though there may be threads of truth people have come across and woven into religion and ideas.. they are like idols., able to be filled up with false spirits.. false things inserted both by the disloyal spirits and by people who merely search for truth (perhaps, or seek power.. fame, etc, etc, being not in any way perfect).

I. E., though there may be peace and a certain amount of wisdom in quietude/meditation and "mindfulness", it is not of course complete by any means.. and all systems become  influenced and tainted by imperfect man.. Even Christianity, as we know.

But Truth! That's the pearl of incredible price. The truth being that the Heavenly Father/ creator LOVES. What greater or stronger image than Jesus on the cross, earthquake etc at His death, and then resurrection!? An image and truth powerful enough to ultimately pierce every psyche.

We could have all been created with the knowledge of truth and good and evil.. but love of him freely given? And sealed up within our heart? How to accomplish that? Perhaps by contrast.. life run fully by Him.. by LOVE.. contrasted to life not fully run by Him.. by LOVE.. imperfection, as opposed to perfection - HE is (surely?) life, the life force, AND surely! Perfection. So perfection... or imperfection? With all its abyss of possibility.. wherein is ever possible any imperfection..

But I wander I suppose.. The epic story.. the epic truth.. so very glorious!! He is life and love and the only source of all things good.. he is life.
:Peace2:

[DanielB]

When I still believed in ECT, I saw the appeal in some other religions or mythological idols especially those that made a good afterlife seem more achievable. Now they seem dark and depressing or even hideous. It seems that people can't imagine up a religion that can compete with the hopeful form of christianity or not to my mind anyway. To those ignorant of God and the truly good news, I can understand why they would believe in some other religions but knowing better, I see many of these other beliefs as dark and ugly. Like pantheism. That applies to people somehow but I could never convert to pantheism because I have learned about love and the kind of love christianity talks about isn't possible with pantheism. I find pantheism especially dark and depressing! Imagine if we were all god and all facets of the same person("god"). That would mean that apparently the only being that exists would be a lonely god that more often than not, does not even recognize himself or reflections of himself. A lonely ignorant god in a reality with no others and no possibility of real love. What a downer! lol And other religions seem to believe in tyrannical idols or idols that do not care about us like God cares about us even if they believe in their version of universal salvation.

[anti_nietzsche]

Well I think the first to remember is that other religions are made up of human people, and that should mean, there are good and bad things about them like with all human people. Many of them did not know Jesus in revelation. For example, the indians of north america had no chance to know Jesus in revelation until they got in touch with Europe in 1492 via Columbus at the earliest. And then they were mistreated for centuries while the europeans had no interest in them but only in their gold and their wares like tobacco, cotton, sugarcane and various spices.

So Jesus, in order to reach them, had to give them a longing for himself. And to that end, their religions worked. For example, the world soul they spoke about in hindu religion can easily have been Yahweh in past ages. But then they put things together wrongly. Like the Jews they had law, but not grace and truth and the resulting freedom.

Many wisdoms can be found in other religions, for example, muslims wrote excellent fairytale books like One Thousand and One Night or Conference of the birds, etc. But they miss out on Jesus.

For me Jesus is my religion now. But I try to be respectful to other people and we have muslim foreigners in Germany now and I tell them Allah loves them, because Alllah is their name for God and it works too. They need this being so far from home and having to work hard to get by.

Jesus main commandment is for us to love each other. That must extend to people of other religions too. If they don't return the love in the same way, do not be surprised, that means carrying the cross for us but there is honor in that and Jesus is by our side. We do not have to pick up these foreign religions and I do not want to consider this. But I am a human and they are humans and there is a human brotherhood especially among those who have suffered.

[DanielB]

I agree. I believe that truth is important and that christianity is true in a way the others are not and I am no pluralist, but that is no cause for divisiveness or pride(even if pride were not wrong). We are not more special than anyone else. We have simply stumbled across something better than others have found(but they will discover it too at some point). I am happy to see it when a person of another religion seems to understand(to the degree that w can) the power and goodness of God. That being said, other religion can be a stumbling block to people. A believer in a false religion may believe in God and have some awareness of the true God despite their religion while christians are flawed and misguided despite our religion. They believe in truths(about God) despite the lies(false religion) they have been taught and we believe in lies(about God, ourselves, and or goodness and evil) despite the truths we have been taught(by the Bible and by God).

I am perfectly comfortable with considering people of other religions or of "no" religion as spiritual brothers and sisters in every way that matters to me anyway. They were created by God and are loved and cared for like we are so how could we say they are not children of God and our brothers/sisters except maybe in some abstract legal sense that does not matter to me? Of course, the same logic/definition would include animals and even demons as children of God and our brothers/sisters but I have no problem with that and accept that.

[anti_nietzsche]

Yes, DanielB, that was refreshing. Baba always tells me to love the children. He makes no reservations so I am not making any either. And the more I do this, the closer I draw to God who is LOVE. We are not lacking much here, we will lack nothing in Heaven. Every human who has known suffering knows the need for love, and Apostle John says that those who love are of God. I don't like the hell warning thing that some chirstians consider love to mean. We have nothing to be afraid of in God's bright power we stand and walk into a better future. I had the vision of an angel once that in 2018 things will get better for the world and that even ISIS and the syrian civil war will be over. I have known some muslims in Germany who are also normal people with fears and problems. They also do not want war but instead want to live in peace with their family. Christianity must take care to be love to people too. The progress we have made in the last centuries must not be made undone. The foreign gods are wicked, but they are no real gods and cannot outdo Yahweh and Jesus and Ruach Ha Kodesh, the God who loves us the most and who is the only real God. If you fear loss of diversity, think of the saints and angels. Jesus loves us, that's what we can stick with. Love is the Law now!

[Patinak]

I copied this out of the Religious Quotes section on the Tent website, I think it pertains to this discussion:

"If we'd been born where they were born and taught what they were taught, we would believe what they believe."-- A sign inside a church in Northern Ireland, explaining the origin of intolerance and hate.

I think we can believe His word that 'every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is lord, to the glory of the father'.  He will eventually bring everyone around to the truth, each in their (His) own time.

[Ross]

" All will be saved, but each in his own turn" is literal.


In Genesis 6 there is the talk of sons of God mating with humans- causing heroes with power to be there.
The flood came to wipe them out.
But myths and legends would have grown from this.I.M.O this explains a lot of other religions.

Interesting how many of these other religions have their god born on Dec 25.
Some have many spirits associated, but have the water of life flowing in there somewhere.
All seem to see the need for sacrifice/dedication/personal efforts.
The Jews were distracted and worshipped Molech and other gods.
The heavens were created before the world; there are many angels and heavenly beings; so is plausible many religions are distracted and following the created instead of the creator.
Interesting there are 12 tribes of Israel; there are 12 Greek gods, 12 Roman gods- ergo many imitations.

[anti_nietzsche]

Yes I am sure the other gods are spirit beings, or angelic beings. But they don't have the free grace and love as Jesus and His Father have. They invented the law systems of religions. GK Chesterton once wrote, if you don't want to be governed by the 10 commandments, you will have to be governed by the 10.000 commandments. It's a simple life for us. Pray, love, hope, believe ... and keep close to God in Jesus Christ!

[Ross]

 :thumbsup:
Slavery to the law- freedom in Christ.

[marie glen]

Yes I am sure the other gods are spirit beings, or angelic beings. But they don't have the free grace and love as Jesus and His Father have. They invented the law systems of religions. GK Chesterton once wrote, if you don't want to be governed by the 10 commandments, you will have to be governed by the 10.000 commandments. It's a simple life for us. Pray, love, hope, believe ... and keep close to God in Jesus Christ!

Amen! :thumbsup:

Quote - "lack of diversity.."

I have the idea that some good things, not necessarily 'Christian' are pebbles of wisdom sprinkled in human non-knowledge and misunderstanding.. and that some may survive.. Like yoga..  if not married to the worship of other 'gods' is very beneficial!

And the quietness of meditation, the same, if not in loving other 'gods' - well what can be bad about quieting ones heart and mind.. "in order to 'hear' the voice of God" was how I heard it many (many) years ago.. I absolutely loved the writings of Yogananda (Paramahansa Yogananda) an eastern religion teacher come to the west.. what I read that is.. he mentioned Jesus, but perhaps more as what he called 'Christ consciousness'..

Not ideas we need, but a searching for truth.. and God.

And indeed! Yogananda's perception of the Father, I still find to be closer to reality than the ET perception!! Kinda sad.. but there ya go... Since the ET version is so out there.. :sigh:

And then those parts of the Native American beliefs.. some not so good, but then there wAs the perception of a "great spirit" or the "grandfather".. and their love of what God created, which I believe many Christians could have more of that!! (And less modern worldliness, more perception of the difference between man's creation/world and God's creation/world and universe).

The rest, I don't know that much about.. but I read recently in 1 Thess, I think it was, how the best life of a believer is one of love, simplicity and minding our own business. Yep, I think most of the time, if not all, love is sufficient.. and is the fruit our Father most desires to be in our heart/part of us, major part of our being.
:thumbsup: :smile:

[Dandelion]

There is only one, true God. There is only one light in the darkness.

To follow any other is to walk in the darkness.

D.

[marie glen]

Amen, D, as it is to follow none.. (so popular these days!)

And in His kingdom (ultimate reality He is creating) there will be only the One True God, and all will follow Him. Hallelujah! How awesome it will be!

I think people follow or flirt with others out of boredom.. the mistranslations in His Word make so many think His Word is boring! As if.. :laughing7:

I've heard folks actually say, also that heaven (which will come to Earth) will be boring.. we'll all be like clones.. but I think there will be more creativity, more excitement, more satisfaction, and plenty of diversity.. For example, after resurrection, Jesus ate and drank.. so I'm thinking more diversity of cuisine.. and will we no longer have homes? Somehow we've absorbed pagan (imo) ideas of a floaty immortality.. Now thAt to me sounds rather limited and boring. Whereas His Word says "the lion will eat straw like the ox and the bear will graze with the cow" (Is 11:7). And speaks of a new Earth wherein righteousness, and rightness!? is to dwell. :banana:

And even if other faiths seeking Him, and perhaps catching glimpses of Him somewhere in their system, we should totally discourage, for instance new (nonmature and rooted) believers from considering them at all. Yet I find myself thinking that in Jesus' millennial rule, maturity will be required, where we can see the slim threads of common ground with all others, as I can't believe any tapestry of belief is 100% error with no thread of truth whatsoever, as wouldn't it only unravel? :dunno: And able to separate thread from thread, we will be able to minister to all those of other faiths who survive into the millennium, and then to all those of the second resurrection/of all those millions not yet saved.

Diversity of homes.. clothing? Even when clothed in His light.. :laughing7: iow (in other words) more creativity, not less.. not held back and so very limited by imperfection and all of imperfection's possibilities..

Just thinking out loud, I love to ponder these things.. :gsmile: "the earth will be covered with knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the seas.."

[Ross]

We have indications of diversity.
In our fleshly family we may have siblings; similarities are there, but also differences; and all of one family.
Paul points out that the body has many parts, but one head; then tells each part not to count another part as obsolete/ unnecessary.
We are encouraged to value others more than selves.
We are all humans, yet there are many colours, sizes, shapes.
The earth we live on was created with so much variety of life both flora and fauna.
There was a flood and new stuff was created.
Man is now finding "new" creatures- ergo,  Who says that creation has stopped. I.M.O just had an initial break/rest, but has then kept creating, hence a literal new heavens and earth when the current blinders are literally rolled away.[Heb 1;11].
The new heaven and the new earth for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more; bit of a change [Rev 21.1]
And this is the first age and there are ages to come- how is that a wishy washy non-descript waste of time?-So many are indeed not aware of this, but that is because they are still n the flesh, and the flesh is opposite to the spirit.
This seems to be why Paul points out "each in their appointed time" This would be necessary so that all learn correctly.
Indeed mind  blowing, inspirational stuff. No wonder Paul says to think of the things to come more than of the present.
SO another indeed- literally ponder these things as much as possible. :dsunny:

[anti_nietzsche]

There is also biblical stuff about other gods. In Deuteronomy it says God appointed the other peoples of the world their gods. Because of scriptures like this I was thinking that other gods might be greater spirits that taught other people their things about religion, the importance of love, not doing crimes, faithfulness and the religious duties. And that's still present in all earnest religions of the world. I think Jesus is greater than these gods but it can be confusing. Nobody is as big as Yahweh and the other gods are not real gods like him and just spirits or angel beings. But maybe they are good beings. The bible does not record struggles between Israel and other religions except some mention of awful kinds of idolatry. But countries like India that has idols at every corner does not get prophetic warnings, maybe because they never did cruelty with idols. And in churches we have icons and statues and images of Jesus, angels and saints. These icons can be a kind of mini-bible and you learn from things visually, not by reading texts.

[eaglesway]

 Deuteronomy 6:13 "You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 14"You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, 15for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth."

I would like to see the verse you are interpreting as God having appointed the gods of the nations.

Is this the verse you are referring to?

Deut 32:8

"When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
            When He separated the sons of man,
            He set the boundaries of the peoples
            According to the number of the sons of Israel."

If so it is speaking of the division of Israel into 12 tribes according to the number of Jacob/Israel's sons.

[anti_nietzsche]

Hello,

I wanted to give you an update.

In the past few days I prayed again to foreign gods, because, as God today had told me, I had ticked out about the people in other religions and was afraid for their eternal life. Now that's clear to me again in Christ and I have no desire anymore to pray to foreign gods because our salvation hinges on Yahweh and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

But the way to this new clarity was odd. I had to realize that an evil angel had been harassing me. You see, doctors here in East Germany often do not believe in God and so my doctor was always only prescribing medicines without listening to my spiritual problems. Naturally we had an odd relationship and I doubted some of the medical approach to schizophrenia.

What really helped me at night was to listen to catholic prayer videos, for example this one: https://youtu.be/v6tqlDxfLgU

I realized the devil has an awful dilemma. He can either bet on dying completely and being annihilated, or he pleads to God and will become a small angel without any real powers again. He doesn't like both of these ways it could turn out, and neither do the evil angels.

Even the archangels and Mary and the Saints can help. God watches over them and guides their step and they exercise themselves in the love of God and doing things right. My Guardian Angel was with me today, I have two now. A young lady that helped me with music and a young man who has more experience than me and maybe even than the other angel.

The video can really help you if you need some spiritual help and feel like being attacked by the devil. Catholics are christian too and we can all enjoy Jesus Christ together. Now I got an input ... maybe when protestants and catholics finally become good friends again this could serve as a role model for when the religions come together in the future. We cannot pray to foreign gods as they do not exist, but the others are our brothers and sisters anyway and they did learn wisdoms of love and kindness, and that's what should matter the most, and it does to God.

[anti_nietzsche]

I wanted to add we can also combat the evil angels or satan with Jesus as our focus instead of Michael. It should maybe be easier that way for many who want to try to break free from attachments. But there have been odd teachings in prottie christianity about this, that always the afflicted person is to blame and that there is always witchcraft or occult attachments a reason for this. I guess the evil angels behave like evil people, they don't see the weakness and pain so well. But in the end they experience weakness and pain themselves and then they become sane and go back to God. The devil must just be defeated, I see this now, because he is at the root of our spiritual problems on the world. I guess foreign gods were once just fairytale figures and God played a bit with them and even saw a bit potential but the devil made chaos and when these "actors" in theater are seen as real gods we loose our reliance on the true God who then came to Israel to start something new in Christ.

[DanielB]

"But there have been odd teachings in prottie christianity about this, that always the afflicted person is to blame and that there is always witchcraft or occult attachments a reason for this."

I personally don't know anything for sure about demons or evil supernatural beings and I am skeptical of people claiming to be an authority on them. That being said, I have my theories and suspicions. I tend to assume they are involved in some particularly bad delusions and temptations(on the other hand, spiritual and psychological approaches are not necessarily incompatible and spiritual approaches can help psychologically and psychological approaches can help spiritually). People will often say things about how demons can not dwell in christians that have the Holy Spirit or Jesus or in them or something but I think that is really moot because why would they have to live in you to influence you? Just look at how much "power"(which I mean in the crudest and lowliest sense) that some humans hold over others through manipulation and evil things but they obviously are not living in other people. As I said, I don't know anything for sure about demons and this is an extra-biblical theory but I think that they influence people through lies, delusions, shame, despair, etc the same way a wicked human might rather than controlling their bodies or minds more directly.

Also, I am not so sure that the devil will be at the bottom of the "hierarchy"(if there will even be such a thing) in heaven. I am not sure he was such a great angel to begin with but I would not be surprised or offended or indignant at all if he is "greater" than me in the future. Why should he be treated as less than me once he is sanctified?(I don't know if I am understanding what "sanctified" means. It means being refined into how we are meant to be, right?) If we are both sanctified then one will not be due more honor than the other. The devil will never be greater than my future fully sanctified self but the person who was once known as the devil before his sanctification may be "greater". God does not seem to embrace or agree with human ideas about fairness/karma and greatness. God is extremely "unfair"/anti-karmic and apparently sets "unworthy" types "above" others. Just look at some of the old testament(even Genesis how often he turns things around and how offended people are) or even how much good the apostle Paul was privileged to do despite his extremely wicked past. If it does not offend me that Paul was made such an influential apostle, and it does not offend me that I am given so much good that I did not earn, why should it offend me if the devil will be higher in the hierarchy(again, IF there is even such a thing) or more honored(but not more loved or blessed). I am willing to forgive the devil for any trouble he has intended for me.

But consider this. What does it mean to be greatest in heaven? What will be their role in the world? Maybe there will be kings and queens who will be "the least" and people attending to them(what we would call servants) who will be "the greatest"! Maybe the greatest in heaven will be those responsible for cleaning and polishing the gold plated toilets and fluffing and whitening all the clouds. lol

[Ross]

Interesting points DanielB.
Christ, the creator, gave His life for all. Pretty much an indication of willingness to suffer for others, not demean them.
Jude also points out the chief angel Michael did not deride satan, so why do we?
Satan was created a liar from the beginning, so he is not a fallen angel, but I.M.O was created to do a job.
In Job he is only allowed to test Job as far as God permits.
Over all of this is God- currently the only immortal being. We will be like Him thanks to the completeness of the work of Christ. There is no failure in the work. Demons may distract, but cannot over-ride.

[anti_nietzsche]

The devil is awful. He visited me a few times and he is only into manipulation and intimitation. I think stripping him of his powers is what God will do to him eventually. I also think that Archangel Michael and the others are into stopping him and hindering him often. It cannot be different. God is good and hates such evil like the devil does. He's really not on God's paylist and is a liar and murderer. Thank Christ he can't kill anyone anymore, he tried it with me once and it was terrible but by Christ I got out of it. He needs to be punished, that much is sure, or God would not be just.

[marie glen]

Revelation 12 talks about war in heaven.. between the devil and his angels and the angel Michael and his angels..

It's my belief God engineered all things just as they have occurred, did full knowingly create evil, not so much that God created the adversary (Satan) as evil to do evil. But that rationality carries with it the ability to make choices. And that is two options, to me, it seems to be available. Create rational creatures or do not create rational creatures. Ever.

But God's law is in all things.. the law of Who He Is. He is love. Why is the law of love built into everything? Because, (imo :smile: ) he is life itself. What else would be the life force? chemicals.. mere air..? dust..? :dontknow:

Therefor all things not built upon Him.. can only crumble and fall, deteriorate.. law of sin and death. This being the lesson of good and evil (life and death).

But i usually only see two poles.. two extremes on this, A - satan chose to rebel thus tricked God and captures mankind :laugh: or B - God made satan evil and made evil and God does the evil :mshock:

I think it is C - God indeed did full knowingly make evil, by endowing thinking ability to angel and man. (And then! He never created the universe and man and woman until the first bound-to-occur rebel thought not only occurred, but had ripened and matured into outright sedition, trickery and "war in heaven" and on earth.. It's a subtle difference, but I think it's so awfully important.. A, I think is an old UR, CU understanding.. but i think we're outgrowing it and there's nothing wrong with that..

"God is Love" 1 Jn 4:8 ("He tempts no man" James 1:?) "God is light and in Him, is no darkness at all" 1 Jn 1:5
   :Peace2:

[DanielB]

"He needs to be punished, that much is sure, or God would not be just."

That depends on what is meant by "punished". I do not think God would consider it just to abandon anyone to sin, so he discaplines. But if it is unjust for God not to seek vengeance or not to live by lex talionis, then God is unjust.

Remember the unforgiving servant https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18:21-35


To be clear, I am not suggesting that the devil will be smugly walking around heaven taunting his victims and not repentant. I am suggesting that after God saves him, he will no longer be the devil and I think it would be wrong and hypocritical and cruel to hold it against him after he is changed but none of us will hold it against him because anyone who will refuse to forgive him will enter heaven after him and only after forgiving him. There will be no unforgiveness in heaven. Unforgiveness is an unpardonable sin.

If any do not forgive the devil for any wrongs he has done to them, they will not enter heaven. If any of the apostles or if Mary does not forgive Judas, they will not enter heaven. If any jew or other victim or anyone else does not forgive Adolf Hitler, they will not enter heaven. If any martyr refuses to forgive his persecutors, he will not enter heaven. If anyone refuses(for any reason) to forgive all offenses against them, he will not enter heaven regardless of whether he forgives everyone except one, whether he sincerely asks for forgiveness a hundred times a day, whether he saves millions of lives and converts a billion people or whether he does every other thing right. God will not overlook unforgiveness. No unforgiving person will enter heaven, until they repent and forgive(and everyone eventually will). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A14-15&version=NIV

It may seem harsh, but it is good news for those who knowingly or unknowingly suffer from their own unforgiveness(God has not accepted it and will never accept it, so it will not be that way forever).

[anti_nietzsche]

But the devil abuses those who forgive him. He starts to tempt people to sin then and plays God. If you didn't experience this you haven't been in touch with him. He IS awful, and I dont understand why God does not remove him from the scene. And the devil plays no role in how people go to Heaven, that goes through Christ's hands.

[Ross]

Paul makes a couple of interesting points about Satan, that I never had pointed out by any spiritual warrior working on their own understanding/experiences. For Paul to make this statement, and he made that statement at least twice on record, let alone how many times verbally, this removes all fear of Satan and actually makes a little insight into a God-given role which Satan is fulfilling as a part of the plan to teach us right from wrong, and that there is more to learn than just being obedient like slaves. After all because of Jesus we are to be considered literal children of our loving Father.

1 Cor 5;5 " To deliver such a one as this to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh- that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord."

1 Tim 1;20 " Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may be taught by discipline
                    not to be defaming."

I.M.O this seems to point out that Satan has a job to do- but he is not the supreme being in any way- because if he  was, why would Paul hand them over to Satan?