We need to come up with some better words for describing specific prejudices

[Kidlicious]

You showed me a verse that a serpent in a completely different book was Satan - there's a traditional but not a biblical link between the two serpents. There are several people named John in the bible, are they all the same person?

It says, "the Serpent of Old." That can only mean one serpent.

[giblets]

You showed me a verse that a serpent in a completely different book was Satan - there's a traditional but not a biblical link between the two serpents. There are several people named John in the bible, are they all the same person?

Yes, and Joshua is the same person as Jesus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua#Name

[loinburger]

It says, "the Serpent of Old." That can only mean one serpent.

You mean the one in Exodus 4? Or 2 Kings 18?

[Kidlicious]

You mean the one in Exodus 4? Or 2 Kings 18?

Do either of those fit the description of Satan?

[loinburger]

Yeah, they're serpents with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns.

[Kidlicious]

Yeah, they're serpents with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns.

This verse is probably better for you.

44 zYou are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. aHe was a murderer from the beginning, and bdoes not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. cWhen he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

[Kidlicious]

By that verse you have to admit that the serpent is either Satan or a child of Satan.

[loinburger]

Why? The serpent didn't murder anybody in Genesis

[Kidlicious]

Why? The serpent didn't murder anybody in Genesis

Jesus was calling them murderers because of the lies they tell.

[loinburger]

So when Jesus uses the term "murderer" he doesn't actually mean "murderer"? When he says that the father of the scribes and pharisees is the devil does he literally mean that Satan had sex with a woman (or demon or whatever) who then gave birth to the scribes and pharisees, or is Jesus assuming that his audience is wise enough to be able to discern the literal truth from the figurative truth?

[Kidlicious]

So when Jesus uses the term "murderer" he doesn't actually mean "murderer"? When he says that the father of the scribes and pharisees is the devil does he literally mean that Satan had sex with a woman (or demon or whatever) who then gave birth to the scribes and pharisees, or is Jesus assuming that his audience is wise enough to be able to discern the literal truth from the figurative truth?

Yes, I think in that passage it explains that the Christians can understand His words. Look at verse 43. I can give you other verses if you want.

[Kidlicious]

Check verse 47

[loinburger]

If "murderer" and "your father is the devil" is meant to be interpreted figuratively, then why to you use this passage as literal evidence that the garden's serpent is Satan?

[Kidlicious]

If "murderer" and "your father is the devil" is meant to be interpreted figuratively, then why to you use this passage as literal evidence that the garden's serpent is Satan?

It's more important that you believe that you are created in the image of God. I don't need to believe on the evidence. But I'm trying to explain it to you.

[giblets]

And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. 3 And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; 5 she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

I'm pretty sure if a giant serpent with seven head and ten horns and seven crowns swept a third of the stars in the universe into the Earth the Earth would now be a black hole and there would be no nations left for the child born of a woman clothed with the sun to rule over. This story doesn't make much sense.