If our consciences are to be bound to love fallen angels, then we need better proof than to say that God is going to reconcile the fallen angels. It would need to be shown that the commands to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love our enemies is to be extended to non-human creatures.
Why must these commands include non-humans?
The scriptures in which the images of Babylon and Beast are used metaphorically is clearly of an allegorical style. There is nothing in the gospel narrative of the temptation of Jesus Christ to show that Satan must be understood only as a metaphor.
Btw, I don’t care who or where Satan is. I am responsible for my own actions and thoughts.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say we’re commanded to love them, Dan. For one thing, we have absolutely no clear experience of them, not even so much as we might have of a tiger, so how could we love them (imo)? Whether or not Father loves them is another matter and I don’t feel confident to say that He does not.
Logically, if they exist as personal beings (as opposed to personifications of evil – anthropomorphisms), then it seems that as conscious creatures, creations of God, though they may become monsters – yet they would be the first candidates (and the only ones I can think of) for “those of the heavens” spoken of in Colossians.
Nevertheless, they aren’t our responsibility – not like our brother and sister humans. Scripture isn’t all together clear as to their fate. Still, there’s the story how Father used Job’s guileless and true nature as an example to the devil. Whether parable or history, there it is. Aside from not blaming our brothers and sisters for their own misfortunes, and giving us a hint of an understanding of the glory and magnificence of God, what else does that story teach us?
I do believe that if they exist as personal beings, fallen angels/demons/etc. must either be reconciled or annihilated since God will be all in all, and all things will be summed up in Christ. The all summed up on Christ cannot include evil, so it cannot include unreconciled fallen angels even if they’re in torment. But as death is destroyed – the last enemy cannot be the FIRST death, either – annihilation doesn’t look like a possibility. It makes sense to me that at some point they too will repent. Maybe Jesus’ sufferings were for us and OUR sufferings are for the fallen angels – to cause them to see their sin in the suffering of the human race and repent? (SHEER speculation, but it’s a thought.)
I don’t know why “love your enemies” should be limited to human enemies. Practically speaking, I don’t know how to love Satan other than by hoping for his repentance and redemption. I’ve never yet met him in person (as far as I know). “Love,” does not give approval to evil – it rebukes and chastens. In the case of Satan, I would think that is God’s jurisdiction, not ours – though Paul’s comment about judging angels might indicate that it will be given to us someday.
Sonia
Cindy, I think something like that is likely, as Paul writes:
Sonia