Kaleb, a great reflection that leaves me with some questions about your theological view as I do not think we see eye to eye on the end times. A good place to learn something.
So, I’m curious, what is your eschatological view? As an Augustinian amillenialist, I wouldn’t say that Satan is the ruler of the world. How I would explain it is the context of Jn 12 is pre-resurrection & the context of Jn 16 is surrounding the ascension. So, in my view, we’re symbolically in the millennium—Christ is reigning now through the Church. (Rev. 20 1-6). Of course at some point via St. Paul 2 Thessalonians 6-7 talks about the man of lawlessness being restrained, during his time, so after the narrative context of John’s gospel.
How do you piece it together? In fact, I took out the Summa this morning & read the Tertia Pars Q. 8. Art. 3 & how should we understand it?
Great question! I took some time to answer your question, both because of being busy with schoolwork and because I haven’t studied this specific issue as thoroughly as I would like, but I would say my view is also Augustinian, especially with his dichotomy of the City of God and Man, with the latter being the ordinary state of the world at this time and under the power of Satan. The Church is the “organ” of the City of God on Earth, as he calls it, but not yet glorified. This was one difference between the views of St. Augustine and the millennialists of the Alexandrian and generally eastern school, such as Origen and Eusebius, who believed that the Kingdom of God is already fulfilled on Earth (in their assignation, in Constantine’s Christian Roman Empire).
In the article you cited from the Summa, St. Thomas made an important point in the ad 2: “To be ‘a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle’ is the ultimate end to which we are brought by the Passion of Christ. Hence this will be in heaven, and not on earth, in which ‘if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,’ as is written (1 John 1:8).” Thus, the Church triumphant is in Heaven, the true City and Kingdom of God not being fully enacted yet on Earth. I think this goes towards what is said in Hebrews 10:12-13: “But this man offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God, From henceforth expecting, until his enemies be made his footstool.”
So, even after Christ has ascended to the right hand of God, His enemies have not yet been made His footstool, His greatest enemy being Satan, whom He had defeated by the Cross but not fully dethroned. This is why we are still tempted and even possessed by demons now and harmed by wicked humans, and why we can lose our salvation. The pericope of the Gerasene demoniacs is also indicative, since the demons wanted to remain on Earth to torture men and Christ did not send them directly to Gehenna but only into the pigs, because they still have dominion.
As I said, my views on this subject aren’t fully articulated, but hopefully this explanation is sufficiently clear. I believe Satan and his demons have a great influence in the world, more than just tempting us, as I wrote in this reflection, but that ultimately, “to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.” (Rom 8:28)
Kaleb, a great reflection that leaves me with some questions about your theological view as I do not think we see eye to eye on the end times. A good place to learn something.
So, I’m curious, what is your eschatological view? As an Augustinian amillenialist, I wouldn’t say that Satan is the ruler of the world. How I would explain it is the context of Jn 12 is pre-resurrection & the context of Jn 16 is surrounding the ascension. So, in my view, we’re symbolically in the millennium—Christ is reigning now through the Church. (Rev. 20 1-6). Of course at some point via St. Paul 2 Thessalonians 6-7 talks about the man of lawlessness being restrained, during his time, so after the narrative context of John’s gospel.
How do you piece it together? In fact, I took out the Summa this morning & read the Tertia Pars Q. 8. Art. 3 & how should we understand it?
Great question! I took some time to answer your question, both because of being busy with schoolwork and because I haven’t studied this specific issue as thoroughly as I would like, but I would say my view is also Augustinian, especially with his dichotomy of the City of God and Man, with the latter being the ordinary state of the world at this time and under the power of Satan. The Church is the “organ” of the City of God on Earth, as he calls it, but not yet glorified. This was one difference between the views of St. Augustine and the millennialists of the Alexandrian and generally eastern school, such as Origen and Eusebius, who believed that the Kingdom of God is already fulfilled on Earth (in their assignation, in Constantine’s Christian Roman Empire).
In the article you cited from the Summa, St. Thomas made an important point in the ad 2: “To be ‘a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle’ is the ultimate end to which we are brought by the Passion of Christ. Hence this will be in heaven, and not on earth, in which ‘if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,’ as is written (1 John 1:8).” Thus, the Church triumphant is in Heaven, the true City and Kingdom of God not being fully enacted yet on Earth. I think this goes towards what is said in Hebrews 10:12-13: “But this man offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God, From henceforth expecting, until his enemies be made his footstool.”
So, even after Christ has ascended to the right hand of God, His enemies have not yet been made His footstool, His greatest enemy being Satan, whom He had defeated by the Cross but not fully dethroned. This is why we are still tempted and even possessed by demons now and harmed by wicked humans, and why we can lose our salvation. The pericope of the Gerasene demoniacs is also indicative, since the demons wanted to remain on Earth to torture men and Christ did not send them directly to Gehenna but only into the pigs, because they still have dominion.
As I said, my views on this subject aren’t fully articulated, but hopefully this explanation is sufficiently clear. I believe Satan and his demons have a great influence in the world, more than just tempting us, as I wrote in this reflection, but that ultimately, “to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.” (Rom 8:28)