Doctor Submarine wrote:There's a lot of stuff from Paradise Lost that gets conflated with actual scripture, too. That's where my confusion comes from.
Well, that got factored in a lot, too, especially the layers of hell, the different types of torture, the Devil ruling, etc, etc.
In the Bible, the Lake of Fire is meant for the Devil and his followers, for their disobedience. That is the origination of the Lake of Fire. Now, we have all these interpretations of what that means, of devils torturing sinners, and the like, but that really isn't part of the story.
Satan is also apart of many Talmudic and rabbinic traditions, especially as it relates to Job. Textual evidence for Satan's existence pre-Exile period do not support the concept of Zoroastrianism influence beyond reinforcing preexisting beliefs in Judaic tradition. One of rejections of Babylonian influences was the concept of dualism in that God and Satan are equals, which, in Judaic and Christian traditions, they are not equal.
There is a book about a man who attempted to live, for one year, by the Moasic law. Quite interesting, as some parts he found easier, especially in modern life, and some were more difficult.
God loves you!
