Woo hoo! Theological argument! I'll throw my .02 in. And in this economy, two pennies aren't worth much except to rub together, and I can't promise my. Immense will be worth much more. 

David, I'm pretty sure I get what you're trying to say. I also understand the reaction you have gotten from other posters. But I'll just comment on your argument and my experiences as a Southern Baptist. 

I know a very influential Baptist seminary leader who said he got saved when he was very young. He said he heard a sermon on the lake of fire and went forward to get saved because he couldn't swim. That always took me aback. 

I'm also very disturbed by dispensational theology which greatly promotes the idea you are talking about. The idea that Satan is bigger than life, ala Frank Peretti novels, and our only hope is a bloody battle one day at Armageddon. 

I always like to go back to the book of Job where we see Satan talking to God about Job. He claims that the only reason Job serves him is because he's blessed him so greatly. Satan has to ask to do any harm to Job's stuff. And he has to ask nicely. 

Either God is in sovereign control or he isn't. There's no reason to elevate a created being to scary Halloween status when God has him under his thumb. When Paul talked of the messenger sent by Satan, he didn't show fear of Satan, he just prayed to God to remove it/him. Paul knew the score. He didn't worry about Satan, he went straight to the one in control. 

So there it is. Two cents. Maybe four. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and being open.