If God is very loving, as stated by the Holy Scriptures;[1] and Almighty [2], why does he allow evil to prosper, and good to seemingly falter? Why do we see the innocent and defenseless, becoming victims of evildoers?
Some people ask honest questions: ” ‘What does God know?’ they ask. ‘Does the Most High even know what’s happening?’ Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. So, I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!”[3] Indeed, it is a difficult task to understand; yet it is not impossible to comprehend the origin of suffering, pain, death, grief and evil.
A quick answer: Suffering, pain, grief, and death came into our world because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden. They disobeyed God, and by so doing, they “opened Pandora’s box”, so-to-speak. You find this story in Genesis chapter 3. However, this chapter also introduces the archenemy of God and mankind. A clever intruder that broke the peace and happiness of the Garden of Eden. He disguised himself to deceive Eve, insinuating distrust in God, and ultimate go contrary to his explicit command.
Satan began his rebellion against God in Heaven, after seeking to usurp God’s throne. He was created as a perfect angel (Lucifer) but somehow, mysteriously, he became the Devil or Satan. He deceived one third of the angels of Heaven who joined him in his mutiny. God and his loyal angels cast out Satan from heaven to our planet Earth, which impacted the natural world and all of mankind. He has been buzzy ever since creating chaos in this world. But God made provision that if this situation ever happened, he would be prepared to confront it. He had a plan by which he would save the fallen human race (John 3:16; Romans 5) and do away with evil. God will ultimately restore his Edenic Garden to its original perfect state.
For more info on this summary see below:
- An enemy has done this.
- Why was the Devil’s existence allowed?
- How is our world affected by sin?
- Evil has an end.
An Enemy Has Done This
Satan, God’s archenemy, attempts to derail God’s plans for mankind. The devil is responsible for most of the calamities that come upon mankind.[4] Satan is behind many natural disasters we see happening around us, causing suffering, pain, and death. He also works through individuals to do his destructive bidding, such as active shooters attacking soft targets, like schools, and churches. On the contrary, God’s position is: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil give you a hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
In the parable of the wheat and the tares,[5] we learn from Jesus that he compared the kingdom of heaven with a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. When the seeds germinated, grew up, and began showing their fruit, the same thing happened with the tares. As Jesus proceeded to explain His parable, we learn that He who sowed the good seed is the Son of man . . . The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one. The good seed represents those who are born of the word of God, the truth.[6] The tares represent the wicked who are guided by false principles. Jesus said that “an enemy has done this”, that is the devil. Matthew 13:28. The tares or weeds are always planted by Satan—God’s archenemy.
When God made the Earth, determining its dimensions and foundations, this was a time of gladness and harmony. It was a time according to Job 38:7 “When the morning stars praised me [God] together, and all the sons of God made a joyful melody?”. Our planet had a pristine beauty after being created by the Lord. “God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” [7] In Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, there was no pain, fear, tears, nor death. These tragic elements were introduced by a devious Old Serpent in Genesis, chapter 3. The Bible refers to this Old Serpent, as the devil or Satan. He is also known as the great dragon.[8] Satan used the serpent in the Garden of Eden as a puppet, and he projected his voice as a professional ventriloquist to deceive Eve. Ever since, he has been deceiving the whole world.
As you read Revelation 12:9, you might have noticed that this Bible passage said that Satan—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Earth is our inhabited planet. You read it correctly. The question we now have, is where did he come from and what was the reason for his downfall?
Thie Bible tells us that evil began, of all places, in Heaven itself. What? For real? Yes, indeed. Notice what we are told in the last book of the Bible:
“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.” [9] By the way, the word Satan, in the Greek New Testament, is transliterated as “Satanas”, meaning: “adversary, opponent, and enemy.” [10]
The New Testament tells us: “God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell [11], in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.” [12]
The following paraphrase renders this passage as follow: “God didn’t let the rebel angels off the hook but jailed them in hell till Judgment Day.” [13]
These rebel angels sinned against God. The Holy Scriptures define “sin” as a transgression or breaking of God’s Holy Law. “Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.” [14] Therefore, we can reckon that Satan rebelled against God’s law, against His holy law—the foundation of His government.
Nevertheless, we need to understand that God did not create Satan, on the contrary, he made a beautiful and perfect angel, with intelligence, with the power of choice, and a free moral agent; capable to love Him or reject Him.
‘You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God.’” See Ezekiel 28:11-13.[15] On the other hand, Lucifer, this beautiful, anointed angel, in His fallen and rebelled condition, was present in the Garden of Eden, manipulating the serpent that tempted Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit; thus, mistrusting and disobeying her Creator.[16]
Somehow, in a vary mysterious way, something that we cannot find a definite answer; because, if this would be possible, we would be finding an excuse for something that God never intended to exist; yet, in His divine wisdom, God made provisions concerning sin, and what to do, if sin would ever come into existence. The Bible refers to this mystery, as the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness.[17] We cannot find a reason for it coming into being. Yet, we can understand to some degree, some of its early manifestations.
This angel, was next to God’s throne, reflecting the light and beauty emanating from God’s luminous and glorious presence. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” [18]
At some point, Lucifer, who became Satan, began focusing upon himself. He beheld his beauty and became the first narcissist. Since God made him an intelligent being, he also corrupted his God-given beauty. In the prophet Ezekiel, funeral son, he laments: “You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were!” [19]
“From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection . . . and then imperfection—evil! —was detected in you. . . . Your beauty went to your head.” [20]
Another translation renders this Bible passage as follows: “Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil.” [21]
“Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.”[22] Lucifer thought that his brightness was his own. He was so obsessed on himself, that he forgot that he was basically reflecting God’s intrinsic luminous presence.
Satan also coveted God’s throne and position in the universe. Notice the following description found in the book of Isaiah, chapter 14, verses 12-14.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’”[23] Satan’s desire was not to be like God, but to be “God”.
Through deception, and maligning God’s character, he engaged in an open rebellion against God with the help of one third of the angels of Heaven. Christ and his faithful angels, two thirds, fought against Satan, defeating him, and casting him out of Heaven. Jesus made a reference to this battle and defeat when He said:
“He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” [24] In his fallen condition he is seeking to deceive the entire world because he knows that his time is short.[25] He continues misrepresenting God’s character of love and justice.
Why Was the Devil’s Existence Allowed?
Why was Satan allowed to keep on living? Why did not God, if he is so powerful, destroy him with the snap of his fingers? It would have certainly prevented all the evil, wars, deaths, pain, guilt and sufferings that have plagued our world!
Well, to respond to this important and legitimate question, please let me introduce you to the following qualities of our Creator. He is a loving God [26] and love cannot exist in an atmosphere of fear and coercion. Love cannot be demanded. It takes risks of being rejected. God desires from all His creatures a loving respect that springs from intelligent beings, based on the appreciation of His divine qualities: kindness and righteousness. He will not force our allegiance. He grants us freedom of will, that we may be in a loving relationship with Him. He cannot accept the adoration of robots. The Bible book of Deuteronomy challenges us so: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” [27] Even Jesus, asked his inner circle of friends, when a lot of his disciples left him and “they no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?” [1] They were not being forced to stay.
God wisely did not destroy Satan, back then. Angels would have been unable to see how Satan’s evil character would be revealed. In God’s kingdom, righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Unfailing love and truth are closely united.[2] Another point to consider: the immediate destruction of Satan, would have planted doubts in the minds of angels which would have tormented them.
Christ came to this Earth, not only to save us from the consequences of sin which is eternal separation from the life-giver; but he also came to unmask Satan as he truly is, a liar and a murderer.
Jesus unmasking Satan said: “From the very beginning he [the Devil] was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.” [3] He was behind the murder of Abel, and behind Christ’s crucifixion. For the inhabitants of heaven, to see our benevolent and loving Savior, their own Commander-in-Chief, to be cruelly treated, was enough to remove any lingering doubt about the loving and righteous character of God.
Jesus, “having become human, He stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” [4] Nevertheless, through death Christ destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14.”
Any possible sympathy for this rebellious angel, Satan, was vanquished by Christ’s death on the cross. No wonder that heavenly beings are moved to say: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” [5]
“For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [6]
How Is Our World Affected by Sin?
As we look around us, we see the impact of sin on our natural world, also referred to as: “mother nature”. Is there a connection between sin and the degrading we see in nature? Yes, indeed.
The Apostle Paul writing to the believers, who lived in the capital of the ruling empire of his day (Rome), wrote: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8:22 NKJV.
Three points I want to make with this Bible passage: 1. The entire creation, which we sometimes refer to as Mother Nature, is suffering. 2) Creation’s pain is compared with a pregnant woman during her labor. 3) “Until now”, this is a phrase that indicates that it has been already going on for a while.
Our world is in chaos. We see all around us, far and near, a list of natural disasters, such as tornadoes, earthquakes, Tsunamis, hurricanes, massive forest fires, droughts, flooding, pandemics, incurable diseases, birth defects which we have never heard or seen before, etc., just to mention a few. We could also add various forms of mental illnesses, affecting and threatening society in one way or another—mass shootings, as an example. Spiritually, the conditions are not any better. Basically, it is a fulfillment of what the Holy Scriptures predicted nearly two thousand years ago:
“In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.” [7]
After describing my first point (Creation’s groaning) referred above from the Bible passage, Romans 8:22. Please, let me continue with my second point.
The Apostle Paul compared Creation’s pains with a pregnant woman during her labor. Two characteristics of this labor process are: 1. The frequency of the contractions increase drastically. 2). The contractions become more intense. We are witnesses to both qualities of these contractions taking place all around us. Never in the history of mankind have these two characteristics been more palpable than today.
My third point is also coming from Romans 8:22. “Until Now.” This third clause suggests that this groaning has been happening all along until the time of Paul. The context clearly points all the way back to the time of Creation, after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin.[8] Mother Nature lost its pristine beauty, health, and perfection.
Yet, something within us tells us that the current condition of the world is not right. All this suffering, pain, death, and evil must finish.
“The creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.” [9]
Evil Has an End
Biblical prophecy points to a time when “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” [10] “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” [11] John saw in a vision “death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.” [12] Total separation from the source of life and a complete destruction. Ancient prophecies point to a time when God will create new heaven and a new earth.[13] Weary of all this evil and suffering, we “look for new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” [1] “Affliction shall not rise up the second time.” [2]
God will destroy Satan—the ultimate responsible for the evil, pain and suffering that entered the universe. His utter destruction is already prophesied. His days are numbered: “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations . . . in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet.” [3] The Bible tells us about a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just.” Revelation 19:1-2. Angels can fully agree with the final and executive judgements of God upon Satan and his evil followers. This understanding could only happen by God allowing Satan to carry forward with his evil schemes. God stands at the end fully vindicated.
The Bible offers us Good News. In God’s last call of mercy and warning to mankind, His angels bring to our attention His “Everlasting Gospel”. This is the same Gospel proclaimed by the Apostol Paul: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”[4] He is our mediator and intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary,[5] and He will come back to this earth at his second coming, bringing an end to human suffering, pain, grief and death.
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” [6]
I invite you today to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord of your life. If this is the conviction of your heart, recite with me: “Our Heavenly Father, I recognize that I am a lost sinner, I was blind but now I see. Please forgive my sins. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness, enable me to forsake evil in all its forms. I surrender my will to you, voluntarily. Restore me into Your image. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!”
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[1] 2 Peter 3:13. NKJV.
[2] Nahum 1:9. KJV.
[3] Revelation 20:7-10. NLT.
[4] 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV.
[5] Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-15; 9:24-28.
[6] 1 John 5:11-13 NKJV.
[1] The Message: The Bible in contemporary language. NavPress.
[2] Psalm 89:14. NLT.
[3] The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Jn 8:44–45). American Bible Society.
[4] Philippians 2:8. The Message: The Bible in contemporary language. NavPress.
[5] Revelation 5:12. NKJV.
[6] Philippians 2:9-11. New American Standard Bible: 1995. NASB. The Lockman Foundation.
[7] 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NLT).
[8] See Genesis 3:17-19.
[9] Romans 8:21 (NLT).
[10] Revelation 21:4 NKJV.
[11] 1 Corinthians 15:26. NKJV.
[12] Revelation 20:14. NLT.
[13] Isaiah 65:17.
[1] See 1 John 4:8.
[2] 1 Timothy 6:15.
[3] Psalm 73:11-12, 16.
[4] Sometimes, God intervenes directly against the tide of evil that threatens to derail his ultimate plan of redemption for mankind. In the processes he brings divine judgement upon the wicked such as it happens with the flood, and the destructions of Sodom and Gomorrah. See: Genesis 6:5-7; 18:17 – 19:25.
[5] Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:37-43.
[6] 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; John 17:17.
[7] Genesis 1:31. NLT.
[8] Revelation 12:9.
[9] Rev. 12:7-9. NLT.
[10] Mounce Greek Dictionary.
[11] From the Greek: “Tartarus”. It is used only one time in the Bible. Here, in 2 Peter 2:4. Other translations renders “pits of darkness” as “chained” or “jailed”. The idea is that these fallen angels are “consigned” to the dark abyss.
[12] 2 Peter 2:4. NLT.
[13] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: The Bible in contemporary language (2 Pe 2:4). NavPress.
[14] 1 John 3:4. NLT.
[15] The Holy Bible: New International Version (1984). Zondervan.
[16] Genesis 3: 1-6.
[17] 2 Thessalonians 2:7.
[18] 1 John 1:5. KJV.
[19] The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Eze 28:12). American Bible Society.
[20] The Message: The Bible in contemporary language. NavPress.
[21] The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Eze 28:15). American Bible Society.
[22] Ezekiel 28:17. NLT.
[23] The New King James Version (NKJV). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[24] The New Jerusalem Bible (Lk 10:18). (1985). Doubleday.
[25] See Revelation 12:9, 12.
[26] 1 John 4:8.
[27] Deuteronomy 30:19; See also Joshua 24:15.
