Why does God allow evil to exist?

I. Who is the devil?
Most people in the world believe satan, who is often called the devil, is just a symbolic figure of evil, but the Bible says he is real and represents the very essence of evil!

He is ever subverting families, churches, and even entire nations. And his plans for escalating immorality, sorrow, pain, destruction, and sin are succeeding to an incredible degree. His plan for your life is … death.

II. Where did the devil come from?
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” (Isaiah 14:12).
“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18).
Both these OT and NT quotes makes it clear that satan’s first home was heaven, and he was originally called Lucifer.

III. Why did God make the devil?
“ Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Ezekiel 28:15).

“ Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth” (Ezekiel 28:14).

“ Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty ... every precious stone was thy covering ... the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee“ (Ezekiel 28: 12, 13).

God did not make a devil—He created a perfect angel! Lucifer was a “covering” cherub that stood covering God’s throne (Psalm 99:1). He was a highly exalted, respected, and cherished angel. His beauty was flawless and his brightness was awe-inspiring, a breathtaking being. The Scripture also indicates his wisdom and ability were unmatched, and he may have been especially gifted with musical skill (Ezekiel 28:13). Some scholars believe he led the angelic choir.

IV. Why did Lucifer sin?
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” (Ezekiel 28:17).

“For thou hast said in thine heart ... I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: ... I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13, 14).

Pride, discontent, and self-exaltation arose in his heart. Lucifer became jealous of God’s supreme power. He actually hoped to somehow unseat God and then demand that all worship him.

Centuries later, he even tempted Jesus, with rulership/lordship over all the earth if Jesus would fall down and worship him (Matthew 4:8–11). [God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). When they sinned, they lost it to Satan (Romans 6:16; John 12:31). So world dominion was satan’s to give away, if he so desired. Dominion is different from ownership. God owns everything in the visible and invisible realm.]

In the last days, God calls all people to worship Him (Revelation 14:6,7), but this so infuriates Satan that he will try to force people to worship him or else be killed (Revelation 13:15). God says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus
20:3). Satan wants you to disobey this commandment, because he knows if you don’t worship God, it will be as if you’re following satan!

V. What happened in heaven when Lucifer rebelled?
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. ... And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”(Revelation 12:7–9).

Amazingly, Lucifer won the support of one-third of the angels and caused an insurrection in heaven (Revelation 12:3, 4). He probably deceived them too by slandering God the way he deceived Eve. The war in heaven was one of the greatest cosmic battles ever fought. God had no choice but to evict Lucifer and his followers to ensure peace in His kingdom. After his expulsion from heaven, Lucifer was called Satan (adversary) and devil (slanderer), and the angels who followed him were called demons.

VI. Who initiated evil?
…(devil) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8.44)

The devil sinneth from the beginning” (1 John 3:8).

“ That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9).

Satan is the originator of all sin; he was the first created being ever to go against God. Only the Bible explains the true origin of evil!

VII. Why did the devil deceive Eve?
Satan bitterly hates humans, who were created in God’s image. (Genesis 1.26, 27) He can’t touch God, so he directs his venom against God’s children. He’s a hateful, vicious liar whose aim is to destroy you and thus hurt God.

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:1, 4, 5).

The first humans were told by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that the penalty for eating from that tree would be death. But Satan used a serpent—one of the most clever of God’s creatures—to deceive Eve. Lies that include some truth are the most effective of all, and this is how the devil deceived Eve. Satan made the knowledge of evil appear attractive, as he still does today. He told lies to misrepresent God’s character, because he knew no one would turn away God’s love unless he or she misunderstood His character.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary puts it like this, “Satan ruined himself by desiring to be like the Most High, therefore he sought to infect our first parents with the same desire, that he might ruin them too. The devil continues to draw people into his interest, by suggesting to them hard thoughts of God, and false hopes of advantage by sin. Let us, therefore, always think well of God as the best good, and think ill of sin as the worst evil: thus let us resist the devil, and he will flee from us.”

VIII. Why was eating the fruit such a big problem?
“Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever? So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:22, 24).

Eating the fruit was a sin because it was a direct rejection of God’s command. It was open rebellion against God’s law and authority. By rejecting God’s command, Adam and Eve allied themselves with God’s enemy, and thus brought separation between themselves and God (Isaiah 59:2). Satan hoped the couple would sin and then eat of the tree of life, and thus become immortal sinners like himself. But God removed them from the garden to prevent such a tragedy and make way for his plan of redemption of mankind.

IX. The devil’s character
Here are some other traits of satan and his demons that the Bible tells us:
1. Deceives/persecutes (Revelation 12:9, 13).
2. Quotes/misquotes the Bible (Matthew 4:5, 6).
3. Falsely accuses/murders (Revelation 12:10; John 8:44).
4. Traps/ensnares (2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8).
5. Wars against God's people (Revelation 12:17).
6. Binds/prompts betrayal (Luke 13:16; John 13:2, 21).
7. Imprisons (Revelation 2:10).
8. Possesses/hinders (Luke 22:3–5; 1 Thessalonians 2:18).
9. Works miracles/lies (Revelation 16:13, 14; John 8:44).
10. Brings disease/afflicts (Job 2:7).
11. Inspires false teachers (Matthew 24:5).
12. Calls fire from heaven (Revelation 13:13).

X. What is the devil’s punishment?
“ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone” (Rev 20:10).
“ Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41)
“ Therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ...And never shalt thou be any more” (Ezekiel 28:18,19).

The devil will be cast into the lake of fire on this earth at the end of the world.

XI. Why didn’t God destroy the devil and put an end to sin?

“We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9).

Sin was something completely new in God’s universe, and its inhabitants might not have understood it. For every being under heaven, Lucifer was a brilliant, highly respected angelic leader. Most likely, his deceptive approach showed great concern for heaven and the angels. Perhaps he said, “Heaven is a wonderful place, but it would be improved if God listened to the wisdom of His wisest angels. God knows my suggestions are correct and sincere, but unfortunately, He is feeling threatened. Yet we must not permit our noble leaders, out of touch with their subjects, to jeopardize the very existence of heaven. They will listen, but only if we move in unison. Let us act; let us not be weak. Do you want our home to be ruined by a government that doesn’t even trust us?” According to the book of Revelation, Lucifer’s arguments convinced many angels—one-third joined him in his rebellion. Lucifer’s seeds of doubt may have caused confusion in the minds of angels, even those who stayed loyal to God, but if God had destroyed Lucifer immediately, at least some angelic beings who did not fully understand might have begun worshiping God in fear. They might have believed, “Lucifer may have been correct. Be careful. If you differ with God, He may kill you.” So nothing would have been settled; Satan’s crafty suggestions and questions would have remained and the problem would have been heightened. God demands loyalty out of love not out of fear.

So God is giving Satan time to demonstrate his methods. Satan claimed to have had a better plan for God’s universe, and God is allowing the universe to behold this claim. The Lord will abolish sin only after every soul in the universe is convinced that Satan’s government is unfair, hateful, ruthless, lying, and destructive. The entire universe is watching as we each play a part in the controversy between Christ and satan. As the controversy ends, every soul will fully understand the principles of both kingdoms and will have chosen to follow either Christ or satan. Those who have chosen to ally with sin and satan will be destroyed with him, and God’s people will be taken to the eternal safety of their heavenly home.