Why did God create the devil knowing who he would become?

Answer 1

In philosophy, there is a problem called the problem of evil. If God is (i) all-powerful, (ii) all-knowing, (iii) all good, and (iv) the sole creator of the world, then why is there evil in the world? The problem can only be resolved if at least one of these propositions is false.

Christians perceive the devil as the embodiment of evil. Therefore, if the devil actually exists, it becomes part of the above problem of evil, which can only be resolved by giving up at least one belief about God.

Answer:

According to The Bible, God didn't create the Devil. When He made all of the angels... perfectly... one of them was "Lucifer" who perverted himself and became God's "adversary" at some undisclosed time afterward.

"...Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee... and thou hast sinned..." (Ezek.28:15).

According to the Bible's definition of sin: "...sin is the transgression of the law..." (I John 3:4).

"...I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." (Rom.7:7)

It's evident that God gave His angels the same "free-will" to decide which path they would take - obedience to His laws... or disobedience to them; the same choice He gave to man.

The Bible doesn't say it... but it's also evident that God has taken the occasion of Satan's rebellion against His Government to "allow him to teach man all about sin" by exposing man to him and his ways in the flesh, so that man's spirit might be perfected by the experience.

Man did indeed choose the natural ways of the flesh... which is Satan's perverted nature - "self-serving self-centeredness" - and man chose the path of "disobedience." God's command to man has always been the same: OBEY MY VOICE!

"...because that Abraham OBEYED MY VOICE, and kept My charge, My Commandments, My statutes, and My laws." (Gen.26:5)

"...Now therefore, if ye will OBEY MY VOICE indeed, and keep My covenant..." (Ex.19:5).

"...I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing commanded I them, saying, OBEY MY VOICE..." (Jer.7:22-23).

"...ye are My friends, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU... these things I command you, that ye love one another." (John 15:14-17)

God's "law of love" is the Ten Commandments: love for God and love for our fellowman. The law that Abraham kept.

Adam and Eve chose to worship the "hissing," whispering, enticing and enchanting god of this world... and they OBEYED HIS VOICE. And their children [mankind] have been learning all about evil, since. And this convoluted world we've created under our god's ministering hand is the result.

God didn't create the Devil. But, by creating the angels and man with the "free moral agency" to choose whether or not to obey His laws... He has allowed the possibility for evil to blossom... and at the same time, for individual personality and character to develop. Beit good or evil character.

No parent is able to hand high moral, righteous character to their children. They can only teach and show them the right path... and be an example to them. But, character must be experienced and developed over time.

Further biblical evidence is that God is allowing man a set amount of time to learn evil... so that in the Last Day, Judgment Day, all men will have God's Truth revealed to them, when the books of the Bible are opened to man's crystal clear understanding...

"...then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures..." (Luke 24:45)...

...and all the generations of man may make an "informed decision" on which path they would choose for the rest of Eternity. Obedience to His voice... or disobedience. Repentance and God's mercy and eternal salvation... or the Lake of Fire:

"But those Mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before Me." (Luke 19:27)

"...the books [of the Bible] were opened... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... this is the second death... and whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." (Rev.20:12-15)

God is using Satan's rebellious, perverted ways for the necessary evil of man's character development for the time being. And when man's lessons are done and the Father has the number of "mansions" [the offices and positions, thrones and seats of authority] in His coming Kingdom filled by those of His Children whom He has been calling for the past 6000 years... who have developed the righteous character to rule, according to their ability to OBEY HIS VOICE - then He will send His Son back to earth to gather them together... and to restore the Kingdom of God to earth, that Satan perverted in the beginning.

Evil is the chance you take with "free-will." But trustworthiness and righteous character must be developed and experienced. God's righteousness is revealed in His Word, the Bible... right now, to those with the eyes to see who shall inherit leadership positions in the Kingdom with Christ. Later, to all men in the Judgment. How else can man learn to "reject evil" and "choose the good?"

"...all scripture... is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be [or BECOME] perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works... I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom; preach the Word... for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine... they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (II Tim.3:17 & II Tim.4:1-4)

The time has come and so must the evil. It will increase in the world toward the end of man's errant rule on the earth. It will conclude with the prophesied Great Tribulation... and God's salvation.

In the end, "...the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev.11:15)

God created Lucifer and the other angels to "mentor" the untold millions of heirs of His future Family - Man. To minister to them.

"...are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Heb.1:14)

Lucifer perverted himself. And God is using him to help build strong righteous character in His Children - those who learn to OBEY HIS VOICE. And when the Father's "mansions" all have qualified applicants to fill them... a number that only He knows... then, Satan will be removed from deceiving man, and Christ's Kingdom will rule on earth for a thousand years.

"...I saw an angel come down from heaven... he laid hold on the Dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years... that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season." (Rev.20:1-3)

God is in control of the situation... but mankind has some studying to do. He needs to learn to OBEY GOD'S VOICE. He needs to learn to overcome the evil and to love through Jesus Christ.