DID GOD CREATE THE DEVIL?

Although there are those who don’t believe that Satan and God do exist, we still we cannot deny the fact that evil and good do exist. In our previous study [entitled “It was very good” (The Creation Story)], we learnt that all that God created “was very good” – Genesis 1:30. How do we then reconcile a good God with the existence of evil? Why did God allow evil to exist? And why does He let it continue? Will evil always exist? If No, when will it end? In this study and the next one, we will be trying to answer these difficult questions based on what is revealed in the word of God.

             1. Did God create the Devil?

“Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden the garden of God;...You were the anointed cherub who covers: I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.’’– Ezekiel 28:11-15, NKJV.

Note: While this passage speaks literally of the king of Tyre, a careful study shows that it has a wider meaning because of certain inferences. Notice that it says “You were in Eden,the garden of God...You were the anointed cherub...You were on the holy mountain of God.” We will explain later on what a“cherub” is. This passage has a dual application. It addresses both the literal king, and also the being who was a covering cherub [this points to Satan]. This will make more sense as we move on. We see that Satan was “perfect in...[his]...ways from the day...[he]...were created, till iniquity[sin] was found in...[him].” Thus we see that God must have made him without birth defect. And we are told again that he lived “in Eden the garden of God...”,he was “on the holy Mountain of God”, which implies that he was a candidate of heaven. He was given the name Lucifer which means the light-bearer. See Isaiah 14:12. It is important to note that “love” does not force. It is the same principle of love that God uses when he creates moral beings; He creates them with freedom of choice. Choice to love Him or choice to hate Him. So is the case with angels and human beings.

          2. What position did he hold in heaven?

“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you...” – Ezekiel 28:14.

Note: A cherub is an angel who resides in the immediate presence of God. In heaven, there are two covering cherubs [better known as cherubims] by the throne of God. “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.” – Psalm 99:1. Read Psalm 80:1. The work of these cherubims is to protect the throne and the law of God which is the foundation of His government. During the time of Moses, God requested the Israelites to “make...[Him]...a sanctuary; that...[He]...may dwell among them.” – Exodus 25:8. Moses was told, “And look that thou make them after the pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” – Exodus 25:40. This sanctuary was simply a miniature of the heaven itself. This earthly sanctuary was furnished “after the pattern, which was shewed” to Moses. In this Sanctuary, there was a temple made of two rooms namely: the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place [better known as the Holy of Holies]. In the Most Holy Place there was furniture called the Ark of the Covenant, or the Ark of the Testimony, which was a golden box. It had a seal which was called the Mercy Seat which symbolized the throne of God in heaven, and upon the Mercy Seat was the two covering cherubs made of gold, which symbolized the cherubs in heaven, and in between them was what is known as the Shekinah glory, which was the true presence of God. Read Exodus 25:18-22. We will expound on this in the future when we speak about the Sanctuary, but for now just bear in mind that the cherubims or cherubs gather at the throne of God to protect the Law of God.

          3. How did Lucifer become Satan?

“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 ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God: I WILL sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL be like the most High.” – Isaiah 14:13, 14.

He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be equal with God. He saw no difference between himself and God; by reason of his exalted position in heaven he lusted after the throne of God. He thought he could establish his own government where he’d rule with his own laws. He hated God, His law and the manner of His government. If it were possible to kill God, Satan would have done it in order to take the throne. Thus, it is recorded in scripture “He was a murderer from the beginning”—John 8:44.  From the evidence given in Scripture, we see that God never created Satan, but he created Lucifer who by his own choice, chose to become Satan.

4. Does the Creator want any of His creatures to perish?

“The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to REPENTANCE.” – 2 Peter 3:9.

 “God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer...Long was he retained in heaven. Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of REPENTANCE and submission. It is logical that if God is so patient with us though we have failed Him many times, He must have been very patient with Satan. “BUT PRIDE FORBADE HIM [LUCIFER] TO SUBMIT.”  While God can do all He can to save His creatures from perishing, yet He never forces anyone to accept His love, grace and saving power; He never violates the freedom of will He has bestowed upon His creatures. He must have tried to the ultimate best to save Lucifer from his error, but pride couldn’t allow Lucifer to submit to God’s authority. It takes humility for a person to accept when he is wrong. Often we are quick to justify ourselves, or even point fingers at others, but we are to always accept correction that is in accordance the word of God. Read Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 15:31.

           5. What did Satan’s rebellion lead to?

 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels found against the dragon; and the dragon found and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found anymore in heaven. And the 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.

Note: Ultimately the time came when Satan had to be expelled from heaven. This was after he and his angels fought against Michael and His angels; Michael being the chief leaders of the angels. Michael means who is like God. Where did Satan’s angels come from? We are told that the dragon symbolizes Satan [Revelation 12:9; see Revelation 20:2]. With this in mind let’s look at these verses: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon,...and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth...” – Revelation 12:3,4. What does the tail symbolize in Bible prophecy? “The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.” – Isaiah 9:15. We see in this verse that the prophet that teaches lies is called a tail, which means a tail is associated with a lie. What about the star. What does it symbolize in Bible prophecy? We don’t need to guess: “...The seven stars are the angels...” – Revelation 1:20. This helps us to unlock Revelation 12:3,4: “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [SATAN],...and his tail[LIE] drew the third part of the stars[ANGELS] of heaven, and did cast them to the earth...” – Revelation 12:3,4. Satan won these angels to his side by deception. These angels were created by God, just like Lucifer, but then he deceived them with his lies and deceptions. “...When he[Devil] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” – John 8:44. Today we know his angels as the demons.

6. Was the battle between Michael and Satan over after Satan was expelled from heaven?

 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night...Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea? For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” – Revelation 12:10,12.

Note: While the heaven may rejoice that their accuser [Satan] is cast out of heaven, earth has become Satan’s battle ground. So we see that the battle still continues, but now it takes place on earth. But the good news is that there is victory we can obtain in Christ. See Revelation 12:11; James 4:7, 8; Ephesians 6.

7. What is Satan’s primary mission on this earth?

“The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10.

Note: All the powers which God has bestowed on Lucifer, he now uses to “steal, kill, and destroy.” Read 1 Peter 5:8. Satan remains a testimony to the entire universe of how miserable one can be by rejecting the love of the divine Creator. Without God no one can have a better life of peace. While the plan of Satan is to steal, kill and destroy; Jesus’ mission is to give “life” so that we “might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10. Notice the emphasize on both the two: Satan kills, but not only does he kill, he kills to destroy; and Jesus gives life, but not just life, an abundant life. One gives life, the other takes life away. Between Jesus and Satan, whoever does his mission, does it to his ultimate best. Satan kills to destroy; while Jesus saves “to the uttermost.” – Hebrews 7:25.

Please read our next article which will cover the reasons for suffering and evil.