It is important to know the biblical information about the devil to fully understand the reasons for God’s permission of evil and the current sad condition of humanity.
Jesus Christ described the devil very concisely: “That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie » (John 8:44). Satan the devil is not the abstraction of evil, but a real spiritual person (Matthew 4:1-11). Likewise, the demons are also angels who have become rebels who have followed the example of the devil (Genesis 6:1-3, to compare with the letter of Jude verse 6: « And the angels who did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place, he has reserved with eternal bonds in dense darkness for the judgment of the great day »).
When it is written, « he did not stand fast in the truth », it shows that God created this angel without sin and without any trace of wickedness in his heart. This angel, at the beginning of his life had a « beautiful name » (Ecclesiastes 7:1a). However, « he did not stand fast » in his integrity, he cultivated pride in his heart, and over time he became « devil », which means slanderer, and Satan, opponent; his old beautiful name, his good reputation, has been replaced by one of the everlasting disgraces. In the prophecy of Ezekiel (chapter 28), against the proud king of Tyre, it is clearly alluded to the pride of the angel who became « devil » and « Satan »: « This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “You were the model of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eʹden, the garden of God. You were adorned with every precious stone —Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysʹo·lite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; And their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub. You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you » (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Through his act of unrighteousness in Eden, he became a « liar » who caused the death of all of Adam’s offspring (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Currently, it is Satan the devil who rules the world: « Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out » (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19) .
Satan the devil will be permanently destroyed: « For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly » (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20).
Satan the devil hurled, before King Jesus Christ to be enthroned
As surprising it could be, the book of Revelation Chapter 12, is confirming twice that Satan and his demons have been expelled from heaven before the enthronement in heaven of the King Jesus Christ:
in Revelation 12: 1-6 (to read), the “woman” of God is described as being about to give birth to a “child » as a symbol of the Kingdom of God, with the King Jesus Christ. However, verse 4 shows that Satan the dragon stood before the “woman”, ready to devour the child. Thus, the logic is to think that the “dragon” has been removed from to protect the “mother” who was giving birth to the “child”.
The heavenly war that expelled Satan and the demons from the heaven, took place before the coronation of the King Jesus Christ. This is confirmed by the repetition of the same sequence of events in Revelation 12: 7-14 (read): it is a repetition of the prophetic vision of Revelation 12: 1-6 (compare the repetition of Revelation 12: 6 and 12:14). In this biblical text, the verses12:7 to 9, it is the description of the heavenly war for to expel Satan and the demons from the heavens.
The verses 12:10-12, it is the description of the victory of Mikael and his angels over Satan and the demons. This heavenly victory has been celebrated by the official establishment of the Kingdom of God in heaven. Thus, it took place the purification of the heavens from the unclean presence of Satan and the demons, and the formal establishment of the Kingdom of God in heaven.
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Why God Allowed Suffering and Wickedness ?
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