The Origin of Evil - Part 2

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” *1

God gave Lucifer many opportunities to repent but because he did not war broke out in heaven. Lucifer and his angels did not prevail so they were cast out of heaven. Obviously, Satan's deceptions were not over. Although he no longer had access to heaven Lucifer was still exerting his influence on the worlds that had not fallen.

The question that comes to mind is why did God does not destroy Lucifer? To obtain the answer to this question it is necessary to understand the character of God. The Bible tells us,

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. * 2

God’s government, His creation and His law are based on love. He will never force anyone to obey him as obedience comes as a result of love. Lucifer had long introduced doubts about the government of God. He argued that God was not fair and compassionate. If God had destroyed Lucifer in heaven, the doubts that Lucifer had planted in the minds of the angels and the beings that have not fallen would have been confirmed.

Therefore the Lord in his wisdom allowed sin to develop to its most terrible state so the whole universe to understand could understand the inevitable result. Seeing the results of Lucifer, of sin and of the suffering it causes, all would be fully convinced that God is just and good. We all serve God because we love Him, not because we fear Him.

The result of this great battle was that Lucifer, now known as the Devil and Satan was cast down to earth. Thus the cosmic battle was transferred to this planet where it will soon end.

But what side will we find ourselves in?

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Revelation 12:7-12
2 * 1 John 4:8