How evil could arise in God’s “good” universe (Genesis:1:31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
See All...) is a mystery—“the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thessalonians:2:7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
See All...). It will reach its fullness in Antichrist, through whom Satan will rule the world. In Antichrist, as God was manifested in Christ, so Satan will be manifested in the flesh, although not in the “fullness of the Godhead” of Christ (Colossians:2:9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
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Satan must be brilliant beyond our comprehension, apparently second only to God in power and understanding. It is a mystery that Satan, having known intimately the holy and glorious presence and power of God on His throne, could ever have dared, much less desired, to rebel. How could he have imagined that he could ever defeat God? Surely, this is a great mystery!
Satan was not raised in a “dysfunctional family” or in a ghetto, nor was he “abused as a child.” None of the standard excuses for rebellious and selfish behavior accepted by today’s Christian psychologists applies to Satan—or to Adam and Eve. To accept any explanation for evil that doesn’t fit them is to be deceived. Certainly today’s popular diagnosis of “low self-esteem” or a “poor self-image” was not Satan’s problem!
Scripture says he was lifted up with pride: “O covering cherub....Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty” (Ezekiel:28:17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
See All...). He is apparently a self-deceived ego-maniac, blinded by pride in his own power and abilities.