FAQ - EVIL
Where did evil
originate? Is God the author of evil? (`Isa. 14:7`; `Amos 3:6`.)
<ANSWER>--The word evil in the texts cited has the meaning in the
Hebrew language of adversity. These evils or calamities were sent upon the Jews as
chastisements for their violation of the terms of the covenant which they had made with
the Lord. The evil here referred to was not evil in the sense of its being a wrong or a
sin. Right and wrong, good and evil as principles have always existed and always will.
Principles are eternal. Sin was produced by the evil principle becoming active, and began
with Satan who permitted evil to control and dominate his course of action. Sin and evil
were introduced into the world by Satan when he induced our first parents to disobey the
Divine command. Thus the race has come under the dominion of sin and death supervised by
Satan, the God (ruler) of this "present evil world." (`2 Cor. 4:4`.) At the
appointed time when the Lord shall again control earth's affairs, establishing his own
kingdom in the earth, Satan is to be bound and eventually will be destroyed, while evil
will gradually cease to be active until at the close of Christ's reign, when sin and evil
in their various forms, suffering, and death, shall be no more. (`Rev. 21:3-5`.)
Why does God the great creator who has all power and wisdom permit the reign of
sin and evil in the earth? When we see all of the sorrow and misery existing in the world
because of the evil we wonder that a just and loving creator would permit these things
when he has the ability to put an end to them at any time?
<ANSWER>--This is a very important question and one that thinking minds
have pondered by using a fact of history to illustrate the matter. In ancient times during
the reign of a just and wise ruler over a large part of the earth, a rebellion occurred in
a certain portion of the empire. A usurper arose and, misrepresenting the character of the
emperor, succeeded in inducing the people of this particular province to no longer render
obedience to their rightful sovereign. Although the emperor had the power to suppress the
rebellion at once, he permitted the tyrant to rule over the province, and in this way let
the people experience the hardships and evils of misrule, that they might the better
appreciate the advantages of the wise and beneficent reign of the monarch. Also it would
furnish an object lesson to the people of the other provinces. And thus it turned out. The
people in time grew exceedingly weary of the woe and sorrows inflicted by the usurper, and
when the opportunity finally presented itself to escape from his dominion, they gladly
returned to complete harmony with their emperor, expressing their allegiance and full
submission to his just commands. Satan, "The God (ruler) of this present evil
world," is to be bound eventually and the people, liberated from his dominion and
tyranny, and instructed in righteousness, for, when "the judgments of the Lord are in
the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness," will then
appreciate the wise and just commands of their creator, their rightful sovereign.