The Creator of the universe is a good and righteous God, and in Him, there is no evil at all. At the end of each creative day, God declared everything He made to be good, and at the end of the sixth day, He affirmed that His creations were very good. This means at creation; there was nothing evil in what God Almighty created. But looking at our world today, you will notice the much evil that is ever-present and evil seems to be winning. How did evil enter the world, and why is the human race suffering? These questions and many more will be answered in this study.

Study Questions

  1. What happened between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis Chapter one?
  2. What did the devil do to the earth when he was thrown down from heaven?
  3. What did God do to the presence of darkness (evil) on earth before he started the work of re-creation?
  4. What is the significance of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
  5. Who are the main target of Satan and his fallen angels?
  6. Where was Satan when God created Adam?
  7. Why do you think Satan is after the human race?
  8. How much time does the devil have to carry out his evil enterprise of the earth?
  9. What will be the end of Satan and his angels?

Questions and comments

  1. What happened between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis Chapter one?

Read Genesis 1: 1-2

Comment

To explain how evil entered the world, it is crucial to understand what happened between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis chapter 1.

Genesis 1:1-2 states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form (tohuw) and void (bohuw), and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Genesis chapter 1, verse 1, is a verse that tells us the magnitude of what God created in the beginning. The scripture says God created the heavens, I.e., the universe in which the earth is a part. But the account of Genesis chapter one is basically about the planet earth. Isaiah 45:18 tells us the reason God created the earth, it states, “For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain (tohuw), Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

In this verse, two points are worth noting about the earth.

  1. a) God did not create the earth in vain. The Hebrew word translated in vain is “tohuw.” Tohuw (H8414)- in Hebrews means to lie waste; a state of desolation (of the surface), i.e., desert. Tohuw can also mean a worthless thing, an empty place, without form, with nothing, a waste, or wilderness. It is crucial to note that the earth mentioned in verse one of Genesis chapter one is the earth before Satan was banished from heaven. This was the earth science believed to be billions of years old. So, in the beginning, when God first created the earth, it was made not to lie in waste or empty, but perfect and beautiful.
  2. b) The earth was created to be inhabited by humans with other living creatures.

Another point to note in Isaiah 45:18 is that the original intention of God creating the earth was for it to be inhabited by humans. But Genesis 1 verse 2 tells us something different far from the plan of God – the earth became not only vain (tohuw) but void (bohuw). Bohuw (H922) – is from the Hebrew word to mean emptiness, a vacuity, or an undistinguishable ruin. So, something happened that lead to the destruction of the earth mentioned in verse 1 of Genesis chapter one. This ruin made it impossible to be inhabited by humans.

The all-important question now is, why was the earth that God says He created not be in vain in Isaiah 45, became vain and void in Genesis 1:2. Are the words of God contradicting themselves? No, a remarkable event took place between the two verses and is the primary purpose of this study. Let’s continue with the character connected to this ruin – Lucifer. Please study part one of this study to gain full knowledge of him.

  1. What did the devil do to the earth when he was thrown down from heaven?

Read Revelation 12:9, Isaiah 14:17, Genesis 1: 2

Comment

After Lucifer lost the battle in heaven, he was banished to the earth he once protects. Because of the demotion, and all the things he lost, he and his fallen angels angrily began to destroy the earth, made it void (empty) and without form (shapeless). Satan made the earth like a wilderness, and his darkness (evil) covers it.

Scriptural references

Revelation 12:9, “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.”

Revelation 12:12, “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.”

Isaiah 14:17, “Who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?'”

Genesis 1:2, The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

  1. What did God do to the presence of darkness (evil) on earth before he started the work of re-creation?

Read Genesis 1:3-4, Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4

Comment

At God’s appointed time, when he decided to make his will done on earth, he began to renew the earth so that humans can inhabit it. The first thing God did was to separate the presence of evil on earth and confined it to a place called Tartarus. God limited the devil and his angels’ influence by putting them under imprisonment until judgment day.

Scriptural references

Psalms 104:30, “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, And You renew the face of the earth.”

Genesis 1:3-4, “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”

Jude 1:6, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;”

2 Peter 2:4, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;”

2 Kefa (2 Pe) 2:4 CJB, “For God did not spare the angels who sinned; on the contrary, he put them in gloomy dungeons lower than Sh’ol to be held for judgment.”

2 Peter 2:4 HCSB, “For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness until judgment;”

  1. What is the significance of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Read Genesis 2:8-9, Genesis 6:5, Romans 7:15-20

Comment

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the two-knowledge present on earth. It shows how this knowledge is different yet can mingle in one. The tree is evidence of the presence of evil on earth before Adam and Eve were created. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree, they learned what was good and evil, but they found it difficult to choose what is good. Their heart was continually evil.

Scriptural references

Genesis 2:8-9, The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground, the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The Tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 6:5, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Romans 7:15-20, For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.  If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

  1. Who are the main target of Satan and his fallen angels?

Read Revelation 12:17

Comment

Satan does not like those who obey God’s commandments and keep the testimony of Jesus. They are his target, and he will do anything to bring them down. This was the main reason he went after Adam and Eve, who kept the one commandment given to them since their creation.

Scriptural references

Revelation 12:17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

  1. Where was Satan when God created Adam?

Read Ezekiel 28:12-13, Revelation 12: 7-9, Revelation 12:12,

Comment

Lucifer was already on earth when God created Adam. He was in the Garden of Eden in the form of the serpent.  Apparently, he had already rebelled against God and became Satan (i.e., The Adversary).  His goal was to deceive Adam and Eve.

Scriptural references

Ezekiel 28:12-13, “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; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.”

Revelation 12: 7-9, 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.

Revelation 12:12, “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. Why do you think Satan went after the human race?

Read Revelation 12:12, Revelation 12:17, Matthew 25:41

Comment

1.He was Jealous, bitter, and angry because man was created in the image and likeness of God, something he desired. He was also angry with the human race because God filled his position with them and put the angels under them. And Satan’s attitude became – If I don’t have it, you can’t have it.

Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Psalms 8:4-6, “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”

2. He does not want to be destroyed alone in the lake of fire, which was initially prepared for him and his angels.

Matthew 25:41, “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ”

3. He does not want the will of God to be done on earth.

Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

4. He still desired to be worship like God. He directs worship and allegiance from God to himself by changing God’s laws and His reckoning of time.

Luke 4:5-8 “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.”

Daniel 7:25, “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.”

5. He also wants humans to rebel against their Creator by tempting them and creating attitudes of disobedience to God’s laws so that no one will be saved.

Revelation 12:17, And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ,

  1. How much time does the devil has to carry out his evil enterprise on earth?

Read Revelation 12:12

Comment

The scripture says, “short time.” He only has 6,000 years. (6 millennials)

Scriptural references

Revelation 12:12, “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. What is the end of Satan and his angels?

Read 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10

Comment

Satan and his angels will be judged on the day of judgment and then cast into the lake of fire.

Scriptural references

2 Peter 2:4,  “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;”

Jude 1:6,  “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;”

Matthew 25:41,  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:”

Revelation 20:10,  “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Conclusions

The earth mentioned in Genesis chapter 1 verse 2 was a re-creation of the earth in verse 1. When God first created the earth in verse 1, He made it not to be in vain but inhabited by humans; that was the original plan. But when Lucifer, who became Satan, who was once earth’s guidance angel, lost the war in heaven and was banished to the earth. As he got back to the earth, he laid it in waste and made it void and formless. The presence of Satan and the fallen angels (evil) on earth constitute the darkness that was on earth mentioned in verse 2. When God in verse 2 started the re-creation, the first thing he did was to create light. The light created was not any light-giving planetary; it was not the sun, moon, or star; those were created later. What God created was the opposite of evil – good. He then confined the darkness to a place but still allow Satan to roam the earth. When God created man, Satan is aware of it and knows the tremendous potential of man. Satan did not like to be under man’s authority, so God’s idea of placing him under man was contested and resisted.

To remove himself from man’s authority, he made the first human to do what made God banished him from heaven – rebellion. He deceived Adam and Eve to disobey God’s law so that they will be like him; humans were then placed under the judgment of God as Satan and his fallen angels. Because of man’s disobedience, they handed their authority to Satan, and all the fallen angels were loosed from their confinement, inflicting and recking havoc on the human race. Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their spirits were cut off from God’s Holy Spirit and connected to this world’s spirit (the spirit that comes from Satan), producing characters and attitudes of disobedience to God’s commandment.

Satan does not like those who obey God, and they are his primary target to bring them down by deceiving them and bringing temptation on their way. Satan is the believers’ adversary who accuses them before God. One thing is sure about Satan’s fate; as he lost the battle in heaven, he is doomed to lose the battle again on earth at the second coming of the Messiah and be destroyed forever in the lake of fire.