Interesting Questions-117

Did God create Satan?

Letter to the Editor:
GOD'S MESSAGE, December 2001, p.2

I HAVE READ your magazine and I find your teachings quite interesting and enlightening. I wrote  to ask these questions that have been bothering me for some time: What is the purpose of God in creating Satan? If God is a God of love, why did He create such an evil being?

Stanly Erdmann
Rochester, New York, U.S.A.

Editor's reply:

God did not create evil. He did not cerate the devil. What He created was a guardian cherub included among His holy angels”

            “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” (Ezek. 28:14-15, New International Version).

            The anointed cherub was created as blameless and perfect, until wickedness was found in him. Seeing his perfection, the anointed cherub turned against God and aspired to be like the Most High. The almighty, seeing the arrogance and pride of the cherub,  cast him down to earth:

            “ How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart,’I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’.” (Is 14:12-14, Ibid.)

             Thus, what was once the guardian cherub – a perfect creation – is now the devil or Satan (Is.14:15; Rev. 12:9). Satan is God’s adversary. The Bible also refers to Satan as the “great dragon” or “serpent” who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9). He is the father of lies who “walks about like a roaring lion” seeking for victims to devour (Jn.8:44; I Pt. 5:8-9, New King James Version?).

            God did not create Satan.  Rather,  it was the cherub that consequently became Satan after going against the Almighty God.

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Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind.