EVIL

Evil [Hebrew roa, “badness, evil”. Greek kakia, “depravity, wickedness”; poneros, “worthless, degenerate”] is the opposition to God authored by Satan in prehistory.

Evil is the expression of the intrinsic nature of Satan, all that emanates from his arrogant thinking and constitutes his singular motive to gain victory over God.

Evil is a synonym for satanic doctrine—the worldly concepts that distract from grace and oppose biblical truth. “Evil” also describes the operations of Satan’s demon army (“spiritual forces of evil,” Ephesians 6:12b, corrected translation), as well as the character and production of perpetually carnal humans who reside in Satan’s cosmic system (Psalm 140:1-5; Proverbs 4:14-16; Jeremiah 32:31-35; 2 Timothy 3:13).

ORIGIN OF EVIL

Evil began in prehistory with the motivation of arrogance in “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12, KJV), the greatest of all creatures. From the sin of wanting to be like God came the evil of thinking he could defeat God (Isaiah 14:13-14). Parlaying his evil intent into opposition, the creature rebelled against the Creator and persuaded one-third of the angels to join him (Ephesians 6:12). The super-angel, renamed “Satan,” later interjected himself into the affairs of mankind. When Adam succumbed to temptation in the Garden, Satan seized rulership of the earth and became the evangelist of evil for all human history (1 John 5:19b; cf. John 12:31; 16:11).

EVIL IN THE WORLD

Evil is generally observed as the adverse trend of humanity, the malfunction of people and society without basic moral principles. But far beyond that superficial screen lurks the multifaceted system by which Satan rules the world and seeks to win his war against God. Evil encompasses Satan’s scheme to influence the human soul, establish his own utopian kingdom on earth, and prove himself to be “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14b). With devious ingenuity, he promotes the idea that man can remedy his inherent corruption through his own abilities. Satan’s counterfeit philosophies deceive the minds of believers and unbelievers alike, blinding them to their need for God and His grace (John 8:44b; 2 Corinthians 4:4). While evil captivates many of its followers with much seeming good, it also breeds confusion, rebellion, and violence among the human race (2 Corinthians 11:14). The devil’s policies, instead of ushering in peace and prosperity, wreak nothing but misery and destruction.

EVIL THINKING IN MAN

The evil that comprises Satan’s thinking finds its home in human viewpoint, prolonged carnality, and lack of integrity (Proverbs 28:5-6; John 8:44). Any compromise with evil, any infiltration of satanic viewpoint into the mentality of the soul, erodes restraint on the sin nature and traps man in Satan’s cosmic system (Psalm 141:4; 1 Corinthians 15:33-34; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:26). When personal sin combines with erroneous thinking, man produces evil—he either overtly opposes truth with lawlessness and immorality or subtly attacks it from beneath a pious, moral veneer (Mark 7:21-22; Acts 6:8-14; 2 Timothy 3:2-7). The latter is far more effective in whitewashing the depraved world and serving its evil ruler (Matthew 23:27).

VICTORY OVER EVIL

To discredit His doomed enemy as the angelic conflict plays out in human history, God permits evil to run its course (Proverbs 16:4; Matthew 25:41). But man is not left defenseless (Psalm 52:1; 117:2b). The laws of divine establishment provide protection for the unbeliever, and Bible doctrine in the soul insulates the believer from the destructive influence of evil (Proverbs 6:20-22; 16:6-7; 28:5; Romans 12:21; Ephesians 6:13-14a; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Timely divine judgments also limit the scope of evil assaults (Genesis 6:13; Psalm 34:16-17; Isaiah 13:11; 47:10-11; Micah 2:1-4; Matthew 23:37-38), and the Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry will keep Satan’s policies in check until the Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). Ultimately, the power of God’s perfect integrity will destroy the power and source of evil (Revelation 19:11—20:15).