Where Did Satan Get His Power for Evil?
Selected from our Questions and Answers program
A: The origin of evil is one of the greatest theological problems we have. There are
books written on this subject! Let’s turn to the Scripture that gives to us the origin of evil, as far as we know. It tells of the fall of Satan: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…” (
Isaiah 14:12,13). Satan was created with the power, but then he said in his heart, “I will be like the most High.” This creature wanted to be like God – so much so that he wanted to take His place. He was far superior to any of God’s angels or creations, so he felt that he could set his will over the will of God. That’s what sin is: To set your will over the will of God. How many men and women are living self-sufficient lives? They don’t need God. He gets in their way, and they’d like to get rid of Him entirely if they could. There are those today who make the statement of what they are going to do, and even though it’s contrary to the will of God, they don’t mind saying it or trying to do it. And
that is the innate evil.
