Grappling with matters of evil, it's creation, it's effects on the world, and Gods Judgments are the single most difficult topic matter in ALL of christian theology. The matters are termed in the realm, Theodicy. The study of evil in conjunction with A Perfect God. From there ALL wonder arises. We say, how in the world can this possibly be so? Even the world vaunts this in our face. They all say IF there is A God, then WHY is there so much evil and death?
Eschatology [end time] is a sub-section study of Theodicy, because it concerns the END of evil, sin, death, and the scriptural precursors to that final event, that HOPE of our faith.
And in this field of Theodicy, there are many speculations. Most of them quite worthless I might add. Some postures insulate God from His Own creation. Some make God out to be some kind of a Sovereign Monster. Some have numerous other gods creating themselves, essentially polytheism. Some even go so far as to say there is no evil, but that it only exists because of a lack of good, as in a vacuum.
The entire arena is fraught theological with landmines.
IF we look even closer we might even find these various postures, in attempts to understand evil, are what have divided the churches.
So where do we even begin?
I submit to the Divine Sovereignty of God in Christ. To understand, perhaps we start at the TOP? Let's look at our own King of All Creation. I have shared with many fine theologians, living and (dead in the flesh.) Many of them consider Paul's letter to the Ephesians The Holy Spirit's LOVE LETTER to the churches. I do as well. And Paul set's up The Spirit's Love Letter thusly, with The Divine Superiority of God in Christ. IN this we see many matters. One of them is God in Christ's Sovereignty over ALL THINGS, and this would also be His Sovereignty over the power of EVIL, and even our Sovereignty IN HIM.
Ephesians 1:
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
What are, then, ALL THINGS?
Let's just put off the charades, and consider, in the simplicity of ALL THINGS, that means ALL THINGS.
IF ALL THINGS were created by God, through Christ, THEN that includes powers, some invisible, and also includes the POWER of EVIL. Is EVIL a power? Yes, by the Word of God through the Prophet:
Habakkuk 2:9
Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from
the power of evil!
Did God create ALL POWERS? Again, by the scriptures, yes:
Colossians 1:16
For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers:
all things were created by him, and for him:
If anyone wants to defend a less than Sovereign God, go find another thread to do so.
God created ALL THINGs including ALL POWERS and yes, that includes the power of evil,
which God PURPOSEFULLY MADE.
