Chapter 4—The Origin of Evil
The Origin of Evil a Mystery
The angels had been created full of goodness and love. They
loved one another impartially and their God supremely, and they were
prompted by this love to do His pleasure. The law of God was not a
grievous yoke to them, but it was their delight to do His command-
ments, to hearken unto the voice of His Word. But in this state of
peace and purity, sin originated with him who had been perfect in
all his ways. The prophet writes of him: “Thine heart was lifted up
because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of
thy brightness.” Sin is a mysterious, unexplainable thing. There was
no reason for its existence; to seek to explain it is to seek to give a
reason for it, and that would be to justify it. Sin appeared in a perfect
universe, a thing that was shown to be inexcusable.—
The Signs of the
Times, April 28, 1890
.
God had a knowledge of the events of the future, even before the
creation of the world. He did not make His purposes to fit circum-
stances, but He allowed matters to develop and work out. He did not
work to bring about a certain condition of things, but He knew that
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such a condition would exist. The plan that should be carried out upon
the defection of any of the high intelligences of heaven—this is the
secret, the mystery which has been hid from ages. And an offering
was prepared in the eternal purposes to do the very work which God
has done for fallen humanity.—
The Signs of the Times, March 25,
1897
.
The entrance of sin into heaven cannot be explained. If it were
explainable, it would show that there was some reason for sin. But
as there was not the least excuse for it, its origin will ever remain
shrouded in mystery.—
The Review and Herald, March 9, 1886
.
God did not create evil. He only made the good, which was like
Himself.... Evil, sin, and death ... are the result of disobedience, which
originated in Satan.—
The Review and Herald, August 4, 1910
.
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