# Origins of Evil

> Evil had no part in God's plan. Lucifer was created an upright angel, not the villain he became — and the Son of God was manifested for one purpose: to destroy the works of the devil, and to make an utter end of them.

- Source: https://timeisathandlive.org/studies/origins-of-evil
- Site: Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries (https://timeisathandlive.org)
- Key scripture: 1 John 3:8
- Topics: Bible study
- Updated: 2026-08-28
- Licence: free to read, quote and share, with attribution.

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> **1 John 3:8** — He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth
> from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he
> might destroy the works of the devil.

In the beginning evil had no part in God's plan. When He created the earth, He
said everything was *very good*.

> **Genesis 1:31** — And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it
> was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

## Created upright, and not a villain

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Lucifer is the originator of sin and
all evil. He was created as an upright angel, and not the villain that he turned
out to be.

> **Isaiah 14:12** — 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!

> **Ezekiel 28:15** — Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast
> created, till iniquity was found in thee.

<figure>
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    <img
      src="/images/blog/how-evil-began.jpg"
      alt="Where the Bible says evil came from — Lucifer created perfect in his ways, his heart lifted up by pride and beauty, and then cast out with his angels"
      width="1600"
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  <figcaption>
    <strong>Perfect, lifted up, cast out</strong>
    Scripture does not begin the story with a monster. It begins with something that was good.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

After his rebellion in heaven he was cast out, and managed to spread his
rebellious spirit across the earth.

> **Revelation 12:9** — And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
> called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out
> into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The heart of Lucifer was lifted up with pride and self-exaltation.

> **Ezekiel 28:17** — Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast
> corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the
> ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The angels who took sides with Lucifer were cast out of heaven with him.

> **Jude 1:6** — And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their
> own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
> judgment of the great day.

## An angel of light, and a roaring lion

Satan is responsible for all the evils and destruction on planet earth. He
appears as an angel of light to those he tries to deceive.

> **2 Corinthians 11:14** — And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into
> an angel of light.

The whole world suffers because of his deception. He continues his work of
corrupting, deceiving and destroying by his wiles.

> **1 Peter 5:8** — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
> roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

## The heart, and the only cure

The rapid spread of evil has affected all humanity.

> **Jeremiah 17:9** — The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
> wicked: who can know it?

Only Christ has the power to rectify the problem of evil.

> **Psalm 51:10** — Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
> within me.

Because of evil, the heart of humanity has become desperately evil and in need
of serious transformation.

## He will make an utter end

The whole origin and development of evil is a mystery, but it should not be
excused nor compromised with. We must all co-operate with Christ, who promises
that He will put a full end to it.

> **Nahum 1:9** — What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter
> end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

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    <img
      src="/images/blog/he-will-make-an-utter-end.jpg"
      alt="Nahum 1:9 — 'What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time'"
      width="1600"
      height="1000"
      loading="lazy"
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  <figcaption>
    <strong>Not a truce, an end</strong>
    The promise is not that evil will be contained, but that it will not rise a second time.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

> **Revelation 21:27** — And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that
> defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they
> which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

God will make a full end of Satan, evil angels, and all those who will not give
up evil practices.

> **Malachi 4:1** — For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and
> all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day
> that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave
> them neither root nor branch.

> **Isaiah 35:9-10** — No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up
> thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And
> the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and
> everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
> sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

<figure>
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      type="image/webp"
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              /images/blog/what-god-will-put-an-end-to-800w.webp 800w,
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              /images/blog/what-god-will-put-an-end-to-1600w.webp 1600w"
    />
    <img
      src="/images/blog/what-god-will-put-an-end-to.jpg"
      alt="What will not survive the end — Satan himself, the evil angels, evil people, evil activities, and sorrow and sighing"
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  <figcaption>
    <strong>The list is short, and it is complete</strong>
    Nothing on it is left standing, and nothing is left over to disturb what follows.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

God will put an end to evil and all the results of evil. There will be no more
Satan and evil angels; no more evil people and no more evil activities. There
will be nothing here to disturb our happiness and peace forever and ever, to the
honour and glory of God.

## The invitation

This can only be a reality for you and me if we accept the invitation of the
Lord.

> **Isaiah 1:16-20** — Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings
> from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment,
> relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now,
> and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
> they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be
> as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But
> if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of
> the LORD hath spoken it.

> Our condition through sin is unnatural, and the power that restores us must be
> supernatural, else it has no value. There is but one power that can break the
> hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus
> Christ. Only through the blood of the Crucified One is there cleansing from
> sin. His grace alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our
> fallen nature. The spiritualistic theories concerning God make His grace of no
> effect. If God is an essence pervading all nature, then He dwells in all men;
> and in order to attain holiness, man has only to develop the power within him.
>
> — *The Ministry of Healing*, p. 428

We need Christ to bring an end to evil in our lives and in the world.

---

On the God this study says evil misrepresents,
[Mystery of the Eternal Godhead](/studies/mystery-of-the-eternal-godhead) takes
up the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and
[Getting to Know Jesus](/studies/getting-to-know-jesus) takes up Philippians
3:10 and knowing Him personally. On the end this study points to,
[Time Shall Be No More](/end-time/time-no-more) works through Revelation 10 and
the close of probation.

If this study has raised something you would like to talk through, the team
reads every message: [ask a Bible question](/contact/bible-questions), or
[send a prayer request](/contact/prayer-requests).