Why didn’t God destroy the devil when he sinned and, thus, end the sin problem?

When sin first entered into the universe, it was something completely new, and it’s likely the inhabitants did not fully understand it. Lucifer was a brilliant, highly respected angelic leader. His approach was one of great concern for heaven and the angels.

He probably said something like this: “Heaven is good, but it would be improved with more angel input. Too much unchallenged authority, as the Father and Son have, tends to blind leaders to real life. Angels should not be required to take orders. We should give the orders. God knows my suggestions are correct, and He is feeling threatened. Others will listen if we move in unison. We must not be weak; we must act.”

Lucifer’s arguments convinced many angels, and one-third joined him. If God had destroyed Lucifer immediately, some angelic beings who did not fully understand God’s character might have begun to worship God through fear, saying, “Lucifer might have been correct. Be careful. If you differ with God, He might kill you.” So nothing would have been settled. Instead, the problem would have been heightened.

The only service acceptable to God is voluntary service prompted by love. Obedience for any other reason is dangerous, futile, and doomed to fail. Satan claimed he had a better plan for the government of the universe. God gave him time to demonstrate its principles. The Lord will abolish sin only after every soul in the universe is fully convinced that Satan’s government is unfair, hateful, ruthless, lying, and destructive.

The Bible says, “We are made a [theater] unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9). The entire universe is watching as we each play a part in the controversy between Christ and Satan. As the controversy ends, every soul will fully understand the principles of both kingdoms and will have chosen to follow either Christ or Satan.

Key Bible Texts

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6 KJV)