Anonymous asked: Why has Satan chosen evil? How can anyone chose evil having experienced God's presence?
While the Bible tells us a lot about Satan’s attributes and behavior, it does not reveal in detail the specifics of his rebellion. You pose an interesting question. Wouldn’t the fear and awe inspired by the presence of God Himself prevent any thought of rebellion from entering the mind?
The Bible does not go into great detail about Satan’s rebellion. We do know, however a few key facts about Satan and his angels. First of all, we know that Satan is a created being. Colossians 1:16 tells us that by Jesus Christ “all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him.” This obviously includes angelic beings such as Satan. Also, Satan must be a creation because he can not be eternal. God alone is eternal, and for Satan to share in this eternality would introduce a duality to Christianity that is incompatible with the Bible.
We also know that Satan, must have rebelled against God at some point between his creation and his tempting of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Since God declared all things He had created “very good,” Satan, a created thing, must have also been “very good” at this point.
There is much debate on passages in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 that are traditionally understood as referring to the fall of Satan. While these passages prophesy the downfall of earthly kings, many believe that there they may also refer to Satan’s rebellion. It is not unusual for prophetic passages to refer to two events, separated by a great length of time. This is true of many passages that refer both to King David and to Jesus Christ.
If these passages do refer to Satan, we learn a bit more about his character and history. Firstly, we learn that Satan was an unparalleled creation: incredibly wise, and highly privileged. Donald Barnhouse imagined the Satan’s position in heaven like this:
He awoke in the first moment of his existence in the full-orbed beauty and power of his exalted position; surrounded by all the magnificence which God gave him. He saw himself as above all the hosts in power, wisdom, and beauty. Only at the throne of God itself did he see more than he himself possessed, and it is possible that even that was in some sense not fully visible to the eyes of the creature.… Before his fall he may be said to have occupied the role of prime minister for God, ruling possibly over the universe but certainly over this world”
Secondly we learn the nature of his fall. According to Ezekiel 28:15-17, “sin was discovered” in Satan. He became proud because of his high position and beauty. In his incredibly foolish ambition, he wished to displace God Himself, claiming that he would “make himself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-17). As a result he was cast out of heaven.
The covers what we know of the history of Satan’s rebellion. It does not, however, answer your question. Why did such a privileged being, so intimately acquainted with the glory of God, ever choose to rebel against him?
I have only one thought. God’s majesty probably motivated Satan’s sin in the first place. He was jealous of God, jealous of his position, his perfection, and his glory. He lusted after it. He sinned, in the presence of a perfectly holy God. Do I understand it? No. I can say this: God knew that Satan was going to rebel. He knew that Satan was going to tempt mankind. He knew that mankind would rebel just like Satan did. But before He ever created Satan He had a plan, one in which Satan played an important role.
Satan’s rebellion against God truly is foolish, isn’t it? He can’t win. There is no possible outcome where Satan wins. This was as true before Satan was ever created as it is now. And yet he still persists in his rebellion, and he always will.
