1. WHY WOULD GOD MAKE A DEVIL?

The Bible says He didn't. He made a perfect superbeing (`angel') who chose pride and selfishness and violence instead of love. Ezekiel, a Bible prophet, wrote:

`The Lord spoke to me, saying,
`Man, sing the saddest blues for the King of Tyre
[a symbol of Satan*]. Tell him from me:
"You had it all - perfection, wisdom, beauty
You were covered in jewels and gems.
I appointed you as the guarding angel.
You used to walk on God's holy mountain,
Among the sparkling stones.
You were totally perfect when you were made
-until sin was found in you.
You became greedy, and war started in your heart.
You sinned.
So I threw you out of the mountain of God like a nobody -
And I will destroy you"
(-Ezekiel 28:11-17, paraphrased)

Another passage gives the reason Satan lost it:

`How have you fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the dawn?
(You've been cast to the earth, where you weaken whole nations.)

Because you said:

`I will rise higher than heaven.
I will put my throne above God's stars
I will be like the Most High God.
Yet you will be brought down to the grave'
(-Isaiah 14:12-15)

Pride, selfishness, competitiveness.
A summary of evil.

2. WHY ON EARTH?

`And there was war in heaven: Michael [that name means `the one who is what God is'] and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought and lost, and there was no place for them in heaven.


So the great dragon was thrown out - the old snake who is called the Devil and Satan - He was thrown out into the earth - Revelation 12:7-9

Put that against the old Genesis story (chapters 2,3), where a snake tempts the first humans to `fall' (i.e. accept evil into their mind and nature) and here's the meaning you get:

Evil began in Lucifer by his own choice, and spread to other spiritual beings by their choice. The first humans experimented with it against God's advice, and brought Earth under the control of evil - Satan became `the prince of this world' (John 14:30). God still works with people who rebel against Satan's dark kingdom of evil and `sin'. God hopes people will see the results of evil and choose His leadership, rather than blaming Him for what Satan did. Jesus told people to pray `May Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.' Then, when it's obvious that Satan's government is to blame for all Earth's evil, God will get rid of evil and anyone who stubbornly chooses it.

Meanwhile, evil is not fair. Cancer doesn't care if you're Mother Teresa or an axe-murderer. Rapists can pass on AIDS to their innocent victims. You are less likely to suffer if you practise safe sex and don't share needles, but AIDS (like all evil) hits the best and the worst of us. Jesus said, `Rain falls on everyone, good and bad.'