The Bible refers to hatred, murder, lying as sin because the only real definition of sin is found in 1 John 3:4: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Since we know that the law is the manifestation of the character of God, then sin must be that which goes contrary to His character. It is a note of discord in the universe. On the other hand, Christ brings unity among His followers: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).

At the same time Christ declared, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Why? Because men would not receive the word of life. Because they warred against the message sent them to bring them joy and hope and life.

“We look upon the Jews as inexcusable because they rejected and crucified Christ. But today the messages that the Lord sends are often received in a manner similar to the way in which the Jews received Christ’s message. If the instruction of the Lord does not harmonize with the opinions of men, anger takes control of reason, and men play into the enemy’s hands by opposing the message that God sends. Satan uses them as sharp instruments to oppose the progress of truth.”1

Although there is unity among Christ’s followers, Satan brings in only discord. Even among his own followers there is discord. So then we may conclude that before sin existed, there was perfect unity in the universe. All created beings were in harmony with the character of God. All was held together by the power of love for “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). The foundation of this true love is obedience to the law which is simply the manifestation of God’s character: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). Again, so long as there was no sin, transgression of the law, there was perfect harmony in the universe—for they all lived by the principle of obedience to God through true love. Why did they respond with obedience through true perfect love? “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This was not only the case after we sinned, because Christ was our Surety even before the foundation of this world was laid (Revelation 13:8).

So then, where does sin come from? Let us read Ezekiel 28:11–15. “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

How do we know that this is not speaking literally of the king of Tyre? Because this being was in the garden of Eden (v. 13). If the king of Tyre was human, he was born of a woman. Therefore, he would start sinning from birth. The psalmist explains the true condition of everyone (except Jesus Christ) who has ever been born: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Of all those born of a woman, Christ is the only One who never sinned at all: “for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:21, 22). So this being could not have been a man such as the king of Tyre (literally) for, as mentioned above: “Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15).

Also, the king of Tyre could not have been in Eden if he were a sinful man, for the only sinful persons in Eden were Adam and Eve—and because of their sin, they were expelled: “and the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:22–24).

The only other being involved with sin in Eden was the serpent (he who used the serpent). “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:14). You know the story. But who really was that serpent? “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” (Revelation 12:9). These were the only created beings that had committed sin on record in Eden. Therefore, this being recorded in Ezekiel who was in Eden and was once perfect must be Satan.

Notice the description of Satan before he became what we know of him today. He was “the anointed cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14). In the sanctuary service among the Hebrews, the cherubim were in the immediate presence of God. (See Exodus 25:10–22. Especially make note of the presence of God in verse 22.) So, Satan, prior to becoming such an evil being, must have been one of the closest created beings in the universe to God if not the closest since it says “the anointed cherub.”

We can also see that Satan was a very musical being. So much so, that “the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezekiel 28:13). This shows why he uses music with so great success in the world today.

Because of his beauty, he became proud and sin was found in him. “By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 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. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be anymore” (Ezekiel 28:16–19).

Because of his sin, he will finally be destroyed and cease to exist. (v. 19.) Notice how this will happen. God says: “I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee” (v. 18). This being, Satan, must be the same as that root spoken of in Malachi 4:1–3. Notice the similarity in the destruction: “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. . . . And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Notice again: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

So, sin came into this world and universe through Satan in some mysterious way, for he was originally created perfect.

Another chapter also speaks of this fall of Satan is found in Isaiah 14:12–20. “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! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.”

By comparing these verses with those of Ezekiel, we can see that Lucifer here is the same as the wicked one there. But let’s compare also with the chapter in Revelation. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was there place found any more in heaven. 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.” Isaiah said that Lucifer fell from heaven. (Isaiah 14.) How clear a picture the Revelator gives of this event, but how sad the story. When he fell from heaven, John says: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:7–9, 12).

According to the reading in Isaiah, we see that the cause of Satan’s fall from being Lucifer was due to pride and self-exaltation: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the most High” (Verses 13, 14). With this understanding, we may be able to appreciate the warnings in the following verses more than before: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Corinthians 10:12). This original of sins is still the cause of woe—not only with Satan and his angels but to all those who are not living in a saving relationship with Christ.

Therefore, why did Lucifer become Satan? Because instead of seeking to glorify God (Isaiah 14:13, 14) which was His due (Colossians 1:16) in his affections and allegiance, it was Lucifer’s endeavor to win homage to himself. Thus he became the father of evil, the father of lies, and yes, the father of hatred. (John 8:44.) His murderous plans were fully revealed when he inspired the Jews to crucify Christ. But in this very act, he sealed his destiny: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

But “because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). And so it has been with Satan. He grew bolder and bolder in defiance against God and His government that he is going about as a roaring lion, “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But finally it will all end. As we have already seen, he, with all his followers, will be destroyed never again to bother this universe, for the promise is: “what do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time” (Nahum 1:9).

In contrast to this horrible, destructive character of Satan, we find that only righteousness belongs to God: “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day” (Daniel 9:7). By this verse we may understand that God is righteousness. In other words, His character is righteous. Whenever we say that a person is righteous, we mean his character.

Another Scripture says: “For all thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172). Since God is righteous (this reveals His character), and all His commandments are also righteous, therefore, we may conclude that sin, which includes hatred, murder, and lying, could not have originated with God for only righteousness comes from Him. We may also conclude that in order for us to understand His character, we must look at His commandments, for they reveal it to us.

But even if we study His commandments, can we ever come to the full understanding of His character? “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:33–36). Even though we may never understand Him fully, we can understand something: “the secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Here we notice that although the secret things belong to Him and to Him alone, there is that which is revealed. It belongs to us and to our children so that we may obey what we learn. We must study those things which are revealed so that we can come to the fullest knowledge available to us so that we can find out the true doctrines (teachings) in order to bring us unto perfection: “That the man of God may be perfect, perfected unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17, mgn.).

Why is it so important to know God? Why is it so important to know truth? Because Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). So the truth is Jesus and in knowing Jesus the truth, we have eternal life: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). If we know Jesus right now as far and as deep as we can know Him, we have eternal life. Not in some great distant future but right now. Notice these words: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

In contrast to this character, we find the character of the archdeceiver. And yet there is no reason for his existence. The work of sin is called “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). A mystery is something that we cannot fully understand. “Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin.”2 Instead, it would be a natural part of the universe. Because of the perfect character of the Creator, mysteriously there has been this conspiracy from one who was once called Lucifer who has become this fiendish being called the devil and Satan.

And what happens to those that follow Satan’s ways in spite of God’s revelation of His character and His invitations to give forgiveness freely to those that repent? “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices” (Proverbs 1:24–31).

Why is it so hard for us to change? “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20). It has to do with our desires. This is why God wants to help us actually change the way we think. Oh, if we would only realize how staying as we are is not to our benefit: “A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame” (Proverbs 13:5). In reality, to remain in a sinful condition causes our own death. God explains: “He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:36).

Is there a positive side to hatred—not against people as we are to show God’s love to the world even those that become our enemies? “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43–48).

We need to come to the point of hating sin so that we can turn away from it in our hearts. The psalmist declares: “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). Since Satan is the father of lies, then it is natural that those who are born again have a hatred to that specific action. “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love” (Psalm 119:163). Those that insist on maintaining that character enter into a war with those who espouse the character of God. “Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies” (Psalm 139:21, 22). And this is not just in our actions but even in the realm of thoughts. “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love” (Psalm 119:113). Even thoughts are triggered with certain actions. For this reason we need to guard well the avenues of our senses that affect our soul. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

Even God has hatred of certain things. “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16–19).

How are we to imitate God’s character? “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:15).

What will be the result in our personal lives in relation to the world and the ruler of the world? “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). How should we react to such actions of the world? “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22).

How is it possible to do what is right and then suffer for it? “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25). The issue has to do with the act of surrender—surrender of our will to the loving will of our Creator.

Just imagine that day: “The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.”3

Remember this: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:9–14).