Why did the devil rebel

Although the bible does not tell us why the devil rebelled and carried off one third of the angels, it does give us hints.

One hint is that the bible does not teach that the Devil is omniscient. That is, he is not all knowing like God. He does not know what will happen in the future. This does not mean that he does not have a vast knowledge for he has had many millenniums to learn all about our weakness. Therefore the bible warns us in (1 Pet 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:.

Another hint is that time has an arrow, that is it goes in one direction. The first three words of the bible “ In the beginning ….“ started time and then the bible tells of a history of God‘s dealing with his creation and that there will be an end when Jesus comes a second time.

With these two hints let us look at two ideas about why the devil rebelled.

1. One cause for jealousy and rebellion is: When the Devil saw that man would be elevated, in Christ, to the right hand of God in Christ’s Incarnation and Ascension.

2. Another cause is: When the devil saw that man and woman were made in the image of God.

Both of the above causes elevate mankind to the highest position in all of God’s creation.

Let us now establish a time line for these causes. First, there was no sin at the end of God’s creation for when he finished he declared it to be very good: (Gen 1:31 KJV) 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. Second, during creation both man and woman were created in God’s image: (Gen 1:27 KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Third, sin enters into God’s creation in the third chapter of Genesis when the serpent tempts Eve. And fourth Christ’s Incarnation and Ascension occurs Many millenniums in the future.

Because the devil, in chapter three of Genesis, would have had to look Many millenniums into the future to know of Christ’s Incarnation and Ascension, the first cause is eliminated, for the devil is not omniscient. However the second cause fits into the time line very well. Creation takes place in chapter one of Genesis and the devil has time to see this before chapter three when he temps Eve. Seeing this elevated position of the image of God could be the reason for the devil to rebel.