"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)
From ancient times till today, we always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" The usual conclusions we get are:
- God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
- God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
- God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.
There is an appointed time for everything.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)
This timing is not given to men.
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:7 ESV)
There is a time for iniquities to be full.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16 ESV)
There is a time for desolation to be completed.
During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. (Daniel 9:2 NIV)
At the appointed time, the Anointed One came to die for the sins of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)
Then there will be a number of Gentiles that needs to be saved.
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 ESV)
And there will be a number of martyrs to be killed.
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:11 ESV)
Then the Anointed One will come again to bring an end to evil.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NIV)
And bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)
At this present moment, there seems to be no action from God. But God will act when the time come. There will be no delay.
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4 NIV)
In the meantime, before God acts to end evil, good men have to exercise patience and faith.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:12-14 NIV)
Evil men have their chance to repent.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)
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