The Reason God Cannot Punish Satan

Sun Myung Moon
November 3, 1991
Cheon Seong Gyeong, Book 1: True God, Chapter 4: Sections 4.1

Photo date and location unknown

Photo date and location unknown

The reasons for Satan's accusations

There is theological dispute over whether Satan existed from the very outset. If he has, it is a big problem. If Satan had always existed, craftily defying and hindering God's providence of restoration for six thousand years, who would be able to subjugate and eliminate him? That is the issue. (54-56, 1972.3.11)

Where did Satan come from? Some say that Satan has existed from the outset. If he were an original existence who opposed the all-knowing and almighty God and caused our original ancestors to fall, then we could not expect complete salvation as long as Satan existed. This would be dualism, and people would conclude that a world with two opposing purposes would continue forever. (53-259, 1972.3.6)

The original will for the ideal world of creation was never fulfilled due to the Fall. However, since God has absolute authority, even though the whole world might change, He can never change. Even though the devil took Adam, Eve and all creation away from God, the Absolute Being must subjugate Satan, who was originally an archangel, naturally rather than by force. Although God exists, it is as if He does not. He has to re-establish His absolute authority. God cannot strike first. The good God cannot strike the evil Satan. (210-340, 1990.12.27)

Why is the all-knowing and almighty God unable to wipe out Satan at one stroke? If He did so, that act would end up extinguishing Adam, Eve and the creation and destroying the ideal sphere of love as well. That is why He is prevented from doing so. The absolute Lord has the responsibility to absolutely fulfill what He said He would do. Despite Satan's fickleness, attacks and tenacious persecution, the Lord God has endured throughout history in order to recover His established principles. Nobody has known of this God. (208-256, 1990.11.20)

Why has the all-knowing, all-powerful and absolute God been letting Satan infringe upon human beings? Why did He let people be sacrificed, crushed under Satan's foot? Why was He so unable to exercise His power that people could not recognize His existence? This is a serious question. The answer is that God has had no nation, no people, no tribe and no family that He could govern. Furthermore, there has been no individual whose qualification He could officially recognize. If such an individual, family, tribe, people and sovereign nation are established, He will be able to govern the evil nations, peoples, tribes, families and individuals at once. Only this way will lead to goodness, and only then will God have His authority. (56-247, 1972.5.18)

Can you conquer Satan? Wasn't even God, the King of wisdom, immobilized due to Satan's accusation? It is the same for the president of a nation, when the citizens stage a demonstration because of something he did. Can he cut off their heads? Under certain conditions, even the all-knowing and almighty God cannot make a move. Even a government minister would be fired within a day were he found to be at fault. Hence, you must protect yourselves against conditions for accusation. How you develop that protection is an extremely challenging problem in your life of faith. This is a life and death matter. (76-58, 1975.1.26)

The human race was connected to Satan's life and lineage centered on his love. This is the problem. God cannot intervene or be present under these circumstances. Why has the all-knowing and almighty God seemed so incompetent throughout history? When Satan became the enemy, what did he take away? Satan deprived God of His love. Satan trampled on God's love, life and lineage. We should always be aware of this fact. (206-236, 1990.10.14)

Satan was originally an archangel. He declares to God, "Even though I became Satan due to the Fall, You should solve the problems according to the principles You set up because You are the omniscient, almighty and absolute God. Although I violated the law and became Satan, You, the all-knowing, almighty and absolute Being must work according to the laws You have laid down. Isn't that true?" (39- 88, 1971.1.10)

I am going to explain why we cannot proceed on our way without loving our enemy. It is very important for you to know this truth, although it is not written in the Divine Principle book. Although the archangel fell and accuses God, God must still observe the principles that He established, because He is God. God is the Absolute Being. Therefore, although the archangel had fallen, God is compelled to rule over His creation according to the principles and rules He laid down. God is always obliged to relate with the archangel in the same way, both before and after the Fall. That is why Satan says to God, "You are supposed to love me until the perfection period and beyond." (52-87, 1971.12.22)

Adam was supposed to have the three archangels under his command and they were to obey and love him absolutely. As long as the heavenly law and principle that demand absolute obedience and submission remain, Satan cannot do as he pleases with that principle and law, even though he does not absolutely obey and submit to God. Satan himself knows that eventually he has to follow the same principle. God can remove him if he goes against the principle and law. It is like the president exercising his authority through the constitution. If it is not in the constitution, the president cannot do as he wishes. (172-66, 1988.1.7)

The founder of the Unification Church is a serious man. I have always dealt seriously with issues such as God's existence and why the all-knowing and almighty God did not eliminate Satan at once. If you read the book of Job, you may ask how God can be so powerless. I had to understand all this. How serious I was to do so! I have placed my neck on the gallows and struggled for these truths at the risk of my life. We have to retrieve our original life. (187-122, 1989.2.5)

In the book of Job, God gave Satan all he asked for. Why? God cannot respond to Satan with the same behavior as the devil because God is the essence of love for others. So God is the essence of truth. (144- 161, 1986.4.12)

God does not subjugate Satan with His mysterious creative power. He makes Satan yield voluntarily. (207-349, 1990.11.11)

The devil has brought ruin to this world in order to prevent the world from returning to God. All this free sex and so on.... How many people in America engage in incest? A father with three daughters sleeps with all of his daughters. There have been a number of such cases. With free sex, the father's brother sleeps with the mother or a son sleeps with his mother. They are like animals. Thus, Satan laughs at God saying, "God, do You think You can establish Your ideal of creation and ideal of love under these circumstances?" (222-230, 1991.11.3)