Why does God allow Satan to exist and to torment mankind?
One of God's chief angelic creatures, "Lucifer" (the "light-bearer"), was "perfect in all [his] ways from the day [he] was created, till iniquity was found in [him]" (Ezekiel 28:15). Note therefore that God created Satan sinless, but he became prideful, and he desired to conquer God, to "be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Timothy 3:6). Since Satan made his own choices, he becomes an instrument in the hands of God. God uses Satan (through his temptations and deceit) to test the hearts and motives of people. This is not to punish people but rather to give them free will. Think of Adam and Eve. Before Satan even tempted Eve, there was a tree of life and a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God placed them in the garden and told them not to eat of that second tree. So, even without Satan, God gave Adam and Eve free will and choice to show faith in Him or to have faith in themselves. Satan event...