4. Why did Jehovah permit rebellion against his righteous rule?

⁴ When rebelling against Jehovah’s rule, the Devil influenced the first human pair to do the same. He challenged the rightfulness and righteousness of God’s universal sovereignty. In effect, Satan claimed that his rule would be better than that of the Creator. (Gen. 3:1-5) Though Jehovah permitted Satan to try to prove his side of the issue, such permission was temporary. In his great wisdom, Jehovah has allowed enough time to pass to expose very clearly the inadequacy of any rule other than his. The miserable record of mankind shows that neither humans nor Satan can provide what we need in the way of good rulership.

5. What has mankind’s history clearly demonstrated?

⁵ Just in the past 100 years, over 100 million people have been killed in the wars of the nations. Today, world conditions keep getting worse. This is just what God’s Word foretold would happen in “the last days” of the present system of things when “wicked men and impostors [would] advance from bad to worse.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 13) History has demonstrated beyond any doubt the truthfulness of what the Bible says: “I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jer. 10:23) No, Jehovah did not create humans with the ability or the right to direct their affairs independent of him.

6. What purpose is served by God’s temporary permission of wickedness?

⁶ In addition to showing how futile human rule is, God’s temporary permission of wickedness serves another long-range purpose. It provides permanent testimony that only God’s rule can be successful. After Jehovah destroys wickedness and those who cause it, if anyone ever again would challenge Jehovah’s way of ruling in love, there would be no need for God to permit the challenge to stand. He could use what has happened in mankind’s history as the just reason to remove such rebels quickly, not allowing them to establish wickedness once again.

SOON​—THE END OF WICKEDNESS

10, 11. (a) How will Jehovah deal with wicked people? (b) How will Jehovah reward rightly disposed people?

¹⁰ Because he is a God of love and he hates wickedness, Jehovah has purposed to rid the earth​—as well as the rest of the universe—​of evil when the issue regarding rulership is settled to his satisfaction. God’s Word promises: “Evil men will be done away with, but those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth. Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more . . . The enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures; they will vanish like smoke.”​—Ps. 37:9, 10, 20.

¹¹ On the other hand, God’s Word also promises: “The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.” (Ps. 37:29) Such upright ones “will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” (Ps. 37:11) This will come to pass because our loving God always does what is in the best interests of his faithful servants. The Bible tells us: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) What a marvelous future awaits all of us who truly appreciate Jehovah’s love and obey him as our Ruler!