In Mankind
Gen 1:26-31
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.  NIV

When God created the earth, He created man to have dominion over the earth and all the creatures on earth, He placed man in the “Garden of Eden” allowed him to be over everything God has created. The only thing man wasn’t allowed to do was eat the fruit of the “Tree of Knowledge,” but, another being was already here on earth, and showed himself in the form od a serpent.

Gen 3:1-7
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
NIV
So if wickedness was already here in the form of the serpent, where did it come from?

Isa 14:12-21

12 The Fall of Lucifer
"How you are fallen from heaven,O Lucifer, son of the morning!How you are cut down to the ground,You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart:'I will ascend into heaven,I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 "Those who see you will gaze at you,And consider you, saying:'Is this the man who made the earth tremble,Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities,Who did not open the house of his prisoners?' 18 "All the kings of the nations,All of them, sleep in glory,Everyone in his own house; 19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch,Like the garment of those who are slain,Thrust through with a sword,Who go down to the stones of the pit,Like a corpse trodden underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial,Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people.The brood of evildoers shall never be named. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers,Lest they rise up and possess the land,And fill the face of the world with cities." NKJV

Lucifer, was one of God’s angels, in fact the angel just under God in authority, and He set a rebellion against God in Heaven, and he and the angels that followed him were cast of of Heaven to earth, so this was where wickedness came from.

Among Angels. Isaiah spoke of it in the 14th chapter verse 12 - 17.
Isa 14:12-17
12 How you have fallen from heaven,O morning star, son of the dawn!You have been cast down to the earth,you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart,"I will ascend to heaven;I will raise my throne above the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.   14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;I will make myself like the Most High." 15 But you are brought down to the grave,to the depths of the pit.
16 Those who see you stare at you,they ponder your fate:"Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17 the man who made the world a desert,who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home? NIV
Also in Ezekiel 28 : 15 - 16.
Ezek 28:15-16
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. NIV
And again in Jude verse 6.
Jude 6
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. NIV

In Israel, Again in Isaih 1 : 1 - 6
Isa 1:1-6
1:1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!For the LORD has spoken:"I reared children and brought them up,but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his master,the donkey his owner's manger,but Israel does not know,my people do not understand."
4 Ah, sinful nation,a people loaded with guilt,a brood of evildoers,children given to corruption!They have forsaken the LORD;they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.
5 Why should you be beaten anymore?Why do you persist in rebellion?Your whole head is injured,your whole heart afflicted. 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness — only wounds and welts and open sores,not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.  NIV


In the Church
Rev 3:14-16
14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. NIV

This earth was made for time eternal, but The Devil, Satan, changed that when he tempted Eve with sin and her and her husband ate of the “Tree of Knowledge.” So between chapter 3 of Genesis and Revelation is God’s plan for the redemption of mankind, and also the final defeat of Satan. The wickedness we inherited from our forefathers has its redemption in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and our Faith in Him. We are saved BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH IN THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST.

I hope this enhances your study of the Bible to seek God and His love and redemption for you (mankind). I always suggest the people start the reading of the Bible with the “Gospel of John,” and then begin the book of Genesis, etc.

Please allow God to speak to you as you read His word.

Rev. Zack Martin Sr.