The fact is: all such
beliefs are inconsistent with an effective monotheism. Not logically, it is
true. Christian theologians were to meet the requirements of theoretical monotheism
by the doctrine that God created all angels good, but endowed them with free
will. When they rebelled against Him, neither His omnipotence nor His goodness
were impaired. But no matter how subtly one may elaborate this theory, it still
leaves some Satan or Azazel in active opposition to God. Maybe it is only by
divine tolerance, even by divine intent, that the demons retains his power.
Maybe God utilizes the Devil’s evil purposes in order to work ultimate good.
Maybe God can destroy him at any time, and will do so some day. But for the
moment he remains an active and determined enemy of God and man. The average
person looks on the Prince of Evil with a fear that amounts almost to
reverence. To escape the Devil may become a more pressing concern than to serve
God. (Bernard J. Bamberger, Fallen Angels: Soldiers of Satan’s Realm [Philadelphia:
The Jewish Publication Society, 1952], 55-56)
