Answering Epicurus

A possible atheist once said:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

A theist reply:

If I’m not mistaken, the quote above is a rephrase of the ancient atheist philosopher Epicurus.

They key mistake in the quote is that it ignores the element of “time”.

Yes, in “time”, we’ll have each of the above answered as follows:

God is willing to prevent evil and is able in “time”. He is omnipotent but doesn’t enforce it before creation is given its “time” to prove itself right first against evil.

He able and willing in “time”. He is malevolent but now, gives us the “time” to prove ourselves first.

He is both able and willing and will show it in “time”. Evil is a result of transgressing against His Good Way.

He is able and willing which will be shown in “time”. That’s why all will call him God in “time” when they see Him solve all these problems in “time”.

When is this “time”?
Now till the ages to come according to each one’s restoration.