The devil will not be in charge of casting people into hell. The truth is that God is the One who will cast the devil into hell. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10). The fate of the devil and his angels is already determined. These beings “which kept not their first estate” are destined to perish in the fires of the last day. “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).
Hell was prepared originally for the devil and his angels “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). But those that chose the devil and follow his example of rebellion will suffer the same fate.
God will certainly not leave the sinners under the merciless rule of the devil who rejoices in the suffering of people. The purpose of hell is to judge the sinners fairly then eliminate sin from the universe once and for all. The work of destroying the wicked in hell fire is so strange to God’s nature that the Bible calls it His “strange act.” God’s great heart will be pained at the destruction of the wicked. God did all that He can do to save humans even by offering His innocent Son to die and redeem them (John 3:16). But those that choose to obey the devil, God will have no choice but to let them suffer his destiny.
After hell fire goes out, God will create a new earth. The suffering of sin and the past will be forgotten. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:3, 4).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
