The Devil’s Thermostat - Misconceptions About Satan
For most people, Satan is a red, horned being with a pitchfork who manages hell. Television and movies don’t help, as they often portray the devil as the manager of hell who controls the thermostat and gets excited when another soul gets cast into his domain. Heaven and hell are probably the most misunderstood places, and sadly, it’s because we’ve allowed culture and errant theology to shape our understanding of Scripture.
Maybe I’ll do a post on heaven later, but for now, I want to focus on the topic of hell. Before you scroll down or click away to something more “cheerful”, remember that it’s important to have a right understanding of what Scripture teaches about one of the two eternal destinations people are going to end up in.
One of the most common misconceptions of Satan is that he manages hell and runs things deep down in the pits of fire and brimstone.
Culture tends to paint this picture vividly in books, television, and movies. Dante’s Inferno describes Satan as a demonic being in the ninth circle of hell, chewing on the likes of Judas Iscariot. It makes for a great visual, but it’s horribly unbiblical. Yes, Dante’s Inferno is nothing more than make-believe and should carry no theological weight any more than Star Wars does.
The Bible is our source of truth, not culture.
One of the great dangers for Christians today is the lack of biblical discernment. We are too easily persuaded by culture and the vain philosophies of the world. It’s scary to think about how many people get their theology from movies such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ or Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments instead of Scripture. The Bible is at odds with the common teachings of hell and Satan. So much so that you may be surprised at what Scripture says about them both.
For starters, Satan is not in hell.
Hell is the absolute last place he and his demons want to be. God manages hell, not Satan. God created hell for Satan, the demons, and it has also become the destinations for humans who reject the glorious gospel of his Son. (Matthew 25:41) Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:1-2) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan is restricted to this worldly realm and no longer can enter heaven as he once could. His focus now is to do as much damage as he can on the earth through false religions, the influence of worldly powers, and infiltrating the church with false doctrine. He knows his time is up soon, but he is bent on prowling around trying to make Christian’s lives miserable, knowing he can’t ultimately have them. He influences unbelievers by blinding their minds to the truth. When Christ returns, Satan and his demons along with all unbelievers will be cast into hell to be tormented day and night forever. (Revelation 20:10; 15)
Further, technically speaking, no one is in hell right now.
The book of Revelation teaches that at the second coming, Christ will throw Satan, his demons, and unbelievers into the lake of fire. That is hell. It’s a place not only of psychological and spiritual torment, but a physical place. It’s a place where death and Hades will also be thrown at the renewal of all things at Christ’s second advent.
Speaking of Hades, that is where the dead go before the return of Christ. It is what you might call the “intermediate state”. In Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus, we see the concept of Hades described in vivid detail. (Luke 16:19-31) Until Christ returns to throw evil and death into the lake of fire, when people die their spirits go to one of two places. Unbelieving spirits go to a place of spiritual torment. A “waiting room” for hell, if I may. Likewise, when a believer dies, their spirit goes to be in the presence of Christ in a place of spiritual bliss. We often call that heaven. However, these are not the final destinations for either group. This is a critical point.
At Christ’s second coming, he will make all things new.
There will be a new heaven (the stars, universe, galaxies) and a new earth free from death, decay, sickness, and most importantly from sin. For the unbeliever, the second coming of Christ will be terrifying. They will be given an imperishable physical body. They will all stand before the blinding white throne of God and be judged for every thought, word, and deed they have ever committed. (Revelation 20:11-12) They will then be cast body and soul into the lake of fire – hell. Satan and his demonic forces will have been cast into the fiery lake right before. (Revelation 20:10) Lastly, death and Hades will also be cast into the lake of fire – symbolizing the great truth that all because of Christ, death and suffering will be no more. (Revelation 20:14)
Believers will be sparred the great white throne judgment since their sins are completely forgiven in Christ, and they have been given the perfect righteousness of God as a gift. They will instead stand before Christ at the “bema seat” and give an account of their lives for the gain or loss of rewards. (2 Corinthians 5:10) This is not a judgment concerning their salvation, since they are secure in Christ, but an account of how they have lived their lives as believers. Christians will be given new, glorified bodies like Christ’s resurrected body to live on the new earth. As Derek Thomas, a reformed theologian, has said, “If you want to know what heaven will be like, look out your window and take away sin, suffering, and death.” What believers in Christ will look forward to at the second coming is a new physical body on a new physical earth to gaze out at new physical heavens.
Believers need to see the world correctly.
Christians desperately need to view the world through the lens of Scripture. Satan is on the earth, wreaking havoc. He’s not in hell with a pitchfork adjusting the thermostat. He does everything possible to bring shame to the name of Christ. Believers need not be surprised to see satanic influence in worldly culture. Believers also must be aware of the constant warfare that goes on in the spiritual realm of their lives. (1 Peter 5:8)
We also must be cautious against Gnostic thought. Among other things, Gnosticism is a false teaching that believes that the physical body is evil. Gnostic thought is often heard at a funeral when someone comments that the deceased never has to worry about a body again. Gnosticism has no place in Christian thought or doctrine. What we should look forward to in the new heavens and earth is a new glorified physical body like Christ’s.
Until that day comes, there’s still hope for you if you are not a believer.
Outside of faith in Christ, you will stand before God Almighty and be judged on every single thought, word, and deed you’ve ever committed. What awaits you is eternal torment in the lake of fire. Jesus saves us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10) He alone is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) Turn and put your faith solely in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all your sins and the perfect righteousness of God that only he can give you. You can then rest in the truth that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Today is the day of salvation!