What Is the Fate of Satan?
Have you ever wondered what will become of Satan the Devil? The one who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9), who accuses God's people continually (Rev. 12:10)? Will God destroy him outright, or confine him to eternal torture in the lake of fire? Will there be any place for him after God creates the new heavens and new earth? Rev. 20:10 seems to indicate that Satan will live forever in the lake of fire: "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Is this it? Or is there more to the story? Mat. 25:41 tells us that "everlasting fire" has been prepared for the devil and his angels. Similarly, a few verses later, in v. 46, Jesus warned the wicked of everlasting punishment. Yet we're told that the unrepentant wicked will not be tortured forever, but will in fact be destroyed forever: "'For behold, the day is coming, burni...