Let’s read 2 Peter 2:4, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”  There are several words in the New Testament that are translated as ‘hell’.  Twelve times the word ‘Gehenna’ is translated as ‘hell’ and is the literal hell.  Eleven times ‘Hades’ is translated as ‘hell’.  Hades is better understood as being a condition rather than an actual place.  Only one time is the word ‘Tartaros’ translated as ‘hell’.  That is here in 2 Peter 2:4.  It is different from Gehenna and is different from Hades.  It is defined as “the deepest abyss.”  This is mentioned again in Jude 6, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”  Notice that these angels sinned and left their first estate.  They are “reserved unto judgment.”  This is not their final abode.

These fallen angels are not in hell, and neither is Satan.  Ephesians 2:2 tells us that Satan is, “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan, or the devil, is a formidable foe who moves in the air and on the earth.  He is constantly trying to destroy those who name the name of Christ as their savior.

When will Satan and these fallen angels be cast into hell?  In Revelation 19, we read of the preparation of the Battle of Armageddon as the forces of evil gather to make war against the Lord.  We read in Revelation 19:19-20, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

The beast and the false prophet of Revelation are the first two that enter into the lake of fire (hell).  Two men were taken to heaven without seeing death (Enoch and Elijah), two men will be cast alive into hell.  We read of Satan’s ultimate judgment in Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  The wording here shows that at the point of Satan being cast into the lake of fire, the beast and the false prophet were the only ones already there.

Sadly enough, we then read of the final judgment of those who rejected the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.  Revelation 20:12-15 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.”  This is the final judgment of fallen angels, Satan, and all those who do not have the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.  Satan will not rule hell; he will be in torment just like everyone else.

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?  Have you trusted in Christ as your savior and Lord?  Referring to Heaven, we read in Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  If you have not done so, I encourage you to put your faith in the Lord Jesus and have your name added to the Lamb’s book of life.  (372.6)