Will Satan be saved at the end of everything? Does 2 Corinthians 5:19 say God will reconcile everything to Himself, including Satan?
I’m glad you asked these questions, for there is a bad teaching called “Universalism” which teaches that all men will eventually be saved and they use verses like the one you mentioned to support their error. The Bible clearly teaches that only those who repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior will be saved. The Bible also teaches that God has not provided salvation at all for the devil and his angels, so the answer to both of your questions is NO.
Hebrews 2:14-16 reads, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham” (NKJV). Here we see the truth that God’s Son became a Man so that through death He would DESTROY THE DEVIL and be able to SAVE MAN. His work on the cross was not intended to “give aid to angels” that had fallen; their doom is sealed. His death was for the sins of men, so He could “give aid to the seed of Abraham”; that is, to those who would exercise faith in Christ as Abraham did. So, Satan is a defeated foe and one day he will be, according to Revelation 20:10, “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The fact is God created hell especially for the devil and his angels. This is confirmed in Matthew 25:41 which says, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Now let’s look at 2 Corinthians 5:19 which states, “That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (NKJV). As stated at the beginning, this verse is used by “Universalists” to teach that the whole world will be reconciled to God through Christ’s death on the cross. But in truth, this verse is teaching that the whole world could POTENTIALLY be reconciled. God has provided salvation for everyone, BUT men must accept the salvation He has provided! That is why Paul says that God “has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” God has commissioned believers to preach the word of the gospel to the unsaved so that they may be reconciled. This is borne out in verse 20, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Believers have the privilege and responsibility to encourage those who are lost to be reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrificial work at Calvary. Obviously there would be no need to do this if all men were going to be reconciled to God whether they believed on Christ or not.
Those who do not heed the gospel message and trust in Christ as their savior will not be reconciled to God; they will join the devil and his angels in hell. Let’s read again Matthew 25:41, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Jesus was speaking to UNSAVED MEN who had rejected the Lord Jesus as their savior. All that refuse to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation will join the devil and his angels in hell. How solemn! Though God never designed hell for man, God’s holiness will cause Him to consign every Christ-rejecter to the lake of fire. If these words are falling on the ears of one who is still unsaved, we would plead with you, “Be reconciled to God.” The work to save you has been done. Colossians 1:20 tells us that Christ has “made peace through the blood of His cross” and you need only BELIEVE IT! If you do, Colossians 1:21-22 will be true of you, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (165.8) (DO)