When you see images of Hell in the comics, what do you see? A devil with horns, tail, cloven hoofs, and a pitchfork, surrounded by flames in a cavern dripping with stalactites, ready to torture another soul with sadistic glee. Yet this scene never occurs in the Bible.
In the Bible, the Devil does not have control of Hell. As you read the Gospel accounts of Jesus, you’ll find the Devil right here on earth! He came to Jesus to tempt him (Matthew 4:1-11). The Devil’s demons, which are fallen angels, are even possessing people here, and Jesus had the authority to command them to depart (Matthew 8:16).
The Devil is under the rule of God. In the book of Job, we find the Devil doing only what God tells him to do, and he can’t do any more than that (read Job chapters 1-2). In the end, the Devil will array his army to fight with Jesus at his Second Coming, but Jesus will simply pick him up and cast him into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:19-20). So God is greater than the Devil, and definitely worth all our respect and honor. If you are a Christian following the Lord faithfully, then you will be the pawn who makes it to the other side of the board — and becomes a ruler!
What Do You Think?
a. Do you believe the Devil is on earth or in Hell? Where did you get your belief?
b. The question begins with “if,” assumes the conditions are true, then makes a conclusion. How many “if” statements have you made where you assumed the truth of a matter without appropriate investigation?
