Demons not Really in Hell?

[Flavius_Aetius]

Ok something has been bothering me, it is claimed that during the Rebellion in Heaven that the fallen angels were all cast into Hell. Now for a human, Hell is inescapble and yet despite it being said that these demons were cast to Hell we still find plenty of examples of demonic possessions in Scripture and even ocassionally in modern times. So what is this? Why are demons given free reign to leave Hell when the feel like it and the race that God supposedly loves the most is trapped in there with no chance of ever being redeemed?

 

[catholictiger]

Ok something has been bothering me, it is claimed that during the Rebellion in Heaven that the fallen angels were all cast into Hell. Now for a human, Hell is inescapble and yet despite it being said that these demons were cast to Hell we still find plenty of examples of demonic possessions in Scripture and even ocassionally in modern times. So what is this? Why are demons given free reign to leave Hell when the feel like it and the race that God supposedly loves the most is trapped in there with no chance of ever being redeemed?

someone may have a better answer then this but Hell is a state of the soal after death, and demonds are pure spirits so they probably aren’t trapped in hell like we will be if we go to hell. That would be my best guess I’m not really sure someone else may be able to explain it better.

 

[Deo_Volente]

Grace & Peace!

While not a theological explanation as such, I find the find best response is in the words of Mephistopheles from Marlowe’s brilliant play, Dr. Faustus. At this point in the play, Faustus has just recently conjured Mephistopheles and is asking him some questions…:
FAUSTUS. …] Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord?

MEPHIST. Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.

FAUSTUS. Was not that Lucifer an angel once?

MEPHIST. Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov’d of God.

FAUSTUS. How comes it, then, that he is prince of devils?

MEPHIST. O, by aspiring pride and insolence;
For which God threw him from the face of heaven.

FAUSTUS. And what are you that live with Lucifer?

MEPHIST. Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer,
Conspir’d against our God with Lucifer,
And are for ever damn’d with Lucifer.

FAUSTUS. Where are you damn’d?

MEPHIST. In hell.

FAUSTUS. How comes it, then, that thou art out of hell?

MEPHIST. Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it:
Think’st thou that I, that saw the face of God,
And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,
Am not tormented with ten thousand hells,
In being depriv’d of everlasting bliss?
I hope this helps! It’s a response that is, actually, consonant with Christian teaching. Hell is not so much a fixed place in space and/or time–it is a way and a state of being.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Ok something has been bothering me, it is claimed that during the Rebellion in Heaven that the fallen angels were all cast into Hell. Now for a human, Hell is inescapble and yet despite it being said that these demons were cast to Hell we still find plenty of examples of demonic possessions in Scripture and even ocassionally in modern times. So what is this? Why are demons given free reign to leave Hell when the feel like it and the race that God supposedly loves the most is trapped in there with no chance of ever being redeemed?

At this point of our understanding of the spiritual world, we should not think hell as a physical place physically separated from everything else. Hell is now understood as more of a state of mind, rather than a physical place. Angels and demons can be among us here in the physical plane, both being in heaven and hell at the same time. Heaven simply means the spiritual bliss of God’s love and His presence. Hell is suffering from the separation from God.

 

[Katholish]

Think’st thou that I, that saw the face of God,
And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,
Am not tormented with ten thousand hells,
In being depriv’d of everlasting bliss?

That part is actually not consistent with Catholic teaching. The angels before the fall never had the Beatific Vision (i.e. never saw the face of God), if they had, they would have been incapable of sinning.

 

[tester]

Ok something has been bothering me, it is claimed that during the Rebellion in Heaven that the fallen angels were all cast into Hell. Now for a human, Hell is inescapble and yet despite it being said that these demons were cast to Hell we still find plenty of examples of demonic possessions in Scripture and even ocassionally in modern times. So what is this? Why are demons given free reign to leave Hell when the feel like it and the race that God supposedly loves the most is trapped in there with no chance of ever being redeemed?

" it is claimed that during the Rebellion in Heaven that the fallen angels were all cast into Hell"*

Where is that claimed?

Revelation chapter 20 is a future event
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

I would be wary of describing heaven and hell as states of mind. They certainly appears not to be a mere physical locations, though. You could probably call them a states of being. As the CCC says, “the chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God,” and so complete and total isolation from all that is good for all eternity.

This last part applies to demons as well as humans who, after death, are preserved in a state of eternally rejecting God if they die in such a state.

How exactly it is that demons are able to interact with the physical world I do not know, but whatever mechanism causes that to be possible we can know for sure that demons do not escape their punishment, even if they try to spread it to others.

 

[littleone]

Are you saying that those trapped in hell are the devil and the angels who followed lucifer, or are you saying, those on earth who follow in satanic actions will have no chance of ever seeking forgiveness?

You say demons not realy in hell???
They are my friend, the hell is within them. Have youever thought of trieing to live without LOVE I mean true love the LOVE of God? not a humanistic love. That is the love the demons have refused. Jesus tells us that “you say heaven is up above you, i tell you now that Heaven is within you”. Do you not realise that if Heaven is within you, then if it is not within you by your own choice then HELL is.
Joshua said “chose you this day who you will follow, as for me and my family we will follow the Lord” We have the choice as the angels who rebelled did to either follow God inLove or to follow satan in hate that is the hell God speaks about (one without love).
God bless
littleone