Does Satan Suffer?

[Charlemagne_III]

We know we are going to suffer in hell if that is what we choose.

Does Satan also suffer?

If so, how? If not, why?

Your thoughts?

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

Satan and all of his angels suffer the torments of Hell constantly, even when they are tempting people on earth. As far as I know, it is the same suffering as humans, so they suffer from separation from God and the fires of Hell.

 

[GEddie]

We in all likelihood cannot understand what if anything pure-spirits feel, because our mind is the mind of a body.

It would be more profitable to do some penance than to engage in conjectures of this type.

ICXC NIKA

 

[mikekle]

Satan and all of his angels suffer the torments of Hell constantly, even when they are tempting people on earth. As far as I know, it is the same suffering as humans, so they suffer from separation from God and the fires of Hell.

But they are not in Hell yet, If I remember correctly, satan is cast to the earth after the great battle in heaven, where it says “woe to the inhabitants of the earth for now Satan is among you”.

Satan and his demons will only be in Hell, when Jesus comes back and sends them there, but even when that happens, the bible says he will be unleashed for a short time to do his thing on the earth again for a short time, so it seems he will get a little break from hell when this happens.

 

[Neofight]

Pure spirit (angel, righteous or fallen), or human the suffering of hell is the same. Its not the physical pain, its the permanent and eternal separation from God. Therefore, this discussion is very productive.

 

[truetofaith]

Yes it seems odd that satan or other demons can concentrate on tempting people while they are writhing in pain from the fire.

 

[ialsop]

True, Satan is NOT in hell right now, he is roaming Earth.

And he IS engaged in war with the Church. In the modern world, he is making lots of ground. But he gets ZERO satisfaction from it.

Satan suffers SO much.

He suffers in the same way that a little child does after losing a fight with it’s parent, with fussing, pain, mental blindness, illogical rage at everything the parent does(like create humanity), and a desire to destroy it. Crying the whole time.

Yes, satan suffers.

Do I have pity? Noooot really…

 

[E_7]

Demons suffer. "For the demons, the centuries pass with no hope. Undoubtedly, being desperate and full of sadness, if they could commit suicide, they would do so in order to end their suffering. But, as a pure spirit, the life of a demon is indestructible. A spirit has no organs, it cannot be poisoned, and it cannot be starved. It cannot even die of sadness. No matter what is done, it will continue to exist forever. (Of course, the same holds true for human beings as well. We will exist forever – either in heaven or hell, by our free choice to obey God or reject him.)

Anyway, as has been said, even though the demons suffer for all eternity, they do not suffer at each and every moment. Even though they do not recognize it, their existence is a gift from God. And even though they fall over and over again into acts of hate, reproach, and remorse, the rest of the time they know and experience a natural existence, which is proper to their nature."

Read more:[ http://www.spiritualdirection.com/2...-not-just-annihilate-the-demons#ixzz3qOMoRbXp
](For the demons, the centuries pass with no hope. Undoubtedly, being desperate and full of sadness, if they could commit suicide, they would do so in order to end their suffering. But, as a pure spirit, the life of a demon is indestructible. A spirit has no organs, it cannot be poisoned, and it cannot be starved. It cannot even die of sadness. No matter what is done, it will continue to exist forever. (Of course, the same holds true for human beings as well. We will exist forever – either in heaven or hell, by our free choice to obey God or reject him.) Anyway, as has been said, even though the demons suffer for all eternity, they do not suffer at each and every moment. Even though they do not recognize it, their existence is a gift from God. And even though they fall over and over again into acts of hate, reproach, and remorse, the rest of the time they know and experience a natural existence, which is proper to their nature. Read more: http://www.spiritualdirection.com/2...-not-just-annihilate-the-demons#ixzz3qOMoRbXp)

 

[E_7]

"Demons–like the souls of deceased human beings–do not occupy space. This does not mean, though, that they are in some other physical dimension. What does being or not being in a dimension mean for a spirit? They are not anywhere. They exist, but they are not “here” or “there” in a physical sense.

A demon is said to be in a place when it acts in that place. If a demon is tempting someone “here,” one says that it is “here.” If a demon possesses a person’s body, we say it is present within the person. If a demon causes a chair to move, we say that he is in that concrete place. In all these cases, though, the demon is simply acting there.

Heaven, hell, and purgatory exist now only as states of being. At the resurrection at the Last Judgment, the souls of the dead will be reunited with their bodies and will then exist in a concrete place (see CCC 650, 1005). At that point, the blessed will occupy a “physical heaven” (that is, a physical place of everlasting happiness), and the condemned will occupy a “physical hell.” As Revelation 21:1 states, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” After the general judgment, then, the blessed–souls reunited with their resurrected bodies–will dwell in the “new heaven and a new earth” for eternity. Where will condemned humans dwell? We do not know for sure. Some have speculated that the “physical hell” of the damned will exist in the center of this same world."

Read more: spiritualdirection.com/2012/11/29/where-are-demons-located#ixzz3qONvfGV1

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

Praying i never come up to ask it Personally

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Satan and all of his angels suffer the torments of Hell constantly, even when they are tempting people on earth. As far as I know, it is the same suffering as humans, so they suffer from separation from God and the fires of Hell.

Just wondering, is that the same as the saying “Hurt people hurt people”?

 

[AnneElizabeth]

…

He suffers in the same way that a little child does after losing a fight with it’s parent, with fussing, pain, mental blindness, illogical rage at everything the parent does(like create humanity), and a desire to destroy it. Crying the whole time.

Yes, satan suffers.

Do I have pity? Noooot really…

Where does mercy fit in this picture? Shoudl we not have pity on the child? Shoudl we look upon the child with disdain? Not sure if you meant your anaology to be so exacting, but just saying… I’m a bit confused.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Pure spirit (angel, righteous or fallen), or human the suffering of hell is the same. Its not the physical pain, its the permanent and eternal separation from God. Therefore, this discussion is very productive.

What is the difference between righteous suffering and the suffering of those who are suffering hell? Would like some clarity on that, if you could please provide it.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

But they are not in Hell yet, If I remember correctly, satan is cast to the earth after the great battle in heaven, where it says “woe to the inhabitants of the earth for now Satan is among you”.

Satan and his demons will only be in Hell, when Jesus comes back and sends them there, but even when that happens, the bible says he will be unleashed for a short time to do his thing on the earth again for a short time, so it seems he will get a little break from hell when this happens.

The demons certainly are in Hell. As E_7 said, Hell is a state as well as a place and so they carry their pains with them when they roam the earth tempting people to sin. Also, Hell is considered to be within the earth so it is appropriate that Satan is condemned here since Hell is here.

Where is hell? Some were of opinion that hell is everywhere, that the damned are at liberty to roam about in the entire universe, but that they carry their punishment with them…However, that opinion is universally and deservedly rejected; for it is more in keeping with their state of punishment that the damned be limited in their movements and confined to a definite place [this only concerns people, not demons]…The Bible seems to indicate that hell is within the earth, for it describes hell as an abyss to which the wicked descend. We even read of the earth opening and of the wicked sinking down into hell…Hence theologians generally accept the opinion that hell is really within the earth… The demons suffer the torment of fire, even when, by Divine permission, they leave the confines of hell and roam about on earth. In what manner this happens is uncertain. We may assume that they remain fettered inseparably to a portion of that fire… Especially after the last judgment there will be an accidental increase in punishment; for then the demons will never again be permitted to leave the confines of hell, but will be finally imprisoned for all eternity; and the reprobate souls of men will be tormented by union with their hideous bodies. Catholic Encyclopedia

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

Just wondering, is that the same as the saying “Hurt people hurt people”?

I suppose they can be related if I am understanding you correctly. The demons hate God vehemently and will do anything to go against Him, so they make as many as they can hate Him and be damned like they are since we are God’s beloved children whom the Father wants with Him in Heaven.

 

[mikekle]

The demons certainly are in Hell. As E_7 said, Hell is a state as well as a place and so they carry their pains with them when they roam the earth tempting people to sin. Also, Hell is considered to be within the earth so it is appropriate that Satan is condemned here since Hell is here.

If that is true, than all the formerly human souls in hell would be able to do the same thing, why would God give demons any special treatment after all?

However from the verse where the man in hell asks God about letting him go back to the earth to warn his relatives, he is told this is impossible and his relatives would not be swayed anyway, if its impossible for human souls, same would hold true for demons and satan.

Hell IS right here, but not in the way we think, its not in the center of the earth, its on a different ‘plane’ of existence, sort of another dimension. They already know what the center of the earth is like, its key to how the planet works.

Another thing, Revelations is HIGHLY symbolic and metaphorical, as many have said in other arguments, sort of like in the end times, a LITERAL beast with 10 horns is not really going to come out of the ocean, the beast is representing a group of nations, the horns are various people.

 

[Neofight]

What is the difference between righteous suffering and the suffering of those who are suffering hell? Would like some clarity on that, if you could please provide it.

Eternity is the difference!

Read Sunday’s Gospel, from Matthew 5:1-11, and see how the righteous on earth suffer, but they have the promise of the beatific vision after their life on earth has finished.

See yesterday’s first readings (both options, from Wisdom Chapters 3 and 4), as well as Psalm 1, and you will see clearly, the difference between what awaits the just and the unjust.

St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us just how much earthly suffering will out weigh heavenly glory, so its not a stretch to day the sufferings of hell will also outweigh the sufferings on earth.

Peace.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Yes, the devils suffer even now.

St. Thomas says (S.T. I, Q. 64, a4):

Some have maintained that the pain of sense for demons and souls is postponed until the judgment day: and that the beatitude of the saints is likewise postponed until the judgment day. But this is erroneous, and contrary to the teaching of the Apostle (2 Corinthians 5:1) … although the demons are not actually bound within the fire of hell while they are in this dark atmosphere, nevertheless their punishment is none the less; because they know that such confinement is their due.

I wouldn’t waste your pity on them. They hate God and us with all their being, and no amount of reasoning with them would change their mind (see the link above, art. 2).

 

[GEddie]

If Hell really were in Michigan, then it would freeze over every year!

(Couldn’t resist)

Here, we are ALWAYS hotter than Hell, Michigan!

ICXC NIKA

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

If that is true, than all the formerly human souls in hell would be able to do the same thing, why would God give demons any special treatment after all?

However from the verse where the man in hell asks God about letting him go back to the earth to warn his relatives, he is told this is impossible and his relatives would not be swayed anyway, if its impossible for human souls, same would hold true for demons and satan.

Hell IS right here, but not in the way we think, its not in the center of the earth, its on a different ‘plane’ of existence, sort of another dimension. They already know what the center of the earth is like, its key to how the planet works.

Another thing, Revelations is HIGHLY symbolic and metaphorical, as many have said in other arguments, sort of like in the end times, a LITERAL beast with 10 horns is not really going to come out of the ocean, the beast is representing a group of nations, the horns are various people.

The demons aren’t being given special treatment because God is using them for our sanctification while they still are suffering the pains of Hell. They tempt us and we are sanctified by it. It wasn’t impossible for the man in Hell to warn his relatives, God simply didn’t allow it because they already refused to obey the Prophets.

I don’t believe that there are all of these planes or dimensions where the spirits reside. Because we are in the flesh, we cannot detect those things which are spiritual, that doesn’t mean it’s in some different dimension. While Hell is beneath the earth, it doesn’t mean that it affects the physical earth or vice versa. However, the Church hasn’t definitively stated where Hell is, so we can’t know for certain.

The quotes the Catholic Encyclopedia uses from Scripture don’t come from the Book of the Apocalypse.

We even read of the earth opening and of the wicked sinking down into hell (Numbers 16:31 sqq.; Psalm 54:16; Isaiah 5:14; Ezekiel 26:20; Philippians 2:10, etc.). Is this merely a metaphor to illustrate the state of separation from God? Although God is omnipresent, He is said to dwell in heaven, because the light and grandeur of the stars and the firmament are the brightest manifestations of His infinite splendour. But the damned are utterly estranged from God; hence their abode is said to be as remote as possible from his dwelling, far from heaven above and its light, and consequently hidden away in the dark abysses of the earth. However, no cogent reason has been advanced for accepting a metaphorical interpretation in preference to the most natural meaning of the words of Scripture. Hence theologians generally accept the opinion that hell is really within the earth. The Church has decided nothing on this subject; hence we may say hell is a definite place; but where it is, we do not know.