Question on 2 Peter 2:4

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Dolphin

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Read 1 Peter today and am now reading through 2 Peter and I got to a line that really stumped me and made me think. Not sure what it means and there are some implications that if misunderstood are very serious theologically so I wanted to ask here:

“For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell and gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”

The words where they ARE being held UNTIL the day of judgement makes it sound like some angels are only in hell temporarily and will be let back into Heaven on judgement day?

As you can see I’m confused as I thought hell was a permanent destination for those who go there but this verse seems to say otherwise?
 
It is permanent. Being cast out of heaven was perhaps a type of particular judgment for them. Judgment day is the final judgment - the judgment of the entire world and of all creation. Saint Paul wrote: “Do you not know that we will judge angels?”

Angels make a single decision and are done. They do not and cannot repent. Even though they can assume the form of a human or even a donkey, they are not made in the image and likeness of God, so they have an irrevocable will.
 
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Don’t get hung up on Until

Think of it this way, when someone says,

“My grandfather smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day for 50 years, and then gave up cold turkey. He never smoked again until the day he died.”

Surely the person was not claiming that his grandfather, who had quit smoking, started again on the day he died.

Likewise the Apostle uses until as a marker for Judgement Day, not as a time when Angels will be let out of hell to return to heaven.

Also see Matthew 1:25…until has tripped up many, believing the verse negates the dogma of the perpetual virgin of Mary…which it does not.

Peace!
 
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Dolphin said:
“For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell and gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”
Click to expand...
Differing terms sometimes become translated into English as ‘hell’
They’re in a holding pit… and shall wind up in HELL come Judgement Day
 
Yes, God holds those angels in Hell just as He holds human souls who denied Him in Hell currently. Nevertheless, on Judgement Day, He will once and for all completely judge all. This does not mean some in one place (Heaven or Hell) will go to the other place at Judgement Day. But we will be fully judged by the magnitude of our belief (or unbelief) and actions (or lack thereof.)
 
Their destiny on the day of judgement is fixed:
‘And hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the pool of fire.’ - Rev 20:14-15
 
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