Bible Question:

Will Satan live forever in the lake of fire?

Bible Answer:

The Bible says very little about Satan or the devil in the Lake of Fire. The question this article is concerned with is, “Will Satan live forever in the lake of fire?” We explore and explain who lives forever according to the scriptures.

Lake of Fire — the Future Home of Satan

Will Humans Live Forever?

No human can tell us how anything came into existence. Even the big bang theory requires so that the an origin so that the “bang” could occur. I wonder how many people realize the big bang theory is just a theory. It may explain the expansion of the universe, but it does not explain how everything started. It cannot explain the cause-and-effect of the creation of the universe. Also, no one was there to witness and observe it happen.

But if we consider the Bible, a serious and informed student soon learns it is obvious the book of Daniel and other books in the Bible are accurate in all of their statements.

So, when the Bible tells us that our invisible God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 1:17) and that He created the universe and everything in it, we can and should trust the Bible. When the Bible tells us that after death, some people will either be sent to an eternal punishment and others to eternal life, our response should be to ask where we will be spend eternity. Why? Because we will live for eternity some place after this life. Here are two passages that reveal every human will live forever.

“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 (NASB)

This passage reveals that after death every human will live forever. The only question is where you will spend eternity.

You might ask, “Is there a difference between eternal vs immortal life?” The answer is no. Immortal people live forever.  The two verses teach that some of us will experience  eternal life and some will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction.

This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 1 John 2:25 (NASB)

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power . . . 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NASB)

The next reveals that those who believe in Christ will have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

So, will you live forever in the lake of fire or heaven with your immortal body? Yes, you will live forever in one of those two places. Is there a difference between eternal vs immortal life? The answer is no. After death every person obtains an immortal body and that body will live forever. That means those who are sent to the lake of fire will never die. They will suffer forever.

Will Satan Live Forever?

Will Satan live forever too? The answer is yes! According to several New Testament passages he will live in “eternal fire,” and his angels or the demons will be there with him. In this next verse, notice who will be live forever in the eternal fire.

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels . . .'”  Matthew 25:41 (NASB)

Can demons die? Will Satan be destroyed? The answers are no and no. They are eternal beings. The verse tells us that the devil and his demons will live forever in eternal fire.

The next verse reveals that Satan has been living since the beginning of the creation.

The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 1 John 3:8 (NASB)

The last verse teaches us that the Satan or the devil and his angels will be thrown into the lake of fire at some time in the future. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10 (NASB)

Again, we learn that Satan and the angels will live forever.

Conclusion:

Finally, will unbelievers, Satan, and his demons experience physical or spiritual torment or suffering? The testimony of Scripture is always that they will suffer in immortal bodies—eternal bodies. The pain is described as being so bad, that people will gnash their teeth (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; Luke 13:28). The lake of fire will be a dark place without light (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; Luke 13:28). It will be like living in a furnace (Matthew 13:42, 50). People will also be crying (Matthew 25:30; Luke 13:28).

The message is that every human, Satan, and the angels will live forever. The only question for humans, is where will you live—in the lake of fire or in heaven? For information about how to escape hell or the lake of fire, visit Searching For God.

Suggested Links:

Searching for God — In Search of God — Go To Heaven
Angels – Good and Evil
Study of Angels - Angelology
Where did Satan come from? – Creation and Fall of Satan
Why is Lucifer allowed to roam the earth?
Did Lucifer or Satan sin because he was created with sin?
Why or how did the angel (Satan) become evil?
How could Satan be in the presence of God?