Whatever the fire and sulphur may be, would it be your method to deal with the Principle of Evil by subjecting it to torment? Would it not be better to exterminate it altogether, to kill it outright?The final view which we have of Satan, however, is that he endures torment, which is a most personal infliction, for a very long but limited period of time. Not one word is said about the death of this being. Whatever he or it may be, Satan is not said to suffer death. Therefore, if Satan means merely the Evil Influence, it appears to be eternal.
Let us, however, credit our God with having more wisdom than to torment an abstract quality. Not even a human being would attempt to accomplish that. As human beings, we know what torment or ordeal can be. But what is torment in God's hands, as here? It must surely be salutary and remedial, and cannot be otherwise.
Have you, dear reader, ever undergone a real ordeal? Do you know of anything more fitted to drive you to God? Was not that the purpose of the trial?
What, then, is the divine purpose in the All-Wielder causing His chief opponents to undergo such torment? Assuredly it must be in order to drive these intelligences back to Himself.
Alexander Thomson
