Can the devil be saved? What do the fathers say? Is this thought right?
The devil cannot be saved. There are even explicit texts in the Holy Bible supporting our view. One of the most important of these is in the Revelation, “And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev 20:10).
The text is clear that the devil will perish forever in the lake of fire and brimstone. So, any proclamation that the devil will be saved is a heresy against the biblical doctrine to which should apply the words of St. Paul the Apostle, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8,9).
As regards the sayings of the fathers in this respect, it is impossible that a father of sound faith proclaims teaching against the Bible.
However, one of the accusations against the scholar Origen was that he proclaimed the salvation of the devil. But Origen’s friends tried to defend him concerning this point by providing quotations from his works against this heresy.
For more elucidation we say that the devil is resistant to God and His kingdom.
Since the beginning, now and in future he is resistant.
Since his fall he led astray a group of angels and made them fall. Then he led astray our forefathers and the whole humanity until: “There is none who does good, No, not one.” (Ps 14:3).
Suffice that he dared to ask the Lord Christ Himself to fall down and worship him (Matt 4:9). His resistance made an angel cry out, saying, “The Lord rebuke you. Satan! The Lord … rebuke you.” (Zech 3:2; Jg 9).
Even after being bound one thousand years, the devil did not learn the lesson nor changed his conduct, but continued in his wickedness.
St. John the Beloved says in the Revelation, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven … and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit.” (Rev 20:1-3).
However, after being released from his prison, he went out to deceive the nations (Rev 20:7, 8).
The devil will try, very violently, on the last days, to do away with God’s Kingdom, but God will interfere.
The Lord Christ, speaking about the end of ages, says “and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (Matt 24:22), For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt 24:24).
The wonders that are worked by those who are led astray are in fact worked by the devil.
St. Paul the Apostle – speaking about the man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God and who will be the cause of the last great apostasy – says, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish.” (2 Thess 2:9).
God will send the archangel Michael to fight the devil and his evil angels and overcome them.
St. John the Visionary says and war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” (Rev 12:7-10).
This is the famous icon that shows the archangel Michael with the sword of justice in his hand trodding on the devil.
Yet, even after such a defeat, the devil continued fighting (Rev 12:13) till God cast him into the lake of fire and brimstone where he was tormented with his assistants forever and ever (Rev 20: 10).
The perdition of the devil and the impossibility of his salvation is proved by the words of the Lord Christ to those on His left hand on the Day of Judgement: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 25:41).
If God has prepared such everlasting fire for the devil and his angels, how then would he be saved? In all the preceding texts we notice the perdition of the devil, his torment and the everlasting perdition.
Certainly the devils know their end.
That is why St. James the Apostle says that they tremble (Jas 2:19). And the demons cast out by the Lord in the country of Gergesenes cried out, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matt 8:29).
No religion has a different view concerning the torment of the devils.
It is a matter of course supported by the texts of the Holy Bible. And if it is possible – supposing the impossible – that the devil be saved, there would have been in the Holy Bible even one sentence or reference to such an amazing event.
Moreover, if the devil is saved, none else would perish.
It is because no one has ever done more evil than the devil. But non perdition of everyone is against the teachings of the Bible.
