To this view a number of answers may be given. In the first place, Satan
is of another race; we know very little of his former history, or the
circumstances of his fall; and we know not if any means for his recovery
have been provided. In the next place, a few thousand years may be but a
span in the long sweep of his existence. Then further, he does not seem
to be in a state of suffering at present. There is a hint in the Book of
Revelation that he will be so by and by; and we know not what may be in
store for him. As intimated before, some think he will be restored;
others think he will be annihilated. With such ignorance of the
circumstances of the case, it is plain that we have no data for forming
an opinion one way or the other. At the same time, we cannot help being
in sympathy with the words of Burns; they certainly touch a chord in all
our hearts:
"Then fare ye weel, auld nickey Ben;
O wad ye tak' a thought and men'
Ye aiblins micht--I dinna ken--
Hae still a stake."
As I have said, there are those who teach that Satan will be ultimately
extinguished. And they lay down that theory with great positiveness.
While there are some hints to that effect in the Word of God, it does
not seem to me that they are clear enough to warrant us in being
positive. We would hardly expect so much. It is not our business to know
much of "other world" affairs for the present.
So far as we may judge, it would appear instead that Satan's long
continuance in sin gives some hope of his ultimate Restoration. For the
question will naturally arise: Why should God spare him so long, if He
foresees that he must be extinguished at last? Why not extinguish him at
once, and thus avoid so much temptation to evil? I am by no means
curious on such a question. I merely cite these possibilities to show
that the subject is utterly beyond us.
It really comes to this, that on such high topics it is wise to be
reverently silent. But with the fact that we do not know, we ally the
privilege of eternal hope. So we would say with Tennyson:
"Behold, we know not anything;
We can but trust that good shall fall,
At last far off, at last to all;
And every winter change to spring."
If you dissent from some of the views I have advanced, I would ask you
not to be hasty in forming conclusions. It may be that after some years
you will see differently. I was myself many years before coming to
entertain these views. But they were growing on me, perhaps
unconsciously, and at length they took this pronounced form. It may be
so with you. The ideas which you entertain now may be perhaps the result
of early training as much as of patient study. Let us ever look for
divine guidance. We have the promise. "Ye shall know the truth; and the
truth shall make you free."
* * * * *
I cannot but forecast the new era of joy that will come to the world
when the doctrine of Restoration is generally accepted. It will be like
a burst of sunlight from behind a dark cloud. The world is sad; and I am
convinced that one cause of its sadness is the dark view of endless
torment that has so long prevailed. The view, from long habit, may be
held almost unconsciously; but the dark shadow of it has cast a heavy
gloom over human life. What an uplift all hearts will have, what a
radiance of joy will be infused into life, we can now but dimly
anticipate. Then we can adopt the dictum of Browning, and it will be no
cheap optimism:
"God's in His heaven;
All's right with the world."
After all, that is only our poor human way of expressing the majestic
thought, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"