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June 21, 2011

Is there redemption for fallen angels?

Came across this blurb from my twitter account.  I thought it was too interesting to pass up.  It will make you wonder...

Does Love Win for Demons?


While studying the doctrine of angels last week, an interesting 
question was brought up.
Is there redemption for fallen angels?
Though there have been a few voices which affirm there will 
be, such as Origen, the overwhelming consensus of the 
tradition is that demons have no second chance.
Now this is not a question which occupies much of our time, 
in part for the perfectly valid reason that we actually know 
quite little about the angelic realm. But perhaps it deserves
 more carful consideration.
Angels are rational beings, made by God for his glory, and 
they therefore have value just as we do. And so, if some of 
them fell, would we not expect an act of redemption which 
includes them as well?
In other words, does love win for the demons too?
The problem of course is that the text, as far as I can tell, 
gives no indication that we should expect such a thing. In 
, the pressure of the narrative seems to imply just the 
opposite.
My question then is this, should that influence our larger 
debate on hell?
Does it make a difference to the ways we talk about the 
love and justice of God, if other rational creatures have 
no chance of redemption?
Should we posit a salvation for fallen angels?
And if not, and if it doesn’t bother us, what does that say 
about the way we understand God and his saving acts?

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