Jesus helps us grasp the promise of our eternal home, referring to his future work of redemption as “the renewal of all things.” In Matthew 19:28, he tells the disciples, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

As wonderful as heaven is, the ultimate destiny for every Christian is the new heavens and new earth, which Peter and John describe as a place of righteousness and restored innocence (2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21-22). Christ returns, resurrects and judges all people, establishes his kingdom in fullness, creates new heavens (atmospheric and stellar) and a new earth, and gives us roles to play in the administration of his eternal kingdom.

Yes, Jesus is returning to create new heavens and a new earth. But we should not suppose that he is merely – if we may use that term – sending us back to the Garden of Eden. Rather, the creator causes the new heavens and earth to retain the qualities of creation as “very good indeed” (Gen. 1:31) and then goes beyond “good.” Only the God of creation can improve on perfection.

God designed hell as a final destination for Satan and rebellious angels. There is no hope of redemption for them. Not now. Not ever. But there is hope for us. Christ came in the likeness of sinful men and women, living a perfect life as the God-Man, and offering that life on the cross to the Father as an acceptable payment for our sin debt.

For Satan, hell is the final humiliation for the one-time guardian cherub. The “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4) is stripped of his kingdom. The deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9) discovers he’s the victim of his own ruse. The one who would set his throne above the stars of God (Isa. 14:13) is crushed beneath the Messiah’s heel (Gen. 3:15).

Jesus emphatically tells us a day is coming when all people are resurrected and judged, resulting in everlasting life or never-ending damnation (John 5:28-29). But human beings are not the only ones to receive final judgment. Jesus makes it clear that a place is prepared for the evil one and his minions. A day has been set when Christ judges Satan and banishes him forever into the lake of fire.

In Matthew 24-25, Jesus is on the Mount of Olives with his disciples, responding to their questions about the future destruction of the temple and the end of the age. He closes out the Olivet Discourse with the parable of the sheep and goats, revealing the preparation of a final place of judgment for Satan, evil spirits, and unbelievers. A key verse reads: “Then he [the Son of Man] will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!’” (Matt. 25:41).