We thus see what the kingdom of heaven is and that all who enter that kingdom after death, must have heaven within themselves. That is, they must carry the loves and purposes that rule in heaven, and be able to find delight in such works as are delightful to the angels.
But there is another kingdom in the spiritual realm of which the Bible tells us—a hell of devils. These, too, are arranged, in like manner as the angels, into many different societies according to the kinds and degrees of evil in which they are. Nor is there anything arbitrary or compulsory in this arrangement. They come into it in perfect freedom. Each one goes into the society for which he has an affinity—into the one whose general character is nearest like his own. And these societies of evil spirits, like those in heaven, are all so united, that together they constitute one huge monster, called in Scripture "the Devil."
The character of these evil spirits is quite the opposite of that of the angels. They have no love of the Lord or the neighbor; and therefore know nothing of the heavenly delight resulting from the exercise of this love. The love of self is the supreme and ruling love of them all; and this is real hatred toward those who refuse to minister to its gratification.
And as self-love is the source of all other evil loves when it reigns supreme, therefore the devils are thoroughly immersed in evil. They are full of hatred, malice, craft and subtlety;—full of falsehood, tyranny,
