The Overthrow of Hell and Its Restoration (Tolstoy)
Short summary
When Jesus began teaching humanity a path to freedom from evil, Beelzebub became alarmed.
The devil ruler incited the Pharisees to torture Jesus and hoped the crucifixion would make him recant. But when Jesus forgave his tormentors and died, Hell collapsed. Beelzebub found himself bound by his own fetters as sinners escaped and Hell's walls crumbled.
Centuries passed in darkness. Then Beelzebub heard sounds of suffering above. A shining devil explained he had corrupted Jesus's teaching by creating disputes among followers about circumcision and dietary laws. He encouraged both sides to claim false miracles and invented the concept of 'the Church.'
Once they believed in 'the Church,' I was at peace. I recognised that we were saved, and that Hell was restored.
Through division and false doctrine, the devils had regained their power over humanity.
Detailed summary by chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Chapter 1. Jesuss teaching, crucifixion, and the destruction of Hell
When Jesus revealed his teaching to mankind, it possessed extraordinary clarity and power.
This teaching was so clear—it was so easy to follow, and delivered men from evil so obviously, that it seemed impossible not to accept it, or that anything could arrest its spread.
Beelzebub became deeply alarmed by this development.
He clearly saw that if Jesus did not renounce his teaching, Beelzebub's power over men would cease forever. Though alarmed, he did not lose heart and devised a plan. He incited the Pharisees and Scribes to insult and torture Jesus to the utmost of their power.
He also counselled the disciples to abandon Jesus.
Beelzebub hoped that condemnation to infamous execution, being reviled and deserted by all disciples, and the sufferings themselves would cause Jesus to renounce his teaching at the last moment. Such a recantation would destroy all its power. This was being decided on the cross. When Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" Beelzebub was overjoyed. He snatched up the fetters prepared for Jesus and began adjusting them on his own legs, so that when applied to Jesus, they could not be undone. Then, suddenly, from the cross came the words:
Then, suddenly, from the cross came the words, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' Then Jesus cried out, 'It is finished,' and gave up the ghost.
Beelzebub understood that all was lost. He wished to remove the fetters from his legs and flee, but could not move—the fetters had become welded on him and bound his own limbs. He wished to use his wings, but could not unfold them.
Beelzebub saw how Jesus, enveloped in a shining light, appeared at the gates of Hell, he saw how sinners from Adam to Judas came out of Hell, he saw how all the devils fled in affright.
He saw the very walls of Hell silently fall to pieces on all sides. He could endure this no longer, and with a piercing shriek he fell through the rent floor to the basement.
Chapter 2. Beelzebubs captivity and the return of the devils
One hundred, two hundred, three hundred years passed. Beelzebub did not count the time.
Around him spread black darkness and dead silence. He lay immovable, trying not to think of what had happened, yet he could not help thinking, and he helplessly hated him.
Then suddenly—and he did not remember how many hundred years elapsed—he heard above his head sounds resembling the trampling of feet, groans, cries, and the gnashing of teeth. Beelzebub lifted his head and listened. That Hell could be reestablished after the victory of Jesus, Beelzebub could not believe; and yet the trampling, the groans, the cries and gnashing of teeth grew louder and louder. Beelzebub raised his body and doubled up his hairy legs with their overgrown hoofs. To his astonishment the fetters fell off of themselves, and flapping his liberated wings he gave that signal whistle by which in former times he gathered his servants and helpers around him. He had hardly time to draw breath, when from an opening overhead red flames glared, and a crowd of devils hustling each other, rushed through the hole into the basement and seated themselves round Beelzebub like birds of prey round carrion. These devils were big and small, stout and thin, with long and with short tails, with horns pointed straight and crooked. One of them sat on his heels in front of Beelzebub.
Chapter 3. How the Church corrupted Jesuss teaching and restored Hell
"What does this noise signify?" asked Beelzebub, pointing upwards. The shining devil in the cape replied that the same as always went on was happening. When Beelzebub asked if there were really any sinners now, the devil answered "Many." Beelzebub inquired about the teaching of him whom he did not wish to name. The devil grinned, disclosing his sharp teeth, while suppressed laughter was heard amongst all the devils.
Men do not believe in it... I have transformed it... So that men do not believe in his teaching but in mine, which they call by his name.
When Beelzebub asked how this was accomplished, the devil explained that it was done of itself—he only helped. The devil recounted how after Hell was overthrown, he went to places where Jesus's teaching was taught. He saw that people who lived according to this teaching were perfectly happy and quite out of their reach. They did not quarrel with each other, did not give way to women's charms, had no property, holding all as common, and repaid evil by good. Their life was so good that many were attracted to them. When the devil saw this, he thought all was lost and was about to quit. But then occurred a circumstance that appeared to deserve attention. Among these people, some regarded it as necessary that all should undergo circumcision and eat no meat offered to idols, while others believed these matters were not essential. The devil began to instil into their minds that this difference of opinion was very important, and that neither side could possibly give way. They believed him, and disputes became more obdurate. The devil then arranged miracles for them to prove their teachings. They kept inventing what had never taken place.
They kept inventing what had never taken place, and lied in the name of him who called us liars, worse than we do ourselves—and did not know it.
Matters were going well, but as the devil was afraid they might discern the too-evident trick, he invented the 'Church.' Once they believed in 'the Church,' he was at peace. He recognised that they were saved, and that Hell was restored.