If Not Hell then what?

[Drich]

So was satan in hell while he was tempting Christ or was that a day trip out that god allowed?

As far as I could ever tell, the Bible talks about Satan eventually being sent to Hell. But otherwise he is free to roam the world and do as much damage as he can. The Bible even indicates that he had freedom to roam in Heaven; the book of Job begins with him wandering about up there, and the book of Revelations implies that a future war in Heaven would result in Satan being cast down to Earth, never to return.

If you're wondering why the Devil is left alive after his part in introducing sin into the world, you're not alone.

To do God's work. God can only ever repersent His expressed will. Satan offers oppsition to that Will. In essence Satan repersents choice, or the freedom to choose a will outside of God's. It is God's will that we be given choice.