Quote:Currently, no one occupies Hell (probably not even in existence yet), the first 2 to enter are the Anti-Christ, and His False Prophet which is before the 1000 year Kingdom Reign of Christ on earth. 3'rd is Satan himself at the end of the 1000 years (for that period, for almost it's entire duration, he will be held in the bottomless pit). At the end of the 1000 years, there is the Great White Judgement of those that wish not to accept God's Work-of-Redemption and desire go into their eternal abode without God's influence. But God still protects those there from the one's who demonstrated the most evil on earth by restraining there actions which causes them 'torment'. The 'New Creation' is a free sin zone but the really good part is free-will is greatly enhanced without even the possibility of sinning.
That's as maybe, but the point still remains that if Saruman had stayed true to the mission set him by the Valar, he could have been a great help to the West instead of a hindrance. His lust for power, which caused him to both fortify Isengard AND delay/divert the search for the One Ring (he hoped to get it for himself), caused Mithrandir no end of trouble, especially since the latter's efforts could have been better spent elsewhere.
Boru
You pick your faery tales, I'll pick mine.
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson