Hell On Earth - The Hierarchy of Those Damned to Walk the Earth

Is Earth a Literal Hell? By examining Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, traditional classifications of demons, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and the structure of human society, a compelling case can be made. Using the median ratio method, we compare the levels of suffering and power dynamics in these three frameworks, revealing unsettling similarities between Earth’s socioeconomic hierarchy and the infernal realms of theology and literature.

Inferno: The Nine Circles of Hell
Dante’s Inferno describes Hell as a descent through increasing levels of sin and punishment. The nine circles are as follows:

• Limbo – Unbaptized souls and virtuous pagans.
• Lust – The punishment of carnal sinners.
• Gluttony – The overindulgent suffer in filth.
• Greed – Hoarders and spendthrifts battle eternally.
• Wrath & Sullenness – Those consumed by rage or apathy are tormented.
• Heresy – Those who reject religious doctrine are burned in flaming tombs.
• Violence – Murderers, suicides, and blasphemers suffer grotesque torments.
• Fraud – False prophets, thieves, and corrupt politicians endure elaborate punishments.
• Treachery – The lowest level, where traitors are frozen in ice with Lucifer himself.

Dante’s vision presents Hell as a rigid structure, where punishment intensifies in direct proportion to the depth of one’s moral corruption.

Demon Hierarchies and Infernal Authority
Demonology across various traditions assigns ranks to demons, often mirroring human institutions. The Classification of Demons in Christian and occult traditions groups them into hierarchies such as:

• The Seven Princes of Hell (aligned with the Seven Deadly Sins, e.g., Lucifer with pride, Mammon with greed).
• The Ars Goetia (72 demons, each ruling different aspects of vice and power).
• Milton’s Paradise Lost (Satan’s infernal court, with Beelzebub, Belial, and Moloch as high-ranking demons).

Milton’s epic poem expands upon the hierarchical nature of Hell, presenting Satan and his fallen angels as not merely chaotic evil but as rulers with structured domains. Satan himself, though bound in his own exile, exerts immense influence over his domain, much like the unseen powers of the world. Paradise Lost portrays Hell as not just a place of punishment, but a kingdom, with political structures and organized rebellion against divine authority. Just as in Dante’s Hell, these hierarchies depict a system where power flows downward, with the most diabolical figures exerting control over lesser spirits.

Earth’s Hierarchical Hell
Applying the structure of Inferno, Paradise Lost, and demonology to Earth’s societal hierarchy, we see striking similarities:

• The Poorest, Destitute, and Desperate (Limbo) – The most powerless, living in suffering not of their own making, much like the unbaptized in Limbo.
• The Broke Working Class (Wrath & Sullenness) – Trapped in economic struggle, many are resentful or silently endure hardship, akin to Dante’s wrathful and sullen souls.
• The Middle Class (Heresy & Fraud) – Participating in a system that rewards deception and compromise, comparable to Dante’s heretics and fraudsters.
• Politicians (Treachery) – Engaged in manipulation, betrayal, and deception, much like the traitors frozen in Inferno’s ninth circle.
• The Rich and Wealthy (Demon Nobility) – Those with power but still subservient to an even greater force, similar to high-ranking demons in demonology.
• Secret Societies and the Ultimate Controllers (Lucifer & the Princes of Hell) – The true rulers, unseen and untouchable, exerting control much like Lucifer in Inferno, bound yet influential.

Milton’s vision of Hell as a functional empire reinforces this comparison. The wealthy and powerful maintain control while those below them fight amongst themselves, perpetuating the suffering of the lower classes. By applying the median ratio method, the middle class serves as the pivot of this structure—neither entirely damned nor truly free, much like Dante’s fraudsters and heretics, maintaining the stability of the system.

Conclusion
When we align Inferno, Paradise Lost, demonology, and Earth’s socioeconomic hierarchy, the parallels become clear. Earth operates as a structured Hell where suffering and power are distributed according to a rigid system. The further one descends in poverty and powerlessness, the more one suffers. Conversely, those at the top—much like the highest demons—rule in hidden dominance. Hence, the secret society.

If this comparative synopsis holds truths and Earth is in fact Hell, then the true question remains: Who or what stands at its pinnacle, pulling the strings?