Wielding A Red Sword: Piers Anthony

Book IV of Incarnations of Immortality. Mym was a dutiful son, but his father the Rajah interfered in his love life just once too often. Rather than wed without love, he took up the Red Sword symbol of office of the Incarnation of War. At first he thought his efforts would ameliorate some of the suffering caused by Earth's petty and constant wars. But he found that behind all his involvement were the clever traps of Satan. When seeming mischance placed him in hell, Mym organised a great rebellion among the Damned. Satan seemed to capitulate - but once free, Mym learned that Satan had been busy stirring up riots and war. It seemed that things had gone to far and Satan would win. But there is still one desperate chance... Books in this series are 'stand alone' reads.