The Fate of Hell
With this issue, we finally learn the fate of Hell. All the various beings interested in Hell, including some we haven't seen in previous issues, assemble to hear Morpheus' decision...
But, before Dream can choose who to give the Key to Hell to, the angels Remiel and Duma appear to him. Remiel channels a message from The Creator stating that Hell must remain a place for the damned, and that Remiel and Duma are to be it's custodians for all eternity, never to return to the Silver City. No sooner have the words been spoken through Remiel than that angel rejects the word of The Creator. He is unable to accept this punishment, the Creator's will, as he was a good angel that fought against Lucifer. But the paradox is, by rejecting the will of the Creator, Remiel's feet touch the ground, he becomes a fallen angel thus fulfilling the will of the Creator after all.
This is part of the genius of writer Neil Gaiman, here we have a religious paradox brought to light. How can an all knowing God whose divine will cannot be challenged, be challenged? Is there really such thing as free will if such an all-powerful, omniscient being even exists? Granted, Remiel's protestations in this issue make the point in a pretty heavy-handed way, but it's still pretty clever.
The fact that Hell is going to be a place for demons once again, does not make the assembled guests very happy. Ironically, the one who puts up the greatest protest is a demon, Azazel. This leads to a brief, very one-sided battle between Dream and Azazel which leads to freedom for Choronzon and Nada, and captivity for Azazel.
Granted, the fact that Hell is going to stay Hell (even if under new management) doesn't come as much of a surprise, and is a bit anti-climactic, but that's pretty normal for The Sandman. This title has always been more about the journey than the destination.