Hey Jiggy, thanks for your answer. I know there are a lot of differences in opinions when it comes to hell: no one goes, some go for only a short time, some suffer then go to heaven, some suffer and then die eternally....
As Aspen says, it would be nice to think that hell is not eternal punishment, but I just don't see that in scripture. I read your verses and I can see why you see them teaching one thing, but I really feel that scripture tells us another thing, which means we either have contradictions, or misinterpretations. I tend to think it's the latter, but I'm not gonna denounce you just because I differ in opinion with you. I'll try and put down some verses to show why I think differently, 'kay?
[26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
(Luke 16:26 ESV) - Jesus tells us in this parable that the rich man in Hades cannot move to the other side, no matter his torment.
[28] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
(Luke 13:28 ESV)
[For God So Loved the World]
[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16-18 ESV) - Yes, Jesus came to save, but the bible clearly and repeatedly says that salvation only comes through Christ, and many, many people do not believe in Christ.
[36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 ESV) - 'remains'...that implies a permanence. ('wrath' Original Word: ὀργή, ῆς, ἡ, Definition: anger, wrath, passion; punishment, vengeance......'abide' Original Word: μένω, Short Definition: I remain, abide, continue, endure.)
[10] and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10 ESV) - lake of fire = torment for ever and ever. ('torment' Original Word: βασανίζω, Definition: I torment, torture, buffet....'ever' Original Word: αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ, Definition: an age, a cycle (of time), especially of the present age as contrasted with the future age, and of one of a series of ages stretching to infinity.)
[12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15 ESV) - Those not in the book of life (that claim Jesus as saviour) are in Hades, which is cast into the lake of fire....as we've just read lake of fire = unending torment.
[8] But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 ESV) - all sinners will be in the lake of fire...the only exceptions are the sinners "who believe in Him". As I said, we cannot deny that the Bible teaches clearly again and again that the only way to Salvation is through belief in, love for, Christ.
[6] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, [7] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 ESV) ('eternal'Original Word: αἰώνιος, ία, ιον , Definition: eternal, unending......'vengeance' Original Word: ἐκδίκησις, εως, ἡ, Definition: (a) a defense, avenging, vindication, vengeance, (b ) full (complete) punishment)
As you say, there are many more passages. I truly believe that every single person, as sinful, rebellious people, deserve hell. It is the price for turning our backs on the God who created us. The only way out, is through Jesus. Yes, eventually the whole world will be made to see that Jesus is Lord, but acknowledgement does not mean love, and only those who love Christ will find their names in the book of life. I wish it were otherwise, but I feel that to declare that "it must be different" is just another way people try and claim lordship over God and what He has decreed. I know you feel otherwise, and as I said, I will not damn you for it...that's hardly my job!! I think it's for us to discuss what we feel the bible teaches and encourage each other to come to as Godly a conclusion as we can. I think the Bible teaches that hell is real and eternal. I think that urges us to fight for people's souls even harder....every day matters!