And yet according to the popular theology of the times, it isn't really death at all is it. It is some form of living reality where pain and sorrow are felt to the nth degree, far beyond any human capacity to endure and remain alive, so a supernatural power keeps these folk from actually dying so that they may endure the extreme agony of it without it overpowering them altogether. Personally, I don't see this as being very different to the gift of eternal life granted the redeemed. Different address...different emotions...different senses being awakened...but a special gift nevertheless that circumvents death rather than imposing it.
This kind of 'death' that is supposedly the wages of sin, is therefore euphemistically called 'separation'. Yet I have had no-one adequately explain to me how separation from the only true source of life, can still result in anything continuing to live. So folk have to resort to the old 'go-to' default standby lie that souls/spirits are in fact naturally immortal...that they cannot die. Despite the clear declaration of scripture that God is Spirit, and only He has immortality, thus the only immortal spirit.
There is only one solution to the contradictory and self-defeating arguments in support of eternal torment and it is stated many times in scripture, and is set out by the Spirit of God who inspired the prophets and apostles who wrote the Bible as a direct solution to the sin problem and the direct opposite to eternal life as granted the saints...Adam and Eve were warned what that would be, and Satan lied by telling them that God was lying and they could not die....the wages of sin is death. To the whole person, because the whole person sinned.
The only way those who are dead in their sins to die a second death, is to be resurrected to life. This is called the resurrection to damnation. That brief experience of life for the sinners of all ages, brings them to a point of utter futility and desperation as they agree with Satan that their only chance of surviving the coming final execution of the sentence passed in judgement upon them, is to attack the city and take over the throne. Madness, finally confirming to all the universe the crazed state of mind of both the devil, his angels, and their myriad of followers who populate the planet today, an irreconcilable rebellious hatred of God, His laws, and everything He stands for. Destruction, permanent and forming the "final solution" if you will, the "everlasting punishment" (not punishing) spoken of throughout scripture in the lake of fire where they are 'consumed', where the 'perish' and are turned to ashes in the sight of all within the city who have no doubts or qualms as to God's justice.
Sorry, I do rant on somewhat when speaking about this topic. I am passionately so opposed to the whole concept of 'eternal torment'. I think the idea is the ultimate insult and misrepresentation of the character of God. We rightly condemn earthly rulers who torture their victims for information. We are fully justified in condemning such as Hitler's associates in their brutality in their treatment of prisoners of war and his approval and participation re the numerous victims of the genocide that unfolded revealing his "final solution'. The same could be said of the brutality of imperial Rome...the inquisitions...ISIS...Pol Pot...Stalin...any number of dictators and despots who have ruled the planet in the mast 6000 years or so, and whose evil deeds pale into insignificance compared to what we claim as "justice' in eternal torment because it is God who is doing it. What dictators couldn't even hope to accomplish in the wildest dreams, God is seen as doing so to satisfy , no, it cannot satisfy anything if it never ends. Not even justice. So it comes down to God doing it for what? If it never satisfies justice, what does it accomplish?
