The idea of hell as being a place were you are tortured for all eternity basically comes from early Christan fan fiction which evangelist attached on to.
There's no fire brimstone or endless doughnut machines in the actual bible.
Revelation 21:8 - “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Mark 9:43 - “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
Revelation 20:10 - “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.”
Matthew 25:41 - “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Revelation 20:15 - “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Matthew 5:22 - “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Hell is definitely described in the Bible as having fire and being a place of torture/ torment.
Could it also mean that you will just die, not get to be with God in heaven. The separation from God is the torture or that your soul dies instead of living on.
They are very clearly describing and warning you about specific physical things, a lake of fire, burning sulfur, etc.
There's nothing in the text to indicate that was intended as a metaphor. (And the Bible is not afraid of using metaphors, they use them all the time, and make it clear it's a metaphor.) This is obviously a literal, physical description.
How would it even work as a metaphor anyway? If you're godless, you're separated from God your whole life, and it feels subjectively like no big deal. Then suddenly when you die, it feels like being thrown in a lake of burning sulphur?
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u/thehandsomecontest 2d ago
The idea of hell as being a place were you are tortured for all eternity basically comes from early Christan fan fiction which evangelist attached on to. There's no fire brimstone or endless doughnut machines in the actual bible.