Ok serious question that has been on my mind often. Am I correct in my interpretation of the Bible when it said something along the lines of "hell was thrown into the lake of fire and destroyed" or something, someone more knowledgeable can look up the scripture please.... so this second death...is it your soul being utterly destroyed, like vaporized never to exist? Because I am obviously not God, but this seems like a fair judgement for people who do not want to follow the will of God or even exist with Him in the afterlife. So to punish them in some torture chamber forever and ever....what would that accomplish? Let me be clear, that is strictly my opinion and my rationale, but I am only human and God has his purposes. Just want to know some of your take on this subject folks. Thank you.
This one takes awhile to explain: I will do it quickly without all of the Scriptural references
First of all when an unbeliever dies his spirit goes to Hades (Greek word). This word is usually translated as "hell" in the KJV version. Hades is actually a temporary place of punishment for the wicked. It also had a compartment for the righteous dead before Jesus' death and resurrection opened the way for the righteous dead to go to heaven. (See the parable of Lazarus and the rich man).
Where is Hades? This is a debatable subject, but I think the most likely place is in the center of the Earth. The most direct proof for this view is that when Korah rebelled (Numbers?) the earth opened up and the text says he and his followers went down alive into Sheol (the Hebrew equivalent of Hades).
The verse you quoted (Revelation) says that "hell" (Hades) is cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire (equivalent to the Greek word "Gehenna") was what God created for the devil and his angels. (Someone on this thread believes it has not been created yet - a new thought for me - and I haven't researched it further). Hence Hades will cease to exist in the end of time, but all occupants of Hades will be cast into the eternal lake of fire.
There is Scripture for all of this - not too hard to find - and I can look some of it up later if it would help. I am out of time now.
I will also say the above is my present best understanding: I know there are differing ideas among Christians on this, but the view I give above is a very accepted view among evangelicals.
All this makes this thread so much more obscure and incomplete: To talk about "hell" you have to realize there is Hades - a temporary place, and Gehenna - the eternal place.