My question for those who side against what this book has to offer is... why do you dissmiss the suggestion that hell is a place that purifies? What makes you so sure that it's a place that those who didn't choose God in their lifetime are tortured and tormented forever?
Because it's what scripture clearly states.
41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (Mark 25:41)
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46)
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7)
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12)
8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8)
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:44)
46 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:46)
48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:48)
Torture and torment forever does not sound like the justice and judgement of God, never do I see God torture or torment anyone. I see His wrath against sin in the bible, but I don't see him ever torture or torment.
This is not the God of the Bible. The rich man in Hades cried and said, "I am tormented in this flame."
24 Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' (Luke 16:24)
34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." (Matthew 18:34-35)
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish. (Psalm 112:10)
2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. (Psalm 68:2)
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. (Psalm 139:8)
29 For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. (Psalm 50:3)
3 A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about. (Psalm 97:3)
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. (Psalm 49:14)
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.' (Isaiah 14:11)
9 Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up. (Isaiah 50:9)
7 "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults.
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation." (Isaiah 51:7-8)
24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Isaiah 66:24)
19 As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So the grave consumes those who have sinned.
20 The womb should forget him, The worm should feed sweetly on him; He should be remembered no more, And wickedness should be broken like a tree. (Job 24:19-20)
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; (Isaiah 65:13)
25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:25)
25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. (Proverbs 13:25)
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish. (Psalm 112:10)
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)
49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49-50)
13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 22:13)
51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:51)
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:30)
23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them,
24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
28 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, and yourselves thrust out. (Luke 13:23-28)
22 "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: (Psalm 50:22)
46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:46)
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:31-32)
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled-- This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment. (Isaiah 50:11)
Rob Bell challenges our definition of hell. Pretty arrogant of any of us to think that we have it all figured out, and we should search out truth when good questions come to the surface. Bell brings to the surface some very good questions. And even more so, don't we all believe that Jesus died so we can be free from the power of sin - why do so many Christains believe that we have to suffer through this life to live free later. Who said it had to be later? The bible doesn't, Jesus said bring the kingdom of heaven to earth and showed us it's possible. Bell's arguments in this book sound to me compelling and encouraging for the very thing we all want...His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Who am I to judge what's next but I am after what's available in my life now IN HIM. "I have been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and delivers Himslef up for me." Gal 2:20
What does the eternal reality of hell have to do with those who have been saved from the wages of sin?