Hello LaurieB,
"So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ " - Luke 16:24 (From the rich man and Lazarus).
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matt.25:41
"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." - Rev.20:10
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."
"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." - Rev.20:14
These are just a couple of scriptures that refer to literal torment in flame/fire, one being in Hades which is temporary which is where all of the spirits of the unrighteous dead currently reside. And the others are referring to Geenna/Gehenna, which is referring to the lake of fire, also called the second death, which is the final place of punishment in flame.
It is only through the symbolizing/spiritualizing of scripture, that people can interpret the scriptures as being non-liter eternal punishment in fire. We have other words in the context such as "the smoke of their torment will rise up" with "no rest day or night" in said fire. The other words in the context support the torment as being in literal fire.
The context is too strong and direct for it to be speaking figuratively. Also, someone said that the reference to punishment in fire is referring to separation from God. Yet, Satan is and has been separated from God for quite some time, yet the scripture states that he and his angels will be thrown into the lake of fire. If the reference to eternal fire was just separation and Satan and his angels are already separated, then what difference would the lake of fire be for them?
This symbolizing of scripture that is meant to be taken literally, is one of the biggest problems today. For to apply symbolism where none is needed, distorts the meaning that God means to convey.
Yes, eternal torment is separation from God and that separation will also be in a place of torment in flame that God created for Satan and his angels, as well as any human being whose name is not found written in the book of life.