[SUP]Luke 17: [/SUP]And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[SUP]23 [/SUP]And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]And 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.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[SUP]31 [/SUP]And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
This parable also teaches that men can be cast into hell without any chance of reaching heaven because of the chasm of unrepentant sin. I agree with you that hell is eternal judgement, but I believe unbelievers will also suffer both physical and spiritual torment. Here the rich man is described as being burned, but still alive. Jesus also said hell is a place where there will be unending agony such as weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. It is an eternal state of excruciating mourning and pain. I believe the devil, demons and people will not be totally disintegrated as you suggest, but will exist in eternal judgement.
