The subject is the Lake of Fire, which death and hell will be thrown into, Rev 20:14 And Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

….how could the fire be literal if hell is a place of complete darkness (Jude 1:12-13)? One of these descriptions must be figurative, because they both cannot be true in the literal sense, as literal fire produces light.

First of all, how could God take the dust of the ground and fashion a man from it breathe into it the breath of life; how could He create the Universe and all that in them is?

Second, the Bible fairly clearly teaches that there will be varying degrees of punishment in hell. If everyone is being burnt in fire it seems to me that everyone would be experiencing the same amount of suffering.

Would you give me scripture rederences for the above statement, please?

It seems clear to me that all reactions to the Lake of Fire will be the same.

Isaiah 66:24

Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30,

Mark 9:44, 9:46, 9:48

Luke 13:28

I did not go to your link “Why are afterlife ideas missing from the OT? Did you will read Jude 1:14-15 it speaks of one from the Old Testament that knew of our future to come.

Peace

1 Cor 3 has always intrigued me since its from the perspective on a saved person.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

I Cor. 13:9-12 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I thought like a child, I talked like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

I’m not sure our interpretation much matters on this particular subject – other than to correctly interpret that there is a hell, it does exist, it will be infinitely unpleasant, and failure to acknowledge God for who he is will ultimately land you there. As you said, eternity spent in the absence of God. That’s all I really know.

I think this was where you were heading with your last paragraph… If so, I couldn’t agree more!

Blessings to you Casey!