Hi Randy,
Welcome to the forum
I think your friend is relating 'hell' to punishment and if there is no hell, then there is no punishment. But there is punishment, as we all must give account.
Heb 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Another thing that your friend doesn't seem to understand is to die is 'death,' not being alive in eternal torture. Our hope is that Christ died and was
resurrected back to life.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised.
v. 17 And if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins.
v. 18 Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost.
v. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
v. 20 But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.
v. 21 For since death is through man, the resurrection of the dead also is through a Man.
v. 22 For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ ALL will be made alive.
So first things first, we have to be resurrected from the state of the dead, that is our hope in Christ Jesus and then God will merit out proper judgment due to all in the lake of fire.
Acts 24:15 And I have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Rom 2:5 But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up wrath for yourself in a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
v. 6 who will render to each according to his works;
v. 7 indeed to those who with patience in good work are seeking for glory, and honor, and incorruptibility, everlasting life.
v. 8 But to those who indeed disobeying the truth out of self-seeking, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath,
v. 9 tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who has worked out evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Greek.
mercy, peace and love
Kat