M.G.,
Thought these scriptures might add to the discussion.
In the closing verse of the first chapter of Romans, Paul describes the types of actions that man is capable of once he is turned over or given unto "vile affections" by God... including even the"hatred of God"... these are the very types of actions that modern Christianity teaches will be punished with "eternal conscious torment... but what say the scriptures?
Romans 1:26-32
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The scriptures are clear! All of these actions once committed are "worthy of death"... not an eternity in Hell.
Fortunately, death will not reign over mankind forever...
1 Corinthians 15:26-28
For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy is being abolished: death.
For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.
Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.)
No, Christ will abolish death, and in so doing, save us from the death which is the only"wages of sin" (Rom. 6:23) that the scriptures speak of.
God's Peace.
Josh