Whatever Happened To Hell?

In my profession, I have the unique opportunity to interview various authors of the Christian faith. It's something I really enjoy as program director at a Christian radio station. Recently I interviewed a Harvard University graduate and seemingly Biblical sound author, of I might add a very well respected Christian publishing house, who has written a book on Bible questions people might have. To my surprise during the interview, I came to understand that he didn't believe the Biblical doctrine of Hell that has been taught for thousands of years. His view of Hell sounded more like an excuse for a doctrine that frankly puts off a lot of unbelievers and believers alike. His view of Hell not unlike those who hold to an annihilationism doctrine of hell. That the wicked simply are destroyed.

It got me to thinking about this doctrine and looking into its ramifications if it's watered down to where it's not of any consequence to the Christian faith. Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God himself comments about Hell more than anyone in the New Testament.
First He said "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)This is a description of God, and of his power. Only God is able to "destroy", that is, to torment and punish both body and soul "in hell", in everlasting burnings; God is to be feared, not chiefly and principally only, but solely; (John Gill) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.(Proverbs 1:7)
1 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good. (Ps 53)

In Mark chapter 9 Jesus speaks of the severity of hell, "into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where ‘ Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched." The Persic version renders it, "because from this place there can be no deliverance. Whatever Hell is, it is constant, neverending, eternal, conscious torment.
and in Matthew 13:40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matt 13: 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
What exactly does this mean? In Webster's original dictionary, Webster defined the verb "gnash" as "to grind the teeth, to rage even to collision with the teeth, to growl." Webster defined the noun "gnashing" in this way: "striking the teeth together, as in anger, rage or pain. A grinding or striking of the teeth in rage or anguish."
John Gill writes (declaring the remorse of conscience, the tortures of mind, the sense of inexpressible pain, and punishment, the wicked shall feel; also their furious rage and black despair.)

I believe Hell is God giving people over to their own evil hearts. Grace is withdrawn, the only thing people have in Hell is themselves. Eternal, conscious, torment. Paul says it in greater detail when in 2 Thess 1 where he writes....the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obpey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power...
God's grace withdrawn. Only the torment of being utterly consumed with the terror of hopelessness for eternity.
46] And these will go away into eternal punishment......
but the righteous into eternal life.”(Matthew 25:46 ESV)

The writers -Holy men of God who spoke being moved by the Holy Spirit- understood eternal life as being just that. Eternal. (everlasting life) . A time when God's chosen people will be together forever with God.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,some to everlasting life...

and some to shame (debased or reprobate denoting the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper) and everlasting contempt(vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn) dispised; morally despicable {Deserving hatred} or abhorrent detestable{deserving intense dislike} abominable )

This is how GOD SEES UNREGENERATE MANKIND. That is why flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

In John 3 a man , a leader of the Jews, came to Jesus who said to him "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” As John chapter one proclaims " But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Jesus said " Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (john 5:25;29)
15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (Paul Act 24:15)

Who are the wicked. What sends a person to Hell.

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.(John 5)“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John14:6) He who has the Son has life (1 John5)

Eternal life is just that. Eternal, conscious, everlasting existence.

"he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. "(1 John 5)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Saved from what? Saved from an eternity absent from the presence of God and the glory of His power. In a place so unimaginable, so terrifying, so all alone with just your own evil heart.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.(Rev. 20:11-15)

It is logical and reasonable to conclude that eternal punishment (Matt 24:29) everlasting contempt < condemnation; damnation;> (Dan 12:2) is likewise eternal, conscious, everlasting existence.
We must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Will you hear the words, Depart from me, I never knew you. Or Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the lord?