The word "hell" is not even in the original Hebrew language in the Jewish scriptures - that word is "sheol", a resting place for the dead, or a grave.
In the new testament, the word for temporary abode for the dead is hades. And the lake of fire is not a place for torture, but for testing and cleansing.
How does that sound to you - if you are a loving father who knows how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him (and not torture those who did not ask Him for good things)?
Some resources on word study:
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/GatesOfHell.html
http://www.google.com.sg/search?q=ray+knight+hell&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US
fficial&client=firefox-a
In the new testament, the word for temporary abode for the dead is hades. And the lake of fire is not a place for torture, but for testing and cleansing.
How does that sound to you - if you are a loving father who knows how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him (and not torture those who did not ask Him for good things)?
Some resources on word study:
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/GatesOfHell.html
http://www.google.com.sg/search?q=ray+knight+hell&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US
fficial&client=firefox-a