For me, Hell is in the Bible for two reasons:
1. It helps to know your tormentors aren’t going to end up in the same place you are.
2. Power sometimes gives people the idea that things will always be the way they are. In fact the only worthwhile thing my Lutheran priest regarded the power of Rome.
Most Roman roads were marked by a stone symbol of the goddess Nike (goddess of victory). The stone carving was in the shape of an upside down acute triangle, with the long angle of the sculpted sign pointing the way down the road.
It’s from that stone sign that the very recognizable corporate symbol came for the manufacturer Nike. (The swoosh).
He said that never would it have been imagined that these symbols of Roman victory would be replaced by the Crucifix, but it has been.
Hell is there to remind the very pissed off that anything we could dream up in the way of retribution couldn’t come close to what God may have in store. It’s there to remind us that no earthly power lasts forever.
It’s there to remind us that Salvation is a gift, and not a capitulation, or act of weakness.
Hell isn’t a loaded gun pointed at everybody’s temple’s.
The deal is this - Love Him or don’t. It’s your choice.
God’s not a rapist. If you love Him, He’ll love you back. If you don’t love God, He doesn’t have to love you, though He’d prefer it.
Not everybody makes it to the next round. The frustration within me, and perhaps in many others, is that we know so little about the nature of the conflict. Some can accept that we don’t know, and go along with the plan. Others resent not knowing, and as such, act accordingly.
If we knew the entire nature of the conflict, I’m not sure our belief would be voluntary any more. Certainly, based on the empirical evidence, Hell, obviously, isn’t scary enough to make Salvation the obvious course.