I sincerely appreciate youar attitude about this. It actually corresponds to what the writer of the article said in his conclusion: “Support can be found through the Holy Scriptures to back up the case for eternal torture as well as the case for annihilation in Hell.”
But I do take issue with you regarding this statement: However, I can find no Biblical justification for, say, death as obliteration and total destruction of the consciousness.
Fact is, most scripture that discusses the fate of the lost, especially when comparing them to the saved, if one translates the plain language, indicates permanent ending. It is the way a person would interpret John 3:16, as well as phrases like “second death”, death, destruction, etc.
I think a fun side study would be of the word “punishment”, it’s meaning and sources and the words translated to that word in scripture. Sometimes punishment doesn’t hurt at all.
When the Bible says that
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
and
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
What you are reading is that the "lake of fire" is a metaphor for the "second death".
What I am reading is that the "second death" is a metaphor for the "lake of fire".
In other words, we disagree on which is the reality and which is the metaphor.
Oh, well, we'll all find out plenty soon enough :)