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I think it's likely that if there is an afterlife, everyone — even Judas, even Hitler — eventually ends up in heaven

The unexamined assumption in much writing on this subject is that there are two alternatives: (1) eternal torment, or (2) eventual salvation for all. This leaves unconsidered the possibility that immortality is not inherent, but is a gift of God for the redeemed (Rom. 6:23), and that those who are not redeemed are eventually destroyed.

This leaves unconsidered the possibility that immortality is not inherent, but is a gift of God for the redeemed (Rom. 6:23), and that those who are not redeemed are eventually destroyed.

Amen. This also would include the possibility that they could be reincarnated as rats or Obama supporters, forever dependent on the industry of their betters. But I repeat myself.

RE: that those who are not redeemed are eventually destroyed.

If you are destroyed, how can you be tormented forever?

Revelation 20:10

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

But this, as I argued in a recent column, makes no theological sense. If morality is good, then doing the right thing must be its own reward and doing the wrong thing must be its own punishment. To think that a sinner deserves extra, externally imposed suffering presumes that morality isn't good and that those who commit evil deeds benefit from their actions — which is another way of saying that those who do the right thing are fools.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Jesus talked plenty of hell and eternal torment.

Eternal means eternal......