Was "the Fire" of Hell a Metaphor?

[WIP]

I've often thought that perhaps hell could be a literal fire but at the same time I figure that fire would be a relief from the real hell, that is the total and complete torture from an absolute absence of God; God's love, God's grace, and God's acceptance. Even here on earth before we surrender ourselves to Jesus, we still bask in the glow of God's love, grace, and presence. In hell, that's gone. Those that are in hell have turned away and rejected God for the last time and He has chosen to let them live with our choice. Just like we can't begin to imagine the great wonder and glory that awaits us in heaven, we can't begin to imagine the great torture and pain of hell. "Hell's fire" could be one way of trying to put a perspective on what awaits those that continue to reject salvation.

I guess I'm a little on the fence. Fire could be literal or figurative but in either case, it's not where I want to be.

 

[warhorse]

Warhorse, others have tried to extrapolate my point to other beliefs, and we were able to come to an understanding that because I don't see "fire" being literal, doesn't mean that I see countless other things as figurative as well. So to answer you question, no I don't believe the nails and thorns were metaphorical. Perhaps you didn't read through the whole thread to glean this before posting your response.

Saying there is no "fire" but a complete absence of the Presence of God is in NO WAY minimizing the horrific existence in hell.

Well... then i will give you the short answer. Death by biblical definition means eternal seperation from God. However revelations says
Rev 20v13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and DEATH AND HELL delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And DEATH AND HELL were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

[Sam21]

Pard, you're painting with a broad brush. You can't say people who don't see a fiery hell as literal do so because they can't see darkness with fire. And this has nothing to do with conceptualizing the Trinity. I believe hell is absolute darkness; the absence of all light, the light being God. I'm a Trinitarian through and through, but I do believe hell to be an eternal existence in complete absence of God. This is a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth, but not a place of fire literally IMO. I'd be repeating my OP if I went on about the picture of literal fire.

I believe no fire or pain can be worse than being completely separated from the Lord. Absolute depravity of soul. No hope, no joy, no peace... All the while, knowing that God showed Himself to them, but they refused to accept Him. Eternity of misery and regret.

Actual pain trumps emotional pain, I wish it were not so but it appears that the folks in hell experience the real sense of burning and that is worse then not knowing God. Many people on earth do not know God and yet have a pleasant and enjoyable life.