First, how do I deal with the ‘total annihilation’ verses? Easy. Consider, what is being destroyed? Yes, we inherited an evil nature from Adam. That nature must be destroyed, for no one can come before a holy God with an evil heart. I see no problem at all with God using the fires of hell to totally destroy the evil nature out of a person, thus setting that person free to ‘start over’ with a clean slate, like Adam was when God first breathed in him the breath of life.

 This is consistent with the nature of God, who never fails in all He starts. God will complete all of His eternal plans and purposes in Jesus Christ, for He swears, “I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” (Isa 46:10) “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him [Jesus], and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself…” (Col 1:19 ff) “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) That’s a promise.

“The one who practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 Jn 3:8) Hell fire was not actually created for mankind; it was prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matt 25:41) It will destroy him, his angels, his servants, and all his works. But when those evil natures “fathered” by Satan are destroyed, what will remain? “There is… one Spirit …one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all… He ascended above all the heavens that He might fill all things.” (Eph 4:4, 6, 10, excerpts) That is all that will remain.

OK. So now how do I deal with the ‘endless torment’ verses? “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever…” (Rev 14:11) ‘Forever’ verses are also easy, for the words used are always time words, and can just as easily be translated ‘age,’ ‘ages,’ ‘eon’ or any indefinite length of time. Indeed there are some places in Scripture where these words cannot mean ‘forever,’ such as God’s judgment pronounced on Edom: “It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall go up forever; from generation to generation it shall be desolate; none shall pass through it forever and ever.” (Isa 34:10) That terrible prophecy was fulfilled. Now tourists pass through it all the time and its smoke is quenched. A New Testament example: “The slave does not remain in the house forever; but the son does remain forever.” (Jn 8:35) Another famous example is, “…they [the bondservants of God] shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev 22:5) which directly contradicts, “Then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Cor 15:24) Clearly “forever” in Scripture only means an age, ages, or an indefinite period of time, as these words are usually translated.

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