But first...
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Otto
But nowhere is it suggested that the eternal fire requires bodies as fuel to burn, in case you're suggesting that. God is the consuming fire. It is He who will burn up and permanently destroy those who reject him. They're not going to burn forever. He does burn forever. In Revelation, Satan and death are thrown into the fire, and they are gone forever. Satan doesn't control the fire. It will eventually consume and destroy him.
I am not trying to suggest that physical bodies burn, nor that Satan controls the first (he is cast into a lake of fire in the bible, is he not?), and I definitely know that fires don't burn forever (see: Dark Souls).
Here's the issue I mentioned in the subject:
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Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.
Now, you've bolded the bit about God being a consuming fire. Whereas you think the passages I've listed are all using fire symbolically for God, I do not think they are. I think this passage that you've presented is using "consuming fire" symbolically. The big issue here is that it's not clear one way or another. What if that line is taken literally? Do all Christians actually serve the Red God, Lord of Flames?
Anyway, I'm going to have to do a bit more reading some time soon before I try and continue arguing that there is some form of eternal suffering. I have yet to fully consider what scriptures I remember from the lens of eternal death or second death. I am not currently convinced that I accept eternal suffering being the same as eternal life, but I'll give it some thought.
pls respond