@Vanderhoven7 : To begin with the Israelites believed in the judjement of men and punishment of the wicked. They knew God was going to judge men on a specific time He had chosen to do so. Again they knew that death was not an end to life in general. They knew there was accountability at the end of mortal life. Death brought an end to our mortal life. But our spirits never died. That is why Saul was able to summon the spirit of Samuel even when he had died. That would also explain why Jesus, when he was transfigured on the mount before his death had Moses and Elijah come and talk to him.
We could consider the story Jesus told about Lazarus and the rich man, this was NOT a parable or any of the lessons He taught. It likely pertained to an occurance which Jesus knew about.
Again Jesus warns about a fiery hell in Mark 9 : 43 - it talks about a fire that can never be quenched. Not forgetting His words in Matthew 25: 41 - ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
We know the devil is not mortal but spirit, likewise his punishment would also pertain to the spiritual sense, and if anyone is condemned with the devil then it means they are going to share punishment. Dont forget that is is rebellion/sin that causes lucifer this fate, and thats exactly what he are doing, isint it obvious that all sinners would share in his fate?
There seems to be exceptions though, there are people who knew not God/Jesus, and such ones would be given a chance to learn the truth and decide on whose side they are going to be.
But to dismiss a fiery hell altogether is just something else, seeing that the most part of the NT, revelation stresses on it clearly.
and b4 i go, most christians and probably all JWs have this notion that almost everything in the bible is symbolic and all that. Its very wrong, God does not hide the truth from us, He tells us plainly what He would do, and anytime the bible talks about symbolism and parables it does very well to explain itself.