(4a) They will be in this state forever and there is no second chance.
The following verse implies that there is no second chance. Even as Christ died only once, man will be judged only once.

Heb 9:27-28 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been
offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly
await Him.

(4b) Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who
worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."  

(4c) Matt 25:46"And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

In this passage the word eternal is used twice. It is the same Greek word in both places.
Thayer's definition of Greek & Hebrew words defines it as follows.
166  aionios-
1) without beginning and end, what has always been and always will be
2) without beginning
3) without end, never to cease, everlasting.

To say that punishment in Hell is only for a time. Is the same as saying Heaven will only be for a time. It is the same Greek word
for both. The word life as in eternal life speaks of the quality of life.

Thayer's describes life as " used of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God"

Strong's defines punishment in this verse as ( penal infliction: .. punishment, torment.)

(5) For some there is greater degrees of punishment.

Luke 20:46-47 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market
places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses, and for
appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."
(See also Mt.23:14, Mk.12:40)

The Bible tell us they will receive a greater condemnation, but it does not tell us how.

Thayer's definitions of Greek & Hebrew words says the following about the word.
"a) condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others"

The following are some of the terms that have been used in the Bible to describe Hell.
(outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, unquenchable fire, pits of darkness, furnace of fire, eternal fire, where their
worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched, tormented with fire,  he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God,eternal
destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power)

No matter how you view it this is not describing anything good. Jesus spoke of hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Why
would he go to such lengths to warn people about it if it were not real? All of his descriptions of it were terrible. Considering
what Jesus had to say about it, how can we help but believe it is a very real and terrible place? I have found
studying this subject depressing and disturbing. I plead with you if you do not know Jesus consider him carefully. Jesus is the
only way that you can escape this awful place!!!

Luke 12:4-9 (see also Matt 10:28)
"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
"But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
"Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. "Indeed, the very hairs of your head
are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me
before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men shall be
denied before the angels of God.

Mark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

2 Cor 6:2  behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"

Following is where you can find some related scripture concerning this subject.

Matt.3:10-12, Matt 7:19, Matt 13:40-50, Matt 23:33, Matt 25:29-41, Mark 9:43, Lk.3:9-17, Rom 12:19-20, Rev 14:9-10

The writings from church leaders in the first couple of centuries are not scripture.
They are however, helpful in determining if the Church has changed any major doctrine or the interpretation of scripture.
Generally speaking those living closer to the time of the New Testament writers would have different insights to the culture at
that time. They also would at times have a clearer understanding of what Jesus and the Apostles taught.

The following quotes can be found in:
THE ANTE-NICENE FATHERS by Rev. Alexander Robertd, D.D., and James Donaldson, LL.D., editors,  Translations of the
Writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company) 1989.

Justin's Dialog with Trypho (chapterV)
"'But I do not say, indeed, that all souls die; for that were truly a piece of good fortune to the evil. What then? The souls of the
pious remain in a better place, while those of the unjust and wicked are in a worse, waiting for the time of judgment. Thus some
which have appeared worthy of God never die; but others are punished so long as God wills them to exist and to be punished.'

The Second Apology of Justin for the Christians addressed to the Roman Senate CH 1
For everywhere, whoever is corrected by father, or neighbour, or child, or friend, or brother, or husband, or wife, for a fault, for
being hard to move, for loving pleasure and being hard to urge to what is right (except those who have been persuaded that the
unjust and intemperate shall be punished in eternal fire, but that the virtuous and those who lived like Christ shall dwell with God
in a state that is free from suffering,--we mean, those who have become Christians), and the evil demons, who hate us, and
who keep such men as these subject to themselves, and serving them in the capacity of judges, incite them, as rulers actuated
by evil spirits, to put us to death.
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Jesus Said:

"It is inevitable that stumbling
blocks should come, but woe to
him through whom they come!
"It would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his
neck and he were thrown into
the sea, than that he should
cause one of these little ones to
stumble.
Luke 17:1-2(NAS)
God has supplied a way of escape!
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Hell is real and it is not a fairy tale!
The Lord himself has supplied a way of
escape! Please read
"What does it mean to be Saved" &
Grace VS Works You do not have to end
up in this awful place! I do not care what
you have done in the past. The Lord can
and will forgive you, if you turn to Him!

I realize that many people have doubts.
It is not wrong to honestly question. There is
plenty of evidence for the Bible. Please feel
free to E-mail any questions or doubts that
you may have.  If I can remove any stumbling
block that is in your way causing you to
doubt I will do my best to do so!
Robert
The Doctrine of Hell
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