The first book in the "A Beautiful Hell" trilogy claims hell does not exist yet, Satan does not rule or torment the wicked dead, and God isn't tormenting anybody anywhere either. Hell is the wrath of God poured out on the wicked in the future. But what exactly is hell? Is it truly necessary? Is God a thwarted lover, throwing people who reject him into hell? Why can't God just forgive people? How could a loving God toss his creation into torment? And to make the plot even thicker, how is it possible that the death of one man, Jesus, could do anything to prevent others from going to hell? "The...

"Does hell really last forever?" Welcome to one of the hottest topics around. This question has splintered people of the Christian faith into several factions and caused an untold amount of mudslinging. The traditional answer to this question has pulled atheists deeper into rejection of God, and pushed the once-faithful to lose their faith; after all, how could a God of love torture people forever in hell? Phrases like "unquenchable fire, undying worms, smoke that rises forever, eternal punishment and eternal fire" seem to imply that eternal torment is unavoidable. But is this what the Bible...