I'm no theologian, either, but I have a few thoughts on the subject that might lend some value to the discussion. One of my deeply held beliefs seems applicable here, and since there are specific quotes on the subject, I won't have to paraphrase it. I'll leave the quotes for you to peruse.
Jesus spoke a lot about hell, in fact He spoke more about hell then He did heaven. For starters, Jesus paralleled the two in Matthew 10:28 Jesus says: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell." The Greek word "apollumi," which comes from the Greek word "apo" and "olethros" means, to "destroy fully, to perish or lose." Now when one reads that they automatically assume under their 21st century thinking that it means that the soul of the unsaved person ceases to exist. That is not the case however. Consider this analogy. A housewife in her duties for the day changes a light bulb and as she is changing it she drops it on the floor and it shatters. Now the bulb as been "destroyed" and its normal function has ceased, but it has not been "annihilated" by any means. The shards of glass and the filament are still there. The bulb has been destroyed but not annihilated. The next word in question is the Greek "geenna," translated "hell." "Gehenna" was a perpetually smoldering garbage dump outside of Jerusalem and the rabbis of that day threatened the unbelievers with Gehenna. Jesus however, stated that those who rejected Gods offer of salvation would participate in everlasting Gehenna. (Matthew 18:8, 25:41,46) These two fates are also linked together in John 3:36 where it is written: " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." In that text we clearly see that those who believe will attain everlasting life and those who believe not will receive the everlasting wrath of God. The same Greek word, "aionios" that we covered earlier, is used in 1 John 5:11, 13. It indicates something that is perpetual or never-ending. Jesus mentioned hell in many other passages such as: Matthew 5:22,29-30, 11:23,16:18,18:9,23:15,23:33, Mark 9:43,45,47, Luke 10:15,12:5,16:23, and Revelation 1:18. The point is really pretty clear as far as I am concerned.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 it is readily displayed that those who "obey not the gospel" will be "punished with everlasting destruction." Again, the Greek "aionios" is used. "Olethros," translated "destruction" means "to ruin, a prolonged from, death and punishment." A soul that is annihilated, or does not exist cannot and could not be punished in any sense. The point is very clear that those who reject Christ will take part in this punishment. Dont forget the light bulb analogy.
We can tie in John 3:36 and Revelation 20:10 right here. As was stated earlier, the former indicates eternal punishment for unbelievers. Revelation 20:10 states: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
" We can also tie in Revelation 14:10 and Romans 2:8-9 into this. "He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth
tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil
" It is apparent that those who deny the truth will be consigned to everlasting "gehenna" and be "tormented" day and night for eternity. The Greek "meno," translated "abide" means, "to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy.)" The Greek "basanizo," translated "tormented" means, "to torture, pain toil, torment, toss and/or vex." You cannot vex or torment something that ceases to exist. In John 3:16 Jesus says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not PERISH, but have everlasting life." The Greek word that is translated "perish" is "apollumi." We have already gone over what that word means. You cannot "perish" in heaven.
Lastly, the meaning is very clear when one digs into the Greek. In light of the fact that Jesus and other Scriptures in general, speak of everlasting life and contempt in the same breath. (1 John 2:22-23) It is utterly impossible to reject the doctrine of eternal banishment from God and still hold to the same doctrine of eternal life. You cannot have one without the other.
Very well said.