I agree with you. Hell is real and there is real punishment in Hell right now, but at the Great White Throne Judgement talked about in Revelation, Death, Hell and all that are in Hell are judged then destroyed in the Lake of Fire (ie, the “second death” or the death of the soul).
One verse that really makes this more understandable is in 1 Corinthians 15:54 where it talks about “this mortal taking on immortality.” A person doesn’t take on immortality until they accept Christ as savior. This immortality isn’t a physical immortality but the immortality of the soul. In order for a person to be tortured forever and ever (as many have been falsely lead to believe) you would have to have an immortal soul but only the saved have an immortal soul.
....” only the saved have an immortal soul”....
There are three parts to humans...body, soul, and spirit.....we are made in His image....and He also is Triune. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
...The concept of death as used in the Bible does not mean nonexistence... rather, it means “separation.” ....
Physical death occurs when the spirit exits the body......
James 2:26......... “For as the body without the spirit is dead.”.... In other words, the separation of one’s spirit from one’s body results in physical death.
Spiritual death, on the other hand, entails separation from God due to sin..... So “death” involves the idea of separation—not extinction or unconsciousness.