Doesn't Jesus contradict the different levels of punishment based on what type of sin commited in Matthew 5?One of the reasons I'm undecided on the fate of the wicked is because the bible seems to indicate different levels of punishment and reward. Jesus said the slave who didn't know his master's rules would be beaten with fewer blows and also said certain cities would be judged more harshly than others on the day of judgement. It's also entirely possible that all three of the positions on hell are correct to some degree. God may annihilate some, purge less serious offenders and seperate others from himself. This is similar to how criminals are handled in our courts today. The exception being that God judges perfectly and we do not. I don't really understand the "all or nothing" mentality when it comes to this issue. My understanding of scripture is that God takes each man's works into account on the day of judgement and not all works are equal.
21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'
22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Later on in the same passage it appears that your own thoughts condemn you through lust. It also seems that all are condemn to the same fate who don't believe in Christ. The goats aren't shown to be separated and appear to all receive the same punishment.