In my particular denomination, we do not hold to the concept of an "everlasting fire", in that sense. Our belief is that the wicked will be destroyed thoroughly, completely, and permanently. The effects will be "everlasting", meaning that once sin is destroyed, it will be destroyed once and for all.
MCWAY, do you mind sharing what your denomination is?
OzmO, I know you didn't ask me but the way I see it is that the bible indicates there is hell hell (The Lake of Fire - the final hell) but also a place for unbelievers to go when they die to await the final hell which is referred to as sheol/hades/etc.
Does your JW friend believe that unbelievers cease to exist (spirit and soul) when they die? What does he say about the 144,000? It's not biblical, but I think I've heard JW's believe that only that many go to heaven? Not sure though.
Oh, and here are some scriptures on hell
(Lake of Fire)
Rev 19:20:10-15And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Dead Are Judged
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
(Sheol)
Luke 16:22-31"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "