I agree, how is it a real choice, if choosing otherwise leads to eternal punishment? The Matthew verses are regarding the goats and sheep, IE the believers and unbelievers, IE humans — not Satan and angels. The unbelievers are to suffer eternal punishment. So again, I ask, how can one suffer eternal punishment if it they are not being punished forever? Here in the united states, a capital punishment is considered a finite event. Sure, some may believe the executed are going on to be punished forever, but one would not understand simply being executed and thus missing out on what would have been great as being "Eternally punished." And again, the Revelation verses say the unbelievers are going to go in the lake of fire where Satan and the beast are being eternally tormented. I think it's reasonable to conclude, given the Matthew verses for example, that they will suffer the same fate. Sure, it's not as explicit as it could be. But I don't think a lack of unambiguous writing on this is a very strong argument against eternal conscious torment for the unbeliever. Like everything in the bible, there is a degree of interpretation or debate to be had. So if you believe, like many Christians, don't believe that the bible teaches eternal conscious torment of the unbeliever then that's fine — I just don't think it's as cut and dry as you initially stated.
