Hell

I've been reading a book that I got from Walmary called "23 Minutes in Hell" by a guy named Bill Wiese. It's an interesting book that gives the account of the author, whom is a Christian and was at the time, being in hell for 23 minutes. He goes into vivid detail about what he heard, saw, felt, tasted, smelled. He felt pain, gripping fear, loneliness, isolation, hopelessness, extreme heat. He could hear others down in the depths with him screaming in terror and pain as well!! It was actually pretty scary as I read the book because I was almost afraid that God might give me that same experience. The author says that it took him a long time before he could even talk about it and he was emotionally shaken to the core. He knew it was real and that he was actually there. It all sounds like a hoax sort of but he even has scripturea that he uses. The thing that I caught which makes me believe his account is true is the fact that he didn't write the book to prove that hell exists. He merely writes the book telling of his experience. A lot of times it seems like people are trying to prove and he seems to be stating fact.
He mentioned that God took him through this experience so that he could tell people about it. I went on to youtube to see if I could find any of the interviews he's done for tv or radio. I found one and watched it. His facial expression and the way he tells the story confirms that he's sharing an actual experience and you can tell that he's been through something traumatic. I've seen that same expression on someone that went through the 9/11 tragedy and survived to tell about it.
One thing he wrote about in his book that intrigued me was the fact that people, including christians believe that hell doesn't really exist. I mentioned that some christians believe that the accounts of hell in the Bible are only figurative, or that they are perhaps a sub-conscious state of some kind.
I'm confused at how christians can think this way. How can someone believe in a literal heaven but not a literal hell? It doesn't make sense. If hell is figurative then heaven has to be figurative and there is no real reason to belive in Jesus because nothing really happens to us when we die anyway.
Anoother thing I'd like point is that, if hell isn't really, then what the "hell" did Christ die on the cross for? Do you understand that Christ died; a horrible death mind you. God came to earth to preach the good news of SALVATION!! Being SAVED from something!! Meaning, God new that we were doomed to something really, REALLY, REALLY BAD!! And the only hope that we had was that someone needed to die so that we could be SALVATIONED!! Apparently whatever it was, or is that we need to be saved from is so bad that dying the horrible death that Jesus died had to happen. Because whatever it is that we're saved from is FAR WORSE than Jesus dying? Sure seems like a lot of work for a diety, the DIETY, to go through for something figurative.
Not to mention that if hell isn't really than Christ died for nothing. His death is unnecessary and it's power is diminished to nothing. Is that what we're proclaiming to this world.
Why would you believe in such a religion if it's biggest component, it's foundation is unnecessary?
If hell isn't real, that may also mean that the sufferings of apostles of Jesus and all of the martyrs since the beginning of the age, and all of the missionary work, and money spent, and worship of God, and blood-sweat-and tears over the faith in Christ is worthless. I think that this kind of thinking is dangerous and I pray that people search their hearts and more importantly seek God on this matter.
People argue that "How could a loving God send people to Hell?" I argue first of all that God doesn't send people to hell. They choose to go. I also would argue, how could a loving God not allow people to go? God's definition of love is: I love you and I want to be with you. I'm going to give the choice to love me or not and I'm you will reap the reward of whatever your choice is. If you choose to love me back you'll get to reap those rewards. If you choose not to love me back you'll reap the rewards of that. God's love is : "For God so love the world that He gave is only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal live." John 3:16