So far there has not been a single scripture shown which specifically, absolutely, no question about it says -
It's a good thing this is not the standard for determining the truth of a doctrine, otherwise no one would know anything about what the Bible says...
with the exception of the devil as the KJV has it - that the fate of the unsaved is to be tortured 24/7 for eternity.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. . . . Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:10,14-15
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation20:10,14-15&version=NKJV
Are there two different lakes of fire? or just one?
On the contrary, as has been pointed out a number of times, scipture actually specifically says that the wages of sin is death.
Yes, death. Not annihilation. Not temporary death.
But for some reason there are those here who want to interpret death as meaning
...something other than what scripture says. Such as yourself...
eternal conscious torment.
Why do you think that anything else is possible?
Do you think it cruel for God to be just?
Do you think Jesus was just muttering under his breath as he desperately cried out to His heavenly Father "If there be any other way, let this cup pass from me, but if not, Your will be done? (Speaking of His impending death, burial, and resurrection to save all of mankind from their sin?
Do you think that Jesus, having asked the above, would have died on the cross if there was any other way to save mankind from eternal separation from Him? (which is what eternal death is referring to)
For some macabre reason they have to want
There's no "want" here. There is what Scripture says, which is:
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. . . . Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:10,14-15
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation20:10,14-15&version=NKJV
God said it, that settles it.
Those who did not trust in God during their life will be given the same fate as Satan.
the unsaved to be tortured
WRONG.
They will be tormented.
Not tortured.
God isn't going to walk around with a whip or bat and beat them for the rest of eternity.
The "Torture" argument from people like you is a straw man, because scripture does not say torture, it says torment. One can be in torment by one's own doing. It does not require a second or third party.
for eternity because during their fleeting few years of life they didn't or couldn't meet the supreme being's
You shouldn't mock God.
You have apparently never read Luke 12:48 nor read and understood what Paul said in Romans 2.
nor develop or have the potential to develop the right character needed
Man was created with the ability to love, and even to love God.
In other words. your argument is a straw man, because all men ALREADY HAVE the potential to be saved from being separated from God. Whether they choose to love Him or reject/hate Him is entirely up to them.
It's a choice that is made. Not a quality that is obtained.
to spend eternity with this supreme being.
I forget, are you an athiest? Is that why you're using "supreme being" rather than "God"?
Consequently they try to interpret scripture to support that idea when there is no scriptural reason to do so.
Because you say so?
They could just as easily interpret the punishment to be death for eternity based on the scripture that says the wages of sin is death. And the last part of the verse seems to bare that out. The righteous receive eternal life which seems to contrast that with what the unrighteous will receive, i.e., eternal non-life.
Death is not "non-life," at least, not in this context.
Death in this context is separation.
Physical death is separation of body and soul/spirit.
Spiritual death is separation of man's spirit from God.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (The latter of the above.) Jesus paid the price to make it so that people do not have to be separated any longer. If one chooses to remain separated, God will honor that choice, and if they haven't changed their mind before the moment they die physically, then they will have committed to that choice.
God will not force people to be with Him for eternity if they do not want to be with Him for eternity.