I believe it to be a fire, but Hell is a spiritual place just as Heaven is. I just think to say that the lake of fire is literally like the fire we have on earth is not what Jesus intended. We only know of what fire does here on earth. It is one of the most destructive forces we experience. We have seen what earthly fire can do, the lake of fire will be worse, because it will never be quenched and the weeping and gnashing of teeth will not cease. We do not want to go there and God does not want us to go there either.

We all know that God is loving and merciful and kind and is patient toward us, but we would do well to remember that He is GOD and we are accountable to Him. It was his great love for us that compelled him to even let us know about Hell and gave us the plan of salvation so that we can avoid it.