LITERAL - PHYSICAL

Any claim that physical fire can cleanse spiritual impurity is pagan. Literal physical fire can only cleanse physical impurity and only IF the fire doesn't destroy the object. This means that physical fire can't purify people, because they can't "abide the fire".

Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. Numbers 31:23

Physical fire can clean or sterilize metal and stone. Metal and stone are two of the few elements that can survive the fire.

Even silver and gold are refined (purified) in fire by melting the metal and skimming the impurities.

Clothes or paper or people cannot "abide the fire". They would burn up, so may not be cleansed in physical fire.


SPIRITUAL FIRE

Spiritual fire is NOT physical fire. Only spiritual fire can cleanse spiritual impurity. Most Christians understand the cleansing by spiritual water and spiritual blood, but remain certain that fire is literal, at least literal for the tares and grapes. They are less certain about the wheat, and don't realize at all that even the barley is "purified" by fire (Mark 9:49). When confronted with this truth, they will admit that the cleansing baptism of the barley by fire on earth is spiritual, but are quite certain that "baptism" in the lake of fire is literal-physical.

Let's study Yahweh's spiritual fire that acts as an agent of purification.

1. The first truth to understand is that the Christ came to send fire on the earth and that ALL (everyone) must pass through His purifying fire. The fire referred to here is spiritual, not physical.

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Luke 12:49

... he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Mark 9:49

For by fire and by his sword will יהוה [Yahweh, our god] plead with all flesh: and the slain of יהוה [Yahweh] shall be many. Isaiah 66:16

This isn't referring only to the wicked, but ALL FLESH! And what did Isaiah say was its purpose? To "plead with all flesh". This certainly is NOT to "permanently destroy all sinners". It is to "plead" with them.

Peter wrote that the fire that tries us is not abnormal ("strange"). It is to "try" (refine) us. It is a normal part of our cleansing (purification) for Heaven and we should be happy about it. It is MUCH better to be cleansed here and now. Later (after the millennium) will be much harder. REJOICE!

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice... 1 Peter 4:12


2. The second truth is that Yahweh's cleansing spiritual fire destroys sin (man's work), not people.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15


3. The third truth is that many will die at Christ's second coming because they won't be able to see and survive His glory (see Harvests of Redemption). Some unexplained texts may be referring to this (temporary) death, not eternal destruction.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you... If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:1,2,6

This certainly sounds like destruction of the "bad" men branches. If we look a little closer, the "good" branches (those already "purged", pruned, and cleaned) need no more cleansing. They need no cleansing spiritual fire. They bear much fruit. But the branches not connected to the vine (not connected to Christ) are not yet pure and are still in need of Yahweh's cleansing fire. Also remember that Christ isn't raising vines and branches to harvest. They are merely a means to His harvest of grapes. Grapes are His goal. Grapes are His harvest. Grapes are tread in the winepress.

... but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7

This verse also sounds like destruction of the ungodly. If there weren't other verses to the contrary it would be easy to believe this. But there are other verses, so we must interpret this verse in accordance with them. The only solution is to read this verse as "when the ungodly repent, they become godly. At that moment the ungodly have been destroyed by their conversion (leaving them godly)."

Following are further proofs that Yahweh's fire is spiritual and cleansing (restorative).

When יהוה [Yahweh] shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And יהוה [Yahweh] will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion ... a defence. Isaiah 4:4-5


4. The fourth (and most important) truth is that Yahweh's WORD is His fire.

“Is not my word like fire?” declares Yahweh, “and like a blacksmith’s hammer that breaks a rock into pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

For Yahweh enters into judgment on all flesh with fire and his sword, and those slain by Yahweh shall be many. Isaiah 66:16

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3

Look! The name of Yahweh comes from afar, burning with his anger and heaviness of cloud. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire.... And Yahweh will cause the majesty of his voice to be heard, and he will cause the descent of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire ... For Topheth has been prepared from yesterday; indeed, it is made ready for the king. He makes its pile of wood deep and wide; he makes fire and wood abundant. The breath of Yahweh burns in it like a stream of sulfur. Isaiah 30:27-33

We previously discovered that "spiritual water" was also His WORD. Yahweh's WORD ignites a fire in men's hearts. It is a spiritual agent leading men to repentance which results in purification. Some will respond before the second coming, but most will refuse to listen until after their resurrection after the end of the millennium when faced with Yahweh's final judgment. The WORD of Yahweh's judgment is the Lake of Fire. At that moment, ALL has been revealed. Yahweh has shown Himself. Satan has been unmasked. The Christ's LOVE and sacrifice (leaving Heaven) are seen by ALL. There will be no room for unbelief. EVERYONE will acknowledge the name of Yahweh and worship Him. (Isaiah 45:22-24, Jeremiah 31:34, John 12:32, Romans 14:11, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Timothy 4:9-11, Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 15:4). Some will respond quickly, some will take much time, but eventually all will be drawn to the love of Jesus, the Messiah. The display of Yahushua's LOVE and the fire of Yahweh's word will purify all hearts.

Yahweh has sworn it by His own name.

I have sworn by myself; a word that shall not return has gone forth from my mouth in righteousness: ‘Every knee shall kneel down to me; every tongue shall swear.’ ‘Only in Yahweh,’ one shall say to me, ‘are righteousness and strength.’ He shall come to him, and all those who were angry with him shall be ashamed. Isaiah 45:23-24