(tm) The Christians who believe this are incorrect.
Back to The First and Second Resurrection
Most of the New Testament warnings concerning punishment have to do with church members who are not serving God as they should.
There are no gradations of punishment. The Lord’s statement about many lashes and few lashes is to be ignored.
If one is cast into the Lake of Fire with the devil and his angels, there to be tormented forever, the amount of lashes applied is meaningless. The Lake of Fire always is the maximum punishment.
The concept of many and few lashes implies salvation. Why apply lashes to someone whom you are not attempting to correct? Why bother to whip a man before sending him into eternal torment?
When Jesus spoke of a servant being beaten with lashes He was referring to His own servants (Luke 12:47,48). The Lord’s servants who are to be punished are not the kings, priests, and judges of the first resurrection, the blessed and holy; for their sentence is to be raised in glory and to be with the Lord Jesus forever. These are not the servants who are to be whipped.
When and how will the servants of Christ be punished? Revelation 20:15 does not inform us concerning those who were found written in the Book of Life at the time of the second resurrection, except they were not cast into the Lake of Fire. It does not state they became kings and priests of God. There certainly is room here for punishment less severe than the Lake of Fire.
After speaking about the lashes to be applied to His disobedient servants, Jesus said: "Unto whomsoever much is given [obviously referring to someone who has been taught the Word of Christ], of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48).
The Scripture teaches that the servant who knew the Lord’s will and did not do it will be beaten with many lashes. The individual who did not know the Lord’s will and did commit things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few lashes.
The Lord promises rulership to the faithful servant.
Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. (Luke 12:44)
Here is the first resurrection from the dead.
The unfaithful servant will be punished severely.
Let us examine what the Scripture states concerning the second resurrection from the dead. Does it say all who participate will be cast into the Lake of Fire, or does it state only some will be cast into the Lake of Fire? Exactly what does the Scripture state?
Let us not add to or subtract from what is declared in the written Word. Let us not be more severe with people than God is.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)
This is what will take place. Each human being (except the victorious saints—God’s kings and priests of the first resurrection) will be judged according to his works. This is what the Scriptures state. It cannot be changed.
The concept that every human being will be judged according to his or her works appears throughout the New Testament writings. In our day far too much emphasis is placed on a profession of belief in "correct" doctrine and not nearly enough emphasis (not nearly enough in terms of the balance between belief and righteous conduct expressed in the Scriptures) is placed on the growth in righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God of the believers.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)