Examining the Supposed Hell “Proof Texts

Back to The Truth About Hell

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Hundreds of millions of people believe in an ever-burning hell because they have been told “the Bible says so.” By now, you have seen that the Bible states no such thing.

However, there are certain “proof texts” that many cite to prove the “ever-burning hell” fallacy. A thorough study of the subject would be incomplete without examining those scriptures. In this inset, we will examine texts most frequently cited as “proof.” As you read the six additional scriptures with points that follow, ask: Why would God directly contradict the plain statements seen elsewhere in His Word? Some require little explanation. Others require more detail to arrive at the correct understanding.

“Everlasting Punishment”

Mt 25:41, 46: “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Is this proof of an ever-burning hell?

It is not! The Greek word, aionios (from which comes the English word eon),translated “everlasting,” means “agelasting.” The event referred to is the 1,000-year Millennium, when Satan and his demons will have been thrown into the bottomless pit and bound (Rev. 20:2-3). There are three separate phases of Satan’s “hell”:

(1) II Peter 2:4 (latter part): The 6,000 years that he has been cast down to earth, as explained by the Greek word tartaroo, which means prison, incarcerate or place of restraint. II Peter incorrectly translates tartaroo as “hell.” (2) Matthew 25:41: 1,000 years in the bottomless pit.

(3) Jude 13 (latter part): Contains a reference to Satan being cast into “outer darkness,” perhaps outside the universe, after the Millennium.

Matthew 25:46 also refers to an everlasting “punishment,” not “punishing.” Whenever death occurs, it is certainly an everlasting event—as far as the person is concerned. This helps to explain Mt 25:41. Mt 25:41 and Mt 25:46 must be understood together.

“Not Left In Hell”

ACTS 2:31: “He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.”

The question here is this: How could Christ have died and putrefaction (“corruption”) of His body not have begun?

First, the Greek word translated “hell” is hades, which we have seen simply means the grave. A body can go several days or longer without corruption (beginning of decomposition), if all of the blood has been removed. Certainly Christ did shed all of His blood, making this more possible. However, due to the extreme temperature in Jerusalem, God would have had to supernaturally preserve Christ’s body from this natural process.

“Spirits in Prison”

I PETER 3:19-20: “By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

Are these “spirits in prison” evil people who “went to hell” that Christ “preached to” during the three days and three nights He was supposed to be in the grave? This view is easily and properly corrected by using these keys:

(1) The preaching occurred “when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah”—not during Christ’s 72-hour period of death!

(2) The word translated “prison” is not eternal hellfire somewhere under the earth where the “damned” are roasting. Rather, it is the Greek word phulake, which means “a place of restraint or prison.” That place is earth—to where Satan and his demons (Luke 10:18, 20 “spirits”) have been cast down.

During some of the 120 years of Noah’s preaching—the Bible does not say for how long—Christ simultaneously preached to the fallen angels who followed Satan. II Peter 2:4-5 is a helpful reference, because we saw the word translated hell there is really the Greek word tartaroo, which has been explained earlier in this book.

“Them That Are Dead”

I PETER 4:6: “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.” Some think this passage validates the claim that the dead are alive somewhere else, for example, in “heaven” or in an “ever-burning ¬ hell.”

To understand this verse, it is vital to know who the “dead” are that Peter was speaking about. By the time this epistle was written, in A.D. 67-69, many thousands of Christians had already received the knowledge of God’s laws, as preached by the apostles, and were living their lives according to those laws. With the passing of time, some of these faithful followers had died in the faith, with others through history martyred by pagan leaders and religious ¬ figures.

Recall that King Solomon wrote, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward...Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go” (Eccl. 9:5, 10). Those who are physically dead know ¬ nothing—¬ and are unable to receive any preaching or ¬ communications.

Since the dead know nothing, those who were “dead” had received the gospel while they were still alive! But there is another way the gospel is preached unto the “dead.” God’s Word states that those who have not repented of their ¬ sins—¬ their transgressions are not forgiven by ¬ God—¬ are sometimes referred to as “dead” (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13), meaning the spiritually dead.

These are “dead” in their iniquity. They have not received the gift of Christ’s sacrifice, nor God’s Holy ¬ Spirit—¬ the “earnest” or down payment of salvation—yet. Christ’s statement to a young man, “Let the dead bury their dead...” (Luke 9:60), was a direct reference to those who could not understand spiritual ¬ matters—¬ those still under the death penalty. The apostle Paul further explains that they are “...dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). Although still physically alive, by not hearing the words of ¬ life—¬ the gospel of the kingdom of ¬ God—¬ they are spiritually dead! Christ explains: “It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Today, God’s true Church has been commissioned to preach this same gospel to the world “as a witness unto all nations” (Matt. 24:14). However, most people do not heed this message, nor is God calling them at this time (John 6:44). Thus, they remain in ignorance and ¬ sin—¬ enslaved under the death penalty—which is the true curse of the law, spoken of in Galatians 3:13!

“The Smoke of Their Torment”

REVELATION 14:11: “And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”

Some assume that this verse refers to immortal souls burning forever in “hell.”

The timeframe of what is described here is yet to come. The passage is referring to “Babylon” (14:8), “that great city, because she made all nations drink of...her fornication.” This is the final, religious/political, ¬ end-¬ time revival of the Roman Empire also described in Daniel 2:42-43 as the “toes,” and in Daniel 7:7, 24 as the tenth horn. Revelation 13 describes it as the seventh and last horn, and Revelation 17:12 describes it as the seventh head, having ten horns (which has not yet appeared).

Revelation 14:9-10 states, “If any man worship the beast [this final ¬ end-¬ time revival] and his image, and receive his mark...he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone...in the presence of the Lamb.” As long as the people who are participating in this “beast” system continue to rebel against God, they will receive “no rest day nor night” (vs. 11). This does not state that they will be burning in hell for eternity. What it does say is that once their bodies are burned up, the “smoke” ascends forever. The fire extinguishes itself but the gases from the smoke will continue to circulate in the atmosphere.

The fire that is referenced here is on the earth—¬ not in it, as part of an ¬ “ever-¬ burning hell.” You will shortly see that Malachi plainly states, “And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts” (4:3).

“A Lake of Fire”

REVELATION 20:10: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Does this verse state that the beast and false ¬ prophet—¬ human ¬ beings—¬ are tormented in the lake of fire forever, and are eventually joined in “hell” by Satan?

This lake of fire is the same one referred to in Revelation 19:20, which indicates that the Beast and False Prophet “were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” This is a localized lake of fire that long precedes the ultimate lake of fire (Rev. 20:14, 15; 21:8) to engulf the entire earth (Rev. 21:1) 1,100 years later before the New Heavens and New Earth arrive. The fact that the lake of fire in Revelation 19:20 is referred to as “a lake of fire” and the one mentioned in Revelation 20:10 is referred to as “the lake of fire” is merely a translation error. The context of both accounts shows conclusively that both verses are referring to the same place. The translator’s assignment of “a” lake of fire in Revelation 19:20 is incorrect, while the assignment of “the” in Rev. 20:10 is correct. This is the case because in Greek, only the definite article “the” is used as in Revelation 20:10 and the use of “a” in Revelation 19:20 is simply a translation mistake, since Greek does not use such indefinite articles.

The phrase in Revelation 20:10, “where the beast and false prophet are,” is misleading. As indicated by the italics in the King James Version, translators erroneously added the term “are.” It should read, “where the beast and false prophet were cast.” Recognize that Revelation 19:20 stated the beast and the false prophet were cast into that lake of fire at the very beginning of the millennial age. The devil and his angels were cast into that fire after the end of the millennial age (Rev. 20:10)—hence; this was an ¬ age-¬ lasting fire.

Satan will not be harmed by this fire, since he is a spirit being (Luke 20:36). Yet, the final Beast and False Prophet will have long since perished in the flames before Satan is cast into the lake of fire. Satan will be tormented by seeing all of his efforts to thwart God literally go up in flames. But this is especially true with the final lake of fire to occur later (II Pet. 3:10). The indication is that Satan is cast into this final, everlasting fire ¬ (age-¬ lasting or unquenchable until it has run its course purifying the earth), as shown in Matthew 25:41. Yet, Satan does not remain in this fire forever. The New Heavens and the New Earth then come down after the earth’s surface has been purified (Rev. 21:1).

Isaiah 66:24: “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” It was this passage that Christ quoted three times in Mark 9:1-50 regarding so-called “immortal worms.” These bodies will first rot. Then, after they are resurrected, many will be cast into the lake of fire—where “unquenched fire,” which will burn them up, awaits. Notice!

“For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 4:1-3). Anyone who walks through a fire of any size, that has burned itself out, understands that there would be ashes under their feet! This is the fate of the wicked.

A Summary

Herbert W. Armstrong’s article “IS THERE A HELL?” summarized the answer to the question with the following concluding quote: “Do you know that THE BIBLE teaches the resurrection of all who die? The apostle Paul said his HOPE was the hope of the RESURRECTION! As the resurrection is true doctrine, then the pagan myth of an eternal TORTURE, beginning at death, is as deceptive as Satan himself! If all Unsaved—even all who never heard the ONLY name Jesus Christ—are roasting, screaming, in such a hell, and can never get out, HOW can there be a RESURRECTION!

“Thank GOD!—there is to be a resurrection to JUDGMENT, as well as a resurrection to eternal life of the dead IN Christ! “Yes, thank GOD, he so LOVED the world—we NEED not perish, but through Christ we may have EVERLASTING LIFE!”

The Meaning of Lazarus and the Rich Man

Surely some will ask, “What about Lazarus and the rich man? Didn’t they both die and go to heaven and hell, respectively? Isn’t this the lesson of the story?” Much of this booklet, to this point, has indirectly addressed the most common questions arising from this story.

Sadly, the account of Lazarus and the rich man is almost universally misunderstood. Nearly everyone asserts that it is not a parable but rather a literal representation of the afterlife. This statement cannot withstand the scrutiny of facts. All one must do is start with the assumption that it is literal and then attempt to explain the elements in it as though they can only be taken literally. The difficulty in doing this will be made clear by this exercise.

For those who remain unconvinced that it is a parable, turn to Mark 4:33-34. These two verses describe the pattern Christ always used to teach His disciples: “And with many such parables spoke He the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spoke He not unto them: and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples.” Christ continually used parables to teach. In Mark 4, prior to these verses, He had just spoken three parables. The New Testament contains dozens of others. A parable is a story designed to illustrate a point. Apparently, in one way or another, Christ always used parables, for “without a parable spake He not unto them.” Remember—accept the Bible at face value. The story of Lazarus and the rich man is a parable and must be accepted as such.

The account of this parable is found in Luke 16:19-31. Take the time to read it—and get a complete picture of this story in your mind. Does it really say that when people die, they immediately go to either heaven or hell? We will see that it says no such thing!

We have only briefly touched on the subject of Christians (the meek) “inheriting the earth” as being the truth of the reward of the saved and how it supplants the common belief that heaven is their reward. This included a short examination of those who will awaken to immortality with God’s likeness at the time of the resurrection. Of course, we much more thoroughly discussed the subject of hell. Therefore, it will be considerably easier to clarify—to harmonize—the real fate of the rich man than that of Lazarus. The rich man suffered hell fire and Lazarus was saved. While this much is plain, what does it mean?

The account is best studied verse by verse with an open Bible. The explanation may periodically reference verses out of order so that we may sometimes examine a verse, phrase by phrase. Be prepared to take careful note of what the account does not say as well as what it does say. Also, look up each verse referenced (but not quoted) in the explanation.

Lk 16:19-21: These verses set the stage. They describe the parable’s two principal characters. Obviously, one is very wealthy and the other pitifully poor and miserable. One of the purposes of the parable is to demonstrate that Lazarus is a type of all Gentile Christians, who become Abraham’s children upon conversion. Read Galatians 3:7, 29.

Lk 16:22: Both men die. From this point forward, most people reading the account jump the track by making false assumptions. Most conclude that Lazarus is pictured as immediately arriving in heaven and the rich man as immediately arriving in an ever-burning hell. The account says neither of these things!

Notice! The verse says nothing whatsoever about either heaven or an ever-burning hell—period! Try to find these terms. They are not there. This verse states that Lazarus arrives at “Abraham’s bosom”—with no mention of when this occurs. The rich man is “buried!” That is all it says. Remember the rule: Take the verse for what it says—without adding to it or subtracting from it.

Lazarus’ presence at Abraham’s bosom depicts a very close, loving relationship. The apostle John is recorded as having reclined on Christ’s bosom as “the disciple whom Christ loved” (John 13:23). (Though John does not identify himself, probably because of modesty, it is clear whom the verse refers to.) So a special relationship is shown between Abraham and Lazarus, with no reference to either time or place. Describing a conversation during the time of Christ’s ministry, John 8:52-53 states (twice), “Abraham is dead.” At that point, Abraham had been dead for nearly 2,000 years. He is still dead! He is not waiting in heaven for people to come, immediately after death, and recline on his bosom. The meek inherit the earth when Christ returns to establish His kingdom! Abraham and Lazarus will be resurrected into the kingdom of God at Christ’s Second Coming. This is the meaning of the phrase.

Another rule of Bible study is found in II Peter 1:20. It cautions that “no…scripture is of any private interpretation.” Reviewing other essential scriptures makes this clear. Compare Daniel 7:18, 22, 27; Jude 14-15; and Revelation 5:10 with many other verses and it is obvious that the saints reign on the earth with Christ. Then notice that Matthew 25:31 shows that Christ returns with “the holy angels.” Recall that Lazarus was “carried by the angels” to Abraham’s bosom. Finally, compare this with Matthew 24:31 for further proof of the angels’ role in this way. (Read our free booklets Do the Saved Go to Heaven? and Just What Is Salvation?) Mt 24:23: The rich man is obviously in hell. However, the word translated “hell” here is hades. This makes sense because hades is the grave and we read that the rich man had been “buried.” This means that he was put into a grave. There is no mystery about what happened to him. Therefore, the phrase “he lift up his eyes” also makes sense as no more than a reference to the resurrection described in John 5:29. We have previously examined this verse. This phrase is consistent with a resurrection, when people awaken—or “lift up their eyes.”

The rich man was also in “torments.” What does this mean? The Greek word translated “torments” is basanos. It is found in only one other place in the Bible. Its meaning is fascinating. It means “a touchstone, having to do with touching pure gold, against the particular stone, to test its purity and validity…to be under a severe trial, torture.” We will see that the rich man was, in fact, mentally tortured and in a severe trial. He was facing the lake of fire! Try to imagine a more serious trial than this. He had missed out on salvation and could clearly see Abraham and Lazarus in the kingdom of God.

Jn 5:24: This verse is usually cited to justify the classic version of hell where people burn but never completely burn up. Read it carefully. The rich man requests that Lazarus “cool his tongue” with a tiny amount of water—no more than a few drops on the tip of a finger. If you were roasting in a condition involving walls of fire all around you, would you merely ask for a few drops of water—and only for the purpose of cooling your tongue? Would you not rather ask for a whole pool of water to be dumped on you? I would! The rich man is again described as “tormented.” Understanding this word (“tormented”) is the key to explaining the rich man’s condition. It is not basanos.

The word translated “tormented” is odunao. It means, “to grieve, sorrow, torment, duress, distress, strain.” No reference to roasting or burning is included in its definition. The rich man is described as being in mental torment because he is facing the lake of fire. Fear has seized him and given him the condition commonly referred to as “cotton mouth.” Great fear and distress often dry up the mouth. The rich man was hoping for Lazarus to moisten his tongue. We might also ask the following question of all those who believe in the immortality of the soul and who wish to take this parable literally. Do immortal souls have tongues? The reader may ponder this.

The phrase “in this flame” is mistranslated. The actual meaning in the Greek is “by reason of this flame.” This critical mistranslation entirely changes the scenario. The rich man was not yet “in the flame” but was tormented by fear because he saw it coming. He had good “reason” to be in mental anguish and torment.

Jn 5:25: This verse reinforces the element of the passing of time to properly understand the parable. Abraham answers the rich man by saying, “Son, remember that in your lifetime…” What would be the point of using the word “remember” if the rich man’s lifetime had ended just a few seconds prior to this conversation? Typically, people use the word remember when they are speaking of events that happened long ago! The passing of much time, since the rich man’s death, is confirmed at the end of the verse, when Abraham says, “but now he [Lazarus] is comforted.” It is apparent that the two words remember and now are contrasted to one another because significant time has passed. Both men had lain in the grave for a great while, until the time of their respective resurrections from the dead.

Jn 5:26: This verse describes what is called “a great gulf fixed” between where Abraham and Lazarus were and where the rich man was. Some believe this is a picture of a great physical distance between the locations of heaven and hell. It certainly does not say that. What exactly is this “great gulf fixed?”

Notice: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities [lawlessness] have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). Also Jeremiah 5:25: “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you.” Now read Hebrews 10:26: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”

These verses show that sin, in all of its forms, cuts people off from God! God cannot bless, protect, heal, guide or save people who do not repent of and forsake sin. God is holy—He does not have contact with sin. Because of His perfect righteousness, He CANNOT! The rich man’s sins had cut him off from God. This is why Abraham said that no one on either side of this “gulf” was able to cross to the other side. It was impossible, literally!

Heb 10:27-28: These two verses can be taken together because they both describe the rich man’s request to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. This would be a natural request for any man concerned about his family. The rich man would have been unaware of how much time had passed since his death. He would have had no way of knowing unless he asked—and the account does not record that he did. Heb 10:29: Abraham’s answer to this question is extremely important because it says what everyone alive today should do in their own lives. He warns that the five brothers (and, by inclusion, everyone else who has ever lived) should listen to “Moses and the prophets.” Abraham is emphatic—“let them hear them.” This is Christ’s instruction to an entire world that ignores the Bible, in general, and the words of Moses and the Old Testament prophets, in particular! This warning is here for you, the reader, to consider!

Mt 10:30-31: These two verses are also tremendously instructive, but in a slightly different way. They represent an amazing insight into the careless neglect and general disregard of God’s word that is so typical of human nature. When taken together, these verses demonstrate that people who are determined not to obey God—who are determined not to heed Moses and the prophets—won’t even be moved to action by a well-known person resurrected “from the dead”! What a stunning indictment of human stubbornness in the face of the plain truths of God. These verses contain a warning. Will you hear them?

The rich man had been given his opportunity in his lifetime. He realized that he had missed out on salvation. He also recognized that Lazarus had been resurrected “from the dead.” The scripture does not say that he was resurrected “from life”—it says that he had been resurrected “from the dead.” The entire account of this parable was used by Christ to teach the resurrection of the dead! This account was never intended to teach the idea of immediately going to heaven or hell upon death.

Many Bible scholars have long understood that this parable was never intended to address the state of the dead. The New Bible Dictionary states, “Probably the story of Dives and Lazarus (Lk. xvi), like the story of the unjust steward (Lk. xvi.1-9), is a parable which made use of certain Jewish thinking and is not intended to teach anything about the state of the dead” (p. 388).

A Summary

Under the subhead “The Warning for YOU!,” Mr. Armstrong concluded his booklet LAZARUS and the RICH MAN with the following summary of the meaning of that parable:

“Finally, what is the real lesson?

“Jesus was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God—the New Testament gospel. He was showing salvation, the resurrection to eternal life as the gift of God—inheritance of the Kingdom of God on this earth. “The apostle Paul plainly tells us that the New Testament Church of God is built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Jesus said: ‘I will build my church.’ Paul reveals it was built on the foundation of the prophets as well as the apostles!

“Jesus…teaches you that if you refuse to hear Moses and the prophets—and Moses was one of the prophets—you have no hope of salvation! The Scriptures (Old Testament as well as New), according to II Timothy 3:15, are able to make us wise unto salvation. We are to take the whole Bible, not the New Testament only.

“Those who teach that the commandments of God are done away teach a message of doom! Those who teach the pagan doctrine of the immortality of the soul—going off to ‘heaven’ at death, or eternal punishing—teach contrary to what Jesus said! “May you take heed, and hear all the Word of God!”

What About “Baptism With Fire”?

The Bible speaks of two kinds of baptism. It is common for people who have been baptized with water to express that they also want to receive the “baptism by fire.” Is this something that you should seek? What is the “baptism by fire”?

We have seen that God will destroy the wicked in the lake of fire. They will be burned up in this “lake.” Most lakes are composed of water, but the lake of fire probably will be a kind of “liquid fire.” The Bible does not tell us exactly what the liquid portion of the lake of fire will be like. However, it is easy to see that people could be described as being baptized into this lake of fire.

John the Baptist wrote, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes after me…shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire” (Matt. 3:11). Matthew 3:1-17 is the only place where the term “baptism…with fire” is found. A few verses earlier (Mt 3:7-8), John addressed the Pharisees and Sadducees who were also among the large multitudes (Mt 3:5) coming to him. He warned them, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”

Vast numbers of people were listening to John the Baptist preach. Some were sincere and seeking “baptism with the Holy Spirit” and others were, in effect, told that they were candidates for the “baptism with fire.” John understood that both kinds of people were present in such a large audience. He was under no illusion about the attitude of the Sadducees and Pharisees. So these verses plainly connect fire with wrath!

Notice that the prophet Ezekiel also said, “Son of man, the house of Israel is to Me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Because you are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yes, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of My wrath…” (Ezek. 22:18-21).

Much of ancient Israel was as stiff-necked, stubborn and rebellious as their modern descendants (the democratic, Anglo-Saxon peoples of the Western World today). God has long planned to punish them in His wrath. Ezekiel was speaking of a time when God was going to “burn away” all those who were “dross.”

What then was the “wrath to come” to which John was referring? It was the same time period referenced by Ezekiel. In Matthew 3:10, John sets the stage for his reference to baptism with fire: “And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings NOT forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Plainly, this is not a fire anyone wants to have contact with! It is designed for people who did not bring forth good fruits. Remember, John had called the Sadducees and Pharisees “vipers” and warned them to “bring forth fruit meet (suitable or acceptable) for repentance.”

In Mt 3:12, John continued, “Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The wheat represents the true saints of God and the chaff represents the wicked that will be burned up with “unquenchable fire.” The fire will not go out until there are no more wicked to serve as fuel for it.

The Wheat and Tares Prove It

Christ spoke a parable that explains these things in careful detail: “Let both [wheat and tares] grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn” (Matt. 13:30).

Christ continued by explaining the various terms He used in His parable: “The field is the world; the good seed [wheat] are the children of the kingdom; but the tares [chaff] are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of FIRE” (Matt. 13:38-42). When Christ “gathers out of His kingdom all things” is when He “purges His floor” (Matt. 3:12).

Some try to assert that “purging His floor” is a reference to Christ burning dross from the lives of Christians—thus purging them of sin or chaff in their lives. This faulty idea continues by assuming that the wheat of Matthew 13:1-58 is the good part of individual Christians that remains after the chaff (sin) in their character is burned up.

However, it is obvious that the “floor” of Matthew 3:12 is the same as the “field” of Matthew 13:24 in the parable of the wheat and tares. This parable explains that God’s angels are sent to “baptize” the tares—the wicked who are chaff—with fire! The wheat is gathered into His barn, which is His kingdom.

The parallels between Matthew 3:1-17 and Matthew 13:1-58 are unmistakable. However, we can examine several additional scriptures and more clearly understand the terms “purge,” “fan” and “wind.” Keep in mind that a fan is often used to create wind, which brings oxygen to a fire, intensifying it. Of course, fire always purges whatever it burns. John had said that God would baptize with fire as one “whose fan is in His hand.”

Consider several important verses!

What is chaff? In Hosea 13:3, God is speaking of unrepentant sinners (Hosea 13:2) when He says, “Therefore they [lost sinners] shall be as the…chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor…” Jeremiah 51:1-2 further explains the relationship between wind and fanning: “Thus says the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon [the wicked of the soon-coming, final religious Babylon existing at Christ’s Return]…a destroying wind; and will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land…”

Daniel 2:35 explains these terms further. Notice: “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind [created by a fan held by God] carried them away…” Obviously, the chaff was carried away to be burned or purged. Ezekiel 20:38 explains who Christ will purge when He returns: “And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me…and they shall not enter into the land of Israel…”

We have also previously studied Isaiah 66:24 and Malachi 4:1-3, which both explained that the wicked are burned up with fire at the time of God’s final wrath on those who have rejected His way of life.

When God says He is going to purge (baptize) with fire, He is not talking about a process of purifying saints. He is speaking of destroying or burning up sinners with fire—the hell fire described in His word and in this booklet. The above scriptures show that He will “fan” the flames so that the fire is hot enough to completely burn up and destroy all the “chaff” that did not choose to become “wheat” qualified to enter His kingdom. Be thankful that a loving God will not permit miserably unhappy, disobedient and unrepentant rebels to cause further suffering to others, or to continue to suffer themselves, for all eternity.

It should now be clear that NONE should ever desire to be baptized with fire—while ALL should desire, upon repentance, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit!

Mr. Armstrong concluded his article Do You Want the BAPTISM by FIRE? with the following statement: “Surely that settles it. John was speaking to both sinners and those to be saved. When he said Christ shall baptize YOU—the YOU included BOTH. The saved He would baptize with His SPIRIT—the others with the FIRE!”

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