The Baptism of Fire

There are two views on what the baptism of fire means:

There is a judgement coming at the 2nd Coming of Christ when all non-believers are taken from the earth. Jesus taught several parables in reference to the end of time when believers and unbelievers will be separated Mt.25:1-46 the sheep from the goats. They will join the unbelievers from all time in hell who are waiting for the Last Judgement (The Great White Throne Judgement in Rev. 20:1-15). which occurs at the end of the Millennium when they are resurrected and put back in their bodies and put in the lake of fire. This baptism is for unbelievers in judgement. Mt 3:11

"I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor; and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Luke 3:9 "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." Fire is often symbol for judgement throughout the Bible. Examples are the fire which burned the sacrifice on the Hebrew altar, and the fire from God which burned the watered down sacrifices of Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Fire and brimstone fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. The world will be cleansed by fire as it was by the flood in the end of time 2 Pt.3:10. Heb. 10:27 "but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."

2Thess. 1:8 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The believers are to go into the millennium, the unbelievers are "cast off" into fire. These parables are analogies to the baptism of fire.

The other view is a purifying affect

1 Pt 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 Pt 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

1 Cor. 3:13 "Each ones work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each ones work, of what sort it is." meaning our work on earth will have its test in heaven to see if it accompanies us into eternity.