The baptism with fire:

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize 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 baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:10-12)

Notice, as we found to be true of the parables, we are speaking about the Lord’s threshing floor, His wheat.

It is the trees of the Lord’s orchard who will be thrown into the fire if they do not bear the fruit of the moral image of Jesus Christ.

It is the Lord’s people who will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and then with fire. First we experience the feast of Pentecost, the baptism with the Holy Spirit. After that we experience the Day of Atonement, the baptism with fire.

The Lord will gather His wheat to Himself once the chaff has been removed. Then the chaff will be burned up.

Several passages in the New Testament speak of the sinners being removed from the Lord’s people and burned in the fire. For example, if a branch growing from the Vine, from Christ, does not bear the fruit of His image, that branch will be removed from the Vine and cast into the fire.

I do not know precisely what it means to be removed from Christ and cast into the fire, and I hope to never find out by experience.

It does not appear to be reasonable that such purifying of the Kingdom will take place at the time of the Lord’s appearing, or after we have been caught up to meet Him in the air. It certainly must take place prior to His return in the clouds.

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