Hey, Mike,

If the unjust receive and confess Christ in the day of Judgment then why are they cast, thrown, and thrust into the Lake of Fire? I do believe that Christ is this refining fire (Mal 3:2).

Thanks,
J____

Hi J____,
Thank you for your question,

As you say, God is the lake of fire only inasmuch as “all things are of God.” But God has ordained that His elect are to be that lake of fire. That is why it is a small ‘lake’ instead of a vast ‘sea.’ “Many are called, few are chosen” to be this purifying lake of fire for all men who are not in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” of the few chosen. Here are the scriptures which bear all of this out:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death [“Which is the lake of fire”] hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years

We know that God will save all who are in Adam because He tells us that He is doing so in the same manner in which we are all dying in Adam.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Why are few chosen at this time, while still in these vessels of clay? Here is why.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: [ the many called but not chosen]
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

The many called but not chosen receive mercy through the few chosen. Who are these “few chosen?” Here is what the scriptures actually teach.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion [ the “many called”] are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Who?… Who…? The answer is “He that walks righteously.” Those that dwell comfortably in the flames which are our God, are the few chosen elect who are “like their creator” and who comprise the fire of the lake of fire.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We are all “dragged to Christ,” by the spirit, and in that sense we are all “cast into the fire.” But we are not all part of that small, few chosen, “lake of fire.” The many called will be “cast into the lake of fire,” which fire are God’s elect. It is the exact “same event for all men.” But that “same event” is at a different time, and the numbers involved are vastly different.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

The apostle Paul was very well aware of this fact.

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

I hope this helps you to see that we must all “live by every word of God.” We must all“keep the things written therein.”

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The reason there are two resurrections is so those blessed and holy few who are in the first resurrection, who have endured the fiery trials of this life, will be prepared to identify with the fiery trials of those who must be made to reap what they have sown and to give an accounting of the things done in the body. God is judging only His house at this time. Judgment comes to the world only in the great white throne judgment. Not at this time.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

“Glad” of what? Glad that the judgment is now on the house of God, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you will be “glad” that you have already been judged and are now in a position to “judge this world.”

> 1Pe 4:17 For the time [ is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and i f it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Those who are first judged as “the house of God,” will rule with Christ a thousand years and then they will judge those who did “obey the gospel of God” at this time.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death [“Which is the lake of fire”] hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

I hope you now see that the world is not now being judged. Only “the house of God” is being judged at this time. It is the “great white throne… judgment,” which “is the second death,” which is the lake of fire, which is “the day of judgment in which “the unjust will receive and confess Christ” as the “many called.” The “refining fire” of the lake of fire is Christ’s elect.

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Christ considers His elect to be Him. Those are His own words.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike