Lake of Life

═► The purifying Fire Law ═►

Version : 6 December, 2021

Yes, this article has a very strong Christian Universalistic undertone because that’s the main teaching of the Bible.

Because many believe Christian Universalism is a ‘everything goes’ doctrine I wrote this short article -click- what it is and is not.

If you have an open mind read on and learn the Lake of Fire converts sinners into saints. Truly a Lake of Life!

SECTION A : The Brazen Sea

┌───────────── A1. Introduction ─────────────┐

A lake can also be an artificial basin. Click here

Proof such a basin was used in the Temples. Click here

Background info on the Laver Click here

Artist impressions of the Laver Click here

Strictly speaking the Greek words ‘sea’ and ‘lake’ are correctly translated into English, but that doesn’t mean the ancient Jews didn’t (sometimes) use those words as synonyms. Keep that in mind when reading about seas and lakes in Revelation; and of course other parts of the Bible.

John 6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),

Luke 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.

Thayer Definition:

Gennesaret = “a harp”

1) a lake also called the sea of Galilee or the sea of Tiberias The lake 12 by 7 miles (20 by 11 km) and 700 feet (210 m) below the Mediterranean Sea.

The river Jordan is the eastern boundary of Palestine or Judea. It rises in Mount Lebanon, on the north of Palestine, and runs in a southerly direction, under ground, for thirteen miles, and then bursts forth with a great noise at Cesarea Philippi. It then unites with two small streams, and runs some miles farther, and empties into the lake Merom. From this small lake it flows thirteen miles, and then falls into the lake Gennesareth, otherwise called the sea of Tiberias, or the sea of Galilee. Through the middle of this lake, which is fifteen miles long and from six to nine broad, it flows undisturbed, and preserves a southerly direction for about seventy miles, and then falls into the Dead Sea

Albert Barnes, Barnes NT Commentary, Mt 3:6 (Joseph Kreifels).

Other names for the Lake:

Brazen sea because it was made of copper or a copper alloy*. 1Chr 18:8
Great laver because it was huge with a 4.57m diameter and 44000 liter volume. 1 Kings 7:23
Great Laver
Laver → Not to be confused with the 10 small lavers on wheels.
Molten sea because the brass was molten when cast. 1 Kings 7:23

*=Brass, a copper-zinc alloy, wasn’t invented until the 500BC. Because the first temple was build 1000-832BC the material likely was pure copper or possible bronze, a copper-tin alloy. Copper and copper alloys are anti-bacterial. So even the material itself was about purifying. That was one of the reasons door handles and those push-plates you often found behind them in public buildings were made of a copper alloy. If someone has the flu, sneezes, gets the virus on the hands, then touches the doorknob, the virus can land on hands of someone else. But copper will kill 99+% the virus within a few minutes.

Summary:

► Lake, sea, basin, pool, pond etc were quite often used as synonyms.

┌─────── A2. Purpose of the water basins ───────┐

Very roughly speaking the whole Bible is about humanity being prepared to enter heaven. A huge part of that process is washing away sins. Removing the dross of sin from the gold of holiness. It’s not just a wish/command God expressed but it’s the basis for lots of symbolism..

God is pictured as a refiner removing impurities from gold and silver. The fuller’s soap is another reference to God removing impurities. Ancient Jews pictured God sitting on His throne in the Holies of Holies refining the molten gold in a huge pot called the "Brazen Sea", which was located in front of Him in the inner court of the Temple complex. It didn't contain actual molten gold, but water which represented molten gold so pure it has become transparent.

Mal 3:2 …. for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.
Prov 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

1 Kings 7:23 And he made a molten sea ...
1Chr 18:8 ... with which Solomon made the brazen sea , and the pillars, and the vessels of brass ...
2Chr 4:6 He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

The 10 smaller lavers were filled with water tapped from the "Brazen Sea", and used to clean tools, sacrifices and general cleaning. The priests washed themselves (in the "Brazen Sea") each time they entered the Temple. As the verses below show, the priests were bathed by anothers at their consecration. Afterwards, during Temple duties, they had to follow strict purification rituals.

Exod 29:4 And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall wash them with water. 5 And you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: 6 And you shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 Then shall you take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.

Exod 30:19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire to the LORD: 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

Lev 8:5 And Moses said to the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

The 10 lavers had freewill gifts of polished bronze mirrors made by women on it, so the priests could see their reflection. In ancient times mirrors were made of polished metal in this case brass. Many translations have "mirror darkly" or "mirror dimly" which is ok if we understand it as a brass (bronze) mirror.

Exod 38:8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the mirrors of the women assembling ...
1Cor 13:12 For now we see by polished metal...

A woman had to take a ritual bath after her monthly cycle. A woman took a bath on the day of her wedding, before the wedding. So, there is a connection with wedding/bride (of Christ)

Summary:

► Lake, sea, basin, pool, pond etc were quite often used as synonyms.

More on fire: Click here

┌──────── A5. Spirit written on the heart ────────┐

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

→ Laws are written on the hearts.

Ezek 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

→ The stone heart is reference to the stone tablets Moses’ received on mt. Sinai.
→ The old stone heart is replaced by a new flesh heart.
→ The old stone spirit is replaced by the new flesh spirit.
→ A parallel is drawn between spirit, law and heart.

Stone law = Written on stony heart = old spirit.
Flesh law = Written on a flesh heart = new spirit.
Fiery Law = spirit.

Summary:

► Lake, sea, basin, pool, pond etc were quite often used as synonyms.

► The basin in the Temple court goes by many names; sometimes conflicting with smaller vessels. I'll call it "Brazen Sea".
► God refines the contents the Brazen Sea, while sitting on His throne in the Temple.
► The priests were fully washed in the Brazen Sea by another person at their consecration.
► There were ten smaller lavers but only one huge Brazen Sea.
► Laver = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The priests used the water from the Brazen Sea for all sorts of cleaning and purification purposes.
► The word inside the laver/Brazen Sea regenerates.
► Law = Fiery/Fire Law = The Word = (contents of the) Laver/Brazen Sea = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The Fiery Law regenerates.
► Fire is often positive and of divine origin.
► Fiery Law = Spirit.

┌──────── A6. A surprising combination ────────┐

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, being tested, offered Isaac. And he who received the promises offered his only begotten son,

We know Isaac wasn't Abraham's only son. Neither was he his first son. "Only begotten" is translated from the Greek word monogenes; which long has been assumed to be the compound of the two Greek words monos=only and gennao=beget. More recent scholarship proves it should be monos=only and genos=kind. So Jesus is one-of-a-kind/unique because of His very unique task/purpose. Also consider Luke 3:38 … Adam, which was the son of God.

John 1:14 in various translations

- And the Word became flesh and tabernacles among us, and we gaze at His glory, a glory as of an only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

- …. and pitched his tent among us,…

-…. and dwelt among us,….

- And the Word = And the Fiery law

- Became/made flesh, = Jesus and pitched his tent/dwelt among us, = lived inside a shell/vessel called Jesus

- and we gazed upon his glory,––a glory, as an

- Only–begotten from his Father. = Set aside for a task given by His Father

- Full of favour/grace and truth. = Full of Mercy and law

Recap A3:

John 15:3 Now you are regenerated through the word which I have spoken to you.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and regenerate it with the washing of (the) water by the word,

Titus 3:5 . by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Recap A4:

John 15:3 Now you are regenerated through the fiery law which I have spoken to you.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and regenerate it with the washing of (the) water by the fiery law,

Titus 3:5 . by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the fiery law;

The Word = Fiery Law = Holy Ghost/Spirit. The Fiery Law is the very essence/personality/etc of The Father.

Recap A5:
Fiery Law = Spirit.

Prov 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Prov 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

--> Law = the way, the light, the truth

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

John 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

–> Jesus = the way, the light, the truth

Jesus=Law

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

→ The law was with(in) Father

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

→ The law was poured into a vessel made of flesh.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

→ Father and Son share the same essence. The law (which shapes their personality)

John 14:9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me ….

→ Because the Son acts according to the Law we also know how the Father acts by hat same Law.

Summary:

► Lake, sea, basin, pool, pond etc were quite often used as synonyms.

► The basin in the Temple court goes by many names; sometimes conflicting with smaller vessels. I'll call it "Brazen Sea".
► God refines the contents the Brazen Sea, while sitting on His throne in the Temple.
► The priests were fully washed in the Brazen Sea by another person at their consecration.
► There were ten smaller lavers but only one huge Brazen Sea.
► Laver = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The priests used the water from the Brazen Sea for all sorts of cleaning and purification purposes.
► The word inside the laver/Brazen Sea regenerates.
► Law = Fiery/Fire Law = The Word = (contents of the) Laver/Brazen Sea = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The Fiery Law regenerates.
► Fire is often positive and of divine origin.

► Fiery Law = the Word = The Holy Spirt/Ghost
► Jesus was a vessel containing the Fiery Law which is the very essence of The Father.

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

Summary:

► Lake, sea, basin, pool, pond etc were quite often used as synonyms.

► The basin in the Temple court goes by many names; sometimes conflicting with smaller vessels. I'll call it "Brazen Sea".
► God refines the contents the Brazen Sea, while sitting on His throne in the Temple.
► The priests were fully washed in the Brazen Sea by another person at their consecration.
► There were ten smaller lavers but only one huge Brazen Sea.
► Laver = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The priests used the water from the Brazen Sea for all sorts of cleaning and purification purposes.
► The word inside the laver/Brazen Sea regenerates.
► Law = Fiery/Fire Law = The Word = (contents of the) Laver/Brazen Sea = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► The Fiery Law regenerates.
► Fire is often positive and of divine origin.

► Fiery Law = the Word = The Holy Spirt/Ghost
► Jesus was, like the Brazen Sea, a vessel containing the Fiery Law which is the very essence of The Father.

In the above section we saw the Brazen sea is known by many names.

The water represents hyper refined transparent molten gold, God’s divine law which is God’s word.

The whole Laver symbolism is purifying people so that they can approach/be approved by God.

We also saw the Brazen sea is merely pretty vessel; the real symbolism is the water inside the Brazen Sea.

That’s similar to Jesus who was a vessel with an extraordinary content, namely the Fiery Law which is The Father’s essence.

Condensed summary:

► The Brazen Sea goes by many, sometimes conflicting, names

► It’s not about the Brazen Sea but the contents of it; which symbolism is: Purify mankind.

► The Brazen Sea is a crucible/melting pot and God is the Refiner.
► Law = Fiery/Fire Law = Holy Spirit = The Word = water of the Brazen Sea = Washing = clean = water = regeneration = life
► Jesus was, like the Brazen Sea, a vessel containing the Fiery Law which is the very essence of The Father.

Section A summary:

►Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

SECTION B : Various

This section is collection of information that may not seem relevant at times; but still it provides background knowledge to understand the bigger picture or the things that really matter. Learn to walk before trying to run.

┌──────────── B1. Lake of the Fire ────────────┐

The Greek text of Rev 20:14-15 includes tou /the.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of the fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of the fire.

That little three letter word gives us another hint. It points out we are dealing with a special type of superior of fire.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of the fire law. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of the fire law

God’s law is holy, so that lake is filled with the holy fire law. As we saw in section A4 the law purifies and regenerates. Is being submerged in God’s holy law really hell?

Hebrew frequently uses the prefix ‘ha’ to denote something special, something superior. In English that would be the word ‘the’. A few examples

theHouse means Temple
theName is the greatest name of all; God’s name.
theLord of lords (ps 136:3) means supreme lord
theSatan -> satan simply means accuser and can be anyone. But theSatan is that fallen angel.

Although Rev 20:14-15 is written in Greek* which has different grammar rules from Hebrew, the ‘hint’ still remains. “the fire” is “theFire”. A special supreme fire.

*= There is a growing consensus among scholars that the Greek NT is translated from Hebrew (Mathew certainly is as several church fathers wrote) or it’s written in Greek with Hebrew grammar rules. The reason for that view is that the Greek often feels unnatural and confusing; but when doing a simple-on-one translation the resulting Hebrew often is perfect and even shows idioms that do exit in Hebrew but not in Greek. Time will tell how quickly translations will be updated to reflect this advance in linguistics as the correct translation is a real challenge for many doctrines.

Summary:

► Lake of the regenerating Fire law.

┌────────── B2. Jewish perspective ──────────┐

A letter of Polycrates clearly shows John was a former Jewish priest.

“For great luminaries sleep in Asia, and they will rise again at the last day of the advent of the Lord . . . And there is also John, who leaned on the Lord’s breast, who was a priest wearing the mitre, and martyr and teacher, and he sleeps at Ephesus.” (Eccl. Hist., III, xxxi)

A footnote explains that the word “mitre” here is petalon, which is used in the Septuagint of the high priest’s diadem, but what it means here has never been discovered. For some strange reason, Eusebius again quotes Polycrates in Vol. V, ch.13, where he uses the term “breastplate,” rather than mitre.

Even the common man living in the ancient theocracy of Israel knew a lot about the Temple and all sorts of symbolism found in it. John was a priest and of course Jesus’ disciple; which gave him even more knowledge about the Temple and it’s symbolism. It's very likely John wrote Revelation from the perspective of a Jewish priest; with a Jewish (priestly) mindset and wording. John, and every other Jew at that time, knew the Brazen Sea very well. As we saw earlier it contained “fire” and lake is a proper translation for it.

Obviously it doesn’t end there. The Bible is a religious Book written by very religious people who lived in a society that was totally based on Old Testament laws and symbology. When Jesus is called “Lamb” nobody even considers presenting proof Jesus was curly animal because that’s what a sheep is according to dictionaries. Everybody agrees that in that case that sheep is the pivotal point God’s plan of salvation revolves around.

- Branch, Is 11:1 (Messiah) from Jesse, He will bring in the kingdom

- Bread of Life Jn 6:32-63

- Bright and Morning Star, Rev 22:16

- Chief Corner Stone Ep 2:19-22; I Pet 2:6-8

- Dayspring Lk 1:78-79 (rising of the sun)

- Daystar II Pe 1:19 ("light bringing")

- Door Jn 10:7-9

- Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5:5 (fulfillment of Gen 49:9-10, lawgiver from Judah)

- Star Out of Jacob, Num 24:17

- Stone, Ps 118:22; I Pe 2:6-8 (Is 28:16)

- Rock, I Cor 10:1-4, 9

- Rose of Sharon, Song 2:1

- Vine, Jn 15:1-8 (expository - more, much fruit)

Is Jesus really a literal piece of wood, bread or stone. A literal flower, a sun or a star. A real lion?

The answer to all of that is: It’s all symbolism that points to Jesus.

Therefore we should take extreme care not to use a literal meaning while a symbolic meaning is implied.

The next section, C4, is another example of symbolism.

Summary:

► Lake of the regenerating Fire law.

► The Bible was written from Jewish (priestly) perspective. Using symbolism well known at that time.

┌─── B3. Seas: The Good, the bad and the pagan ────┐

Hebrew uses lots of parallelism. A piece of wisdom expressed in different ways. I highlighted the part about the sea in red and the parallel part equaling the sea to humanity in yellow. Obviously there are also many verses where the word sea just means a literal sea, lake or other body of water like the Laver

Isa 17:12 Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

Isa 23:11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. LORD has given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds of it.

Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

Isa 60:5 Then thou shall see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to thee. The wealth of the nations shall come to thee.

Jer 6:23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; ….

Jer 49:23 Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad, for they have heard evil news. They are melted away. There is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Ps 65:7 Which stills the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

Ps 89:9 You rule the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, you still them. 10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; you have scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

Ezek 26:3 therefore thus says lord LORD: Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causes its waves to come up.

Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Ezek 28:2 Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, Thus says lord LORD: Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou have said, I am a god. I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas. Yet thou are man, and not God, though thou did set thy heart of Elohim.

There are three types of seas:

- Good: A calm sea with represents a peaceful kingdom of harmony ruled by God. The section just below this paragraph.

- Bad: The raging sea which represents a kingdom full of negativity ruled by a human king. All the verses listed just above.

- Pagan: God torturing people for eternity in a sea of fire. Orthodox “Christianity” and many other satanic pagan religions.

Mark 4 contains a set of verses which summarize the task Father has given His Son. The literal reading is simple; Jesus controls literal waves and wind. The symbolic meaning is quite evident too. The Bible clearly teaches Jesus will defeat every enemy, put everything under His feet. As the verses listed above show the seas is the symbolic enemy. The submitting of those “seas” is the underlined conclusion of verse 41.

Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he said to them, Let us pass over to the other side.

Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, care you not that we perish?

Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:40 And he said to them, Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?

Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Some argue all the literal seas, oceans and lakes on earth will be gone. Some say sea is singular so just one sea disappears. The Dead Sea or the Sea of Galilee. It points to the Temple Laver.

Priests needed to wash themselves in that Laver before approaching God in the Temple. It was a ritual washing because they were too impure to approach God. But in the final Kingdom of God there will be no impurity.

All are sanctified saints then.

Without impurity there is no need for washing.

Without a need for washing, the Laver/sea has become obsolete so it’s done away with. The laver/sea is no more.

Rev 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there.

Rev 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

The lake of fire is called (the second) death in Rev 20:14, in Re 21:4 we see death no longer exists. That aligns perfectly with verse 21:4 stating the sea/lake of fire no longer exists.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the Temple Laver was no more.

Rev 4:6 can’t be ignored either. The verse is about a sea of glass or crystal depending on the translation. Some lexicons claim ice is a good possibility too. Glass, crystal and ice have one thing in common. They are smooth. No waves. That’s God’s sea. A hyper smooth peaceful sea. Not a single wave. That obviously symbolizes God’s Kingdom very well.

Summary:

► Lake of the regenerating Fire law.

► The Bible was written from Jewish (priestly) perspective. Using symbolism well known at that time.

► Raging, stormy seas are often symbolic nations in turmoil. While God’s holy sea is quiet and flat as a mirror.

┌────────────── B4. Go(o)d fire ─────────────┐

Fire in the Bible can be natural and destructive; but it can also be divine and corrective. No much to say. Read and feel your heart fill with joy! :-)

1Chr 21:26 And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.

1Cor 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. 14 If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, …

2Kgs 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Acts 2:3-4 3 And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Tongues speak. Fiery tongues speak the law/truth.

Acts 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

Dan 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Deut 4:36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you: and on earth he showed you his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire.

Exod 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Ezek 1:27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels he said, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? said the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Isa 33:14-15 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 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; Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good:

Matt 3:12 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.

Ps 104:4 Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Deut 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir to them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. 3 Yes, he loved the people; all his saints are in your hand: and they sat down at your feet; every one shall receive of your words.

The saints are in the same hand as the fiery law. They either are in that fire or are that fire as they speak God’s words/law. (Heb 1:7). Obviously it’s a great honor, not punishment.

Summary:

► Lake of the regenerating Fire law.

► The Bible was written from Jewish (priestly) perspective. Using symbolism well known at that time.

► Raging, stormy seas are often symbolic nations in turmoil. While God’s holy sea is quiet and flat as a mirror.

► Not all fire is destructive.

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

► We can’t understand most things in the Bible without understanding the symbolic meaning of words. The very best example of that is John 1:29 which calls Jesus the Lamb of God. Reading without understanding symbology the verse seems to plainly state Jesus was a animal. How much more wrong can we get?

SECTION C : Natural refining of metal

This section could be part of the previous section because it’s also symbology. But this symbology has an extreme impact on understanding certain things that are the foundation of certain doctrines.

┌────────────── C1. Refining explained ─────────────┐

Before continuing I think it’s very helpful to look at how the refining of gold and silver works in the natural world. Let’s start with two secular articles that explain how it’s still done today as it was centuries before the NT was written.
Refining gold with sulphur. Click
Parting silver from gold with salt. Click

Refining gold - The two most famous everlasting torture verses explained and translated correctly

Rev 14:10-11 “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Fire
Needed to melt the gold. A reference to the Fire-Law.

Brimstone
Binds with impurities (=sin) in the gold and makes them float to the surface of the molten gold

Smoke
Caused by the chemical reaction of the sulphur thrown in the melting pot.

Tormented
Torment does not mean torture, inflict pain or something similar. While it currently has that meaning it did not when the Bible was written. The original meaning slowly started changing after 288AD. click
Before that time it meant rubbing the gold with a touchstone and sees it leaves black streaks. That was, and still is today, an indication of the purity of the gold

Forever and ever
For the real meaning ‘forever and ever’ read section E3.
As a simplified summary I can say it means a duration only known by God or something originating from God
The mere fact that there is purification taking place means it must have an end. A refiner stops refining when the gold is pure.

Parting silver and gold

Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire

While sulphur is great to remove all sorts of impurities from gold, it's not so good for separating silver from gold. For that salt was added. Encyclopedia Britannica: “By 2000 BC the process of purifying gold-silver alloys with salt to remove the silver was developed.”

Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, (and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.)

That’s the verse how it’s found in most Bibles.

The salting and especially the second part between the () is a reference to

Lev 2:13 ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God will not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

The most important part to understand is that whatever is put on the Holy Altar is acceptable to God. So when we read people being salted with fire, it's not about God utterly rejecting them but about accepting them on His Holy Altar.

Possibly the part between the () wasn't in the original inspired text but commentary*** of a scribe to Lev 2:13.

***= When a Bible was copied mistakes were made. Most often the scribe spotted the mistake and had to correct it in some way. Today correcting text is easy with our computers. Back then there were only two options. Rewriting the whole page. Putting a note in the sideline. When a later scribe copied this document with the error, he would apply the mistake in main text and that way the error was corrected. Not instantly, but perhaps decades later.

Scribes sometimes used the sideline to add a personal note. A commentary. That could be al sort of things. For example an alternative meaning of the Hebrew/Greek word. A clarification of what the scribe thinks the verse means. Anyway, sometimes that commentary was mistaken by a later scribe as an error correction and the uninspired commentary became part of the original inspired text.

┌────────────── C2. Purification ─────────────┐

Rev 21:8 …. shall have their part in the lake which burns with the fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev 21:8 …. shall have their part in the lake which burns with the fiery law and brimstone: which is the second death.

The ancients extensively used brimstone/sulfur for medical purposes, purification of homes. Including some pagan rituals. The Greek word for brimstone is closely related to the Greek word for divine/god.

In the 9th century BC, Homer mentioned "pest-averting sulphur". Click
Sulfur dioxide was used to fumigate homes from ancient times, a practice which continued well into the 19th century. One 1889 paper by the New York City chief health inspector described how officials burned sulfur and alcohol in homes afflicted with smallpox, scarlet fever, diphtheria and measles.
Hot springs full of dissolved sulfur compounds may have a questionable smell, but they've long been prized for their supposed medicinal qualities. Click
The early medical books of Dioscorides and Pliny mention Sulfur, and fumes from burning sulfur were for fumigation (pest control). Click
The purifying effect of sulphur dioxide fumes was subsequently employed on many occasions. In India, Susruta (in the 4th century AD), in his book Susruta-tantra, prescribed the burning of sulphur in rooms where surgical operations were to take place
In Europe, during the human plague epidemics of the Middle Ages, sulphur was also recommended for disinfecting contaminated premises and objects. click
In 1745, during an epidemic of cattle plague, soiled objects (and persons) were subjected to sulphur fumigation. Click
Sulfur has elements that can eliminate acne, so it is included in their treatments. Medications for dandruff, pityriasis versicolor rosacea and warts have this ingredient. Seborrheic dermatitis and scabies can be treated with this element. Sulfur is effective because of its keratolytic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Combining alcohol and sulfur can be used to treat acne and other skin disorders.
Know that sulphur has been used for thousands of years to cure skin ailments. extreme itching and skin pain. candidiasis, eczema, diaper rash indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, soothes PMS irritability, anxiety, headaches, back pain, insomnia, dizziness, sweating and hot flashes or flushing, caused by PMS and other intense hormone related changes. Click

So the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8) is filled with the fiery law of divine purification. This also shows the Lake of Fire is a very personal experience and not the same for all. Everybody has his/her own infectious sins. The law is applied to those sins. So a mass murderer has a different lake experience than a thief.

brimstone; anciently regarded as divine incense to purify and prevent contagion; in the NT always associated with supernaturally kindled fire and thus possibly the neuter of θεῖος (divine)

Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg and Neva F. Miller, vol. 4, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Baker's Greek New Testament library, 195 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2000).

Mal 3:2 …. for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.

The fuller’s soap contained traces of brimstone. Fuller is an Anglo-Saxon name for ‘to whiten’ because the fuller made wool clean and white before garments were made out of it. The Hebrew word rendered as “fuller” means “to trample” or “to tread,” suggesting that action as a major part of the craft. The fuller removed the oily and gummy substances from material before it could be used, by washing it in some alkaline such as white clay, putrid urine, or nitre, as there was no soap in those days. The alkaline was washed out by treading on the material repeatedly in running or clean water. The trampling seems to indicate the cleaning process can be unpleasant.

The Greek word is "theion," the neuter form of "theios," which means Divine, Deity, the Divine Nature, or of and from God.

Rev 21:8 …. the lake which burns with the fiery law and divine purification:

Rev 3:18 I tell you what you should do. You should buy from me gold that has been made clean by fire. Then you will be rich. And you should buy from me white clothes to wear. Then people will not see that you have no clothes, and you will not be ashamed. You should buy from me healing oil to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.

Rev 3:18 I urge you to buy from me gold, tested by fire, so that you may be enriched and may be clothed in white vestments, and so that the shame of your nakedness may disappear. And anoint your eyes with an eye salve, so that you may see.

Part of the gold refining process is adding sulfur to the molten gold to purge it of impurities. Click

When sulfur is added it binds itself to impurities, forms sulphides that float to the surface where it can be easily removed.

The process causes smoke.

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

As we shall see in section C1 torment means testing.

So it’s the smoke of refining gold. Yet another reference to purification (of gold)

Brimstone is another reference to purification. Let’s look at the both verses that describe the purification of gold.

More on brimstone: Click here
More on the Fullers’ soap: Click here

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

Section C summary:
► Sulphur was used for all sorts of purification in the natural world.

SECTION D : Spiritual refining of metal

┌─────────────── D1. Approve ───────────────┐

Jer 6:27 I have made you a tester of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways.

2Tim 2:15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1384 δόκιμος [dokimos /dok·ee·mos/] adj. From 1380; TDNT 2:255; TDNTA 183; GK 1511; Seven occurrences; AV translates as “approved” six times, and “tried” once. 1 accepted, particularly of coins and money. 2 accepted, pleasing, acceptable. Additional Information: In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called “dokimos” or “approved”.
Donald Barnhouse. James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence of Each Word in Regular Order., electronic ed., G1384 (Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996).

Approve carries the meaning of checking genuineness/purity of coins. The refining process makes metal pure. We shouldn’t view this as a solitary word but as part of a group of words that convey a message symbolized by processing of metals. The next word in this group is ‘torment’.

Summary:
► Approve has the meaning of testing if coin is genuine. Testing of the purity of metals.

More on koalasis: Click here

Summary:
► Punishment is always corrective (koalasis), not destructive (timora)

┌──────────── E2. Sheep and goats ────────────┐

Matt 25:33 and He will put the sheep/probation on His right, but the goats/eriphion on the left.

In this section I want to dive a little deeper into an alternative translation that’s supported by the scholarly lexicons I’ve quoted on this page - Click

The conclusion of that page is that the verse can be translated (very) differently. While the lexicons can be used to support several translations, I think the translation I suggest fits better into the greater context of the Bible.

The Greek word ‘probation’ can be correctly translated as:

Sheep
Goats
Small four footed cattle

The Greek word ‘eriphion’ can be correctly translated as:

Young goat
Kid
(Young sheep) The modern day definition of ‘kid’ also includes young sheep, but I’m not sure the authors of the lexicons intended it to be understood that way

The original verse translated from Matthew's inspired manuscript:

Matt 25:33 and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

Applying the definitions from the lexicons:

Matt 25:33 and He will put the old-cattle on His right, but the young-cattle on the left.

Matt 25:33 and He will put the old-sheep on His right, but the young-sheep on the left.

Matt 25:33 and He will put the old-goats on His right, but the young-goats on the left.

So the original Greek allows the verse to be understood as being about only sheep or only goats. While changing sheep into goats may sound radical to many, for me translating ‘goats’ instead of ‘young goats’ is a radical translation choice too.

Why is the age of the goats mentioned and not the age of the sheep? If the sheep are placed on the right and the young goats on the left, where will the old goats be placed. The HS who inspired the verse, surely was aware there’s a more general word that simply means ‘goat’ without any reference to its age.

For me it’s sure the word ‘young’ is in that verse for a very good reason. Young is an important part of what the HS/Jesus is teaching us in the parable of the sheep and goats. Matt 24:31-46

Before I continue goats aren't unclean animals like for example swine, because it was a sacrificial animal like the sheep.

Lev 1:10 ‘But if his offering is from the flock, either from the sheep or from the goats, as a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without defect.

If the word ‘young’ is used as contrasting old, logically the things compared must be of the same type. Just like you would compare an old and new car and not an old car and new boat. So if Matt 24:31-46 is about old and young, it's about a learning curve, it's about the young needing extra training because they didn't have the right fruit.

Like everything in life being a Christian involves training and growth.

1Cor 3:1 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ.

1Cor 3:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able,

Those verses aren't about being saved or not because they are 'in Christ', which by default means they are saved and (eventually) go to heaven. But the 'infants in Christ' weren't able to understand lots of teaching. And obviously the teenagers, adults and elders in Christ are able to understand more things. They can eat solid food. So I'll greatly alter 1Cor 3:1, so much it's not a translation but more like a summary of my interpretation.

1Cor 3:1 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to young/uneducated-cattle in Christ.

So if Matt 24:31-46 is about old and young, it's about a learning curve, it's about the young needing extra training because they didn't have the right fruit.

Matt 24:31-46, often called the 'sheep and goat judgment' is about sheep and goats.

It's about doing works or in the case of the goats the lack of doing works.

Yes we are saved by faith and not by works - Romans 3:28

But the fruit of being saved is good works, because faith without works is dead. And dead obviously is a negative thing - James 2:20

The whole passage is about doing works. Not about religion, faith etc. The goats call Jesus Lord so most likely they are Christians.

At first sight this raises questions. It seems to lead to huge contradictions. For example:

Scripture writes about punishing instead of teaching.
Scripture states it will be forever and people being taught will graduate at some point.

Those two things will be answered in the next section.

Summary:

► Punishment is always corrective (koalasis), not destructive (timora)

► Goats/young sheep/sinner will be educated.

┌──────────── E3. Duration ────────────┐

Matt 25:46 “These will go away into eternal correction, but the righteous into eternal life.”

If we accept the punishment to be corrective another problem surfaces in Matt 25:46. Corrective punishment can be many things but it’s never permanent. It’s intended to make the one receiving the punishment a better person. Obviously there are almost countless examples in human history in which the correction failed. But the Lord never fails; so His correction will reach its intended goal, a saint. If that goal is never reached the correction would be endless and with that unsuccessful. So the word everlasting/eternal needs further investigation.

Matt 25:46 “These will go away into eternal correction, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Greek word eternal is translated from is never means eternal, everlasting or something similar. That's why several translations have something like age-during. That's much better because it's one the other primary meanings of that Greek word. That solves the problem that correction must have an end. But at the same time it introduces another problem. The life is really without an end. So at first glance there are only two flavors. "Eternal life and eternal doom" and "Limited life and limited doom". Both are equally wrong.

Explaining this isn't difficult, but takes some time.

The whole OT was originally written in Hebrew. Much Jews lived outside of Israel and didn't read or write Hebrew. So a few centuries before Christ was born 70 rabbi's fluent in both Hebrew and Greek translated Hebrew Bible to the LXX. That's very useful for this short study because the Greek word eternal was translated from in Matt 25:46 is also found in the LXX. And with that we know the matching Hebrew word - Olam.

Olam - H5769

BDB Definition:

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

Olam is rooted in the word

Alam - H5956

BDB Definition:

1) to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret

1a) (Qal) secret (participle)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be concealed

1b2) concealed, dissembler (participle)

1c) (Hiphil) to conceal, hide

1d) (Hithpael) to hide oneself

The meaning of the root Alam, is important to fully understand Olam.

Alam clearly has the meaning of an obscure hidden something.

I think the above definitions of Olam - H5769 as found in the Strong concordance all very well support the meaning of eternal and seem to totally destroy my view that it doesn't mean eternal. Let's see how Scripture defines the word olam.

Exod 21:6 Then his master shall bring him to the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or to the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever (olam).

This olam lasts until the slave died. It’s was of an obscure duration (olam) because it was unknown how long the slave would live; but certainly not forever.

Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

…
Jonah 2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever (olam): yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

Jonah was only 3 days in the fish but because he didn’t know when he would get out, it was of obscure duration (olam)

When olam is used as a noun it has the meaning of a period of time with an obscure unknown duration, as in the above verses.

When used as an adjective olam refers to an obscure source. A type, not a duration. An adjective describes something or someone.

Gen 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting (olam) God.

That verse isn’t about the age of God. It’s about His nature. Nobody really fully knows Him because He’s hidden and too complex to understand. To avoid any misunderstanding God is eternal; but this verse isn’t about that.

The color red. → Red is an noun.
A red car. → Car is a noun and red is an adjective.

The olam. → Olam is a noun.
The olam God → Olam is an adjective and God is a noun.

Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting (olam) punishment: but the righteous into eternal (olam) life.

Punishment and life are both nouns. Everlasting and eternal are both adjectives.

I’m fully aware the Greek NT reads aionios and not olam, but the Aramaic NT reads olam. And in the LXX olam is translated as aionios.

So the correct translation is:

Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into God’s punishment: but the righteous into God’s life.

A more literal translation would have something like ‘obscure source’ but because we know the source is God, I’ve used God. So Matt 25:46 doesn’t mention any duration.

All that said, the Greek itself isn't without proof supporting the above conclusion. To keep this page readable, the Greek study can be found on a separate page. Plus some proof Matthew was originally written in Greek. -Click here-

Summary:
► Punishment is always corrective (koalasis), not destructive (timora)

► Goats/young sheep/sinner will be educated.

► Punishment always has a limited duration.

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

The meaning of words found in the Bible can be found in many dictionaries. All those dictionaries are right. But that's often very different from useful. Allow me to explain that seemingly contradicting statement.

As we all know languages change. Words get extra meanings, old meanings fade away, new meanings become primary meanings.

When Jesus said something He used words that had a certain meaning in His time. That's the meaning we should use. Not a new meaning that came in use much later. That's one huge problem we for example find in Strong.

It lists word definitions as being the primary meaning while at Jesus' time they were not. Often those meanings didn't even exist in His time. A good of example is mouse. During Jesus time it was a rodent, nowadays it’s also part of your computer.

Definitions almost always overlook the intended symbolic meaning. To make things even worse it’s the symbolic meaning that’s the very core of the Bible.

The inescapable conclusion so far is that many things point to some form of purification. Washing (with a fuller’s soap), refining. Brimstone has a purifying effect; we find it in the lake of fire and as an ingredient of the fuller’s soap. Fuller’s mainly washed wool and made it pure white. White is another reference to purity. In Malachi 3:2 God is compared to a refiner and a soap.

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

Section C summary:
► Sulphur was used for all sorts of purification in the natural world.

Section D summary:
► The symbology of section C is used to explain spiritual cleansing.

Section E summary:
► Punishment = correction = teaching = purification = making acceptable to God.

SECTION F : Farming

┌────────── F1. Pruning vs Punishing ──────────┐

The Bible often uses farming to explain a spiritual truths. Harvests, seed, weed, wheat, chaff, barley, grapes and pruning.

Merriam Webster dictionary on pruning:

1a : to cut down or reduce by eliminating what is useless, burdensome, or superfluous.
1b : to remove (something) as superfluous *prune away all ornamentation* c : to cut back or reduce (as a budget)

2 : to lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of (a plant) for better shaped or more fruitful growth : shape or smooth by trimming

3 : to cut off or cut out (as dead branches from a rosebush)

Prune the offending parts and minimize the damage and maximize the amount of good fruit. If not the sick ‘branches’ will infect the whole tree and/or negatively influence the amount and quality of fruit the tree bears. If all fails the fiery law will prune out all dirt the hard way.
In a way pruning is similar to refining because refining is about getting the best possible quality metals. The goal of pruning is getting highest possible amount of quality fruit. And likewise the fuller’s soap is about perfectly white robes by removing all dirt.

So what’s understood as torture by many is actually removing the bad bits. “God loves the sinner but hate the sin”. God’s aim is make all righteous/pure. If the person resists God uses a harder cleaning brush so to speak. The verses below are about pruning away sin.

Mark 9:43 And if your hand offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched*: 44 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if your foot offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

*= This verse is quoting Isa 66:24 which is about dead bodies. An article about the worm can be found here - click.

Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies 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.

Pruning also aligns perfectly with the way Jesus taught. His parables very often included things the workman could related to. Fishing, wheat, weed, seed, grapes, barley, sheep, goat, shepherd, laborers, vineyards, figs, types of soil, trees, branches, plowing, refining, washing, etc. Pruning fits perfectly in that list. Torture would also be a very direct word/teaching.

Matt 13:34 All these things spoke Jesus to the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not to them:

Pruning doesn't only take place on a personal level. In a way the 'tree of law' that didn't yield good fruit was down, but a new productive tree grew from it's roots. So what looked like total destruction paved the way for something good/better.

Isa 11:1 The royal line of David will be cut off, chopped down like a tree; but from the stump will grow a Shoot—yes, a new Branch* from the old root.

Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, who shall stand as an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his place of rest shall be glorious

Branch is netzer in Hebrew. Netzer is a special type of branch that grows out of the roots of an olive tree that has been cut down. This netzer springs up a little distance from where the original tree stood.

The old roots are obviously the OT laws. The branch is still an olive tree (Law follower) but does things a little different.

In the NT we saw Jesus followed the same law as Judadism tree which was cut down. But His interpretation is at a little distance from the old tree. And that’s exactly the goal of pruning us; not that we grow back the same unproductive branch, but a more productive branch.

Summary:
► Punishment (kolasis - section B1) doesn't mean torture but correction or pruning to produce good fruit.

┌──────────── F2. Wheat and chaff ────────────┐

Matt 3:12 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.

1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Chaff is part of the same plant as the wheat. It’s like pruning and refining gold.

Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Tribulation

Thayer Definition:

1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure

2) metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits

Tribulation is from the Latin word tribulum" - a threshing board to separate wheat and chaff. Click here for pictures.

Summary:

► Punishment (kolasis - section B1) doesn't mean torture but correction or pruning to produce good fruit.
► Chaff is sin removed from the wheat.

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

Section C summary:
► Sulphur was used for all sorts of purification in the natural world.

Section D summary:
► The symbology of section C is used to explain spiritual cleansing.

Section E summary:
► Punishment = correction = teaching = purification = making acceptable to God.

Section F summary:
► Mostly confirmations of the other sections.

SECTION G: Classic contradictions and problem

Believers in Jesus go to eternal heaven and all others go to eternal hell. That about sums up the main view of most Christians. While that seems obvious and straightforward it isn’t without problems. It defies logic and contradicts Scripture.

For many it was and is impossible to know Him:

People living before He was born. That includes people like king David, Noach, Job, Isiaah, Moses, etc.
Babies, young children, mentally handicapped and all others somehow not being able to understand what’s of importance.
Those living in such remote area’s they honestly never heard of Christ.

Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
Matthew 7:22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
Matthew 7:23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

That’s odd isn’t it? The people in Matthew were believers as v22 states, but still Jesus rejects them in v23, while Acts 16:31 simply states all who believe are saved.
Read Matt 25:31-46 at the end of this section for more details. on why they got rejected.

The solution of these seemingly contradicting verses is found in the word believe. In Hebrew verbs often have two components. Understanding and acting on it. In the Hebrew mind, believing in Jesus also means doing as He did. Not just lip service.

Hebrews 8:12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."

What does that verse mean? The Almighty God has memory loss? No, the answer is a very good example of the two components I mentioned just above. God never let sin go uncorrected. When sin is remembered, as in known, He will act upon it with punishment/correction. When the punishment is complete He still remembers the sin but the required action has ended.
That’s quite similar of how our legal system works. After a criminal served his time in jail, his crime is still remembered as it’s written down in the court’s paperwork, but the punishment ends.

Faith without works is dead.

Does that mean that I believe a large portion of the Christians will burn forever? No not at all as you might have guessed from all written in the previous sections. I merely want to point out that most Christians over simplify things. All black or white. Eternal punishment or no punishment at all. It also shows another misunderstanding of the true meaning of a word.

Matthew 25
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
(Read here what the correct translation is)

┌──────────── What we have so far ────────────┐

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

Section C summary:
► Sulphur was used for all sorts of purification in the natural world.

Section D summary:
► The symbology of section C is used to explain spiritual cleansing.

Section E summary:
► Punishment = correction = teaching = purification = making acceptable to God.

Section F summary:
► Mostly confirmations of the other sections.

Section G summary:
► A short review and solution to what look contradictions if understood without understanding symbology.

SECTION H: The location of the Lake of Fire

Daniel 7:9 I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
Daniel 7:10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened.

That’s Daniel’s description of of the ‘White Throne Judgement’. A throne with a river flowing from underneath it. How can that be linked to the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone/sulphur? There is no direct statement that declares them equal but there are many things that link them together.

Both are about divine judgement. In the previous sections, especially section A4, it was shown that fire is a symbol of the law. That perfectly aligns with Daniel because in a symbolic way the law flows from the the throne, aka Judgement Seat.
A river fills a lake.
That pattern was shown by the ancient Temple. Imagine God sitting in the Holies of Holies. (HoH) In front of Him is the Great Laver and ten small ones. There was a constant little stream of water flowing from the HoH toward the Laver. As far as I know it didn’t actually flow into it but surely there is a likeness.
Priests had to purify themselves in the Laver (Lake of Fire) before approaching God/entering the Temple.
Likewise everyone needs to be pure before approaching God.
From that point of view the Lake of Fire is a Lake of Life as people in it are prepared to approach God.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, …
Dan 7:9 I.. his throne was like the fiery flame,…
Please notice ‘throne’ linking the verses.
Rev 20:12 … and the books were opened:
Dan 7:10 …and the books were opened.
Please notice ‘books’ linking the verses.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal:
A legend in the koran, Sur. 27, that the Queen of Sheba mistook for water a glass pavement in Solomon’s palace.
The Apocalypse of St. John, ed. Henry Barclay Swete, 2d. ed., 69 (New York: The Macmillan company, 1907).
When a fiery stream flows into a sea of glass the result is....
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:

Summary:

►The Lake of Fire is located in front of God’s throne in His throne room.

┌──────────── Conclusion ────────────┐

Section A summary:

► Both Jesus and he laver are vessels containing the purifying law that has to be applied to everyone approaching God.

Section B summary:

Section C summary:
► Sulphur was used for all sorts of purification in the natural world.

Section D summary:
► The symbology of section C is used to explain spiritual cleansing.

Section E summary:
► Punishment = correction = teaching = purification = making acceptable to God.

Section F summary:
► Mostly confirmations of the other sections.

Section G summary:
► A short review and solution to what look contradictions if understood without understanding symbology.

Section H summary:
► The Lake of Fire is located in front of God’s throne in His throne room.

The summary of all Words :-)

► ► ► ► The Lake of Fire = The Lake of Life

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Aionios

sheepandgoats

Worm

Approve

Bath/Loutron

Brazen Sea

Brazen sea in the Temple

Brimstone

Elements

Fire

Fuller's Soap

LaverPics

Noise

Koalasis

Olam

Regenerate & Renew

The Plan completed

Torment

Try