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conceded that for Israel to "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to
an open shame" is a deeper sin than neglecting to visit the Lord's brethren in prison. Yet
while there is reference to "burning" as a consequence, it is remedial.
"For the earth . . . . . which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned" (Heb. 6: 7, 8).
The "earth" here is a piece of land under cultivation. The word "rejected" is
adokimos, "disqualified" having failed the test, and it is not cursed, but "nigh unto"
cursing. The burning which is its end, burns up the "thorns and briars", but does not
destroy the land itself, but rather benefits it. It is comparable to the "pruning" of a tree.
If we can allow the gentler meaning of the term in Matt. 25:, the nations who failed
will go away into an age-long pruning, thereby missing the glory of the Millennium, but
benefiting by its administration and correction.
Let us examine the Scriptures as to the usage of "fire" to indicate the Holiness and the
Presence of God, before we go further in our search.
Fire, and the Holiness of God.
"Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12: 29).
These words refer back to Deut. 4: 24 and 9: 3. This fire turns both ways. Its
flame scorches the covenant people who provoke the Lord to jealousy, the flame destroys
the enemies of His people. The association of fire with the presence of the Lord quite
irrespective of sin or wrath, is the burden of many references.
"The sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire" (Exod. 24: 17).
This fire devoured Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10: 2) as it consumed the murmurers in
Numb. 11: 1. Deut. 5: is full of references to this association of fire with the presence of
the Lord, and in Ezek. 1:-10: fire is associated with the appearance of the Lord there.
"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with
everlasting burnings?" asks Isaiah (33: 14). God Himself being a consuming fire, it
must follow that saved and lost must, if in that sacred Presence, alike be affected by its
searching character, the believer being able to answer the challenge of Isa. 33: 14
"who shall dwell with everlasting burnings" because clothed in the asbestos (the Greek
word is found in four passages) covering wherein they are accepted in the Beloved. This
glorious immunity being theirs, is found "in Christ", not having their own righteousness
as a protection, but the righteousness of God which is by faith. These selfsame believers
however who are thus immune from the searching flame of the Divine Presence may
have with them and about them "works" which by their very nature cannot stand the test
of fire, and so are mercifully shriveled as they draw near. This aspect we must now
pursue as it impinges eventually on the interpretation we must put upon the lake of fire in
Rev. 20: and elsewhere. We have used the word asbestos in its modern meaning; in the
N.T. it refers to the fire that is unquenchable, not to the material that is unburnable
(Matt. 3: 12; Mark 9: 43, 45 and Luke 3: 17).