BIBLE VERSES TO PONDER
(Part 2 of 3)

SOUL

We see here that we are to WORK OUT our salvation. This obviously cannot be talking about the salvation we just saw, because there was nothing to be worked out there. It was a gift, pure and simple. The salvation we see here is the saving of (salvation of) the soul. As the soul is basically the "selfwill of the individual, the "working out" we are to do is in relation with aligning our selfwill with our renewed spirit. This is the sanctification process, and if we yield totally to the Holy Spirit and let HIM work through us, destroying our own stubborn selfwill, we will "work out" this salvation through the power of God within us. We will show forth HIS FRUIT, and ABIDE IN HIM. Thus our soul will be found to be blameless. We must note here that this is to be done with FEAR and TREMBLING. It is a soberingly essential process, and the consequences that lie ahead if we fail to do an adequate job are by and large NOT understood by the "church" today. If they were, we WOULD INDEED FEAR and TREMBLE at the thoughts of failing to see this "work" through to its intended end!!!

We are told here to take up our cross for Christ. It is interesting to note that the word "life" and the word "soul" as used in this passage are the same Greek word, which indicates the concept of selfwill. Thus we see that as we lose our own selfwill in order to pick up our cross and follow Christ, we find the abundant life He intends for us to find. If, however, we do not choose to give up our selfwill, we may gain the whole world in this present kingdom, but have to LOSE (sacrifice) in the hereafter what we refused to give up in this life. Our very SOUL is put in jeopardy if we refuse to yield our selfwill to the will of God in this present kingdom. Further, Yeshua WILL raise us up the last day into the presence of the Father, but HE WILL BE ASHAMED OF US if we have not chosen His will over our own because we were ashamed of doing what He expects of us in this perverse world.

This reference is about the judgment seat of the Son (Bema in the Greek) just prior to the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. The only way our works can be found to be the enduring quality of gold, silver, and precious stones will be if we have allowed the Refining Fire of the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives. Thus our works will be built upon the foundation of Christ! If our works were a result of our own selfwill, they will be seen as filthy rags, and be burnt up as wood, hay, and stubble. Those whose works endure will be rewarded with crowns (per many other Scriptural references), and possibly much more. However, the one whose works are all burned will suffer loss. His spirit, which was sealed unto it's redemption by the Holy Spirit is secure, and can never be thrown into the Lake of Fire, yet this reference says that he shall suffer loss, and be so saved as by fire. We'll cover this more in just a moment.

We could learn from this that the one who does not yield to God's way will be deprived of his SOUL. This happens when we are deceived into laying up earthly treasure and ignoring the spiritual call to deny ourselves and follow God's way.

Again, we see the necessity of picking up our cross by yielding our selfwill to the will of God. We see this concept put in proportion to the relationship of the family, and see that we must even sacrifice our family ties if they would restrict our relationship with God. It is evident here that one who would not do so is seen by Christ as not being worthy of Him, after what He did for us.

We are to take control over our souls and bring them into alignment with the regenerated spirit within us.

Whereas we have seen how our spirits are saved by God's grace upon our belief, the Bible repeatedly shows us that "faith" is a deeper concept than initial belief. Faith begins with belief, but most of the uses of "faith" in God's Word imply the continuing growth process in Christ. Indeed this verse indicates the completion of such growth in Christ when it speaks of receiving the "END" of your faith, which is the salvation (saving) of your souls! It is obvious here that the spirit which has been assuredly saved upon belief is treated separately from the soul which is saved as a result of the maturation process of faith.

This generation thinks they are rich and they don't see that they NEED ANYTHING INCLUDING GOD, while God sees them as being defiled and helpless! He "counsels" them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire obtain from Him the purging by His fire that creates works of gold, silver, & precious stones by yielding to Him to bring this about in our lives]. (But remember, they will by and large REJECT HIS COUNSEL HERE.) Again, He cautions that those who are not refined by the Refiner's fire cannot obtain WHITE RAIMENT (souls cleansed from their filthiness)! Theirs will be seen as spotted and defiled, and He foresees their nakedness, as some spotted souls will have to be destroyed! He cautions once again to allow Him to anoint their eyes with eyesalve so they can see his TOTAL TRUTH, thereby, understand HIS WILL AND WAY. In the next part of this passage, we see a promise He makes ONLY to THOSE WHO OVERCOME THE TEMPTATIONS OF THIS WORLD AND WALK WITH HIM WHILE THEY ARE IN IT! To these He will grant that they sit with Him in His throne (THIS WOULD BE HIS TIME OF REIGNING AND RULING IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AS WELL AS LATER IN THE FATHER'S KINGDOM), because they overcame, even as He did. They allowed themselves to be submitted to the Holy Spirit so they could be CONFORMED to the IMAGE of CHRIST!

Common theological teachings do not differentiate between sins and transgressions (or trespasses). However, it seems that God wants us to see the difference. Why would He have instituted two separate sacrifices in the Old Testament if they were the same? There was a sin offering AND a trespass offering. The difference becomes clear as we begin to understand the New Testament. The sins of the old sin nature are done away when we receive Christ upon our initial belief. Romans 3:25 tells us that these are PAST SINS. It is stated as such, " ... a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God. It does not say that He is automatically a propitiation for SINS THAT ARE YET IN OUR FUTURE! Before we initially believe, our sin nature is not overcome. After our belief, it is. That does not mean we will no longer have temptation, but it does mean that we will no longer be under the POWER of sin. We will have the POWER to overcome it if we CHOOSE TO DO SO. Thus, our sins from the time of our initial belief on into the future are no longer simply seen as sins, they are TRANSGRESSIONS (or trespasses). These terms relate to wrongs related to property. We have become the property of God, and our sins become far more personal. I Corinthians 6:20 tells us that we were "bought with a price", and it was a high price indeed. In this section of I John, those being addressed are BELIEVERS, thus Believers must see that their sins are transgressions of the law. We are under grace in regard to the past sins of the old sin nature of our spirit, but our souls are to conform to the law which is written upon our heart, and if they do not, we are seen as transgressors in the eyes of God.

As we follow the instructions we find in the Word of God, we are washed by it, thus we are sanctified and cleansed in the eyes of God, and prepared as the glorious Bride of Christ, which must not have spot, wrinkle, or anything of the kind. Only then are we seen as holy and without blemish.

Here we are told to be watching for the return of the Bridegroom, and told to make strong the things which remain (the remnant of faith that is in the world today which is ready to die away completely), because God is disappointed in our works, and we must strive to improve before His eyes. We must hold FAST to what we have received into our heart, and repent of our selfish ways, honoring HIS way. If we do not watch in such a manner as this, our Bridegroom will come upon thee as a thief, AND thou shalt not know when He will come. This implies two things. He will steal away those that are ready for His coming, and leave the ones who were not watching behind, AND those that are ready for Him will be aware that He is "at the doors". They will be expecting Him, but those who are walking in their selfwill and worldly pleasures, will reject their warning that He is ready to come for His Bride. They will not know to expect Him. We see here that only a FEW of the church will be seen as having undefiled garments (souls), and only THEY shall walk with Him in white (purity) BECAUSE THE ARE WORTHY!!! Those who were not seen as worthy due to their defiled souls will be left behind.

Please note the means mentioned here whereby we are told to achieve the saving of our souls. We must PUT ASIDE the filthiness of the world (an active process on our part), and RECEIVE (internalize and live by) the Word of God.

Again we see that the lure of the world wars against the soul, and if we do not want to lose the salvation of our soul, we are cautioned here to abstain from such lusts.

We are told here that the house of God will be judged, and that even the righteous will hardly be saved. We are cautioned to be SURE to secure the saving of our souls by doing that which pleasing to our faithful Creator.

BODY

The salvation seen in this verse is obviously not a being saved from the Lake of Fire either. The entire passage refers to the rapture. It shows us that [as Believers] we are not APPOINTED to God's wrath, but to be saved out of it [salvation by our Yeshua from the Tribulation Period]. We might note that the word used in this text is "obtain". It is not a free GIFT as was the grace of the Father that saved our spirit! We "obtain" by overcoming the desires of the flesh. If our body is not found to be blameless at the coming of the Lord, it will be left behind to endure the Tribulation Period. We will MISS our APPOINTED destiny of being taken out of it. This can happen, just as we can miss any other APPOINTMENT that we do not make preparation to meet! It is only as we deny the temptations of the flesh, and crucify it to align with the intent of the Holy Spirit within us, that our bodies can be found to be blameless at His coming. Now I know this is not a popular concept today, but popularity is not the issue. God's Word is the issue! We are about to see that this is so in several different references, all of which are God's Word to us.

We see here that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost who has come to dwell within us. Can our body be filthy and be pleasing to the Holy Ghost within us? This verse reminds us urgently that we were PURCHASED, and the cost that was paid for us was very high indeed. We are COMMANDED here to use our body to glorify GOD. It is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to conform us that we can do so properly.

Here we are given rather specific instructions to enable us to maintain a hope of the salvation of the body from the Tribulation Period. We are to present our BODIES as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. It is stated here that this is simply our REASONABLE SERVICE. It is not to be seen as a noble deed on our part, it is EXPECTED OF US. We do this by rejecting the seductions of the world, and allowing the Holy Spirit within us to transform us by reprogramming our mind to the things of Christ. We CAN reject this process, whereby we can never prove our sacrifice to Him in achieving His good, acceptable, and perfect will. If we choose to reject this process, however, it appears that we kiss away our hope for the salvation of our bodies from the Tribulation Period.

This verse should begin to wake us up! It emphasizes that the body of a Believer becomes the vessel which contain the very essence of God in the form of the Holy Spirit; thus such a body is to be holy. When we refuse to live by the power and will of the Holy Spirit within us, we defile the temple in which He lives! This verse states in no uncertain terms that such a defiled temple [or body] will be DESTROYED BY GOD! Note now that THIS IS NOT AN UNBELIEVER, as the UNBELIEVER does NOT have the Holy Spirit within, and is not EXPECTED to be HOLY. This verse emphatically states that the bodies of Believers who do not live as they are expected to live WILL BE DESTROYED BY GOD. We will discuss this further shortly.

The battle of bringing the body into the subjection of the Holy Spirit within is a constant struggle. It is not over until the instant of redemption. Even a man with the commitment of Paul realized that he could still become a castaway. We must never loosen our grip upon the subjection of our bodies!

He promises ONLY to those who keep the word of His patience (follow the intent of His will as expressed in His Word and by the Holy Spirit within us) that He will keep them from the time of Tribulation ahead for the world. We find also similar wording in Luke 8:5 where the seed sown on good ground bears much fruit. He will come for them, and IF they have not allowed the world to take their crown of appointed Bride, He will take them out of this world BEFORE the Tribulation begins. This is a PRETRIBULATIONAL First Fruit Rapture, as they will be kept from the hour of temptation!! (Those who are left behind won't be raptured until late in the Tribulation Period.)

Again we are cautioned to hold fast to His TOTAL TRUTH and to repent of any lingering lusts of the flesh that might defile our bodies. We must be found to be watching and ready when He comes so that He does not come upon us as a thief and leave us behind to face the Tribulation Period.

We are told that the grace of God [manifested here in the form of the Holy Spirit] which provided for the salvation of our spirit, teaches us that we must DENY UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUST AND LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT WORLD. Those who do so have a right to look for that BLESSED HOPE, which is the glorious appearing of the One who is GOD THE SON [i.e. YESHUA HIMSELF]. It further says that He gave Himself for us so that He MIGHT purify us unto Him as a people set apart for His zeal and good works. Note however, that He gave Himself for us so that we might give ourselves to Him in return. If we do not do so, He can not purify our rebellious souls and bodies while we are yet in the midst of this world.

EVIDENCE AND JUDGMENT

One who scorns God's ways, and HIS intent for his life cannot find wisdom, even when he seeks it. [Again wisdom is linked to the FEAR OF GOD]. However, the one who UNDERSTANDS GOD'S HOLINESS is given abundant knowledge easily.

The man who quenches the spirit of God thinks his selfwill is appropriate for His life. The way he chooses seems to be right to him, but the way he chooses leads to death. As it applies to a non Believer, it would indicate death in the Lake of Fire, but we will see that the Believer too can suffer a death from choosing the carnal way rather than God's way.

When we turn away our hearts from the law or instruction of God for our lives, we are told something rather terrifying here, even our PRAYER will be seen as an abomination in the "eyes of God!!! If that doesn't strike fear in the heart of the Believer, what will?

Remember when we indicated that the "working out of our salvation" related to the soul? We see here that this process will be evaluated very carefully, and rewards will be distributed in accordance with our success of this process upon the return of the Son. Note here that the losing of the soul may be linked with this evaluation. We will look now a bit closer at the process of this judgment, and the "rewards" that are to be implemented by the Son at this time! Note that this is not the WHITE THRONE judgment at the end of the Millennial Kingdom which sorts the Believers from the non Believers. This is a judgment that occurs with the coming of the Son, thus it would be in relation to BELIEVERS ONLY!

When we live to please the Lord, we do well, and shall be assured of the reward of the inheritance we have with the Son to reign and rule with Him. In the first two verses of this letter it is clear that it is addressed to Believers, thus the warning that those who do wrong in! God's sight will receive compensation for the wrong they have done [without respect of the person], applies to the Believer. Remember, we have already seen that judgment begins in the house of the Lord.

This verse should wake us up to the fact that the use of the word "reward" in God's Word is not always POSITIVE!!! He will hardly give us a GOOD REWARD for our DISOBEDIENCE and TRANSGRESSION [our trespasses as God's property, against the law and intent of His HOLINESS]. It is emphatically stated here that such disobedience and transgression will be duly compensated. This results from our neglect of the terms of the salvation of our spirit by the Father, as we were purchased with a price to glorify HIM!)

OUTER DARKNESS

This verse is a verse of judgment found in the parable of the talents. There are only two judgment seats noted in God's Word. The first is that of the Son. It is this "Bema" (Greek word for the "judgment seat") throne of the Son in Romans 14:10 before which ALL BELIEVERS must stand, and it appears to occur just prior to the onset of the Millennial reign of Yeshua. Rewards are issued at this seat, and as we have seen the Biblical term "rewards" can be positive or negative! The White Throne Judgment is at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, and is not implied in the judgment as it relates to the analysis of the expedient and responsible use of the talents we are given as Believers. The unproductive SERVANTS [i.e. Believers who have failed to yield to the Holy Spirit and bear fruit are cast out, destined to a place of darkness, and isolation. Extra-Biblical sources indicate that it is a place of torment (weeping and gnashing of teeth) where the soul and body are given a chance to repent and reform to the desires of God.

This verse verifies that "children of the kingdom" will be cast into it. Some of God's children who will eventually inherit the Father's Kingdom will endure time in this temporal place of torment in order to develop the attitude and attributes of holiness which are NECESSARY PREREQUISITES in order to enter the Father's Kingdom. Remember we saw where it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the Son to see that not a single Believer is ultimately lost (exempted from the Father's Kingdom). The Son must achieve this holiness in each and every Believer in preparation for the Father's Kingdom. If we do not allow Him to achieve it through us by yielding to Him in this present kingdom, He must see that it is achieved through us during the time frame of the Millennial Kingdom!

We see numerous Scriptural references that our wedding garments are to be white and unsoiled. Thus the one who appears before the Son on at the Bema Judgment without such a gown of white may be cast into Outer Darkness.

We should note here that those who are shut out of God's presence at this time are ones who thought they would be received into it. They thought they were entitled because they were Believers. We see, however, that Believing alone is not sufficient here. If we are viewed by the Son as working iniquity (the converse of yielding to the Holy Spirit) they will be delegated  to the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (i.e. Outer Darkness.)

Our high priest is Yeshua, and it is He who will judge us at Bema. We have noted that the garment relates to the soul. Likewise, leprosy in the Bible is related to transgression/trespasses. Thus we see the shadow in the Old Testament of the transgressing soul being shut up in a place where the leprosy or spots of transgression are addressed. We will see that they will be reviewed again shortly to see if the soul is still spotted (leprous), or if healing has occurred.

In like manner Yeshua will judge the body of the Believer at Bema. We have seen before that the Believer's body is the temple (in the Greek this also means the house), and the leprous house here is the defiled body. If the body appears leprous, it will thus be shut up for another seven days and reviewed again. (These seven day intervals of Outer Darkness most likely occur seven times as shadowed in the time lapse of Shebat 1 and Iyar 27 per Genesis 8:6-13, and also by the seven weeks from First Fruits to Pentecost during the counting of the omer in the Spring.)

GEHENNA

This is a rhetorical question which indicates that consequences MUST follow wrongdoing.

Today's "church" often wraps all of our sins (past, present, and future) into one misguided package, and says that Yeshua took them upon Him once and for all when He died on the cross; that from there on they were paid in total. But let's look at what GOD'S WORD has to say about it. Romans 3:25 states very clearly that the purpose of the death of Yeshua was "to declare "His righteousness for the remission of SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God" (the FATHER). It is crucial that we understand that Yeshua's' blood was not only shed for our past sins, but that this same blood was also INTENDED to provide our atonement for future sins as well! We must see that the forbearance of the Father applied Yeshua's blood to our past sins in order to provide for the salvation of our spirits upon our initial Belief. However, it is up to us to apply the blood of Christ to the door post of our hearts as shadowed in the Passover account of the Lamb without blemish (Yeshua) in Exodus. We do this by CONFESSION of our sins on a continual basis, and by ABIDING IN CHRIST. If we fail to apply His blood to the door posts of our heart (i.e. the soul) in this manner, a type of death can result for the soul of the Believer, just as death resulted in the Exodus account. (Note that the Hebrew elect in this shadow were not exempt from this death if they did not carefully follow the instructions of God!!!) The soul of the Believer can be lost and destroyed because we ignored so great a salvation! Yeshua was the INTENDED sacrifice for both the SPIRIT and the SOUL. The non Believer rejects the BELIEF upon Christ and his spirit is subjected to the Lake of Fire. In the same manner, the Believer can neglect to apply the blood shed for the redemption of his SOUL, and subject his soul to the flames of judgment. This verse indicates that such a soul will 'be burned. It will never see the Lake of Fire, but the lost [thus damned] soul of the Believer will suffer a fate that is not commonly acknowledged today. We will take a closer look at it momentarily. Note though that it is only through faith (the extension of Belief into a lifestyle of fidelity) and patience toward the Word of God that one can inherit all the intended promises for the Believer!

HIS floor will be purged. All of HIS children will ultimately be raptured, both wheat and chaff. The chaff too is on HIS floor. They are HIS. They too are Believers! Those Believers who yield to the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit are seen to be "wheat" throughout God's Word. The chaff appears to be wheat but is not; as there was failure to yield. These Believers will think they are of Christ, but will be "citizens rather than servants" in His eyes, as we will see in Luke shortly. The chaff, or hypocritical Believer will be burned with a fire that is not quenched in Gehenna.

We see here that the body and the soul can be destroyed in a place referred to as "hell". The Greek word for this term is Gehenna, and is different than Hades or Lake of Fire. Let's take another look at this hellhole, and learn some more about it.

Yeshua is talking here to those who understood what would offend Him (i.e. Believers). The NON-BELIEVER would NOT understand. He speaks again of the consequence of Gehenna which lies ahead for the one who offends Him. Now we see the unquenchable fire we have been warned about, and are also told that the worm does not die here. So let's get a time frame for this hellhole called Gehenna.

We find the same description of this place in a passage of Isaiah which relates to the Millennial Kingdom of the Son. Thus we see, that Gehenna is a hellhole of fire where punishment (the Biblical "reward" of the offending Believer) occurs in the Millennial Kingdom. We see that some bodies and souls will have to be destroyed here because they were never aligned with the renewed spirit. We were appointed to reign and rule with the Son in this kingdom rather than to suffer such a horrific fate, but how can He allow us to reign and rule with Him if we have not learned to align to His will?

In this passage, we find the shadow of the judgment of Gehenna for the Believer. The BURNT offering is slain before the Lord [killed by the sword as we have already seen], and 'all is burned as a sacrifice, an offering made by fire. In Biblical terminology, life and death are deep concepts which can apply to each of the three components of our being [i.e., spirit, soul, and body]. The term death does not necessarily mean finality. It can be a state of acceptability to God where purification is destined. Even in the Lake of Fire, called the "second death" in Revelation, the spirit never literally dies; it is purged in the fire. We were supposed to be a LIVING sacrifice to God after our BELIEF, but if we reject our opportunity to do so, we may have to be a "DEAD" SACRIFICE, receiving the FIERY indignation of the Lord whom we have spurned. We have already learned that if we chose to reject the atonement He provided [by neglecting to apply THIS BLOOD on the door posts of our hearts], that there is no further sacrifice for our TRANSGRESSIONS [sins AFTER BELIEF]!!!

(Here we find the New Testament version of the slaying of the offenders before the Son at the Bema Judgment Seat. They are not even referred to as servants, but simply as HIS citizens. They were a part of the corporate body of His governmental system, but not worthy of the title Servant. They were Believers who had refused to let Him RULE OVER THEM. They would not yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit within them, and chose instead their own self-will as the ruler or Lord of their life. They are at the Bema Judgment, where this becomes evident as their works are all burned up], and they are slain before Him [soul and spirit are divided under at this time for such a one], and the carcasses [which include the bodies and the souls] are thrown into Gehenna during the Millennial Kingdom. Their souls and bodies will be destroyed here, and they will enter the Father's Kingdom with only their spirit, NAKED BEFORE GOD [Revelation 16:15], as their garments (souls) will have been destroyed.)

Here we see the continuation of the shadow for Outer Darkness as it relates to the garment (soul). The soul which was cast into Outer Darkness will be reviewed at later intervals to see if the leprosy has been cleansed or if it has spread. At the completion of these seven interval checks, if it has spread, that soul is still unclean, and must be burned or destroyed in Gehenna. Regarding the Lord's festivals, it is understood that three books are opened at the judgment, a book of those who are seen by God as "righteous" and received by Him, a book of those who are so wicked that destruction is mandatory, and a book of those who are somewhere in between -- their garments are not spotless, but repentance could still result in purification, and these are given another chance during the ten days of awe, which is often associated with tribulation. Whereas the first book here would represent those who became overcomers during the earthly Tribulation and were received into heaven, the second book would represent those who were wicked and cast directly into Gehenna. The third book would represent those who were found to be in between and sent to Outer Darkness for further Tribulation in order that they might yet be cleansed and allowed into the heavenlies. However, if repentance is not achieved, these too must be destroyed in Gehenna.

Here we see the continuation of the shadow for Outer Darkness as it relates to the house (body). The body which was cast into Outer Darkness will likewise be reviewed at a later Intervals to see if the leprosy has been cleansed or if it has spread. Again, at the completion Of these seven interval checks, if it has spread, it will be destroyed and discarded outside the city. We would refer now back to the shadow of this in Genesis 8: 7-14. Whereas the raven would represent the ones who were found at Bema judgment to be unclean and sent directly to Gehenna, the dove would represent those who showed some evidence of the Holy Spirit, and would be given seven periods of opportunities to be cleansed in Outer Darkness. These seven periods are shadowed in Matthew 18:21-22 which says that the number of times man is to be forgiven is 70 times 7. (In this reference, 70 is 7 sets of 10. The 7 means "perfect and complete" and 10 is a "short period, often indicating tribulation" as in the days of awe. Thus we have 7 perfect and complete "short periods of tribulation" which are 7 perfect and complete days each in which man is still under forgiveness and given a chance to repent of impurity and become cleansed.) At the end of these seven periods, the Outer Darkness would end, and those who became overcomers during this Tribulation would be received into the glories of heaven, whereas those who were still leprous would be thrown into Gehenna. We might note here that Gehenna was foreshadowed by the Valley of Hinnom, and several verses in Joshua and Jeremiah speak of the dead being in it. It was in the proximity of Jerusalem, just outside of the city.

Whereas some are ready to be slain, we are cautioned to keep our souls through knowledge and wisdom so our expectations will not be cut off.

We see that the Lord will have no pity on one such as this, as they have refused his counsel and reproof. He will now laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear and anguish consume them. They will call upon Him, but it will be too late. He will not answer. They will seek Him early (Hebrew here means "sincerely" but He will not be found by them.) They hated His knowledge and chose NOT TO FEAR HIM, so they will eat the fruit of their own self-will. Their souls and bodies shall be slain and destroyed. Only those who live by His way shall dwell safely with Him and have no more fear.

These will mourn when their flesh and body are consumed by the fire of Gehenna.

Such correction is grievous to the backslider, as the one who hated God's way shall die (be destroyed in this manner). Hell (Old Testament reference to Sheol which includes the concept of Gehenna) and destruction are before (pronounced by) the Lord, and this very strongly applies to the hearts of the children of men (Hebrew implication to hypocrites).

The man who fears God understands the consequences ahead for indiscretion after becoming a Believer, and he hides himself in God by ABIDING IN HIM. Those who are simpleminded because they do NOT FEAR GOD live life in their self-will and are punished for doing so.

We see here that a live coal from the fire of the altar provided a cleansing effect, how much more so then the fire itself?

We find that the Lord is a Refiner's Fire, and a Launderer's Soap. He refines and purifies us, transforming our works to silver, and gold so they will endure the trial by fire at Bema. It is significant that the sons of Levi are purified and purged in such manner that they may offer unto the Lord a righteous offering, because we are to be priests unto the Lord, just as the sons of Levi shadowed.

(Mercy is mentioned in this verse, as opposed to grace. Where grace is unmerited it is OBVIOUS that mercy and or a lack of it are consequences of proper or improper behavior. Likewise, the spirit of the Believer was saved by grace which was totally unmerited, and the blood of Christ permanently covers each Believer's spirit. However, we see here that IF AS A BELIEVER] we understand what we should do and choose not to do it we have no further sacrifice to atone for the transgressions of the soul! There was a sacrifice provided, but by choosing to turn our back on the Holy Spirit's prompting, we neglect to apply the blood from This sacrifice, and it cannot help us. We see that doing so is accounted as treading under our feet the very blood shed by Yeshua which secured our eternal life instead of applying it as we were supposed to do. We are seen as being guilty of counting His blood an UNHOLY hiqh THING. When we ignored the prompting of the Spirit to change our life in accordance with God's will, we are seen as spiting the Spirit of grace which saved our eternal spirit from the Lake of Fire. As a result, we must face a fearful looking for of the JUDGMENT and FIERY INDIGNATION which shall DEVOUR the adversaries. We are seen as an adversary rather than a servant! The Lord states emphatically here that he SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE (Believers), and says it is a FEARFUL thing to fall into His hands if we are seen as His adversary due to disobedience in our walk with Him!!! We see lastly here the need to strive for the SAVING OF THE SOUL.