Hi Gena,
Here is a bit from the article 'God Judges the World in a Pond.'
http://bible-truths.com/lake12.html --------------------------
THERE IS NO LITERAL LAKE, AND THERE IS NO LITERAL FIRE. Jesus Christ and His Body of Saints ARE THE LAKE OF JUDGING, PURIFYING, CONSUMING SPIRITUAL FIRE!!!
The lake of fire is a metaphor written in symbols that stand for what is being symbolized, not the symbols themselves. The lake of fire is composed of Jesus Christ the Judge of the world, Christ’s divine spiritual fire and brimstone, and the Sons of God who are the body of Christ who are also FLAMES OF FIRE (Heb. 1:7).
And the whole world will be judged BY US! After death, all the dead will be resurrected, they will all be judged, they will have to pass through the purifying lake of fire
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We have already proved that "the fire shall try every man’s work" in I Cor. 3:13 is a spiritual match with Rev. 20:13 & 15 where "they were judged every man according to their works … in the lake of fire" And in both cases the "fire" is God’s SPIRIT. God’s spirit burns spiritual character flaws out of the hearts of mankind in a similar way in which literal fire burns up and abolishes wood, straw, and stubble. And since we are the Body of Christ and we too are made "flames of fire," then we also judge the deeds of men’s hearts.
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This is the lesson we are to learn from God’s spiritual fire. Spiritual fire will purify good qualities to total perfection but will obliterate character flaws to total extinction. And so it is that God uses spiritual fire to produce the greatest possible good, not to cause the severest possible pain and torture.
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At this time the wicked are running amuck, it seems lke they are just getting away with their sinful deeds. But there is coming a day/time of reckoning, when all shall have to give account. The Lake of fire is God's judgments on the earth, but it will be done in equity, as God is a just God.
Rom 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
v. 6
who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
When you hear of God's wrath it is a fearful thing, because when Christ rules there will be nowhere for the wicked to hide. It is His adversaries/enemies those that have maligned His truth that should be fearful.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Nah 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges;
The LORD avenges and is furious.
The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
v. 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked.
But all people on the earth will be under judgment to live righteously, even if you are not a religious person, all people must obey or come under His correction. When a person's heart is laid bare and their true thoughts and feelings are exposed, all will be under some degree of condemnation. But correction will be according to each person's deeds.
when Christ is ruling people will not be able to get away with their evil ways, there will be no secret hidding place that you can hide from this coming judgment. People will be judged by the spirit of the law, what is in a person's heart. So they will be getting correction before they even have a chance to murder, commit adultry, steal or any such thing.
Rom 2:6 For he will render to every man according to his works:
v. 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
v. 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
It is those who do not want to change from their evil ways, who are stubborn, that will taste His wrath. But the people will learn how to obey, they will be in a situation where they really will have to, and the world will eventually be changed, made righteous and saved.
Isa 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
mercy, peace and love
Kat