Hi PJ,
I found these emails that I think will help your understanding on this.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2389.0.html -------
Dear Mike:
Not only do some reject Jesus and perish, MOST reject Jesus and perish. But that is not the end. That is not their eternal destiny. The Greek word "apollumi" is the word translated "destroy," "lost," and "perish" in the King James Bible. All three are translated from this one Greek word, many times. Appolumi is translated according to the context of a verse, hence: the sheep was LOST (it did not perish, nor was it destroyed, as it was later FOUND, but it was "apollumi" in that it was lost. Those that enter into the "broad way that leads to DESTRUCTION" are also "apollumi"--destroyed. And those who do not accept Jesus as their Saviour will also "apollumi," that is they will PERISH. It's all the same condition. One can be lost in a fire, destroyed in a fire, or perish in a fire. Regardless, you loose your life.
But (and here comes the good news), Jesus came TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST [apollumi]" (Mark 18:11; Luke 19:10). Jesus Christ came for the express purpose of SAVING all those who are "apollumi"--LOST, DESTROYED, AND PERISHED! There it is. Simple, huh? One just needs to believe the Scriptures.
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1884.0.html -----
"Destruction" has absolutely nothing to do with someone not being saved. In fact, "destruction" is an absolute PRE-REQUISITE to being saved. Jesus came SPECIFICALLY for the purpose of saving those who are "destroyed."
The words: "destrouction," "perish" and "lost" all come from the very same ONE Greek word: "apollumi." In Matt. 10:28 where Jesus says to "fear Him Who is able to DESTROY both soul and body..." the word for destroy is "apollumi." In Matt. 18:24 where Jesus says that His Father is not will any any of these little ones should PERISH..." the word for perish is "apollumi." In Matt. 15:24 where Jesus says that He was send to the LOST sheep of the house of Israel only" the word for lost is "apollumi." Dstruction, perish, and lost, all come from the same one Greek word "apollumi."
Now then, with that said, what did Jesus say concerning all those who are "apollumi?" Here is what He said: "For the Son of man is come to SAVE that which is APOLLUMI [lost]" (Matt. 18:11).
Now what was that argument you said you had that contradicts this Scriptural teaching?
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1971.0.html --------
Dear Shane:
No, God is not "unfair." You are still looking at the lake of fire as some kind of a dungion of torture in real fire. It is JUDGMENT, not solely punishment. And Jesus plainly has told us that it is according to the magnitude of one's crimes. "Many stripes versus few stripes."
We too go through the fire of God's spiritual judgment: Jugement is upon the house of God NOW (I Pet. 4:17 and Heb. 12:29). It isn't pleasant, but it is not total torture either. There are two aspects of Judgment: [1] We must be purged of our old carnal sinful attitudes, and [2] we must then grow spiritually by godly living and produce spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-25).
The Church only partially sees the need for these in those called in this life, but is totally blind to the fact that Judgment produces the same thing in the Resurrection to Judgment. They think that "grace" is merely a noun that does it all for us rather than grace being a verb that does it all IN us and THROUGH us (by the Spirit of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross). God is ABLE to make us holy and righteous through His work in us and He is likewise able to do the same for the rest of humanity in Judgment. We blaspheme if we suggest that God either does not want to save humanity or that He is unable.
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3643.0.html -----
Dear David:
One cannot understand the Scriptures if one does not follow the Scriptural instruction on HOW to understand the Scriptures. (Read my paper: "Twelves Rule to Understand God's Word"
http://bible-truths.com/twelve.htm). Rev. 20:15 only says that those not found written in the Lamb's book of life are "cast INTO the lake of fire." It does not say they ever come out. But one cannot draw that conclusion seeing that based on that one Scripture several other laws of Interpretation have not been followed. Peter tells us that no Scripture is its OWN interpretation. Jesus and Paul teach us that TWO or more witnesses are needed to establish a truth. Jesus taught us that HIS WORD are SPIRIT--the whole book of Revelation is the "Revelation of JESUS CHRIST," etc., etc.
There is only ONE other Scripture which describes: EVERY MAN'S WORK BEING JUDGED IN FIRE, and it is found in I Cor. 3:12-15 where we plainly read that those who enter this fire of judgment for their works, "SHALL BE SAVED..." (Verse 15).
God be with you,
Ray
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1Co 3:12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
v. 13 each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
v. 14 If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
v. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss,
though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
p.s. What is the fire of judgment? Heb 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire."