In several passages of the New Testament it is the believers who are threatened with spiritual death (Romans 8:13; Revelation 2:11; II Peter 2:1; and so forth).

If a believer walks in the flesh he will die spiritually. It is possible that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus. But where will he be in the meantime?

The rich man was cast into Hell, not because he had rejected Christ but because he had not been willing to share his material blessings with Lazarus. Lazarus was saved from Hell, not because he had received Christ but because he had suffered on the earth.

The Christian model of redemption is far too superficial, too narrow. It does not embrace the fullness of God's working with men. It conceives of belief in Christ as a perpetual amnesty, ruling out the significance of righteous, God-fearing conduct on the earth.

It is the writer's opinion that many Christians who are correct in their theology will be cast into Hell when they die because they have lived in pleasure on the earth while the needy (both physically and spiritually) have perished on every side. The needy, we believe, will go to Paradise, in many instances, while the selfish, self-centered Christians will be dismissed to Hell, the abode of all selfish, self-centered people. Those who mourn now will be comforted while the rich are howling in pain.

It is our point of view that the majority of participants in the second resurrection will be saved. Notice the wording carefully: "and whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). The wording implies that only the exception, only the person whose name cannot be found in the Book of Life, will be assigned to the fate that passes comprehension in its dreadfulness.

To teach, as do many Christians, that Revelation 20:15 states that all who appear at the second resurrection will be cast into the Lake of Fire, certainly is to go beyond the text and to add to the teaching of the Book of Revelation (see Revelation 22:18).

The true Body of Christ will be raised in the first resurrection. The concept that God will raise the current Christian Babylon into Paradise at the first resurrection is not scriptural.

Every human being, Christian and non-Christian, will be judged righteously and thoroughly. Christ will make the decision as to the eternal destiny of each, according to his works and according to the record in the Book of Life.

The wording of Revelation 20:15 suggests that the majority, perhaps after having suffered lashes in a place of punishment either here or in the spirit realm, finally will be permitted to enter life on the new earth. While we do not embrace the doctrine of purgatory, it is scriptural that some are saved "so as by fire." Also, the concept of "many" and "few" lashes cannot be referring to eternity in the Lake of Fire. How can there be different grades of lashes when one is confined for eternity in a lake that burns with fire and sulfur?

To be continued.