Let Us Not Shun the Fire
Biblical *destruction* of sin and evil, certain to be thorough, through and through, does not appear to be so drastic as to entail either immortal burning or utter annihilation. Isaiah 6:13, in fact, makes a more hopeful, Biblical meaning of *destruction* unmistakably clear: "..."Even if one person out of ten remains in the land, he too will be destroyed; he will be like the stump of an oak tree that has been cut down." (The stump represents a new beginning for God's people.)" [Good News Bible] Thus also was reprobate Nebuchadnezzar destroyed (but his stump was spared -- Daniel 4:23,26) until he acknowledged the Sovereignty of God over all creation. Thus also, even Sodom, which suffered the punishment of eternal fire (Jude 7), will one day be restored (Ezekiel 16:53-58). Somewhere along the line for many Christians, this important process of refining has been transformed into something to be avoided through "fear of Hell". Let us look further.
In the *second* death, which destroys death, the *first* death and even Hell are cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone [Sulfur] (Revelation 19:20; 20:10,13-15; 21:8) which, according to the symbolism of the Greek as commonly understood in New Testament times, can be none other than the *Divine Fire of Purification* (Hebrews 12:29). That which is *reprobate* (in Greek, a metallurgical term for something not yet sufficiently purified) must be consigned to the flames for purification (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) and also continually *tormented*, i.e., continually *tested for purity*, as indicated in Revelation 20:10, where "torment" in Greek is a word for metallurgical evaluation and testing. You can easily check this out in a Greek Lexicon. More details are available in Rev. Charles H. Pridgeon, M.A., Is Hell Eternal *or* Will God's Plan Fail?, Pittsburgh: The Evangelization Society of The Pittsburgh Bible Institute, *Third Edition*, 1931, on pages 116-117. [ The Pittsburgh Bible Institute, R.D.1, Box 391, Gibsonia, PA 15044
Even the great Reformation theologian, John Calvin, whose name has often been associated with "Reprobation", knew that the original meaning of the Greek *adokimos* is related to the metallurgical process of refining. "For when `reprobate silver' is spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 6:30), and `reprobate earth' in Paul's epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 6:8), it does not mean that such `reprobate silver' or `reprobate earth' was ordained of God to eternal destruction; but that it was silver and earth that had become alloyed, adulterated, unfruitful and worthless. And that the term `reprobate' applies to men in this passage of the apostle, as it doth also in another epistle, is at once manifest in each place from the context" (Trans. Henry Cole, Calvin's Calvinism, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956, p.159).
Although very painful, fiery destruction is a therapy perhaps better not avoided when clearly indicated (and this may be often). "Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not" was the Word of the Lord to Orthodox Staretz Silouan of Mount Athos. Certain great Fathers during their lifetime "actually descended into the darkness and torments of hell. They did this not once but over and over again until their hearts were so permeated that they were able to repeat the movement at will...People are afraid to cast themselves into the flame of Christ's love. They fear to be destroyed. But those who are not afraid discover that they have found eternal life, and need no evidence other than the Spirit...witnessing within to their salvation..." (Archimandrite Sophrony, The Monk of Mount Athos *Staretz Silouan 1866-1938*, Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1973 [trans. Mrs. Rosemary Edmonds]. See pages 92,116-118). With Luther we must acknowledge that ""God leads down to hell those whom He predestines to heaven, and makes alive by slaying "", so that "it is one of the signs of predestination to heaven not merely "to be resigned in very deed to hell" but even to "desire to be lost and damned"" (Norman O. Brown, Life Against Death, New York: Random House (Vintage Books), 1959, p.215, quoting Martin Luther).
Jesus experienced the full force of Reprobation when He went to the Cross and descended into Hell forsaken by God and despised and rejected by men. "He who knew no sin was made sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21) and "for us became a curse" (Galatians 3:13). "For it befitted Him, for Whom and through Whom the universe exists, to perfect the One, Who led many sons into glory , the Leader of their salvation, by means of sufferings"(Hebrews 2:10). We too, must experience our Reprobation together with Him (1 Corinthians 4: 9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; Hebrews 12:1-3). For if we have been planted together with Him in the likeness of His death Who became Reprobate Man for us, then we shall be in the likeness of his Resurrection (Romans 6:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:7-10). The ultimate indicator and assurance of Christian growth, maturity, and Election then, is this willing submission in love to the punishment, discipline, and dying wisely provided by God for the Reprobate. So to do is to put on the mind of Christ. "Here in our hell, we expect redemption. Christ has experienced the deepest depths of hell, deeper than any can ever experience. Christ is *inferno profundior* (Gregory the Great). "Hell" in this sense is a christological place...God-forsakenness (descent into hell), says H.U. von Balthasar, is not a soteriological *ad hoc*, but bespeaks the inner dimension of unbounded gift, of God's eternal self-surrender (*kenosis*, Phil 2:7). The experience of hell is a function of the incarnate Christ's obedient love to the Father" (Wilhelm Mass, "He descended into hell", Theology Digest 30(1): 43-46 (Spring, 1982).
Election is *Crucifixion*, and Election and Reprobation are two sides of the same coin: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). This is the deep *baptismal* and *kenotic* meaning of *reprobation*, *death*, and *Hell*, the Way of *theosis* by which we also who were aforetime "vessels of wrath" are *transformed* and *transfigured* into "vessels of mercy" (Romans 9:22- 26, recalling the Biblical meaning of *destruction*). This is the Way of Martyrdom to which all Christians are called, as the Lord leads. Let us not shun the Fire. There is no other way to God than this Biblical Way through the Fiery Furnace with the Lord: ""Ait ipse salvator: qui iuxta me est, iuxta ignem est, qui longe est a me, longe est a regno." Whoever is near to me, is near to the fire; whoever is far from me,is far from the kingdom." (C.G. Jung, Psychology and Religion, Yale University Press, 1938,1964, p.43, quoting a "non-canonical" logion mentioned in the Homilies of Origenes). Again, let us not shun the Fire