Like a Fire is Burning

When discussing the judgment of the wicked, Christ said: ““For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and al that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts” (3 Nephi 25:1). However, when discussing the blessing of the righteous, Isaiah said: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly” (Isaiah 33:13). Apparently, both the righteous and the wicked will experience “the devouring fire,” and will experience the “day…that shall burn as an oven.” However, the righteous shall ‘dwell’ with the burning and the heat and the light, while the wicked will be burned up. How much light can you endure?

Maybe the reason that we experience trials – the refiner’s fire – here on Earth is because that’s an opportunity to acclimatize ourselves to glory in increments that we can stand. We can experience that fire and become pure and conductive of light here on Earth, slowly, over a lifetime – or we can experience it all at once when Christ comes. “But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.”

I think the answer is simple: those that have experienced the refiner’s fire and endured. Those who have been faithful. Those who have sought light and glory and the countenance of Christ in all that they did. Those that have felt the burning of the Holy Ghost already. They are those who will abide the day of His coming, and who will dwell with the everlasting burnings of His glory.

Compare  the Burning Sight of God