Temporary Punishment

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15.2 is a call to overcometh, because if one does not keep what one has and does not continue to grow in that new life, there is consequence which is temporary punishment. As you read this to be convinced, the key phrase is-temporary punishment for Christians. To be temporarily separated from the vine is to not participate in the millennial reign as well as lose joy now.

If even only one talent is given but wasted, that man shall be excluded from the kingdom of God insofar as He would lose the reward of reigning during the millennial kingdom. He is not excluded from what happens after the millennium in the new city. All dead works will be burnt off by the lake of fire before the non-overcomer believer is placed in outer darkness (which has no fire or furnace about it). Never think this is blotting out of the Book of Life, for he is truly saved. Eternal life can never be lost. It helps to see that God having infinite foreknowledge does not in vain give someone salvation and eternal life at new birth to then possibly take it away. He can foresee all things, so when He gives it, it is everlasting. One can only be born-again once, which can never be lost as a new creation. If one chooses to still believe in non-OSAS surely they worship a lesser god who does not have the powers of the uncreated God to be on target for new birth.

“And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness”—This is the second punishment. Outer darkness is a relative, not an absolute, term. In order to understand this word “outer” we need first of all to know where the Lord will speak these words. The Lord will come to the air, to where as well His saints are to be raptured. There they appear before His judgment seat where these words are spoken. And hence the “outer” spoken of here is “outer” in relation to the air. Never in the Scriptures, not even once, is hell called outer darkness. As a matter of fact, hell is not dark but has about it the element of fire! Let us see that when the Lord comes, He shall be surrounded by darkness, although there shall be glory within (see Ps. 18.9-11). And hence the “outer” mentioned in the parable is in relation to this darkness that shrouds the darkness of the Lord’s glory at His coming.

“Weeping”—This term has reference to a repentance on the part of this servant as to his lost opportunity in using the talent properly.

“Gnashing of teeth”—Such a servant will murmur against himself for the loss incurred; for he loses out in the matter of joy and authority.

The Christian will never perish forever...
“He shall never see death” (John 8.51,52) is actually “he shall not forever see death” in the original, and “he shall never taste of death” is “he shall not forever taste death” in the original.
“They shall never perish” (John 10.28) is “they shall not forever perish” in the original.
“Shall never die” (John 11.25,26) is “shall not forever die” in the original.

"They shall never perish," says the Lord (John 10.28). Eternity exists before the creation of the heavens and the earth, and it extends beyond the events of the book of Revelation. In between these two is the temporary period which can also be called time. Between creation and the events of the book of Revelation Christians may receive punishment during this period. In 2 Corinthians 5 we read: "we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (v.10). Some will receive bad recompense. If this is not punishment, what is it? Likewise, Luke 12 states: "And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more" (vv.47-48). The beating is before the judgment seat. It incurs not only the loss of reward but also the possibility of being beaten. With regard to the words "suffer loss" in 1 Corinthians 3.15 someone has said that any loss without the inflicting of suffering cannot be reckoned as the suffering of loss. The consequence of "abide not" is to "cast them into the fire" (John 15.6). This without a doubt speaks of punishment. Revelation 2.11 declares: "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death"; in other words, he who does not overcome will be hurt of the second death. Who shall reign with Christ for a thousand years? The answer: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20.6).

According to the original rendering of John 10.28, "they shall never perish" should be translated "in no wise shall they perish for ever"—in other words, if believers should sin and fail to repent, they will suffer temporarily what the unbelievers will suffer eternally.

Purgatory as promoted by the Roman Catholic Church commences, in its view, at the time of death; and indulgence for reduced time in purgatory is promised by the Church through the Mass and other means. To this though we ought to vigorously object. Nevertheless, we cannot use heresy, either, to oppose the fact that Christians may receive punishment. Sin in an unbeliever is sin, but so too is sin in a believer sin.