To the multitude who had come to the banks of Jordan to be baptized, John the Baptist said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)
There is no question but that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was administered on the day of Pentecost, although it is not probable that John had special reference to that occasion. That was simply a notable example of what John said should take place. All believers in Christ must be baptized with the Spirit, and must "walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16), if they share the final reward.
But many people suppose that the baptism of fire was also administered on the day of Pentecost, which is a grave error. The next verse plainly indicates what was meant by the baptism of fire: "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12)
This shows that although the words of verse 11 were addressed to all the multitude, John did not mean that all should receive both the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire. He might baptize them all with water, and thus they might all be counted by men as followers of Christ; but He who should come after, would have His fan in His hand, and would thoroughly purge His floor, saving the wheat, and burning up the chaff in the fire. This is the meaning of John's words. The expression, "He will thoroughly purge his floor," (Matthew 3:12) shows that especial reference is made here to those who, by baptism, have professed to be Christ's. It was well understood by all that those who did not profess to be Christ's would be destroyed, but here they are shown that a profession alone is not sufficient, because the floor will be purged.
Now there was no baptism of fire on the day of Pentecost. It is true that: "There appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." (Acts 2:3)
But this was not a baptism of fire. In the first place it is not said that there was actual fire present, but something which had the appearance of fire. Secondly, even if it had been fire, it would not have constituted a baptism of fire, for baptism is not administered in that way. Baptism means immersion, or an overwhelming. The disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit, because: "It filled all the house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:2)
They were completely submerged in the Spirit. And the cloven tongues like fire formed a part of this manifestation of the Spirit.
But who will receive the baptism of fire? All those who do not receive the Spirit, or who, having once received it, do not walk in it, they will be burned up in that fire that shall burn as an oven. "For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Malachi 4:1) "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10) "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
Here it is said that the wicked shall have their part in a "lake of fire." The whole earth will be melted with the fervent heat, and will present the appearance of a sea of liquid fire "and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)
The destruction of the wicked in this lake of fire may, without doing violence to language, fitly be called a baptism. In this lake of fire they will be submerged, and will be consumed root and branch.
Thus John was speaking of two baptisms:
1. One which saves, and
2. One which destroys.
And since he was talking, not to certain individuals whose destiny he might foresee, but was talking to the multitude collectively, some of whom would be saved, and some lost, he could truthfully say to them collectively, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)
Some of them would receive one baptism, and some the other.
There are some well-meaning persons who pray to be baptized with fire; and there are hymns which call for the baptism of fire. Such prayers and hymns cannot but cause a shudder to one who knows what the baptism of fire will be.
Let us pray above all things for the baptism of the Spirit, but let us pray most earnestly to be saved from the baptism of fire.--Signs of the Times, July 7, 1887--Timeline: II-1 (Ministry of John the Baptist)--Matthew 3:11-12.