1 Nephi 15:28 - 15:32
1 Nephi 15:28 And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.
Anyway Nephi explains that the filthy river represented a ‘awful’ gulf that separated wicked from the good folks. I assume that it was a voluntary separation. Those who want to be wicked, naturally separated themselves from the good because they not only did not like the good people's life style but felt uncomfortable being around them. Like I said a natural separation which will continue into the next life.
1 Nephi 15;29 And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.
The angel explained to Nephi that the river represented hell which was prepared for the wicked. It is noteworthy to me that it was prepared. It was made to for certain people who will live on this earth who will mess up their lives, but it is not a place that exists that is opposite of heaven. In other places in the scriptures, hell is a temporary place for those that need a more intense character adjustments but will be done away with after all who need to go there have come to their senses.
1 Nephi 15:30 And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end.
Nephi says that Lehi noticed that the justice of God divided the wicked from the righteous. They don’t want to be around each other anyway, so He allows them to congregate in their self imposed groupings.
Nephi says that the brightness of this judgment was like flaming fire which ascends up to God forever and has no end. Not sure just what that means. I’m guessing that it has to do with how long the effects of this separation of the wicked from the righteous is, that is, forever. It might also refer to that we are judged with a righteous judgment that is compared to the effects of fire on forcing those who don’t want to be in the presence of God to have their wish.
The next verse seems to indicate some kind or torment is equated with this judgment. It may be that is what this ascending fire refers too.
1 Nephi 15:31 And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal?
The boys want to know in relation to this torment is just for this life or is the final disposition of the wicked in the eternities? Does this may refer to that which is the effect on the body itself rather than our spirits?
1 Nephi 15:32 And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.
Nephi said that it applied to both the body and the spirit. That the judgment will effect both because where the spirit wants to resided in the eternities will effect what kind of body he will have. In other words, if you don’t want to live in the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father you can go to a lesser kingdom where a body with lesser abilities capabilities will be given you.
