Matthew 3:7-12 (KJV)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Note the "wrath to come (v.7)," the children of God (v.9), and the axe "laid unto the root of the trees (v.10)." While I would agree we can find an application of God's wrath in regards to the Tribulation (as well as the passing of the universe, as seen in Revelation 20), here, eternal judgment is in view. Trusting in heritage (v.9) as the authority for relationship to God is rejected by John. That tree, he says, will soon be cut down (keep this in mind when one reads of "The True Vine" in John 15) and cast into the fire. The warning is that every tree that does not bear good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, and it signifies in physical terms utter destruction.
Thus John's rebuke that they repent.
It is useful to keep in mind, when looking at John's baptism, that those who came to be baptized did so because they had repented. Not to receive repentance. So too, in Christian baptism, converts are baptized because they are saved, they are not saved by their baptism. Both are public displays and confessions of adherence to the truths the baptism signifies.
We should also remember one very important aspect of John's teaching/preaching, here, that he (John) is the one baptizing unto (and the word "for" would better fit the context) repentance, but it would be Christ Who would be the One baptizing with both the Holy Spirit and with fire.
So, regardless of the application we find for fire (i.e., Tribulation, the passing of the Universe, or even individual judgment), in view is judgment.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh 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:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Christ is the Baptizer.
John defines what he means (v.12).
Gathering wheat refers to the gathering of the children of God who are children, not through heritage, but through the receiving of His Spirit (as taught by Christ in John 14-16).
Purging His floor refers to that which has already been stated: the laying of the axe to the "trees," that they be hewn down and cast into the fire.
Acts 1:4
King James Version
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
"Wait for the promise of the Father:"
Ezekiel 36:27
King James Version
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
"... which, saith he, ye have heard of me:"
John 14:16
King James Version
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:23
King James Version
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 16:7-8
King James Version
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
In Acts 1:4-5, we see that the disciples are not yet baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is yet a few days away. The day, of course, is Pentecost. The baptism is—receiving the Spirit sent by Christ. Christ's teachings in John 14 make it clear that God is One; when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, we receive the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (John 14:16 and 23).
The coming of the Spirit, as promised by God in numerous places in the Old Testament, was for the purpose of reproving (rebuke, convince, convict, tell, reveal) the world (all of mankind) of sin (that we are sinners), righteousness (that Christ only is Righteous), and judgment (judgement in finality, everlasting/eternal). Who among us did not, when the Holy Spirit revealed the Mystery of the Gospel to our hearts—understand, believe, and fear that judgment we knew all to well we were worthy of? Was it not at that point that we recognized our sin, believed in the righteousness of Christ, and asked God for mercy, that He spare us from the axe? That we not be cast into the fire?
If you remember that particular moment in your life as I do, the Scripture above should be clear; and it was at that moment that you were baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:5
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
While there are those among the brethren that believe the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is a subsequent event (and I can understand this, because the following verses can seem to imply this), we know that the disciples had been empowered by God to minister, thus a "subsequent blessing of empowerment" makes very little sense. The disciples went about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (to be distinguished from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which would not be revealed until after Christ departed (John 16:7-8), and it is important to note they were forbidden to preach this Gospel to Samaritans and Gentiles (the Gospel is meant to be preached to all).
Acts 11:13-18
King James Version
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Peter makes it clear that the Word (which we can see is the very Gospel of Christ in Acts 10) is spoken, and this leads to salvation (for Cornelius (and his household)). He immediately defines this event as—the Baptism with the Holy Holy Spirit.
Why this passage doesn't settle the matter in the hearts and minds of everyone, I cannot say. It is clear that, here, God grants repentance unto life.
John merely baptized people claiming to have repented. I do not mean to sound diminutive about John's baptism, but, when compared to Christ's baptism, it is simply one ritual among hundreds performed by an Old Testament minister of God.
Those undertaking John's Baptism would still need Eternal Redemption through Christ. Though I am sure many were sincere in their repentance, Eternal Redemption involves God, not man—granting repentance, and this unto eternal life through the union created when we are immersed into God, and indwelt by God on an eternal/everlasting basis.
God bless.
