It has to do with a man whose "works" were kind of a mixed bag, but who - in the Day of the Lord -- is purified of the worthless stuff, which is burnt; he himself is saved, but only as through fire.
There is reference to judgment, and purification, and fire, and the soul being saved, but only after going through this purifying fire.
Am I understanding you correctly?
“It has to do with a man whose “works” were kind of a mixed bag, but who - in the Day of the Lord — is purified of the worthless stuff, which is burnt; he himself is saved, but only as through fire.”
A rather depraved sort of conclusion, since it supposes that a man is able to add to the work of God in meriting heaven, when salvation is by grace without the working of the law.
Rom_11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
How does it follow then, that after death you can merit heaven after going through suffering, as if your suffering can merit heaven for you because the suffering of Christ was imperfect?
As to this particular passage, it says nothing about the man being burned at all, which in your fantasy is the case. It is his work which is burned, and so we can understand this of his false notions, the hay and stubble he built upon a truly good foundation, which will be exposed and removed in the great day, “yet so as by fire,” with great difficulty, as if saved from a burning house.