:cloud9: Someone sent me this and I thought it was worth posting....
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too lon g in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them.
And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end..
'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.'
Thank you God, for teaching me to laugh again......
but please Lord, don't ever let me forget that I cried.
Quote from: Cardinal on March 24, 2009, 03:51:38 PM
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too lon g in the flames, it would be destroyed.
Meaning just enough and no eternal heating.
Nice story :winkgrin:
:cloud9: Yep, that's what I got out of it. :thumbsup:
The sooner we let him transform our image into his likeness . . .the sooner we can get out of the fire
Quote from: Cardinal on March 24, 2009, 03:51:38 PM
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too lon g in the flames, it would be destroyed.
Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Sounds like Jesus is watching the refining process.
:cloud9: :thumbsup:
Had Malachi 3:3 been understood about Jesus' High Priestly ministry, folks never would have gone to war over the tithe. To me, silver means silver. That passage explains the whole thing with first fruits, latter fruits, etc., whether you're talking about your money or the town drunks.
Quote from: WhiteWings on March 24, 2009, 05:57:39 PM
Quote from: Cardinal on March 24, 2009, 03:51:38 PM
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too lon g in the flames, it would be destroyed.
Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Sounds like Jesus is watching the refining process.
That's a great quote bro . . .let's finish it out though . . .too many could say we're cherry picking . . .I love that termonology . .never heard of it before until I came here. :nod:
The reason I want to finish out the passage there . . only a couple verses before it changes direction again . . .is because the next verse WOULD APPEAR to support ET.
11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Not sure which thread it was . .. but there was a conversation recently with baptisms . . . and I'd mentioned the fire baptism isn't as euphoric as the others are . . .and I believe this is actually verifying just that. The fire baptism is not a pleasant one, but it is most necessary.
Water baptism lines you up for spirit baptism. Spirit baptism prepares you for fire baptism. Fire baptism purifies you for . . . Rest. When you've gone through the transforming fire, you've been readied for "dwelling" in God and God in you. Everything God has done has always been in preparation for another stage, another realm, another level in relationship with him. The ultimate place is a place where he can "dwell" in us always and forever.
But the eternal smoke is not the eternal torment of a person . . .it's the completion of the process of purging carnality. Scripture talks about God breathing in the aroma of the smoke and it brings pleasure to him to see us not in torment, but in transformation
Read that as it's written . . .the smoke ascends up for ever and ever . . .it's not that the torment goes on forever and ever . .but the smoke "ascends" Our nature is refined into his nature and there is no end to our ascension in the glory of his likeness. We just keep rising higher and higher in him . . .in revelation of him.
In our fallen natures . . .we continue to read from a death perspective of these things. When the intent of them being written was just the opposite. It was to bring resurrection and life. Let our minds be filled with "heavenly" thoughts . . ."ascending" thinking will only elevate you to a higher place in Christ.
thanks, I enjoyed this story, did it really happen? but none the less, great post :thumbsup:
Nathan,
The ever and ever is...... suprise..... age and age.
For most of you it likely isn't really needed but for me it would have been better that Cardinal posted the whole verse.
Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (priests), and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
A refiners fire is like hell; so it can be explained as a very hot fire (hell).
But the other part of the verse explains the goal of the process.
Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
That verse is even better because it mentions soap. Soap is for cleaning; it has no 'links' to torture.
One more cherry for Nathan :laughing7:
Revelation 14:10 .... and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
928 basani,zw basanizo {bas-an-id'-zo}
Meaning: 1) to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.
Fire and brimstones are 'attributes of God'
:cloud9: Amen, keep up that "cherry picking", bro..... :thumbsup:
Quote from: WhiteWings on March 24, 2009, 08:28:45 PM
One more cherry for Nathan :laughing7:
Revelation 14:10 .... and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
928 basani,zw basanizo {bas-an-id'-zo}
Meaning: 1) to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.
Fire and brimstones are 'attributes of God'
Are we supposed to be in disareement here? It's not working for me if we are . . .you're saying everything I'm in total agreement with.
Nathan
Quotethe next verse WOULD APPEAR to support ET
If I wanted to debunk that statement I wouldn't quote the verses and word defenition that disprove the ET view.....