Our God is a consuming fire

[Jock]

I've been thinking quite a bit about the Lake of Fire and about how God saves and refines people. I note that when Moses stood before the burning bush, the bush was not consumed yet God was in it and spoke from it.

Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were cast into Nebucadnezzer's fiery furnace, the guards were consumed when they opened the doors but the Lord was in the furnace with the three and only their bonds were loosed. I see that as a picture of a refining fire.

My wife asked me what became of the guards and I didn't know what to tell her. Does anybody have some wisdom on this?

Regards

Jock.

[micah7:9]

They died. :dsunny:

[ded2daworld]

Everytime I saw a guard consumed by fire, they died, so I'll have to agree with Micah on this one. :laugh:

[jbertonbounds]

No duh, they died!  But IMO it's not about whether they died, but rather the symbology behind the story.  The guards symbolized those who follow an antichrist, an idolator.  When they were confronted with the consuming fire (the power of God) their flesh (human will) was consumed.  There is no significance to the literal fire burning the men to death - the significance is in the symbology. :2c:

[marie glen]

It's my belief no one will actually go to the LOF, perhaps one or two veRRy stubborn hold outs - after all, "those whose names not written in the Book of Life" (those not believing) "will go to the LOF" (aion during) is the very last verse of the chapter! (rev 20)

After all have experienced being resurrected, who the heck isn't going to "believe"?

Also, how long will 'judgment' day, intense day of review? take? I believe it begins DOA, and ends as UR :smile:

P.S - the two who go to the LOF in chapter 19, may be active at the time, but they are not, imo, living beings, or persons, but institutions of men ..the false prophet, imo, being man's adult fairy tale as to life and origins, and the beast being a world beast/body of governing

[ded2daworld]

IMO, it's just what happens when your boss is Pagan and you do what you're told.

[micah7:9]

IMO, it's just what happens when your boss is Pagan and you do what you're told.

:thumbsup: :dsunny:

[Jock]

 jbertonbounds, Thanks, the way you explained that was helpful. You other folks too, thanks

:dsunny:


Jock

[micah7:9]

 It is of my opinion we ALL must go through the LOF. The LOF is not a literal fire, it represents judgment and that means a decision. We ALL must come to this judgment, Peter said, 1Pe 4:17  For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: 1Pe 4:17  For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? The LOF for those will not yield now, that fire will be far greater.
We, who have been drawn, have been drawn to (our) lake(pond, safe harbor) of fire, (the fire is the purifier, consuming that which is worthy, wood, hay, stubble, it now for believers who honor and glorify the Lord now...."and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,
1Pe 1:7  that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

So  :iagree: with jbertonbounds

[JulieTang84]

I read somewhere Paul saying to not be afraid of the fire because even they would "taste" the fire in time.

Can't find it though.    :sigh:

Love Julie :HeartThrob:

[micah7:9]

I read somewhere Paul saying to not be afraid of the fire because even they would "taste" the fire in time.

Can't find it though.    :sigh:

Love Julie :HeartThrob:

Have not heard that. Keep looking :HeartThrob:

[lomarah]

Maybe Jesus in Mark 9:49 Everyone will be salted with fire. ? 

[JulieTang84]

 :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob:
Thanks everyone, I am still looking but I came very close. Perhaps time has played tricks on me.  :sigh:

2Cr 5:10   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I am sure the vs in question had something about not being afraid and flames, but this Scripture gives the same meaning.

Love Julie  :HeartThrob:

[eaglesway]

James 5:12
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Matthew 7
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ...

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 5:24
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works

Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Philippians 4:3
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

[Jock]

" Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father"

I think that sums it up

:Peace2:

Jock

[WhiteWings]

Maybe Jesus in Mark 9:49 Everyone will be salted with fire. ?

Sacrifices were salted (blood dehydration) and then burned of the altar of sacrifice (which was almost the size of house....) As the story/myth/fact states the smoke always went straight up. No matter it stormed or not. And the smoke/sacrifice was happily accepted by God.

[Jock]

I am quite sure that we are going through the fire now, in this life. Christ purifying His Bride ready to present her to the Father. Others will visit the LOF to be purified there. The fire here is trials, testings but most of all, sufferings. The Lord said to Ananias that He would show Paul how he must suffer in His name.

WE are in His name!

Regards

Jock :2c:

[WhiteWings]

Fire=Law=HS

imo

[ded2daworld]

"People are born to trouble trial, even as the sparks fly upward"

IMO, we will also see cleansing by fire after death since no one is without spot before God. (Though we are reckoned as spotless)

[Jock]

Reckoned as spotless because the Lamb is spotless! He has done soooooooooo much for us!

:dsunny:

Jock