Fire
The use of fire in Scriptures
Baptism of Fire
Anti-Charismatics claim that there is only one usage (perhaps spiritual use) for fire in the Bible; and that is the teaching relating to hell.
Let us look into some different and representative passage verses:
\o/ From the Old Testament:
Exodus出埃及記 3 v2:
3:2 耶和華的使者從荊棘裡火焰中向摩西顯現. 摩西觀看, 不料, 荊棘被火燒著, 卻沒有燒燬.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
D.Lim: The fire in the bush does not represent hell or the persecution, the oppression the Egyptians exerted on the Israelites; for the Angel of the Lord (Yhwh) appeared to Moses in that flame. This is not just speaking to Moses with the illustration of the flaming bush signifying oppression of the Israelites and how God miraculously preserved the Israelites from the consuming fire of Egyptian slave drivers.
Exodus出埃及記 19 v18:
19:18 西乃全山冒煙, 因為耶和華在火中降於山上, 山的煙氣上騰, 如燒窯一般, 遍山大大的震動.
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
D.Lim: Mt Sinai was not hell. God descended upon it in fire. God did not descend in hell, or in the midst of hell fire. But in His Holiness, being set apart, in consuming purity. In power in heat. Smoke ascended, but not described as hellish. There was mountain quake as well. No mentioning that hell or hades keep quaking. No mentioning of lost souls within this fire and smoke. Moses was called to approach God but not called to approach hell or enter therein.
Moses could come back; but nobody return from within hell.
No mentioning of fire representing evil here either.
Leviticus利未記 16 vv 12, 13:
16:12 拿香爐, 從耶和華面前的壇上盛滿火炭, 又拿一捧搗細的香料, 都帶入幔子內,
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
D.Lim: The altar of the Lord is filled with burning coals. This is not a scene of hell. The altar is not about punishment or evil.
16:13 在耶和華面前, 把香放在火上, 使香的煙雲遮掩法櫃上的施恩座, 免得他死亡.
And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
D.Lim: A consuming fire serving the purpose of providing rising smoke covering the sinner.
Fire consumes the incense for sacrafice.
It is not fire that separates here. It is the smoke caused by the fire.
Deuteronomy申命記 4 v36:
4:36 他從天上使你聽見他的聲音, 為要教訓你, 又在地上使你看見他的烈火, 並且聽見他從火中所說的話.
Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
D.Lim: This represents Yhwh God as a consuming fire. This is no scene of hell or evil. The fire did not suck things in to destroy any.
Psalms詩篇 104 v4:
104:4 以風為使者, 以火焰為僕役.
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
D.Lim: Fire serves the Lord. Christians on fire serve the Lord God. Purifying fire as the servant of God. Christians may be purified through fire. This is not fire and brimstone.
Isaiah以賽亞書 10 vv16, 17:
10:16 因此, 主萬軍之耶和華, 必使亞述王的肥壯人變為瘦弱. 在他的榮華之下, 必有火著起, 如同焚燒一樣.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
D.Lim: This is fire of disturbance, and destruction. Scriptures use fire for different representation at different places. Same word can mean different things. There is no rule dictating that the same word must mean the same thing wherever it appears.
10:17 以色列的光必如火, 他的聖者必如火焰. 在一日之間, 將亞述王的荊棘, 和蒺藜, 焚燒淨盡.
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
D.Lim: The chosen ones of God win like consuming fire. His Holy One is fire.
To be baptized with fire is to be baptized with Christ. All unwanted things are burnt.
Isaiah以賽亞書 33 v14:
33:14 錫安中的罪人都懼怕. 不敬虔的人被戰兢抓住. 我們中間誰能與吞滅的火同住. 我們中間誰能與永火同住呢.
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
D.Lim: God is likened to
"the devouring fire" and "everlasting burnings". There are certain elements of destruction and cleansing.God is not likened to hell.
Isaiah以賽亞書 66 v15:
66:15 看哪, 耶和華必在火中降臨, 他的車輦像旋風, 以烈怒施行報應, 以火燄施行責罰.
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
D.Lim: Different elements are related to fire
� the coming of the Lord, and His rebuke.Both His chariots and the Holy Spirit are like whirlwind. This whirlwind carries flames of fire. This is a consuming aspect of His power, justice and holiness.
Fire and whirlwind, afterall, are not always evil. They are not used or described that way.
Be Godward in whatever we do. Let us be children of the Light. If Light then, consuming fire.
Be purified and exhibit cleansing qualities. Be the salt of this world.
\o/ In the New Testament:
Matthew馬太福音 3 vv10,11:
3:10 現在斧子已經放在樹根上, 凡不結好果子的樹, 就砍下來, 丟在火裡.
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.
D.Lim: This is a picture of hell (destruction and punishment and disposal).
This is a picture of the eternal furnace
� Gehenna.3:11 我是用水給你們施洗, 叫你們悔改. 但那在我以後來的, 能力比我更大, 我就是給祂提鞋, 也不配. 祂要用聖靈與火給你們施洗.
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:
D.Lim: The baptism of John is, as explained, a baptism of repentance. This preparation need no substitutional baptism from Christ or His disciples. Both are baptism of repentance. Unlike the claim of anti-Charismatics, there is no verse in the Bible used to distinguish the two baptism of water. There is no hint/evidence that those followers of John, after his water baptism need to go through another water baptism by Jesus or His disciples.
John here in 3 v11 was telling us by telling his enquirers that Jesus (not His disciples) will baptize (not with water) with the Holy Spirit and fire. This is to confirm to us two different baptism for the same group of believers. This is to confirm two different processes and experience and witness.
There is no mentioning here that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire as two separate procedure. It is possible to take the two as one if we seek and have no further teaching from the Word of God (Scriptures/The Bible). They need not be the same thing. We are no minimalists. Less is not more. Less is not better (according to Scripture principles).
D.Lim:
There is no mentioning here that Jesus will (or teach that)baptize with water, Holy Spirit and fire in one single act or ceremony or witness. The Holy Spirit as gifts came after the ascension of Christ. Until then, it is absolute clear that there were more than one process and witness.No fruit of the Spirit or holy conduct or righteousness produce (or duplicates) the effect of firy tongues above believers, and earthquakes, or strong wind.
3:12 祂手裡拿著簸箕, 要揚淨祂的場, 把麥子收在倉裡, 把糠用不滅的火燒盡了.
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.
D.Lim: This is a picture of hell. As v11 mentioned baptism with fire, some (possibly many anti-charismatics) would read that v12 that follows is referring the unquenchable fire with this baptism.
Is there any hint or verse that forbids this interpretation?
Yes, 1Cor 3 v13 is one such reference
� the testing fire in life/judgement, and in the final judgement.In fact, we need not get that far for a proof-text or a different interpretation. When we look at Matt 3 v11, we see that John was speaking with the believers, those who were baptized by him for repentance (I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance).John did not say (as recorded) that he came to baptize with water. There is the mentioning of
� you; and � unto repentance.One may say that the Jews who came to ask of John were not all ready to receive his water baptism, and that they were not yet convicted? If that is the case, and all that there is, why would they need to be told the comparison of the two? They were pointed to Jesus. Read Matt 3 vv5,6. Also read Mark 1 v5
� And all the country of judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the jordan River, confessing their sins. Also read Luke 3 vv5,6.But reading
Matt 3 v7 and Luke 3 v7 give some a leverage that the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to John were not all saved. Those not repented were fit for the fire of hell.When we read Matt 3 v7 we read that these Pharisees and Sadducees were not coming for enquiries or challenging John. They came for baptism!
Luke 3 v7, to the same effect, tells us the multitudes were going out to be baptized by John. And John taught them.This narration is not about a evangelistic service and sermon of fire and brimstone. This passage tells us of the nature of baptism and the work of the coming Christ. John was preaching to the choir, and preparing them. John was not waiting to save just some from the multitude.
These verses tells us a Theological truth and a linguistic truth
� that one word can mean different things, even haing usage for opposing ideas.
1Corinthians哥林多前書 3 v13:
3:13 各人的工程必然顯露. 因為那日子要將他表明出來, 有火發現. 這火要試驗各人的工程怎樣.
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
3:14 人在那根基上所建造的工程, 若存得住, 他就要得賞賜.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
3:15 人的工程若被燒了, 他就要受虧損. 自己卻要得救. 雖然得救乃像從火裡經過的一樣.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
D.Lim: This day in which it shall be revealed, every man
�s work by fire. This is testing time, and purifying moment. No one can escape it. This is no picture of just the eternal hell. For all are tested, purified. All works are made known. Not mentioning that all are punished, especially eternally.This is trying fire; not final punishment.
1Cor 3 v15 tells us that some believers, some Christians, will suffer loss through the trying fire. Some will loss their reward on top of salvation. They shall still be saved; yet suffered loss. This is the teaching/doctrine of Heterodox
� Christians who are truly saved, born again, having sins covered by the precious blood of Christ the Lamb. Yet they do wrong. They work iniquities. Their works are not approved of God. They are not so very pure. This means Christians are not all the same. Some work more evil. Some are hurtful. So, be very careful. Fear God. Do not blame the whole church of God. Those you meet are those you meet. They do not represent the whole picture.
Hebrews希伯來書 12 v29:
12:28 所以我們既得了不能震動的國, 就當感恩, 照神所喜悅的, 用虔誠敬畏的心事奉神.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
12:29 因為我們的神乃是烈火.
For our God is a consuming fire.
D.Lim: From 12v28 - God does not change. The promises of God is certainty. Therefore we are to be thankful and fearful. God certainly is not hell or hell fire. God is pure. God is pure love. God is a purifying fire as being holy(set apart).
James雅各書 3 v6:
3:6 舌頭就是火, 在我們百體中, 舌頭是個罪惡的世界, 能污穢全身, 也能把生命的輪子點起來, 並且是從地獄裡點著的.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
D.Lim: The tongue is not the hell that knocks all evil spirits in. But the tongue could reflect the burning fire of hell.
Sinful tongues reflect hell.
Holy tongues of fire could reflect heaven. What is wrong/illegal with this contrast?
Revelation啟示錄 15 v2:
15:2 我看見彷彿有玻璃海, 其中有火攙雜. 又看見那些勝了獸和獸的像, 並他名字數目的人, 都站在玻璃海上, 拿著神的琴.
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
D.Lim: This is a scene of heaven
� transparent honesty. Purifying fire. Empowering fire.The one who have victory standing on the sea of glass and fire
� certainly not standing in hell praising God.Revelation啟示錄 19 v12:
19:11 我觀看, 見天開了. 有一匹白馬. 騎在馬上的, 稱為誠信真實. 他審判爭戰都按著公義.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
19:12 他的眼睛如火焰, 他頭上戴著許多冠冕. 又有寫著的名字, 除了他自己沒有人知道.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
D.Lim: A representation of Christ. His eyes were not filled with punishment. His eyes were not just hell.
Revelation啟示錄 19 v20:
19:20 那獸被擒拿, 那在獸面前曾行奇事, 迷惑受獸印記, 和拜獸像之人的假先知, 也與獸同被擒拿. 他們兩個就活活的被扔在燒著硫磺的火湖裡.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
D.Lim: No mentioning that this is the baptism of fire.
Fire, here, describes hell and punishment.
Revelation啟示錄 21 v8:
21:8 惟有膽怯的, 不信的, 可憎的, 殺人的, 淫亂的, 行邪術的, 拜偶像的, 和一切說謊話的, 他們的分就在燒著硫磺的火湖裡. 這是第二次的死.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
D.Lim: No mentioning that this is the baptism of fire either, although this represent hell and second death.
Many believers only work out their ideas by following and protecting and treasuring their beloved preachers and institutes. They need to turn to Christ and be God centred.
Many believers and preachers work out their ideas from deduction. Deductions very often are without facts and evidence; being faulty formulae, bad mathematics and calculation.
Deduction(intellectual gymnastics) very often provide false sense of security and scholarship.
The Baptism of Fire can be regarded as the purification and the testing with fire.
It can be regarded as the baptism of purification � a process of sanctification through encountering.
How wrong it is to claim that all fire could represent is hell and evil, and punishment.
How wrong it is to see that fire is purifying and not holy.