Principles Of Biblical Interpretation & Correctly Understanding the Language of the Bible
Introduction
God is seeking to communicate His will to man. He has done so in a number of ways, in nature, through providence and in His Word, the Bible. Paul says,
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Tim 3:16
However, when reading the Word of God, sometimes we come to difficult passages of scripture. There are many who seek to interpret these passages based upon their own way of thinking, but every such interpretation of scripture will lead to an incorrect understanding of God’s will. Peter says that the number one thing to know concerning the interpretation of scripture is that we should not apply our own private interpretation.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20
There therefore must be a correct way in which we can study the Word of God. Paul, speaking to Timothy says,
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15
There is a right way to divide the word of truth. Dividing the word of truth in the right way will lead to the correct interpretation of the scriptures. Dividing it in the wrong way will lead to a private interpretation, which though based upon the word of God will not be in accordance with the thought of God. Paul tells us how only we can rightly divide the word of truth in the book of 1 Corinthians.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1Cor 2:9-16
back to topOne can only arrive at a correct understanding of the thought of God when the correct method of dividing the truth is employed. When one scripture seems to be saying something difficult to understand, we must compare it with other passages of scripture. We do this by studying line upon line according to Isaiah. This method of searching will ensure that our knowledge will increase and God’s truth discovered.
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28: 9,10
In other words, we must allow scripture to interpret itself in order to gain a correct understanding of the bible. Unless we follow this path, we surely will be in the category of those who wrest the scriptures to their damnation.
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Pet 3:16
God Appoints Teachers to Explain Difficult Passages of Scripture
God’s desire is to communicate His will to each individual personally. However, for one reason or another, generally, people do not study for themselves, digging deep into the Word of God. God has sought to meet this deficiency in people by appointing teachers to teach, preach and instruct His people. As a matter of fact, each person who is exposed to the Word of God must become a teacher of that Word at one level or another. Consider the following scriptures.
“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” Acts 8: 26-31
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom 10: 13-15
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2Tim 2:1,2
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. ” Acts 16: 9,10
back to topGoing Beyond Milk
We are called upon to dig deep in the word of God for the treasure therein that we may be able to feed the hungry with the manna from on high. We therefore cannot afford to be surface readers acquiring only a superficial knowledge of the word. We are under condemnation if we don’t go beyond milk.
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able…For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God ; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat . ” 1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:12
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” Isa 28:9
How Inspiration Worked Upon Men
“The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God's mode of thought and expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God's penmen, not His pen. Look at the different writers.” 1SM 21
“It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God .” 1SM 21
“The writers of the Bible had to express their ideas in human language.It was written by human men. These men were inspired of the Holy Spirit. Because of the imperfections of human understanding of language, or the perversity of the human mind, ingenious in evading truth, many read and understand the Bible to please themselves. It is not that the difficulty is in the Bible. Opposing politicians argue points of law in the statute book, and take opposite views in their application and in these laws.” 1SM 19
“The Lord speaks to human beings in imperfect speech, in order that the degenerate senses, the dull, earthly perception, of earthly beings may comprehend His words. Thus is shown God's condescension. He meets fallen human beings where they are. The Bible, perfect as it is in its simplicity, does not answer to the great ideas of God; for infinite ideas cannot be perfectly embodied in finite vehicles of thought. Instead of the expressions of the Bible being exaggerated, as many people suppose, the strong expressions break down before the magnificence of the thought, though the penman selected the most expressive language through which to convey the truths of higher education. Sinful beings can only bear to look upon a shadow of the brightness of heaven's glory.”1SM 22
“Through nature, through types and symbols, through patriarchs and prophets, God had spoken to the world. Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity. The Messenger of the covenant must speak. His voice must be heard in His own temple. Christ must come to utter words which should be clearly and definitely understood. He, the author of truth, must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance, which had made it of no effect. The principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined. The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men.” DA 34
“Human minds vary. The minds of different education and thought receive different impressions of the same words, and it is difficult for one mind to give to one of a different temperament, education, and habits of thought by language exactly the same idea as that which is clear and distinct in his own mind. Yet to honest men, right-minded men, he can be so simple and plain as to convey his meaning for all practical purposes. If the man he communicates with is not honest and will not want to see and understand the truth, he will turn his words and language in everything to suit his own purposes. He will misconstrue his words, play upon his imagination, wrest them from their true meaning , and then entrench himself in unbelief, claiming that the sentiments are all wrong.” 1SM 19
“I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible, yet learned men, when the copies were few, had changed the words in some instances, thinking that they were making it more plain, when they were mystifying that which was plain, in causing it to lean to their established. views, governed by tradition. But I saw that the word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion of scripture explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the word of God plain and simple in declaring the way to life, but the Holy Spirit is given to guide in understanding the way of life revealed in his Word.” 1SG 117
God’s Methods Are Not Man’s Methods
Critical to understanding the bible, is acceptance of the principle that God’s ways are not our ways. Man originally was made in the image of God, but unfortunately, men are seeking to form God after their own image.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Rom 1: 22,23
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” .Isaiah 55:8,9
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes .” Ps 50:21
Bible Language And its Real Meaning
According to the culture of those living during Old Testament times, a nation’s god was responsible for all the blessings coming upon that nation if he is please, and should he be angry for some cause, then he would afflict his subjects with punishment until they recognize their error and appease his wrath by sacrifice. The Israelites were not exempt from this way of thinking, being influence by the prevailing customs and practices of their surrounding national neighbors. The customs of the other nations so influenced the behavior of the Israelites that they saw no problem with polygamy and slavery. Beyond this, they even went as far as sacrificing their own children.
As a direct result of this, the Hebrew’s mode of expression was shaped by the customs of the other nations. It has therefore become vitally important to study the historical accounts of God’s dealing with His people under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so as to receive God’s original thought through His prophets. Other wise, our own thoughts regarding God will be shaped by the heathen’s perception of their gods as expressed in the Hebrew parlance.
We will now look at God’s character as expressed in Hebrew parlance and then see how God Himself gives the correct way to understand the words used. In other words, the bible itself explains the idiomatic phrases of the Hebrew writers.
The bible is compiled of sentences and principles. A statement is an expression of a thought in words while a principle is a fix law by which statements and scenarios are understood, being rightly interpreted. For example, we today say that the sun rises every morning. This was even an expression in Old Testament times. The Psalmist says,
“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” Ps 113:3
However, most every one knows by science the mechanism of how day and night occurs. It is not the sun that rises, but the rotation of the earth on its axis which gives the appearance of the movement of the sun across the arch of the sky. Again, consider the Psalmist expression of this wonderful event.
“Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Ps 19:4-6
The statements expressed by the Psalmist, if not rightly understood will surely mislead the one who is not diligent in research. Jesus warns, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Man’s Expression In Human Language And God’s Explanation
God Tempts (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did temp Abraham.” Gen 22:1
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” James 1:13
“What is temptation? --It is the means by which those who claim to be the children of God are tested and tried. We read that God tempted Abraham, that He tempted the children of Israel. This means that He permitted circumstances to occur to test their faith, and lead them to look to Him for help. God permits temptation to come to His people today, that they may realize that He is their helper.” ST March 12, 1912
God Remembers (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Gen 9:15
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“The Lord declares that when He looks upon the bow, He will remember His covenant. This does not imply that He would ever forget; but He speaks to us in our own language, that we may better understand Him.” PP 106
The Lord Comes to See (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded…And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” Gen 11:5; Gen 18:20,21
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“God knew well the measure of Sodom's guilt; but He expressed Himself after the manner of men, that the justice of His dealings might be understood.” PP 139
The First-born of Egypt (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn…For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” Ex 4:23; 12:12
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” Ex 12:23
“All who failed to heed the Lord’s directions would lose their firstborn by the hand of the destroyer…Satan is the destroyer.” PP 278; 6T 388
God Chose Saul to be King (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people…Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?… And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.” 1Sam 9:17;10:1, 24
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them…Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;” 1Sam 8:4-9,19
God Slew King Saul (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.” 1Chr 10:13,14
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. Then said Saul to his Armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.” 1Chr 10:3,4
God Move David to Sin (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah…And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” 2Sam 24:1,10
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” 1Chr 21:1
The Lord Deceives Sometimes (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” 1 Kings 22: 20-23
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:..In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Heb 6:18; Tit 1:2
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2Thes 2:9-12
God Hardens Hearts (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses… And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” Josh 11:20; Exodus 4:20
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” Exodus 8:5
“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Heb 3:7-13
God Sent Fiery Serpents To Destroy Israel (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” Numbers 21:6
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“Because they had been shielded by divine power they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were continually surrounded. In their ingratitude and unbelief they had anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of the terrible effects produced by their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed from Israel, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures.” PP 428
God Repents (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had madeSaul king over Israel…And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” 1Sam 15:35; Gen 6:6
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Num 23:19
“God's repentance is not like man's repentance. "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent." Man's repentance implies a change of mind. God's repentance implies a change of circumstances and relations. Man may change his relation to God by complying with the conditions upon which he may be brought into the divine favor, or he may, by his own action, place himself outside the favoring condition; but the Lord is the same "yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. Saul's disobedience changed his relation to God; but the conditions of acceptance with God were unaltered–God's requirements were still the same, for with Him there "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17.” PP 630
God Creates Evil (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORDhath not done it?…I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Amos 3:6; Isa 45:7
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?…The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” Hab 1:13; Ps 145:17
God Sent Spies (Man’s Expression in Human Language)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.” Num 13:1-3
(God Now Explains That Human Language)
“Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea. And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.” Deut 1:8,19-22
back to topThe Fire of God
There are cases in the bible where we see fire proceeding from the Lord and destroying people. We are going beyond appearances and see the mechanism. Only the diligent searcher for truth will receive it.
The Burnt Offering – Acceptance of Sacrifice For the Sinner
The burnt offering is also called a sin offering. When ever a burn offering was required it was an indication that the people had committed sin and therefore were deserving of being consumed by the wrath of God. As oppose to consuming the people, God in His mercy found a substitute, His Son, upon whom He would exercise his wrath in their stead. This system was given to Israel through Moses by God as a picture of the Gospel to save from sin.
“And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, andan offering made by fire unto the LORD ; as the LORD commanded Moses .” Lev 8:21
“And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” Lev 9: 22-24
“After the dedication of the tabernacle, the priests were consecrated to their sacred office. These services occupied seven days, each marked by special ceremonies. On the eight day they entered upon their ministration. Assisted by his sons, Aaron offered the sacrifices that God required, and he lifted up his hands and blessed the people. All had been done as God commanded, and He accepted the sacrifice, and revealed His glory in a remarkable manner; fire came from the Lord and consumed the offering upon the altar. The people looked upon this wonderful manifestation of divine power with awe and intense interest. They saw in it a token of God's glory and favor, and they raised a universal shout of praise and adoration and fell on their faces as if in the immediate presence of Jehovah.” PP 359
The altar of incense was also to be lighted by this fire.
“ Within the second vail was placed the ark of the testimony, and the beautiful and rich curtain was drawn before the sacred ark. This curtain did not reach to the top of the building. The glory of God, which was above the mercy-seat, could be seen from both apartments, but in a much less degree from the first apartment. Directly before the ark, but separated by the curtain, was the golden altar of incense. The fire upon this altar was kindled by the Lord himself, and was sacredly cherished by feeding it with holy incense, which filled the sanctuary with its fragrant cloud, day and night. Its fragrance extended for miles around the tabernacle.” 4aSG 8
It is very important to note that the sacrifice was suppose to be prepared by the people and consumed by God Himself. No other fire was to be used for this purpose.
“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” 2 Chr 7:1
Note the case of Manoah, the father of Samson.
“And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” Judg 13: 15-22
“The answer was, "Why askest thou after my name, seeing it is secret?" Perceiving the divine character of his guest, Manoah "took a kid, with a meat-offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord; and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on." Fire came from the rock, and consumed the sacrifice, and as the flame went up toward heaven, "the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground." There could be no further question as to the character of their visitor. They knew that they had looked upon the Holy One, who, veiling His glory in the cloudy pillar, had been the Guide and Helper of Israel in the desert.” 2BC 1006
God Honors Elijah As A Man OF God
On mount Carmel there was a battle of the gods - Baal and Asteroth versus Jehovah. These were in conflict over the people of Israel. The time had come for a final battle in the form of a contest. Who is able to answer by fire? If Baal, then he is god. If Jehovah, then He is God. Viewing were the people of Israel, the on-looking universe and Satan with his host. Satan was not permitted to be in the contest because the battle at this point was between Baal and Jehovah.
The worshippers of Baal prayed all day to no avail. If Satan were the contestant, he would have lit that sacrifice. But it was Baal’s responsibility to do the lighting. Evidently, it was proven that Baal was incapable of performing such a task.
Jehovah’s worshipper was next and he prayed.
“Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:37-39
“… Israel had justly incurred His wrath, and that it would be at once visited, but for the atonement of Christ, represented by the altar of sacrifice.” PP 500
It must be understood that this fire did not come from Satan for he will not assist God in proving that He is the true God. The bullock represented the Son of God being sacrifice for and on behalf of Israel. The scene met its fulfillment on the cross of Calvary when Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.” Mat 27:46 Since it was not God who Personally killed His Son, but withdrew from Him on account of the weight of the sins of the world, then the fire did not come directly from God. The fire was kindled as a result of the withdrawal of God’s sustaining presence from the sacrifice. This is the way in which God must treat the sinner who rejects the offers of His grace in Jesus Christ. Only God can kindle such a fire in such a way.
Again we see Elijah engaged in battle for Jehovah. He is with the Angel of the Lord and the phenomenon of the fire of God occurs again. This time, the sacrifice was not consumed. Those who rejected God as their Saviour were destroyed because they showed no faith in the atonement offered.
“ Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.” 2 Kings 1:9-13
Elijah knew exactly what would have happened to these men as a result of rejection of the mercy of God. This was revealed to him by God Himself. God knows the future and He reveals His secrets to His servants.
“Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.”… “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Isa 41:21-23; Amos 3:7
Any one who rejects the offers of God’s mercy, especially those connected in some way to the work of the sanctuary, and the leadership of God’s people suffered the wrath of God demonstrated in the fire of God falling upon them.
Nadab and Abihu who Offered Sacrifice Suffered by that Fire
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Lev 10:1,2
Sympathizers of Korah who Offered Incense Suffered by that Fire
And there came out a fire from the LORD , and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.” Num 16: 35
Satan and all His Sympathizers will be Destroyed by this Fire
“By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.” Ezek 28: 16-18
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Rev 20:9
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:10-13
Fire of God from Heaven Destroys Job’s Possessions
The mechanism of how this fire occurs has been clearly pictured in the book of Job. God does not want for us to make any mistake in relation to the final eradication of the devil, sin and all sinners. The phenomenon of the fire of God, falling from heaven, occurs as a direct result of the removal of the hedge of God and allowing the collapsing forces of nature, authored by Satan’s system of government, to take its natural course into catastrophic destruction.
“ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD….While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” Job 1:10-12; Job 1:16
Conclusion
The Protected Ones
All who put their trust in Jesus will be shielded from the destruction to come. We do not have to fear, for the specific grace of our loving Heavenly Father will cover us. He is able to save all who choose His Kingdom of glory.
“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb 7: 22-25
Elder Demetrius Leach
