The Hottest Fire is Love

A natural human tendency is to mistake the symbols for the real meaning, especially when the symbols are repeated over and over again for centuries so that they embed themselves in the culture. This has happened with hellfire.

Regular fire, of the sulfur and brimstone type, is obviously involved in the final scene of evil’s demise. However, its limitations are never considered and the other type of fire is ignored. This lesson will establish the Biblical pattern of two kinds of fire and smoke.

As you read through the passages, there are two main things to compare and contrast: natural, earthly fire and smoke vs. divine fire and smoke. We know what physical fire is all about, such as a campfire or a flame thrower or a candle. We are not sure exactly what divine fire looks like, but it surely is not caused by burning wood, wax, or napalm! Here is a good example.

“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24)

It is highly improbable that the angels had swords spitting out burning napalm that scorched everything around. They were probably some kind of heavenly high tech that glittered super bright.

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto [Moses] 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.” (Exodus 3:2)

This was probably the Son of God’s glory directly. At the very least, it is confirmed that this divine fire does not burn things.

God “went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21)

So was this a traveling campfire? Obviously not, because it turned into a cloud during the day and in other places we are told it lifted up in the air to lead the hosts of Israel. Try to imagine what it looked like!

“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the far part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke of it ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:16-18)

“These words the LORD spoke unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.” (Deuteronomy 5:22)

At Mount Sinai we seem to see some regular fire and smoke. Of course, God’s glory was in there somewhere as well.

“And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.” (Joshua 8:20)

Ai was an example of regular fire and smoke caused by a burning town. We are not given any clues of the divine presence, so we assume this fire was normal.

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both apart; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11)

A regular horse and chariot cannot bring someone to heaven. Was it angels shaping their glory into some gigantic thing in the shape of horses pulling a chariot? What we know for sure is that this was not regular fire, because it does not pick up a person and fly through the air maintaining constant shape.

“There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and defeated them.” (Psalms 18:8-14)

This is probably a combination of divine glory and natural judgments on Israel’s enemies.

“Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.” (Psalms 104:4)

Are the angels perpetually burning up or are they robed in shimmering glory that is best described using the earthly words, flaming fire?

“When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of it by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.” (Isaiah 4:4-5)

Notice the use of the phrase “spirit of burning” to describe the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. Also, was this a prophecy of the return of the pillar of cloud and fire if Israel was faithful? Was it literal, spiritual, both?

“I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Here is a great example of God’s glory being described using earthly things. It is highly unlikely real smoke filled the temple with ugly blackness that would have choked the prophet and charred the walls. Was it a real coal that burned Isaiah’s lips? Could a real coal take away sin? It is hard to picture it, but this fire, smoke, and coal was something out of this world!

“Therefore shall the Lord… send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 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; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.” (Isaiah 10:16-18)

Again, we see a mix of regular fire that burns forest and field with spiritual fire that refines God’s “fat,” spiritually lazy people. There is also a hint of something more than regular fire in the phrase “both soul and body.” This reminds us of the part of Matthew 10 where we are told to fear God because He can destroy both body and soul in the fires of hell.

In these next 3 passages from Ezekiel notice the fire that infolds itself–obviously not normal fire. Notice the references to coals, lightning, and clouds. Earthly words just cannot contain the amazing things that Ezekiel saw!

“And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst of it as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures... As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.” (Ezekiel 1:4-14)

“Lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his waist even downward, fire; and from his waist even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber.” (Ezekiel 8:2)

“Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spoke unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory. And the sound of the cherubims‘ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks. And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took of it and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.” (Ezekiel 10:1-7)

Again, we see that earthly things were used to describe heavenly things, but the earthly words broke down and could not bear up under the weight of glory. The Son of God with a flamethrower at His waist spitting out fire? Definitely not! But we know He was glorious! Coals and lightning burning up everything in their path? Definitely not! Not until we get to heaven will know exactly what Ezekiel saw!

Something else that Ezekiel saw was Lucifer’s original position. Surely the fallen angel was not dancing with burnt toes in campfire coals!

“You are the anointed cherub that covers and I have set you so: you were upon the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the midst of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy you O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:14-16)

Now let’s look at a natural fire where a supernatural event took place.

“Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste, and spoke and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come forth, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” (Daniel 3:22-27)

Remember this passage for later. Regular humans survived in the midst of a regular fire without any pain or after effects.

“I beheld until the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke, I beheld even until the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” (Daniel 7:9-11)

I think you are getting the picture by now that God’s throne was not pumping out fire that obliterated all in its path. The angels, with their fiery glory, were gathered happily about Him. As far as the flame that burned the beast, there was possibly a mix of regular and divine flame involved.

“After six days Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him… While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him.” (Matt. 17:1-5)

“And if your hand offend you cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot offend you cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. And if your eye offend you pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” (Mark 9:43-49)

Cutting off your hand is definite hyperbole, yet here is one of the texts that appear to support the unending torture of the wicked. But it raises lots of questions. The fire will not be quenched by whom? Can God make a fire He cannot quench? And what kind of fire is this that does not burn worms? Maybe God does not want to quench it, but that does not necessarily mean the torture lasts forever. And why is everyone, saint and wicked alike, salted with fire? How can a person be salted with fire? Is a refinement and/or cleansing process being referred to instead of, or in addition to, hell?

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” (Acts 2:3) Obviously, mini campfires were not lit on top of each head!

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made plain: 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. If any man’s work abide which he has built on it, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) Can natural fire test the fruits of a person's character?

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

Jesus could spit regular fire out of His mouth, but the glory of His presence tells us what kind of fire destroys the wicked.

“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

What does God’s fire consume? Good things? Does God destroy the good things He created? No, He destroys the bad things, which destroy the good things.

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, in which 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, in which dwells righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:11-13)

No campfire or blast furnace can be made hot enough to melt and recreate the whole solar system or galaxy. Furthermore, holy people survive this fire, so that gives us a clue as to what kind of fire this is.

“In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and wrapped about the chest with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.” (Revelation 1:13-15)

This text reminds us of the vision of Ezekiel.

“And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” (Revelation 8:4)

There must be something more to this smoky incense because it is mixed with prayers.

“And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.” (Revelation 10:1)

“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 does judge and make war. 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.” (Revelation 19:11-12)

Again, we can’t possibly be viewing regular fire!

Let’s summarize what we have learned.

There are at least two types of fires—regular, physical fire and divine, glorious light that apparently shimmers like natural fire. We have two well-supported, Genesis to Revelation patterns occuring at the same time. Similarly, we have natural, choking, black smoke as well as something that resembles sweet-smelling, refreshing clouds. There is earthly fire and smoke, then there is heavenly fire and smoke.

For thousands of years, patriarchs sacrificed lambs as they looked forward by faith to the Savior to come. For over 1400 years priests offered sacrifice every morning and every evening for the forgiveness of Israel’s sins. Then the Son of God came in the flesh and offered His soul to us as Substitute for our sins. The good news was proclaimed to the world so that we who live in modern times may look back and up to the Sacrifice. Letting His blood, His life, fill us keeps us from burning up when the universe is cleansed from evil by fire.

Blood or fire, the choice is ours. Because we have each sinned, we must die, but we may choose to die in Christ on the cross or we may choose to die out of Christ in the lake of fire. In either case, we die and our freedom to sin dies with us because we choose to give up that freedom. The universe is cleansed completely, fairly, mercifully, and permanently.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 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 you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, in which 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, in which dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:9-14)

The end of evil, the end of that which ends, has been God’s goal since sin first arose. It has been a constant pain in His side, His hands, and His feet. However, He has gladly endured it to save as many of His precious children as possible. Universe 1.0 was perfect and satisfactory for all, but Universe 2.0 will also forever be beyond the possibility of evil because all have seen and all have chosen against it. Evil started with choice and evil ends with choice. Faith, hope, and love is the one and only antidote to sin.

After the beginning of sin, all people could have been saved with as little pain as an immunity shot. However, the more people indulged in selfishness, lies, and lust for evil, the more complicated conditions became. As we will see later, prophecies took distinct steps downward in terror and disaster to match the hardheartedness of the people. Lastly, at the end of the Bible, that which was previously avoidable was decreed. The earth would need to suffer total destruction and lay desolate for 1000 years. After that the whole universe would be prepared for, and in support of, a full reset involving total eradication of evil and evildoers.

Similar to justice and mercy meeting at the cross, so justice and mercy meet in the lake of fire. The 1000 years of desolation and the global fire were totally avoidable, but because of the majority rejection of the cross we must now consider those events and their purpose.

The 1000 years (also called, the millennium) begins with Christ’s second coming.

“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 does judge and make war. 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. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

After the angels “gather together his elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:31), the sharp sword of His word (Hebrews 4:12) and the “brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8) kills all the sinners who still remain alive after the seven last plagues.

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked 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. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Revelation 19:17-21)

The destruction is as terrible and complete as the people’s rejection of the cross and persecution of the saints. Blessings and cursings, warnings and invitations failed to move their hearts and now it is plain for all to see. And now only Satan and his cohort remain.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3)

The pit is a common Bible symbol of the grave. A bottomless pit is a grave that cannot be escaped. Satan is confined to a desolate earth for 1000 years to behold the dead bodies he has caused and to ponder the utter failure of his ways and his future judgment. He is now reminded of the dark place into which he was first exiled and now he sees the fruit of his kingship is even worse than emptiness.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4-6)

The only humans alive at that time are the saints. As priests of God, they “serve him day and night in his temple.” (Revelation 7:15) The priests were the judges between right and wrong, sin and holiness. The saints judge the judgment of God, learn why He made the decisions He made, and have their faith established on the evidence that they could not have known while on earth. They even judge angels and behold the justice and mercy of God in their treatment. (1 Corinthians 6:3)

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.” (Revelation 20:7-9)

The New Jerusalem, which is now in heaven (Revelation 3:12), descends to the earth after the millennium. Filled with the saints and surrounded by the angels, the holy children of God gaze with shock and sadness at the multitudes who have been resurrected. They are just as stubborn, bitter, sick, and deformed as they were when they into the grave. Deceived by Satan into thinking they can conquer the city, they surround it.

But their plans are stopped. The time of reckoning has come.

“Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:9-10)

We have read this passage before. Now is the time to unpack it and ask some questions.

Does burning up wicked angels and people totally eliminate evil, its effects, and its residual influence from the universe? No.

Does normal fire eradicate fear, falsehood, and force, then replace it with faith, hope, and love? Of course not.

Is regular fire hot enough to burn up evil? Of course not.

So let’s read the passage more closely this time. Notice that there are two phrases: “fire came down from God out of heaven” and “the lake of fire and brimstone.” There is fire above and below. There is heavenly fire and there is earthly fire.

Let’s keep reading then put it all together.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:11-14)

Fire comes down from the face of Him who sits on the great white throne. We have already seen the Bible pattern. Heavenly fire is God’s glory! God’s glory is hot enough to burn up evil. God’s love is hot enough to eradicate fear, falsehood, and force, then replace it with faith, hope, and love.

God’s glory is also life and life is able to stop death. Can death stop death? Of course not, but light can eliminate darkness and good things can fill a hole. Therefore, life ends death. Evil, that which ends, is ended by life, that which begins.

Justice is the logical ending of evil, but there is also an emotional component. Justice untempered by mercy is abuse and cruelty. True justice is proportional and appropriate.

A bigger hole requires more dirt. A darker space requires more light. Therefore, everyone—including Satan—is judged according to their works. There is nothing arbitrary.

The amount of pain is proportional and the cause of pain is appropriate. Not God, but the sin—the evil choice—itself, tortures the sinner. Rebellious human and rebellious angel alike suffer from the inside out.

“You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of you, it shall devour you, and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold you. All they that know you among the people shall be astonished at you: you shalt be a terror, and never shall you be any more.” (Ezekiel 28:18-19)

Remember Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace and the three Hebrews walking inside its flames? This is what will happen to the wicked. Fire and brimstone is all around them, but God’s glory is inside them.

One memory at a time, one sin a time, it all comes to mind like when a person’s life flashes before their eyes before an accident. Each choice is confronted by the Still Small Voice that whispered each time. Each choice is confessed. Each choice is still excused and defended. Each choice is still held tightly. The onlooking universe watch and feel with distressed amazement the self-righteous persistence of each soul.

When the last dark decision is filled with light, then the body sinks down into the liquid brimstone and burns up. Body and soul are thus totally destroyed in hell.

Any lingering links of sympathy between saint and wicked are also destroyed. Any last questions are answered. With their own hearts they have felt the resistance of the stubborn sinner who can irrationally and unbelievably reject the love and life of God. They turn their backs on the lake of fire, now empty of souls, and eagerly await their Father’s new beginning.

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Hear, you that are far off, what I have done; and, you that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:13-14)

Sinners cannot live in eternal hell. They cannot exist in endless torture. Neither can the wicked exist in the presence of God.

Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil. (Isaiah 33:14-15)

The saints are able to live forever in God’s glory. The saints can thrive in the presence of Everlasting Burnings.

In a sense, there is eternal hellfire. It is God’s own glory. And that glory does not delight in endless torture. The Savior does not abuse the deceived sinners for whom He died. The Father does not prolong the agony one moment longer than necessary. The Everlasting Glory graciously and happily gives immortality to the righteous to live in an eternity free from all evil.

Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell. — Joan Crawford

Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable. — Bruce Lee

Man must have fires in his life: Fire of love; fire of work; fire of doing kindness... Without fires, man is just a cold rock! — Mehmet Murat Ildan

Love is friendship that has caught fire. — Ann Landers

Impossibility is a log thrown on the fires of love. — Laurie R. King

The love we give away is the only love we keep. — Elbert Hubbard

Among us there is no place for the lukewarm. Humble yourself, and Christ will kindle in you again the fire of love. — Josemaria Escriva

Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame, the fire of love supplies;
While that which often bears the name, is self in a disguise.
True zeal is merciful and mild, can pity and forbear;
The false is headstrong, fierce and wild, and breathes revenge and war. — John Newton

In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of a love that is measureless. We endeavor to tell of this love, and language fails us. We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice for us, His work in heaven as our advocate, and the mansions He is preparing for those who love Him, and we can only exclaim, O the height and depth of the love of Christ! “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 4:10; 3:1. In every true disciple this love, like sacred fire, burns on the altar of the heart. It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Christ. It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives. Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the Lamb of God. — E. G. White

What kind of God would endlessly torture a finite sinner?

Is it merciful and/or is it just to let the sinner die?

Will Satan suffer more than anyone else?

What roles do physical and spiritual fire play in resetting the universe?

Why is physical fire involved at all in cleansing the universe?

Does the irrepressible fire of Christ’s love burn in your heart?

Will all souls burn?