• Fire
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • Samson to tell her the solution to a riddle and then advise them accordingly. After Samson sent three hundred foxes with lighted torches into the standing grain of the pagan Philistines, the Philistines did burn her and her father with fire. (Judg. 12:1; 14:15; 15:4-6) Satan the Devil employed fire “from the heavens” by God’s permission in the special test allowed on Job.—Job 1:12, 16.

      The nations residing in Canaan actually burned their children in the fire as an offering to their deities. Although specifically commanded by God not to do this, a violation of this command calling for the death penalty, apostate Israelites sacrificed their own children in the Valley of Hinnom. (Lev. 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31; 2 Chron. 28:1-3; Jer. 7:31; 19:5) However, faithful King Josiah put an end to this gruesome practice by making Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom unfit for worship.—2 Ki. 23:10; see MOLECH.

      FIGURATIVE USAGE

      Fire or expressions having the thought of burning or flaming are figuratively associated with love (Song of Sol. 8:6), passion (Rom. 1:27; 1 Cor. 7:9), anger and judgment (Zeph. 2:2; Mal. 4:1) or strong emotion. (Luke 24:32; 2 Cor. 11:29) The Scriptures refer to Jehovah as a consuming fire because of his cleanness, purity and insistence on exclusive devotion. (Deut. 4:24) His ardor and rage burn like fire, and his “tongue” and word are like a fire. (Ps. 79:5; 89:46; Isa. 30:27; Jer. 23:29) When Jeremiah wanted to refrain from speaking Jehovah’s word, he found this impossible, for it proved to be like a burning fire shut up in his bones. (Jer. 20:9) Moreover, Jehovah makes his angelic ministers a devouring fire, and by the fire of his zeal the “earth” will be devoured. (Ps. 104:1, 4; Zeph. 3:8) The seraphs (“fiery ones; burning ones”), who purge away uncleanness and declare God’s holiness, are closely associated with his throne.—Isa. 6:2, 3, 6, 7; see also Daniel 7:9, 10.

      Testing, refining, purging

      The “messenger of the covenant” is compared to a refiner’s fire, a fire used in purifying gold and silver. Hence, Jehovah’s fiery testing of “the sons of Levi” by the messenger of the covenant brings about their cleansing. (Mal. 3:1-3; see REFINE, REFINER.) A test by fire also reveals the quality of a material, as pointed out by the apostle Paul when emphasizing the importance of building on Jesus Christ with fire-resistant materials.—1 Cor. 3:10-15.

      Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “Everyone must be salted with fire. . . . Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another.” (Mark 9:49, 50) Evidently Jesus was here speaking of a “fire” to come upon his followers, and indicating that it would work for their good and promote peaceful relations among them.

      Fire and salt were associated with the sacrifices offered at the temple. (Lev. 2:9, 13; Ezek. 43:24) Salt was a symbol of graciousness (Col. 4:6) and of enduring loyalty, as found in the expression “covenant of salt.” (2 Chron. 13:5) Of what, then, is the fire symbolic?

      The apostle Peter refers to trials or sufferings as a “fire” that proves the quality of the Christian’s faith. (1 Pet. 1:6, 7) Later, he likens persecution to a burning when he tells his fellow Christians: “Do not be puzzled at the burning among you, which is happening to you for a trial, . . . you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory.” (1 Pet. 4:12, 13) That such suffering for righteousness has a beneficial effect is pointed out by the apostle Paul when he says: “Tribulation produces endurance.” (Rom. 5:3) One faithfully and successfully passing through a difficult “burning” trial is stronger and more solidly established as a result of his endurance. Thus, all of Christ’s followers must be “salted with fire.”—Acts 14:22; Rom. 12:12.

      Destruction

      In Bible times the most thorough means of destruction in use was fire. (Josh. 6:24; Deut. 13:16) Hence Jesus at times used the term “fire” in an illustrative way to denote the complete destruction of the wicked. (Matt. 13:40-42, 49, 50; compare Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 25:41.) Peter wrote that “the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire.” From the context and in the light of other scriptures it is evident that this is not altogether literal fire, but signifies everlasting destruction. As the flood of Noah’s day did not destroy the literal heavens and earth, but only the ungodly persons, so also the revelation of Jesus Christ with his powerful angels in a flaming fire will result in permanent destruction only for the wicked.—2 Pet. 3:5-7, 10-13; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; compare Isaiah 66:15, 16, 22, 24.

      God will put it into the hearts of the “ten horns” and the “wild beast” to turn upon Babylon the Great and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:16, 17) The attack of Gog and his hordes against God’s people arouses Jehovah’s anger, and fire and sulphur will rain down upon them. The remaining war implements of the attackers will be used to light fires for seven years. (Ezek. 38:19, 22; 39:6, 9, 10) Those nations who become rebellious when Satan is released at the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ will be devoured by fire, and the Devil and all those not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, representing the second death.—Rev. 20:7-10, 15; 21:8; see GEHENNA; HINNOM, VALLEY OF; LAKE OF FIRE.

  • Fire Holder
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • FIRE HOLDER

      Fire holders were used in various ways in connection with the service at the sanctuary. There were gold fire holders that apparently served as containers for holding the pieces of burnt lampwick removed from the lamps on the golden lampstand. (Ex. 25:38; 37:23; Num. 4:9) The copper fire holders of the altar of burnt offering evidently served as ashpans or utensils for removing coals from the fire. (Ex. 27:3; 38:3) Additionally, fire holders were used to burn incense. (Lev. 10:1) Each morning and between the two evenings, the high priest made perfumed incense smoke upon the golden altar of incense. (Ex. 30:7, 8) Then, yearly, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest took the fire holder, doubtless the “golden censer” mentioned by Paul, into the Most Holy.—Lev. 16:12, 13; Heb, 9:3, 4.

      The fire holders as well as the other utensils used with the lampstand and with the altar of burnt offering had to be covered when the Israelites broke camp and the tabernacle was transported to another location during their journeys.—Num. 4:9, 14.

      Solomon made fire holders of gold and silver for the temple, the plans of which had been given to David by inspiration. Possibly these were of more ornate form than those used in the tabernacle in the wilderness. (1 Ki. 7:48-50; 1 Chron. 28:11-19; 2 Chron. 4:19-22) Mention is made of genuine gold and silver fire holders being taken from the temple at the time of the Babylonian exile.—2 Ki. 25:15; Jer. 52:19.

      MISUSES

      Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu used their fire holders to offer illegitimate fire before Jehovah and lost their lives as a result. (Lev. 10:1, 2) Likewise the rebellious two hundred and fifty men headed by Korah were consumed by fire when they presented their copper fire holders before Jehovah. (Num. 16:16-19, 35, 39) King Uzziah was smitten with leprosy while using a censer illegally. (2 Chron. 26:18, 19) The seventy older men of Israel seen in Ezekiel’s vision were using censers to offer incense to idols.—Ezek. 8:10, 11; see INCENSE.