Tried With Fire

                                             

  Did you ever wonder what the end times "Day of the Lord" would be like? How judgment would take place, and how it happens? What is meant when you hear "tried with fire?" To begin our study, we will use the example of a solar flare. A solar flare is a tremendous explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in 'twisted' magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. In a matter of just a few minutes they heat material to many millions of degrees and produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, including from radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays. Is such a giant solar flare possible? In fact, there have been some major solar flares in recent years. The largest recent solar flare was on Nov. 4 2003, an X28+, and a week before that there was an X17.2 solar flare on Oct. 31 2003. "Much larger solar flares are possible." Note there was a large solar flare that hit earth in January 2012, and March 8 2012, more could hit earth in 2014 - 2020. Will God use a similar explosion or flare-up in the end times for earth's destruction? Lets start in the old testament and see if we can get a better understanding of tried with fire.

  And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. (Exodus 9:23). Thunder, hail, and lightning. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (Exodus 9:24). One hell of a storm!

  Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isaiah 24:6). Destroyed by fire.

   Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. (Joel 1:15). The day of the Lord is near. Judgment day! (James 5:9, Revelation 6:17). God is not mad at you if you are following Him. Judgment day for the "evil ones" will be terrible, but judgment day for the good people will be rewarding.

  Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? (Joel 1:16). No more sacrifices or joyful celebrations are held in the house of God. (No more meat for the enemy)! However, those who seek the Lord can rejoice in their hearts. (Psalm 105:3, Isaiah 62:8-9).

  The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. (Joel 1:17). The seeds die in the parched ground and the crops fail. Remember the good seeds will take when planted with truth. The bad seed will not survive.

  How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. (Joel 1:18). A famine in the land of confusion. In the future sense, the famine of end times is for hearing the Words of the Lord. (Amos 8:11).

  O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. (Joel 1:19). The fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness. (Jeremiah 9:10).

  The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness. (Joel 1:20). Even the wild animals cry out because the streams have dried up consumed by fire. "Remember that God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29), His fire can destroy all evil, but can warm the hearts of His elect followers. God is not after you, if you are a believer. His fire will destroy everything evil in the end times at His return.

   And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. (Joel 2:30). There will be wonders in the Heavens in the end times and fire and columns of smoke. (Acts 2:19-20, Revelation 6:12-17).

   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. (Matthew 3:12). This is the separating time for Christians. The ones who can and the ones who cannot. God wants can do type Christians, not a bunch of wimps that will just wither in the wind. (Fan used here in the Greek is "Ptuon" a winnowing fork; as scattering like a spittle). A thrashing to separate the good from the bad.

   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25). They traded truth about God for a lie. They worship the things God has created instead of the Creator Himself. (I John 2:15-16).

  For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (James 1:11). Concentrate on being rich spiritually and not things of the world. If you always strive for worldly things, you will have nothing set aside spiritually. The worldly man will just die and leave behind their riches and activities.

   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. (2 Peter 3:10). Be on guard and know the season for His return, when all evil (all the wicked & rudiments) will be burned up. Judgment Day!

  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. (2 Peter 3:11). What should you do to be prepared?

  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? (2 Peter 3:12). Looking forward to the day of the Lord when He will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt in the flames. Remember that God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and He will destroy this Heaven and Earth age, for there is a "new" heaven and "new" earth age to come.

  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:7). This is speaking of nature being hurt here, not people. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; (Revelation 8:8). Remember that the "waters" represent multitudes of people (Revelation 17:15) and the famine in the end time is for these people to hear the truth of God's Word.

  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (Revelation 9:2). A counterfeit has appeared, shown by the darkness of the sun and the air. Just the opposite of what happens when Christ comes.

  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3). The locust devours everything in it's path, but these were not like regular locust that feed on the grass or plants. They had the power like the scorpion. A scorpion stings with power in it's tail and paralyzes it's victims. Then it's body fluids turn it's victim to mush before it devours it. Just like Satan does with the minds of people.

  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (Revelation 9:4). The locust army is commanded to hurt those without the seal of God in their minds. What is the seal of God? The Word of God! A working knowledge of the Word and God's overall plan, so you cannot be tempted or deceived by Satan and receive his mark, also known as "the beast mark." This locust army was sent by God among His own people, and is spoken of in "Joel 2:25-31" when it speaks of the outpouring of God's spirit, just before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes! They cannot hurt the ones with the seal of God in their heads because they have power over them and over Satan, as stated in the Book of Luke.

  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19) They can only hurt the one's who follow Satan! 

  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8). Remember that God is a consuming fire. He can burn His enemies while He warms the hearts of His servants. The Word of God can also scorch as a consuming fire to the wicked, while it gives relief and assurance to the good.

   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. (Revelation 19:20). The one world political system and anti-Christ. Those who worship him and had received his mark of deception. (Revelation 13:11-16) Remember Satan has many rolls. He will have another short reign, but his roll as anti-Christ is over. (The sad part is that some people will still follow him).

   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14). The second death is the death of the soul. (Matthew 10:28). Blotted out forever! And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). Are you in the book of life? Remember that all who are not in the book of life will be tried by fire and blotted out for ever.

Keep The Faith,
Barton