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Bible Dictionaries
Fire
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Exodus 3:2 19:18 Psalm 18:1-50 Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 . The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2 Thessalonians 1:8 . In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 3:11 Acts 2:3 . By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Genesis 4:4; Abraham, Genesis 15:17; Manoah, Judges 13:19-20; Elijah, 1 Kings 18:38; and at the dedication of the tabernacle and the temple, Leviticus 9:24 2 Chronicles 7:1 . This sacred fire was preserved by the priests with the utmost care, Isaiah 31:9 , in many ancient religions fire was worshipped; and children were made to pass through the fire to Moloch, 2 Kings 17:17 Jeremiah 7:31 Ezekiel 16:21 23:37 . The Jews had occasion for fires, except for cooking, only during a small part of the year. Besides their ordinary hearths and ovens, they warmed their apartments with "a fire of coals" in a brazier, Jeremiah 36:22-23 Luke 22:30 . The were forbidden to kindle a fire on the Sabbath, Exodus 35:3 a prohibition perhaps only of cooking on that day, but understood by many Jews even now in the fullest extent; it is avoided by employing gentile servants. Another provision of the Mosaic Law was designed to protect the standing corn, etc., in the dry summer season, Exodus 22:6 . The earth is to be destroyed by fire, 2 Peter 3:7; of which the destruction of Sodom, and the volcanoes and earthquakes which so often indicate the internal commotions of the globe, may serve as warnings.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Fire'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/f/fire.html. 1859.
