When The Fire Comes Down

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down



from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, Re:13:13



The literal calling down of fire by a Prophet of God was always used as a judgment of God upon those who would come against His prophets or His people. Those upon whom this Holy Fire fell were obviously enemies of God. 2Ki:1:10: 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. It was also a sign of God's sovereignty (1Ki 18:38).



The Disciples of Jesus wanted a Samaritan town destroyed because they would not receive Jesus and His company. Lu:9:54: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? Of course, Jesus sternly rebuked them and put them right about His mission to save, not destroy.



The Big Show...



Revelation13:11-12 speaks of a coming False Prophet with "two horns as a lamb". His "followers" will become worshipers of the Beast. He will cause the inhabitants of the Earth to worship the Beast who's deadly wound was healed. He deceived men (Rev 13:14) with his false signs and wonders. The deception upon men will be great, the delusion ever stronger upon the World by this time and even some of the Elect of God may be found apprehensive regarding the validity of the "perfection" of this lie. M't:24:24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.



There will be ONE visible sign which will stand out from the other false "miracles in the sight of the Beast", allowed by our Loving God that, once witnessed, will remove all doubt that this System and the Creature that leads it is False and of Satan. That sign will be the False Prophet calling down fire from the sky as Elijah did. The deceived followers of the False Prophet will have "proof", albeit diabolical in nature, that this Prophet must be genuine because this imposter will indeed call fire down from Heaven (by whatever means) in order to "prove" that he is truly "ordained" of God, that they should follow and obey this "Prophet".



Another key to not believing this wondrous sign is genuinely representative of a true 'prophet' of God is in M't:12:39: But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. What was the sign there? Yes indeed, the Son of Man three days in the grave, then resurrected. Not as some "prophets" out there would tell us. Some "prophets" tell us that the SIGN is THEM! Wrong!



Any sign or wonder we should see exhibited today or in future, (Matt24:24) would be false, designed to deceive. The Holy Spirit is not some cheap trickster as many make Him out to be today. Why would Jesus say "no signs"? Just to spite an evil and adulterous generation? Or so that none of His Elect would be deceived by signs or wonders performed by the imposters among us who are the false messiah's, prophets and Wolves Jesus warned of.



Some of us have but to look at the leaves of the trees, listen to the wind, feel our grieving hearts and spirits. It is not difficult to discern the spirit of this Age. In a reversal of our discernment of these times, there are those who may hear the Thunder in the distance but have no idea of the times in which we live: Lu:12:56: Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?



We must guard ourselves against believing in tricks and signs that Jesus said WOULD NOT be genuine in these last days. The Corporate "tongues" and "healing" ministries are two examples of these false signs and wonders. How about the "Laughing" ministry or the "Holy Ghost Bartender"? How about "prosperity"? This is another subject altogether but it bears closer examination in future. Laughing ministry? How about: The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ec:7:4 How many Churches have become houses of mirth? Foolish. Well, on with the "show".



God will allow the False Prophet to call down fire by technical deceit or otherwise to cause the fate of the deceived to be sealed. Their choice made finally and forever, consciences seared, marked and following after Satan. And when this unholy fire comes down, will the Elect of God be standing their ground? Not swayed or deceived? If you think times are treacherous now, think how it will be in the near future when you can't even trust your own eyes! Watch and pray.



Is there Fire coming down today?



Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle:



and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him,



yet he laid it not to heart. Isa:42:25



In the past the Lord God sent this destruction upon Israel because of disobedience and unbelief, and it is said here that they did not take this seriously and repent. The battle and fire were literal.



I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Lu:12:49



Jesus said He came to bring "fire" down on this world. This is indeed speaking of His role as Judge when He returns to this wicked place. The root in the Greek means literal fire! This passage has no 'spiritualized' meaning.



What about the trials of true Believers today?



Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,



as though some strange thing happened unto you: 1Pe:4:12



When we receive trial and tribulation for striving to follow Jesus, keeping God's commands, doing right, not compromising and blending with the World, indeed a fire is coming down on us. This is thankfully, not a literal fire of Judgment as in Isaiah 42 but a 'fiery' trial and tribulation that came upon Jesus Himself as He walked the paths of the World faithful to God's will and not His own. Remember, Jesus suffered and was tempted (tried) in ALL things (Heb4:15)! Jesus was made just like us. Joh:6:38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. A price is always paid for following after righteousness. A high price.



Trouble will find you if you strive to be Faithful to Jesus.



The many trials we must endure in this life are always referred to metaphorically as "fiery" or the refining as by fire: 1Pe:1:7: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Also 1Pet4:12.

Ephesians 6:16 tells us that the "darts" of Satan are fiery. But we don't really burst into flames! The word Fire is the best description of the painful, purging trials we face for dying to our selves and bearing the Light of Jesus Christ through this dark World in which we live. Our enemy will not give us up easily! We must continue to fight in the Spirit. (2Cor10:4)



Will you stand your ground?



Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1Co:15:58



Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1Pe:5:8-9



Believers are assaulted daily for their Faith in Jesus and from every conceivable angle yet we do not cave in to the beating because we take the beating as Jesus did. And why? For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Ro:8:18 We are further exhorted: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1Pe:4:13 Amen?



The time has come when the "camp" of this World is divided more so than in all of history. The darkness of sin and demonic oppression covers the World like a thick veil. True believers know the extent of this veil. It seeks to devour their Light! If we are suffering for our Faith in Jesus because of unbelievers around us, remember this: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1Pe:2:19 This vapor of a life will end as quickly as it began (Jas4:14). What is this suffering but momentary? Remember 1Pe:4:13!



We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,



but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;



Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,



that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.



2Co:4:8-10



Indeed we are being tried and refined as by fire. Pray we stand and are accounted worthy for Life.



For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Re:6:17



(Literal fiery Judgment)



And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. Isa:30:30



Saints, the present distress is yet only a taste of what is to come upon this Earth and it's inhabitants for their wickedness and unbelief. They conceive chaff and bring forth stubble and their breath, as fire shall devour them (Isa33:11). The consummation of the World will occur as God has ordained it.



Isa:29:6: Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.



The days darken with each new sunrise and as wickedness increases, we see no relenting of the tribulations that come upon us as followers of Christ. We must hold fast to the Faith we have (Heb10:23). Satan's legions are strong and marshalling for War. The dead and dying in spirit are marching off to war against Righteousness and straight into Hell, slipping off into Eternity every second of every day. There is no relenting of God's plan to save or damn.



Isa:33:12: And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.



When the ground shakes beneath our feet, it must not shake our foundation! Trust Jesus (Heb 13:5). Do not be deceived! We are warned by Jesus about all that will come upon this World! Let us not be led away by deception, think it strange, doubt or fear and fall from our steadfastness (2Pet 3:17). The fate of this World has been sealed since before the Garden of Eden by a Sovereign God. You have been called out by God's mercy and grace to be saved from eternal darkness, to serve the Lord and follow Jesus until death, then to live and reign with Him! Stand and do so Saints. The Remnant of God's people (Ro:11:5) who are alive when these terrible Judgments fall, will witness the fulfillment of one of the most fearful and blessed promises made by God to us through Jesus: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. M't:13:41-43 When Jesus returns in His great Glory, His own who are alive here shall see the completion of 2Th:2:8: 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:



WARNING:



No matter how much sensational hype you hear or see via "Christian" movies, books or "prophets" with a sales pitch about this pre or post Apocalyptic World we are headed for, remember that this is real and no one on Earth has ever witnessed the catastrophes that are coming: M't:24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Do not be in a hurry to see the Sun darkened, the Moon the color of blood, total planetary upheaval and a reign of Persecution and Death unparalleled in all of history. Jesus wasn't mincing words! Watch and pray!



Strive to keep awake and your lamps lit (Matt25:7) and your garments clean (Rev3:4). Saints of the Most High, examine yourselves (2Cor13:5), work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil2:12). Since we do not know when these things will come to pass, strive to live as and in Christ every moment of every day under the fiery trials that come down on us. They are from our Loving Father to strengthen His "soldiers" in Christ and purify us. They are allowed by God from an enemy who hates any who are Christ's. Feel a little like the meat in the middle of the sandwich? This is the "stuff" of which OVERCOMERS are made !!! Our Faith makes us overcomers through the work Jesus already did for us! Halleluiah, Thank you, Jesus!



Give God thanksgiving for the privilege of suffering for His Name's sake. If you have made your calling and election sure (2Pet1:10), rest in God and fear not. Look not to the left or right. If God were to require your soul this very day, you would be removed from this momentary veil of tears and suffering to be in the presence of Jesus and the Father who created, called and saved you out of sin and it's literal fiery penalty. After all, this is what our life here is all about. Our focus in on spiritual things, the things of God, not this present, dying World.



I am lifting you all up and I exhort you to love one another and go to prayer for each other. Do battle for one another, fight the good fight (1Tim6:12)! Stand in the gap for the brethren who are presently suffering fiery trials and let them know you are there for them. This is the love of Christ, that you exhibit such care for the Brethren (John13:34). Love is the fulfillment of the law. We are a Family though we've never met. We are known through Christ. When you are in the midst of the smoke and clamor of your spiritual battles remember this: Isa:43:2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.



These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.



In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Joh:16:33



When the Fire comes down, STAND your ground!



God bless you Saints.


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