IN THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE of God, fire has often served as a representation of His person and as a manifestation of His presence. Just as God strictly forbids His people from carving images to represent Him, He uses the elements to create a vision of His attributes and mark the imagination of man.
Israel saw God 'descend' and manifest Himself by fire, and to certain individuals He gave the privilege of seeing Him in heaven and contemplating His heavenly glory also manifested by fire. This was the case with Ezekiel and Daniel.
The Throne of Fire
Daniel, while in captivity in Babylon, lying on his bed, receives a series of extraordinary visions that have been the subject of discussion for centuries. He receives a revelation of a succession of kingdoms personified by creatures and the end and judgment reserved for them. But he also receives an extraordinary vision of God.
He sees heaven, thrones are placed, and the Ancient of Days takes His place. God is called the Ancient of Days and is presented in the form of an elder to signify His eternity. He sees a throne of flames whose wheels are a consuming fire.
It is a breathtaking scene. The splendor and glory of God are manifested in the flames, in the surrounding fire, tens of thousands of angels ministering to God, and hundreds of millions of beings standing before the Ancient of Days. A river of fire issued from before Him.
The God of Fire.
The prophet Ezekiel also received the privilege of beholding God's glory in heaven. Ezekiel was among the exiles of Judah near the Chebar River. There the heavens were opened upon him, and he received visions from God. He saw four living creatures, each with four different faces and characteristics. Then he heard a voice from the expanse above their heads.
He looked and saw the appearance of the throne of God and of the glory of God. He saw a being that looked like a man. He shone and had the appearance of fire above and below seemed to be bathed in fire. All around Him He radiated brightness. He thus saw a similitude of God, which some commentators believe was a vision of the pre-incarnational Son of God. Seized by this vision of the glory of God, he fell face down.
Men on Fire
We are given the promise of receiving the fire of God. A God bathed in fire deserves a people bathed in fire. This fire is the glory of God that invades us. It is the presence of the living God experienced as a daily reality. This fire is the purification of our lives, our desires, our hearts; it is God's approval of the life of an individual as during the sacrifice of Aaron where fire came down from heaven. A people bathed in fire is filled with zeal, it is the nature of the Christian who knows His God and shares His nature. May you be on fire at the end of this year.
This article is an excerpt from my new book, The Fire of God, in which I explore the meaning of the fire of God by reading the Bible and recalling testimonies of people in the history of the Church who burned for God. Find the here
(Click to see my latest book Call into Existence; a book of meditations, prayers and prophetic declarations.
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