Eternal Fire by J. B. Frisbie

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1858

Eternal Fire.

By J. B. Frisbie

IT is said of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, that they "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 7.

2 Pet. ii, 6. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly."

This example will be carried out in the burning of all the ungodly to ashes in the day of Judgment, as in chap. iii, 7. "But the heavens and earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Gen. xix, 24. "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of those cities, and that which grew upon the ground."

Rev. xx, 9. "And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

Josephus, the Jewish historian, referring to the cities of the plains, says, "It is related how, for the impiety of the inhabitants, it was burnt by LIGHTNINGS; in consequence of which there are still the remainders of that divine fire." Wars, Bk. IV, Ch. viii, Sec. 4. "God then cast a thunderbolt upon the city, and set it on fire, with its inhabitants; and laid waste the country with the like burning." Ant. Bk. I, Ch. xi, Sec. 4.

Job i, 16. "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them."

Ps. xcvii, 3, 4. "A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world."

Isa. xxxiii, 14, 15. "Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly," &c. The righteous can dwell for ever in this everlasting element of nature that is to devour the wicked.

Mal. iii, 12. "But he will burn up the chaff [the wicked] with unquenchable fire."

Matt. xxv, 41. "Depart ye cursed, into everlasting fire."

Chap. xviii, 8. "To be cast into everlasting fire."

This fire is God's fire, and when kindled, it becomes a consuming fire to his enemies. It is "his lightnings." It is the eternal and unquenchable fire. It is the fire that burnt Sodom, and the same fire will burn up all the ungodly to ashes in the day of Judgment. It fills earth, air and sea, and when used in a simple state of nature it is the secret of animal heat to the blood. But when kindled up to a flame it becomes a devouring element, from which may the Lord save us in the burning day. J. B. FRISBIE.