The Ball of Fire: Prophetic Warning for Nashville and Global Cities

The immense ball of fire seen settling upon Nashville represents a solemn and certain warning of the final destruction that is coming upon the cities of the world20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13. We are currently in the time when the final messages of warning must be urgently carried forth to prepare people for these imminent judgmentsRH September 25, 1888, par. 3+1.

The Vision of Impending Destruction

The prophetic scene revealed an intense localized judgment that served as a powerful illustration of the consequences of neglecting warning20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13. During the night season, while speaking to the people in Nashville, a vision was given of an immense ball of fire that came directly from heaven and settled upon the city20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13.

• Flames went out like arrows from this ball, causing houses to be consumed, tottering, and falling20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13.

• Witnesses of the destruction were observed to be wringing their hands in agony and crying to God for mercy20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13.

• Some who were suffering accosted the people who possessed the truth, bitterly crying out, “You knew that this was coming, and never said a word to warn us!”20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13. They seemed ready to tear them to pieces because they had not received any warning at all20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13.

The Timing of Final Judgments

The destruction witnessed in the vision for Nashville parallels the broader global destiny of the wicked, which is confirmed by the prophetic signs we see happening today20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13+1.

• The destruction of the world is prophesied to occur not by a flood, but by fireRH September 25, 1888, par. 3+1.

• Already, God's wrath is upon the inhabitants of a world that is fast becoming as wicked as Sodom and GomorrahGCB October 1, 1896, page 772.4.

• God's judgments are already beginning to fall upon the earth, marked by fierce and awful tempests, as well as devouring fire that lays low both the desolate forest and the crowded city5T 234.1.

• The present heavens and earth are kept in store by God’s word, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men 2 Peter 3:7.

• The day of the Lord will come when the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements and the works within the earth shall be utterly burned up 2 Peter 3:10.

The Current Work in Nashville

The immediate implication of this warning is that the work of sounding the alarm and saving souls must be carried out diligently in important centers like Nashville20LtMs, Ms 188, 1905, par. 13+1.

• Nashville has been presented as the most favorable center from which to conduct a general work for all classes in the Southern statesEv 398.1+1.

• The Lord has specified Nashville, Tennessee, as a place where publishing work should be carried on10MR 357.2+1.

• We must work earnestly to place the work in Nashville on a solid basis, conducting it with simplicity in a way that recommends the truth7T 236.1+1.

• The focus of our work is to warn the cities, carrying the message of present truth to the multitudes who are ignorant of itGCB May 18, 1909, page 57.9+1.

• We must make earnest efforts to snatch souls from the burning, leading all we can to listen to the truth5T 495.1.

• It is vital for God’s people to flee the contaminating and demoralizing influences so prevalent in crowded cities while we work to warn them6MR 408.1+1.