1. Fire as a form of Divine manifestation. — (a) In this section may be grouped passages in which fire is simply an indication of the Divine presence, or symbol of Divine attributes other than those specially displayed in the punishment of sin. (a) In Ac 2* one of the two outward manifestations attending the descent of the Spirit on tlie disciples seated in the upper room is compared with fire. The appearance of fire (wo-et wvpds) assumed by the tongues referred to the Divine presence, which, in this instance, conferred on those assembled together tlie 'gift of tongues,' symbolized by the tongue- like flames that sat on the head of each. The reality corresponding to the appearance was the miraculous power of ecstatic utterance, now dis- played for the first time, but afterwards a familiar feature in the worship of the Apostolic Church {v.* ; cf. 10^'-, 1 Co 14: passim). That the gift thus imparted had a Divine origin was certified by the visible accompaniment of fiery tongues.
(^) The Christophany described in Rev 1""^' de- picts the Risen Christ in the midst of the churches with eyes like a flame of fire (cf. Dn 10^, ' his eyes as lamps of fire'). The flame-like eyes {Rev 2'^ 19'-) are emblematic of the glance of omniscience, which penetrates the depth of the soul witli its radiance, and reads the true meaning of the thoughts and actions. 'AH things,' it is implied, ' are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do' (He 4'*; cf. Ps 11^, Pr 15^).
(7) ' The seven torches (AV and RV ' lamps ') of fire burning before the throne' (Rev 4^) describe the Spirit of God in His manifold powers, ' the plenitude of the Godhead in all its attributes and energies' (Alford, ad loc), under the emblem of fire. ' Fulness, intensity, energy, are implied in the figure, which reflects the traditional association (in the primitive mind) of fire and flame wdth the divinity, and especially with the divine puritv or lioliness' (J. Moffatt, EGT, 'Rev.,' 1910, p. 379). There appears to be a reference also to the illumi- nating power of the Spirit, by which the prophets, with whom the apocalyptic writer identifies him- self, were qualified for bearing their testimony, especially with regard to the future (Rev 2^ 4- ; cf. 19").
(6) Passages in which fire is an accompaniment of the Parousia. — (a) According to the rendering of 2 Th V^ in AV, fire is the instrument with whicli Christ, at His Second Advent, executes vengeance on Gentile and Jewish enemies of the Gospel. The RV, more accurately, separates the first clause of V.*, 'in flamin" fire,' from what follows, and con- nects it Avith vX The ' flame of fire,' an expression containing a reminiscence of OT theophanies of judgment, is the element or medium by which the glory of Christ is revealed at His Return, not the means by whicli He inflicts punishment on the wicked. Like the lightning, wiiich is everyAvIiere visible at the same time (Mt24^), this feature is fitted to arrest the attention and impress the mind of all beholders.
(;3) Literal fire is associated in 2 P Si'-i* ^'ith the Parousia ('the day of the Lord') as the means by wliich the visible universe is to be destroyed. Once temporarily destroyed by the waters of the deluge, the earth and the heavens have l)een
' stored up for fire' (v.'^) and now at the Coming of the Lord ' the heavens being on fire shall be dis- solved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat' (V.1-). The old creation is to be dissolved, and pass away in the final world-conflagration which prepares the way for the advent of new- heavens and a new earth. Other passages of Scripture anticipate that the present material order, having had a beginning, is destined to come to an end. They also foreshadow the emergence of a new order, free from the defects of the old, which is to be the future abode of the redeemed (Is 651^ 66-2, He 1226-28, Rgv 20'i 2P). In the NT these great cosmic changes are associated with the last Advent. In 2 Pet. alone are the means de- scribed by which the transition destined to result in a renovated universe is efl'ected. It is to be by fire, which is the only agent adequate to the accomplishment of a destruction so thorough and complete. Science maintains that the end of the universe, as at present constituted, is to be brought about by the gradual loss of radiant heat. The steady reduction of temperature is to render the continuance of life on the planet impossible. INIayor (Ep. of St. Jude and Second Ep. of St. Peter, 1907, p. 209) suggests that this theory re- quires revision, in view of ' the stores of energy in the chemical elements, and of the varieties of radiant energy to which attention has been promi- nently directed by the discovery of radium. But assuming the reasonableness of this conjecture, the passage under discussion sheds no light on the constitution of the new environment in which a spiritual body takes the place of a natural body (1 Co 15«).
2. Fire as a testing and purifying agent. — Fire and water are the two elements used for purifica- tion, and of the two, fire is the more drastic and searching. In the process of refining, fire is the means of separating the precious metals from dross or alloys (Zee 13^). In the art of assaying, the same agent is employed for testing the quantity of gold or silver in ore or alloys.