Is it legitimate to call fire down from heaven like Elijah did?

[Jim Bob]

Let's say in your street there are some unrepentant atheists or even worse atheistic God mockers then would it be okay to call fire down from heaven so that they including their entire belongings are consumed by fire?
Actually this would create a lot of fear in the community and maybe some people would also repent. What do you think about this? Have you ever tried to call fire down from heaven?

 

[laconicstudent]

 

[Jim Bob]

You mean it's not possible or it's not okay?

 

[laconicstudent]

You mean it's not possible or it's not okay?

qui non diligit non novit Deum quoniam Deus caritas est.
(1 John 4:8)

Would you like three guesses as to whether it is appropriate for one striving for union with a deity defined as Love to seek to kill those who disagree with him?

 

[Jim Bob]

qui non diligit non novit Deum quoniam Deus caritas est.
(1 John 4:8)

Would you like three guesses as to whether it is appropriate for one striving for union with a deity defined as Love to seek to kill those who disagree with him?

But isn't God angry at the sinners? I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

 

[Jpark]

Understand Jesus' disciples reasoning before asking such a question.

Jesus' disciples were believers of a well known doctrine, referred to as retribution theology. It was believed that if a person was suffering severely, it was retribution from God and that the person was a sinner.

We see this doctrine being disproven to a certain point in Luke 13:1-5 and John 9:2-3.



Also understand Elijah's motive. They called him man of God but they did not believe in his God. So they were expressing contempt towards God.

2 Kings 1:9-10 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, "O man of God, the king says, 'Come down.'" Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty " Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

It's basically the same thing as 1 Kings 18:20-35. It also brings to mind 2 Kings 2:23-24.



As for your scenario, the unrepentant may or may not be spared, but the God mockers would probably be punished.

But as for your question, it's likely something that requires privileges, elevation. Elijah's status as a man of God may have had something to do with it.

 

[Jim Bob]

Jesus' disciples were believers of a well known doctrine, referred to as retribution theology. It was believed that if a person was suffering severely, it was retribution from God and that the person was a sinner.

We see this doctrine being disproven to a certain point in Luke 13:1-5 and John 9:2-3.

But do not most christians still believe the same thing today? They blame God for everything which happens and say it's God's judgement.

 

[laconicstudent]

But isn't God angry at the sinners?

Forget about that and worry about whether God is angry at you.

I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

Your answer has been emphasized.

 

[ivebeenshown]

I believe the false prophet in Revelation 13 will 'call fire down from heaven', and in doing so cause the Jews to believe Elijah has finally come before the day of the Lord (though John the Baptist fulfilled that.) The false prophet makes way for the beast...

 

[Jpark]

But do not most christians still believe the same thing today? They blame God for everything which happens and say it's God's judgement.

That's attributing to God, not blaming.

Know the distinction (Job 1:21-22). Job said it was from God yet Scripture says he did not blame God.

Then what is blaming? I don't know. If I'm not mistaken, it's putting the responsibility on God.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Is it legitimate to call fire down from heaven like Elijah did?

Let's say in your street there are some unrepentant atheists or even worse atheistic God mockers then would it be okay to call fire down from heaven so that they including their entire belongings are consumed by fire?
Actually this would create a lot of fear in the community and maybe some people would also repent. What do you think about this?

Have you ever tried to call fire down from heaven?

Nope. But I have wished I could breathe fire out of my mouth as those 2 witnesses in Reve 11 do

1 King 18:37 "Answer thou me YAHWEH! Answer thou me!
and this people shall know that Thou YAHWEH the Elohiym.
And Thou turn-around their heart backward"
38 And fire of YAHWEH is falling and is devouring the ascent-offering, and the woods and the stones and the soil and the waters which in trench is licked up.
[Luke 9:54/Reve 11:5]

Luke 9:54 Seeing yet His disciples, James and John, say "Lord! Thou are willing we may be saying 'fire to descend from the heaven and to consume them' even as EliYah did"?
[1 King 18:38/Reve 11:5/ 20:9]

Reve 11:5 and if any them *willing to injure, fire is going forth out of the mouth of them and devouring the enemies of them.
And if any should be **willing them* to injure, thus is binding him to be killed.

YouTube - Arthur Brown Sings Fire !!!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

You mean it's not possible or it's not okay?

But isn't God angry at the sinners? I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

Also, how do we know a heathen sinner will not come to Jesus eventually [as I did]. Thoughts?

Young LT] James 5:20 let him know that he who did turn back a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.

 

[MKJ]

But isn't God angry at the sinners? I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

I don't think he is, actually, from his own perspective.

I think that sinners feel something like anger, that is, they feel that they are somehow out of sync with God.

In any case, your argument would also excuse the murder on non-sinners, since they will enter heaven now or later either way.

God gives people time on Earth for a reason. It's presumptuous of us to take that on ourselves - we don't know enough.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I believe the false prophet in Revelation 13 will 'call fire down from heaven', and in doing so cause the Jews to believe Elijah has finally come before the day of the Lord (though John the Baptist fulfilled that.) The false prophet makes way for the beast...

That would be a neet trick

 

[Jpark]

Also, John 9:31 may be a indicator that the doctrine was widely held in that time.

The blind man seems to be saying that God only hears the prayer of the righteous.

While this may be true, that God hears the prayers of the righteous, God also hears the prayer of the humble sinner.

Take, for instance, 2 Chronicles 7:14. His people are identified with having committed sin. If they humble themselves and repent, then God promises to intervene.

 

[SullivanZ]

"You know not what manner of spirit you are of."

- The words of the Master, Jesus Christ

If you have this much of a wicked heart, I'd check to see if you're even saved, bud.

 

[NaLuvena]

The only legitimate course of action is whatever God sanctions. Your choices in the poll do not reflect this option.

In some circumstances He may allow it (Elijah), in others He may not (Disciples)

 

[Hairy Tic]

But isn't God angry at the sinners? I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

## That's a good argument for executing heretics...

 

[Hairy Tic]

I believe the false prophet in Revelation 13 will 'call fire down from heaven', and in doing so cause the Jews to believe Elijah has finally come before the day of the Lord (though John the Baptist fulfilled that.) The false prophet makes way for the beast...

## That's because the FP = Anti-Elijah, going before the Anti-Messiah.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Jim Bob But isn't God angry at the sinners? I mean what difference does it maker wether they burn now or burn at the end in hell?

## That's a good argument for executing heretics...

They do get burned at the end in Reve 20:9, then the throne judgment, then the lake of fire. So they essentially get burned twice!

Reve 20:9 And they ascended upon the breadth of the land and surrounded the camp of the Saints and the City, the beloved
and descended fire out of the heaven from the God and devours them.

Ezekiel 38:22 "And I judged him in pestilence and in blood and in downpour overflowing and stones of hail, fire and sulphur I shall rain on him and on troops of him and on peoples many one who with him.
[Revelation 16:21 and 20:9]

http://www.christianforums.com/t7414596/
The Burning of Heretics throughout Church History