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

[plmarquette]

Jesus told his disciples, that they had "the wrong spirit"

at some point, most of us were in bondage to sin or religion...
and people showed us mercy and prayer, instead of judgement...
that we might be here now

 

[Jim Bob]

Does this mean that Fred Phelps for example can impossible be a christian because of how he acts?

 

[Brak]

I concur about Revelation 13. Calling down fire from Heaven is the mark of the false prophet. Elijah did, however, call fire from Heaven in the Bible. That right there makes it legitimate. And Elijah did for far less an offense than blaspheming God: he called down fire from Heaven to consume kids who were making fun of his hair. However, not all people have been given the same authority from God.

I tend to think we are too close to the End Times, and therefore God has not given anyone the authority to call down fire from Heaven at this time. That's just MHO, though, and there is no Biblical weight behind it.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

And Elijah did for far less an offense than blaspheming God: he called down fire from Heaven to consume kids who were making fun of his hair.

No you got your stories crisscrossed. Eligah called down fire upon the companies of soldiers from King Ahab. Elisha was teased by children and he sicked she bears on them.

 

[Chris81]

I would think that you would need authority from God to call fire down from heaven as Elijah did. I don't think this is something that God would just choose to give to anyone. Furthermore we all in the beginning started our lives separated from Christ and later drawn to saving faith in Christ. So I don't see how you really could really call fire down from heaven to punish some unrepentant sinner, when that same sinner could potentially become a faithful servant in Christ some time in the future.

 

[SullivanZ]

Does this mean that Fred Phelps for example can impossible be a christian because of how he acts?

I wouldn't judge him. But by his fruits he is known, and based on them, I'd say the chances of him being a follower of the Master are about the same as those of Hitler being a Christian.

His works condemn him, so he is most likely (though I cannot say for sure) not saved.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

And Elijah did for far less an offense than blaspheming God: he called down fire from Heaven to consume kids who were making fun of his hair.

No you got your stories crisscrossed. Eligah called down fire upon the companies of soldiers from King Ahab. Elisha was teased by children and he sicked she bears on them.

I love that story

Rotherham)2 Kings 2:23 And he went up from thence, to Bethel,--and, as he was going up on the way, some lads came fort, out of the city and made mockery of him, and said to him, Go up bald head! Go up bald head! 24 And when he turned round and saw them, he cursed them in the name of Yahweh,--and there came forth two she-bears out of the wood and tare of them, forty-two youths.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I would think that you would need authority from God to call fire down from heaven as Elijah did. I don't think this is something that God would just choose to give to anyone. Furthermore we all in the beginning started our lives separated from Christ and later drawn to saving faith in Christ.
So I don't see how you really could really call fire down from heaven to punish some unrepentant sinner, when that same sinner could potentially become a faithful servant in Christ some time in the future.

That is indeed something to think about.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

What Elijah did was per instruction of the Lord, which was also to be sign given for those who can recieve it.

Also that fire come down from heaven was also a sign given, which is revealed to us in Jeremiah...

Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

The Word of God can baptize with the Holy Spirit, and with Fire.

 

[SolomonVII]

Life in the Spirit and life under the Law are not the same.
Elijah had the Spirit of the Lord poured into him. His actions were not his own, but those of the Spirit Himself. He was the hand and heart of God, freely offering himself up as a vessel for the Lord to do his works.

As per the poll, "God does not want to destroy the sinners that he loves" was the better option.

What God desires is that all be saved. God is fierce in this desire for us, and will go to extraordinary measures to ensure that his plan for us will ultimately bear great fruit.

He is a gardener. He prunes as necessary. Some people that ran into Elijah and Elisha with evil in their heart should consider themselves well pruned.

 

[Yarddog]

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

Not unless you're a prophet in the same mode as Elijah.

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?

What did Jesus do when he was mocked on the cross? Shouldn't we do the same?

Actually this would create a lot of fear in the community and maybe some people would also repent. What do you think about this?

I think that God would ignore the person who tried this but hopefully, God would lead that person to a better understanding of judgment.

Have you ever tried to call fire down from heaven?

I dared God to strike me down as a teenager. He did, he gave me his Holy Spirit.

 

[Optimax]

Right now grace reigns and will until the time of God's wrath being poured out on those who will not repent.

The book of Revelation describes that seven year period of time.

 

[Christos Anesti]

If you notice the apostles wanted to do exactly this and Christ rebuked them for it. He hints that they are of a devilish spirit for even thinking in that manner - "ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of" ! :

"And it came to pass, when the days were fulfilled that He should be taken up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for HIm. And they did not receive Him, because His face was set to go to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? But He turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives , but to save them. And they went to another village"

Luke 9:53-54

​

This is because Christs actions and law are on a higher plane than the actions of Elijah as Blessed Theopylact explains in his commentary on the Gospel According to Luke:

" Now He wants them to learn by seeing how He patiently endures the rejection of the Samaritans, and how He rebukes, not the Samaritans, but his own disciples who were urging Him to strike back. Thus, later, when they see Him crucified, the disciples would understand that He endures this, not as one powerless, but as One Who is patient and long-suffering. The disciples had in mind Elijah who had burned up with fire the two captains of fifty with their fifties, and were urging the Lord to act against those Samaritans who had insulted Him. They did this because they were not yet perfected in virtue. To show them that His law is on a higher plane than Elijahs conduct, the Lord rebukes them and turns them away from such an intention, teaching them instead to endure insults meekly."
​

-The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke.
​

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Jim Bob Have you ever tried to call fire down from heaven?

I dared God to strike me down as a teenager. He did, he gave me his Holy Spirit.

You too?

NKJV) Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
[Joel 2:28]

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

What Elijah did was per instruction of the Lord, which was also to be sign given for those who can recieve it.

Also that fire come down from heaven was also a sign given, which is revealed to us in Jeremiah...

Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

The Word of God can baptize with the Holy Spirit, and with Fire.

There is of course both spiritual and literal fire.
Noticed what happened during the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 by the Roman army:

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD

The day on which Titus encompassed Jerusalem, was the feast of the Passover ; and it is deserving of the very particular attention of the reader, that this was the anniversary of that memorable period in which the Jews crucified their Messiah ! At this season multitudes came up from all the surrounding country, and from distant parts, to keep the festival.......

A Roman soldier, urged, as he declared, by a divine impulse, regardless of the command of Titus climbed on the shoulders of another, and threw a flaming brand into the golden window of the Temple, which instantly set the building on fire. The Jews, anxious above all things to save that sacred edifice, in which they superstitiously trusted for security , with a dreadful outcry, rushed in to extinguish the flames. Titus also, being extinguish the conflagration, hastened to the spot in his chariot, attended by his principal officers and legions ; but in vain he waved his hand and raised his voice, commanding his soldiers to extinguish the fire ; so great was the uproar and confusion, that no attention was paid even to him. The Romans, wilfully deaf instead of extinguishing the flames, spread them wider and wider.

Meanwhile the Temple continued burning, until at length, vast as was its size, the flames completely enveloped the, whole building ; which, from the extent of the conflagration, impressed the distant spectator with an idea that the whole city was now on fire. The tumult and disorder which ensued upon this event, it is impossible (says Josephus) for language to describe. The Roman legions made the most horrid outcries ; the rebels, finding themselves exposed to the fury of both fire and sword, screamed dreadfully ; while the unhappy people who were pent up between the enemy and the flames, deplored their situation in the most pitiable complaints...............

 

[NorrinRadd]

If for some unknowable reason the Spirit for the first time in thousands of years sees fit to move you to do that and manifests through you the necessary combination of gifts to actually accomplish it, then sure, it's "legitimate."

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

If for some unknowable reason the Spirit for the first time in thousands of years sees fit to move you to do that and manifests through you the necessary combination of gifts to actually accomplish it, then sure, it's "legitimate."

I am still waiting

Reve 11:5
These are the two olive-trees and the two lampstands, the ones standing in view of the Lord of the land
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.

.

 

[RDKirk]

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.

"Blame" implies that someone had no legal right or authority to do what he has done. There is no "blame" applied when one does what one has a right to do.

Job attributed his losses to God, but by saying "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away," Job affirms that God had a perfect right to take away what He had freely given.

It is also not "blame" to honestly inquire "why"--that is, to desire to understand the logic behind the action.

Most of us who have been parents have learned to discern the difference between a child asking "why?" in a desire to learn as opposed to "why?" as a demand for proof of justification.