We mentioned in the previous articles some symbols of the Holy Spirit, such as : the water (Jn 7:38,39); the oil from which the Holy Ointment is made (1 Jn 2:20; Ex 30:24,25); the doves, as in the story of the Lord’s baptism (Mt 3:16); the wind as on the Day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:2-4); and the fire which symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the Divinity in general :
+ The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost in the form of tongues of file (Acts 2: 3, 4). +
As soon as those tongues came upon them, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance they had received the Spirit for priesthood by the Lord’s holy breathing on them (Jn 20 : 22), but on the Pentecost they were filled with the Spirit so that their heart might be inflamed for the ministry. So their words in the ministry were fiery words.
+ We cannot also forget that our God is a consuming fire
(Heb 12:29). +
St. Paul quoted this expression from (Deut 4:24). \the Glory of God rested on Mount Sinai to give Moses the two tablets of the law. His sight was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain (Ex 24:17). Moses said to the children of Israel, “You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with file … the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the file.” (Deut 4:11,12,33,36).
+ In the same way the Lord spoke from the midst of fire in the bush. +
The Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of file from the midst of a bush … and behold, the bush was burning with file, but the bush was not consumed. Then the Lord called to him from the midst of the bush. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God (Ex 3:2-6).
+ Fire then is a symbol of the Divinity, as apparent from the
censer. +
In the censer there is the burning coal. The coal is a symbol of the human nature, and the file symbolizes the divine nature. The union between the human nature and the divine nature is symbolized by the burning coal. The censer itself symbolizes the holy Virgin Mary who bore within her the human nature united with the divinity. That is why in the kiahk praise songs we call her the censer of Aaron.
+The burning lamps are likewise a symbol of the divinity. +
The Lord commanded Moses to make seven lamps of pure gold in the tabernacle of meeting (Ex 37: 23), and bring pure oil of pressed olives for the lights, to cause the lamp to burn continually ( Ex 27:20).
What do all these symbolize? The Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. But what is its use to the people? The oil in the lamps refers to enlightment. This can only be realized by the fire with which the lamps burn. So, both the oil and the fire work for the enlightment of the faithful who worship God in the tabernacle. The Lord commanded that Aaron and his sons tend it from evening until morning before Him, a statute forever to their generations (Ex 27:21).
+This is the work of the Holy Spirit through priesthood. +
St. Paul the Apostle says about it, “… Those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit. ( Heb 6:4).
This enlightment we receive from the Holy Spirit in Baptism where our nature is renewed (Rom 6:4). That is why it is said that we are baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk 3:16). This fire rids us of the old man and the body of sin (Rom 6:6). We also obtain enlightment many times through teaching and renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). It is therefore truly said, “Your is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
(Ps 119:105).
+ Therefore the Lord commands that our lamps burn continually.+
He says, “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return…” (Lk 12:35,36).
Our lamps cannot continue burning except by the work of fire and oil, that is, by the work of the Holy Spirit, which shall continue so long as we are ready for the coming of the Lord.
+ The lamps are seven; a symbol of the perfect work of the Holy Spirit for our enlightment. +
The lamps burnt continually in the tabernacle of meeting, and also in Solomon’s temple: “the lamp stands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in the prescribed manner in front of the inner sanctuary.”
(2 Ch 4: 19,20). They were of pure gold , as a symbol of their great value and importance.
+ This work of oil and fire symbolizing the work of the Holy Spirit reminds us of the candles in the churches. +
The candles are likewise made of oil and burn with fire and give light. When put before a saint’s icon it means that the saint was a light to the world by the work of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by oil and fire. There is also an example of enlightment by the Holy Spirit, through fire .
+ The Lord led the people in the wilderness of Sinai by a pillar of fire by night (Ex 13:21). +
That was symbol of the Lord’s leadership, for it is written, “the Lord went before them … He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” (Ex 13:21,22). Of course He led them by His Holy Spirit.
The same happened in the exodus, “The Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud (Ex 14:24).
+ The Lord used to appear with the appearance of fire to Ezekiel the Prophet and to John the Apostle. +
Ezekiel saw the throne of God and the appearance of a man high above it ; and from the appearance of His waist and downward the appearance of fire with brightness all around (Ezek 1:26,27; 8:2).
+ Another point is that the Lord’s acceptance of sacrifices and burnt offerings was usually evidenced by the fire consuming them.+
The burnt offerings include two important things: Blood, and fire. The Blood was a symbol of the price paid, and the fire a symbol of God’s acceptance of that price. And the fire on the altar was kept burning on it and never went out until the sacrifice turned into ashes (Lev 6:9-13).
This happened when Elijah the Prophet offered burnt sacrifices and poured water on them, challenging the prophets of Baal and Asherah . The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench
(1 kgs 18:38).
The same applies to Gideon’s offering of meat and unleavened bread: fire rose out of the rock and consumed them (Jud 6 : 21). As for the Passover Lamb, it was not consumed by fire, but it had to be roasted in fire (Ex 12:9).
+ Fire was symbol of the Divine Justice. +
The divine justice was fully satisfied when the fire consumed the burnt offering, turning it into ashes, as a symbol fulfilled in the Sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, on consecrating the temple, Solomon offered sacrifices and burnt offerings and when he finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed them, then the glory of the Lord filled the temple (2 Chr 7:1).
+ As fire symbolized the Spirit of God, it also symbolized the spirits surrounding God, i.e. the angels. +
It is said about them in the Psalms; “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Ps 104:4). And when the army of the king of Syria surrounded the city of Dothan where Elisha dwelt, and the Lord wanted to save Elisha from them, He sent His heavenly angels to protect him. So they saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kgs 6:17).
Also the Chariots of fire took Elijah the Prophet up unto heaven (2 kgs 2:11). What was that chariot of fire that separated Elisha from his master and father Elijah but the angels who took Elijah up. It is impossible that it was material fire, but angels as Psalm (104:4) says.
+Let us also see what Daniel the Prophet says about God’s throne.+
“His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.” (Da 7:9,10). It is not material fire, of course. And what about the words that the Lord dwells between the Cherubim? Are they not the angels carrying the throne of God, or, I wonder, if the throne itself is the angels? Or is the throne that superior, spiritual, and incomprehensible place?
+ Fire may also describe the word of God in its fervor and effectiveness, because it inflames the hearts. +
This is clear in the Book of Jeremiah: “Is not My word, like a fire ? says the Lord.” And the Lord says to Jeremiah the Prophet, “Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire.” (Jer 5:14). Therefore, Jeremiah, having experienced this fire, says, his word was in my heart like a burning fire.” (Jer 20:9).
Indeed whoever receives words from the Fiery Holy Spirit, the words will be fire in his heart, in his mind, and on his tongue that inflames him and those who hear him.
+ Perhaps the Lord Christ meant this when He said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
(Lk 12:49). +
The Lord came to give the people the Fiery Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire; in the form of fiery words coming from their mouths, or fiery ministry kindled with the Spirit, and the kingdom that spread like fire. These are the qualities of the ministers, as St. John the Visionary said about the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing before the God of the earth that “fire proceeds from their mouth.”
(Rev 11:4,5).
+ Fire is for benefit and edification, and also for punishment.+
The Lord punished Sodom by fire (Gen 19). And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp (Num 11:12).
Other examples are: the eternal fire, the hell fire, the fire that burns the tares, and the furnace of fire (Mt 25:41;5:23; 13:40,50). There is also the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 14:10; 20:10).
+ There is also a difference between the Lord’s fire and profane fire. +
Those who offered profane fire were punished by the Lord (Lev 10; Num 46:61). From the spiritual aspect we say that the sins of the tongue are compared to fire (Jas 3:5,6). Also the sin of adultery is considered a fire, as Solomon the wise says, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes be not burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? “ (Prov 6:27,28).