How many times has God sent fire from heaven?

Response

Fire has descended from heaven on several occasions throughout history. The Bible documents at least six of these occurrences:

Fire fell from the sky and destroyed Job’s flocks «While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you.” », (Job 1:16). This was a direct assault from Satan, but, as explained earlier in Job 1, Satan was acting with God’s permission (verse 12). It was a tragedy permitted by God that ultimately brought glory to Him. After enduring his trials, Job was blessed with even greater flocks «The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. », (Job 42:12).

Fire descending from heaven was also a form of God’s judgment. Fire in the shape of burning sulfur rained down from the sky and obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24;Luke 17:29). God also used fire from heaven to judge the soldiers dispatched by the evil king Ahaziah to capture Elijah—twice, fire came down from heaven to consume a group of fifty soldiers sent on the king’s orders «Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. », (2 Kings 1:10,12) «Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. ».

wn from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. », (2 Kings 1:10,12).

But fire from heaven is not exclusively a means of judgment. On at least three occasions, God sent fire from above to consume a sacrifice: fire came down from heaven to consume the offering that David presented on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite «And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. », (1 Chronicles 21:26); to consume the offering at the dedication of the temple, in the presence of King Solomon and the people of Israel «Now when Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. », (2 Chronicles 7:1); and to consume Elijah’s offering on Mt. Carmel, in response to the prophet’s simple prayer «Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. », (1 Kings 18:38).

In each offering consumed by fire from heaven, God was making an important point. In David’s case, God was forgiving David’s sin in conducting a census and halting a plague in Israel. He was also choosing the place where the future temple would be built. In Solomon’s case, God was consecrating that location as the place where His name would dwell forever «For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mOne’s eyes and one’s heart shall be there perpetually.” , (2 Chronicles 7:16). The people’s reaction was to worship the Lord and say, “He is good; his love endures forever” “And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” , (2 Chronicles 7:3). In Elijah’s case, God was shaming the prophets of Baal, whose god sent no fire, and claiming His rightful title as Lord God of Israel. The people on Mt. Carmel “fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!'” “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” , (1 Kings 18:39).

Interestingly, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, two of His disciples, James and John, wanted to call down fire from heaven in judgment of a Samaritan village that did not welcome the Lord. Jesus, however, “turned and rebuked them” “But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” , (Luke 9:55). He had not come “to condemn the world, but to save the world” “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” , (John 3:17). James and John, rightly called the “sons of thunder” “and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.” , (Mark 3:17).

(Mark 3:17), desired what they believed was justice, but their concept conflicted with God’s plan of mercy. God’s justice will prevail, but according to His terms, not ours.

During the end-times tribulation, the false prophet will summon fire from heaven to deceive people into worshipping the Antichrist «And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, », (Revelation 13:13).

Moreover, at the conclusion of the millennium, God pledges to annihilate the armies of Gog and Magog with fire from heaven «And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. », (Revelation 20:9).