Topical Bible: Vision of Amos of Fire

Bible > Topical > Vision of Amos of Fire

◄ Vision of Amos of Fire ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Vision of Amos of Fire is one of the prophetic visions experienced by the prophet Amos, as recorded in the Book of Amos, a part of the Old Testament. Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, was called by God to prophesy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of relative peace and prosperity under King Jeroboam II. His messages were primarily focused on social justice, divine judgment, and the need for true worship.

Context and Background

Amos's ministry occurred during the 8th century BC, a period marked by economic affluence but also significant moral and spiritual decay. The Israelites had become complacent, indulging in idolatry and neglecting the covenantal laws of justice and righteousness. Amos's prophecies served as a divine warning of impending judgment due to the nation's sins.

The Vision of Fire

The Vision of Fire is the second of five visions that Amos receives, as detailed in Amos 7:4-6. In this vision, Amos sees a divine judgment symbolized by fire:

"This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. Then I said, 'Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?' So the LORD relented from this plan. 'This will not happen either,' said the Lord GOD." (Amos 7:4-6)

Symbolism and Interpretation

The fire in Amos's vision represents a consuming judgment from God, one that threatens to destroy both the land and the "great deep," which may symbolize the foundational elements of creation or the depths of the earth. This imagery underscores the severity and totality of the divine judgment that Israel faces due to its transgressions.

Amos's intercession on behalf of Israel highlights his role as a mediator between God and the people. His plea, "How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?" reflects his compassion and concern for the nation, acknowledging its vulnerability and inability to withstand such a devastating judgment.

Divine Mercy and Relenting

In response to Amos's intercession, the Lord relents from executing the judgment by fire. This act of divine mercy illustrates God's willingness to withhold punishment in response to genuine intercession and repentance. It also emphasizes the power of prayer and the importance of a righteous mediator who stands in the gap for the people.

Theological Significance

The Vision of Fire serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness and justice, as well as His mercy and readiness to forgive. It calls the faithful to recognize the seriousness of sin and the necessity of repentance. Moreover, it highlights the role of prophets as intercessors and the impact of their prayers in altering the course of divine judgment.

Amos's vision also foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of humanity, offering salvation and reconciliation with God. Through this vision, believers are encouraged to seek God's mercy and to live lives marked by justice, righteousness, and faithful obedience to His commands.

Nave's Topical Index

Amos 7:4
Thus has the Lord GOD showed to me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Perfection to be Sought.
... Then God appears to Amos and says, "I will not again pass ... This vision applies to
you quite as much as to the ... it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlix perfection to be sought.htm

The Second vision "In Heaven"
... hand of the angel.] We have here a Vision of events ... In other places "fire" is mentioned
as one of the judgments ... Amos 1:4, 7, 10, 12; ii.5). Compare Deuteronomy ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision in heaven.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... 28:49 ff., beyond the definiteness of which Amos does not go ... The chapter opens with
a vision. ... the cherubim, and fill Thine hand with coals of fire from between ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... the earth; the seventh consists of the third Vision "in heaven ... And again "the mountain
burning with fire, represents a ... the earth in the clear day [205] (Amos 8:9 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

The vision of Paul.
... Here Begins the Vision of Saint Paul the Apostle. ... I looked and saw a great cloud
of fire spread over ... Isaiah and Jeremiah [3917] and Ezekiel and Amos, and Micah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the vision of paul/the vision of paul.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... as we have said, make it spiritual wrongly applying Amos 8:11 ... What John sees is a
vision for the purpose of instructing him ... Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?". ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... Sun; and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. ... Again we must present the vision
of this verse in terms ... Amos 5:25, 26); and the worship of Ashtoreth, the ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... The prophet Amos has a vision of grasshoppers, and afterwards of a devouring fire,
with only a general intimation that they denote heavy calamities, which the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

Ezekiel
... 597 BC"will be purged away by a yet fiercer fire. ... is a striking counterpart to the
earlier vision of the ... had characterized it in the days of Amos and Isaiah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezekiel.htm

The Release of Hope. (xxiv, xxix. )
... he says, caused me to see: a vision which I ... it as imaginative like the visions of
Amos.(486) Note ... had "dreed their weird," gone through the fire, been lifted ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 the release of hope.htm