Topical Bible: Fire: Things Connected With: Smoke

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In the biblical context, smoke is often associated with the presence and power of God, divine judgment, and the offering of sacrifices. It serves as a visible manifestation of spiritual realities and divine actions.

1. Divine Presence and Revelation: Smoke frequently accompanies theophanies, where God reveals Himself to humanity. In Exodus 19:18, during the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, "Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently." This imagery underscores the holiness and majesty of God, as well as the awe-inspiring nature of His presence.

2. Judgment and Wrath: Smoke is also a symbol of divine judgment. In the prophetic visions of Revelation, smoke is often linked with the wrath of God. Revelation 14:11 speaks of the eternal consequences for those who worship the beast: "And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name." Here, smoke signifies the enduring nature of divine judgment.

3. Sacrificial Offerings: In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, smoke is a crucial element. The burning of offerings on the altar produced smoke that ascended to God, symbolizing the prayers and devotion of the people. Leviticus 1:9 describes the burnt offering: "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." The rising smoke represents the acceptance of the sacrifice by God.

4. Prophetic Imagery: Smoke is used in prophetic literature to convey messages of impending doom or divine intervention. In Joel 2:30, God declares, "I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke." This imagery is part of the apocalyptic language that describes the Day of the Lord, a time of both judgment and salvation.

5. Symbol of Prayer: In the New Testament, smoke is associated with the prayers of the saints. Revelation 8:4 states, "And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel." This passage highlights the intercessory role of prayer and its pleasing ascent to God, much like the smoke of incense.

Throughout Scripture, smoke serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing God's presence, judgment, and the spiritual realities of worship and prayer. It is a powerful image that conveys the transcendence and immanence of the divine in the biblical narrative.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 34:10
It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 2:30
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Bottle in the Smoke
... heirship, he put down the rods amongst the things to which ... Why, it is the fire, by
which the Arab warms his ... be a good, without having an ill connected with it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/a bottle in the smoke.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... flashed on the gold which covered all things in the ... These three pieces of furniture
were intimately connected with each ... heart must be as a coal of fire, if the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

The Doctrine of the Last Things.
... we should be unmindful of the problems connected with this ... There are two things which
the believer gets: at ... in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the last.htm

The Consuming Fire.
... At all events, if God showed them these things, God showed ... is nothing in him for
that flaming fire to reveal ... worth as the necessary and connected gradations of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the consuming fire.htm

Hebrews xii. 18-24
... the chains, disperses the darkness, quenches the fire, kills the ... If we do these things
we shall obtain the ... This word is connected with the preceding muriasin ...
/.../homily xxxii hebrews xii 18-24.htm

The Shield of Faith
... That word is connected with the Greek word meaning 'door ... Epistle to the Hebrews,
faith realises 'the things hoped for ... much danger of being set on fire, even by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the shield of faith.htm

1872 the Need of a Home Further West --Burning of the Marchmont ...
... up with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid ... to try our faith by the trial
of fire, shall we ... lost upon the hundreds of immortal souls connected with our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter iv 1872 the need.htm

God's Approbation of his Works
... visible, buoyed up by that ethereal fire, a particle ... goodness inclined him to make
all things good; and ... whole creation, which was intimately connected with him ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 56 gods approbation of.htm

Chapter ii.
... in pitched shirts, [5] and set on fire when the ... allusion might be doubtful; but,
when connected with the ... These things, as has already been observed, took place ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... God has so solemnly warned us against these things, and no ... and his feet as pillars
of fire: (2) and ... of judgment, but introduces new details connected with that ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm