FIRE
The first use of fire in the Bible is implied in the account of the sacrifice of Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:3).
No nation has yet been known that has not known the use of fire; What is unknown is who taught it to men.
Ancient people had many legends about this. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus, having snatched fire from heaven from Zeus, was chained to a rock for all eternity.
Fire is evidently indispensable for man (Sir. 39:26).
It serves various activities: (Gen. 4:22),
for the preparation of food (Ex. 16:23; Is. 44:16),
to keep warm (Jer. 36:22; Jn. 18:18; Acts 28:2).
The burnt offerings offered to Jehovah had to be completely consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). It was as if the fire made the sacrifice rise to God; it was said, metaphorically, to be a sweet odor of Jehovah (Gen. 8:21).
He who offered a sacrifice lit the fire (Gen. 22:6). Moses offered burnt offerings on the altar he built (Ex. 40:29).
At the end of the ceremony of consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, the fire of Jehovah fell on the sacrifice, consuming it completely (Lev. 9:24); God had accepted the offering and manifested his glory.
The fire on the altar was never to be extinguished (Lev. 6:9-13). At the inauguration of the Temple and the new altar, fire came down from heaven, consuming the sacrifice (2 Chron. 7:1). On other occasions, God also manifested his approval with fire from heaven consuming the burnt offering (Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:23, 24; 1 Chron. 21:26).
Among the pagans there were fire worshipers (Wisdom 13:2). The followers of the cult of Molech, Baal and other idolaters consecrated their newborns by throwing them into the flames (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6; Jer. 7:31; Ezek. 16:20, 21). Sometimes the death penalty was aggravated by burning the body of the executed (Lev. 20:14; 21:9; Josh. 7:25; 2 Kings 23:16).
Fire often symbolizes the presence of the Lord, who liberates, purifies, or consumes (Ex. 14:19, 24; Num. 11:1, 3, etc.). In this way Jehovah appeared in the burning bush at Sinai (Ex. 3:2; 19:18) and revealed himself in the midst of the fire to Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John (Is. 6:4; Ez. 1:4; Rev 1 :14) and so it will appear when he returns (2 Thes. 1:8).
Fire is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3) and the Word of God (Jer. 5:14; 23:29)
Fire finally figures among the expressions relating to God’s judgment:
The wicked will be consumed by the fire of his wrath (Ps. 68:3; 97:3; Isa. 30:33; 47:14; Mt. 3:10; 7:19; Jn. 15:6);
They will know the fire of Gehenna (Mt. 5:22; 18:9; Mr. 9:43),
the fiery furnace (Mt. 13:42, 50),
the eternal fire (Mt. 18:8; 25:41; Jude 7),
the fire that is not quenched (Mt. 3:12, cp. Is. 66:24),
the lake burning with fire and sulfur (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, cp. Rev. 14:10; 20:14).