Broad meadows

When the church generally refers to the afterlife as a place, it’s not that it is wrong, but that it misses something more basic that should be instinctive. At death, we are no longer biological beings. We’ve transformed into something else. How the Bible often describes the afterlife appears as though it is a place, so that’s understandable.

However, when you look a little closer you realize that the afterlife is so much more intimate than just where you are located. Isaiah 33:14-15a asks and answers an interesting question;

“The sinners in Zion are terrified;
trembling grips the godless:
“Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?”
Those who walk righteously
and speak what is right,”

In this question and statement it proposes an interesting situation that is not thought about: Both the righteous and the wicked find themselves confronted with a consuming fire. One can tolerate the fire, those whose ways a righteous and speak what is right, and the other finds it intolerable, the wicked. If they are righteous, they are probably not in hell. So what is this consuming fire?

In Daniel’s vision recorded in Daniel 7:9-10 he says this:

“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.”

Some verses from the law:

“To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.” Exodus 24:17

“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24

The book of Hebrews quoting and echoing this sentiment in Hebrews 12:28-29;

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.””

In Isaiah 43:2-3a it’s written,

“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”

Jesus says in Mark 9:49, “Everyone will be salted with fire.” Everyone. So what kind of people should we be? Understand that the actions that we take are the clothes that we will wear before the throne and without the robes of righteousness that have been purchased for us by the blood of Christ we stand unprotected. That faith in Christ should and will drive the works of righteousness that honor Son and the Father. There is no escape from those flames only deliverance.

Later in Isaiah 42:24b-25 it’s written,

“Was it not the LORD,
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow his ways;
they did not obey his law.
So he poured out on them his burning anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

This experience is confusing to them, not recognizing what is happening to them in this state, a state that we will all experience. It doesn’t have to be unpleasant, but for many, it will be. But even at this point, God has a plan. And we wait for it to unfold.