What does fire represent in the book of Amos?

Answer 1

Answer:

Amos is one of the "minor" prophets... but a prophet, nonetheless.

Bible prophecy points to the Kingdom of God coming to earth with the flaming fire of Jesus Christ leading His army and His saints, to rule it. It's a time The Bible calls the "Day of the Lord." It's when the sun will be darkened and the moon won't give its light.

Jesus said that the end times when He returns to reveal Himself as King will be like the days of Noah: "...and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be..." (Matt.24:39).

Peter also compared the time of Jesus' return to Noah's day... only with fire instead of water:

"...whereby the world that then was, being overflowed by water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which now are, by the same Word are kept in store, RESERVED UNTO FIRE against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (II Peter 3:6-7)

Paul says: "...Him... whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven... For our God IS A CONSUMING FIRE." (Heb.12:25-29)

Prophecy is "dual"... meaning it often has two fulfillments (sometimes more). The first happens within the pages of world history... while the ultimate fulfillment awaits the Day of the Lord. In that regard, most of end time prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.

Thus, does the "fire" in Amos serve to warn both those of Amos' day of future events as well as their descendants, today.

Man's wars throughout history result in fires, death and destruction of cities, nations and people. But, man's Creator - THE CONSUMING FIRE - though prophesied in the Bible, will come unexpectedly upon the faithless nations.

Amos speaks of nations all around Judea; Moab (Iraq), Edom (Turkey) and so forth, having fire sent upon them. He also says a fire will be sent upon JUDAH: "...and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem." (Amos 2:5) History bears witness to more than one fire having come upon all these places through man's wars.

But "our Consuming Fire" hasn't happened yet... so, all these nations (and all the rest of the nations in the world) still have the prophesied fire of the Day of the Lord to deal with yet.

Joel describes the Divine prophetic fire in question as it shall travel through the land: "...let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the Day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a Day of darkness and of gloominess, a Day of clouds and of thick darkness... a fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth... and the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His Word: for the Day of the Lord is great; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:1-11)

That's what the prophet Amos' fire represents.