Love's Consuming Fire

Lyrics: Upon the throne, in smoke enwreathed sublime, The Lord resides — a blaze beyond our sight. His breath, a stream of brimstone through all time, Kindles Tophet's fire, eternal light. He wraps Himself with radiance as a cloak, A garment woven from the dawn's pure flame. No mortal eyes may meet the fiery smoke, Where holiness consumes all sin and shame. Seraphim burn bright above His throne, The burning ones who guard His sacred space. A pillar’s fire by night, cloud by day shown, Guiding Israel through covenanted grace. Within this blaze, the saints shall find their rest, Accustomed here to glory’s fierce embrace. From glory unto glory they are blessed, Transformed by God's Spirit’s sanctifying grace. The Lord devours all evil in His light, As sunlight kills the germ that lurks unseen. But unbelievers cannot bear the sight, Consumed they fall where they once might have been. Eternal love burns not for endless pain, But purges hearts that will not yet endure. For in that flame all souls will meet their gain. The just emerge unscathed and made pure. For only those who share His very breath, Partakers of divine immortal birth. May dwell amid unfaltering flame and love's depth, Because their nature matches Heaven's worth. God’s mercy flows forever without fail. Enduring love that shapes our very core. Yet wrath consumes those who reject His hail [i.e. call]. Justice revealed as flames forevermore. So, fear the Lord and give His glory voice. The hour has come; the judgment seats await. In fire and light is revealed our choice: To rise redeemed or perish at His gate. Indeed, eternal fire consumes the wicked, But it's not fire created for that purpose fitted. For to dwell in Love's consuming fire, Has always been our God's sole desire. _________________________________ God covers Himself with light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2), and dwells in light that no man can approach unto. 1 Timothy 6:16. When Isaiah saw the Lord, sitting on His throne, “the house was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:4.), indicating the presence of fire; and this is still further indicated by the fact that the beings that stand above His throne are the “Seraphim,” that is, “the burning ones.” Remember also that God went before Israel, to guide them, in a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. PTUK June 29, 1899, page 407.3 In this Presence, amid this fire, the saints of God will dwell throughout eternity, but in order that they may do this, they must here become accustomed to the glory of God, of which the whole earth is full. By beholding it they become changed into the same image “from glory to glory,” even by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18. The presence of the Lord consumes everything that is evil, and so their dwelling with God in this time fits them for His unveiled glory. The sunlight, which destroys disease germs, is a daily proof to us of the fact that the glory of God consumes evil. But those who refuse to recognise God as He is now revealed, will not be able to abide the day of His coming, and will be consumed. PTUK June 29, 1899, page 407.4 So it is indeed eternal fire that consumes the wicked, but it is not fire specially created for that purpose, nor does the fact that it is eternal prove that those who suffer from it will live eternally, but just the opposite. All, both saints and sinners, will be in the midst of it, so that all will be treated alike, and God cannot be accused of injustice; but the nature of the individual will determine how the fire will affect him. Only those who have become transformed into the likeness of God, who have His life as their life, so that they are partakers of the Divine nature, sharers of the glory, will be able to come through the fire unscathed, and, in fact, to continue dwelling in it. They are of the same nature as the devouring flame, and hence can dwell in it and not be consumed. All others will perish. The mercy of God endures for ever, and that which perpetuates the existence of those who become assimilated to it, ends the existence of the rebellious. How pertinent, therefore, the message, “Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come.” PTUK June 29, 1899, page 407.5