Bible study By C M White - Origin of Nations

God’s Glory and Man’s Destiny
This theme is carried over into the New Testament like so many other Old Testament
themes (so much for the supposed vast difference between the Old and New
Testaments). As we have seen above, Paul himself tells us that “our God is a
consuming fire” – literally bright, fiery white,
consuming, glorious and
"For in him [Christ] dwelleth
intense – filled with
supreme power and
all the fulness of the
energy. Such a God is
worthy of the highest
Godhead bodily.
honour and love. He
desires a relationship with
us in the way He
And ye are complete in him
commands. Not the sort of nonsense that the
[ie we are part of the
evangelicals go around asking people “Do you
Godhead], which is the head
have a relationship with
Jesus?” They know
of all principality and power"
not the Father or that He is the One Who
(Col 2:9-10).
determines how to have a
relationship, not us.
He demands many attributes including
true doctrine, a total honesty with His word and observance of the seventh day
Sabbath which is a sign of a true Christian. And He chooses whom to have a
relationship with Him - we cannot choose Him. Many would like to, but that does not
make them Christians - they end up striving in vain, but are deceived with false
doctrines, practices and charismatic experiences.
Christ is also likened to the Sun: in Malachi God speaks of the wicked being
consumed in His great day and that they shall be mere stubble or ashes (Mal 4:1-5)
“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise
with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as
calves” (verse 2). (In his note, Bullinger states that this refers to the
Messiah – page 1301).
When the Messiah returns, He shall light up the sky like a giant fire, consuming His
adversaries (IIThess 1:7-9). Note also the following awesome Psalm:
“The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken,
And called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down
thereof.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God hath shined.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence:
A fire shall devour before Him,
And it shall be very tempestuous round about Him (Ps 50:5. See
68:2; 97:2-5).
Upon the return of Christ, a lake of fire will be ignited outside Jerusalem, in which the
recalcitrants will be cast. You can read about this lake of fire in the following
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