THE SAME ANGEL AND THE FIRE

The Same Angel and the Fire From the Altar   8:5

"And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake."

 

The Same Censer is Used

The same instrument that offers up the incense, significant of the full satisfaction of Christ to God, is used to pour out judgment upon men.

The Same Altar is Also Used for the Offering of Fire

This altar of burnt offering was the place where the full satisfaction of Christ went up. This meant salvation. For men who reject this, from the same altar comes judgment (cf. 2 Cor. 2:15; Heb. 10:28, 29).
"For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish."
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:" "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

The Same Fire is Used in Salvation and Judgment

This was the fire that destroyed Christ in order that men might be saved. This same fire will destroy men who reject Christ (Heb. 12:29).
"For our God is a consuming fire."

The Same Results will be Apparent in Judgment

Following the fire, there are voices, thunder-ings, voices, lightnings. Cf. Ex. 19:12-20; 20:18-19. These are indicative of the law of God and its judgment upon men who have broken it and rejected the deliverance in Christ.
18  "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."19  "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."