God's Word contains many graphic warnings of the fiery judgment to come upon those who refuse to believe Jesus is the only way to be saved from our countless sins against a holy God and refuse to repent, turn from sin to cling to Him (Mk. 1:15; Jn. 3:36, 14:6). Jesus spoke frequently about the danger and reality of eternal punishment in a fiery hell. Why? Because of His great love for us. He personally came down not only to warn us of the danger, but also to suffer on the cross an eternity's worth of torment, grief, and sorrow for an infinite number of sins--the full wrath and fury of hell--so that we can receive mercy, forgiveness, and pardon (Rom. 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21). There is no depth of pain or grief that we have suffered that Jesus did not also suffer on the cross. Jesus' supreme act of ultimate love outshines all of the horrors of hell. The following is a survey of the references to fire in the New Testament.
John the Baptist Warns of Judgment By Fire
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (John the Baptist)
Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:11-13
Jesus Warns of Judgment By Fire
Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:21-23 (Jesus)
Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 7:18-20
Matthew 13:40
"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age." Matthew 13:39-41
Matthew 13:42
"[A]nd will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:50
"[A]nd will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 18:8
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. Matthew 18:7-9
Matthew 18:9
And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Matthew 18:8-10
Matthew 22:7
"But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.
Matthew 25:41
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:40-42
Mark 9:43
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. Mark 9:42-44
Mark 9:44
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ Mark 9:43-45
Mark 9:45
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—Mark 9:44-46
Mark 9:47
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—Mark 9:46-48
Luke 3:9
The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 3:8-10
Luke 3:17
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Luke 3:16-18
Luke 12:49
"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" Luke 12:48-50
Luke 16:24
So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' Luke 16:23-25
Luke 17:29
But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-7 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
Paul Declares that All of Our Works Will Be Judged By Fire
1 Corinthians 3:13
Each one's work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 1 Corinthians 3:12-14
1 Corinthians 3:15
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-16
Jesus Will Return in Flaming Fire
2 Thessalonians 1:7
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
The Writer of Hebrews Teaches on Fire
Hebrews 1:7
In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire."
Hebrews 10:27
but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hebrews 12:29
for our "God is a consuming fire."
Peter Warns of Judgment By Fire
2 Peter 3:7
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:6-8
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:9-11
2 Peter 3:12
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 2 Peter 3:11-13
Jesus' Half-Brother, Jude, Warns of Judgment By Fire
Jude 1:7
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. Jude 1:6-8
Believers Should Be Sharing the Gospel to Save People from Fire
Jude 1:23
snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Jesus' Eyes Are Like a Blazing Fire
Revelation 1:14
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
Revelation 2:18
[To the Church in Thyatira ] "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
The Tribulation Will Involve Judgment By Fire
Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
Revelation 8:5
Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Revelation 8:7
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
Revelation 8:8
The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.
Revelation 9:17
The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur.
Revelation 9:18
A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.
Revelation 10:1
[The Angel and the Little Scroll ] Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.
Revelation 11:5
If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.
