599. 'So that he also makes fire come down out of heaven into the land in the presence of men' signifies attestations that their untruths are truths of heaven, and that those who receive them are saved, and those who do not, perish. These things are signified by those words because the greatest signs have been done by means of fire out of heaven; whence it was a common saying of confirmation among the ancients, when anyone was making a testification of the truth, that they could make fire come down out of heaven and testify it. By this it was signified that they could testify even to that extent. That the truth (veritas) was also testified by means of fire out of heaven is plain from these references:-
That the burnt offering made on the part of Aaron was consumed by fire out of heaven Lev. ix 24.
In like manner the burnt offering made by Elijah 1 Kings xviii 38.
[2] In the opposite sense 'fire out of heaven' was a sign testifying that they were in evils and the untruths therefrom, and that they would perish; but that fire was a consuming fire, as:-
The fire out of heaven that consumed Aaron's two sons Lev. x 1-6.
That which consumed 250 men Num. xxvi 10.
That which consumed the uttermost parts of the camp Num. xi 1-4.
That which twice consumed fifty men sent by the king to Elijah 2 Kings i 11, 12.
The fire and sulphur out of heaven upon Sodom Gen. xix 24, 25.
The fire out of heaven that consumed those who encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city (concerning which [see] Rev. xx 9).
The disciples when enraged against the impenitent [Samaritans] said to Jesus, Wilt Thou We call for fire coming down out of heaven do consume them? Luke ix 54.
These passages have been adduceth in order that it may be known that 'fire out of heaven' signifies a testification, even an attestation, that a truth is true, and in the opposite sense that an untruths is true, as here. Moreover 'fire' signifies heavenly love, and the zeal therefrom for truth, and in the opposite sense infernal love, and the zeal therefrom for untruth (n. 468, 494).
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