Sulfur
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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Sulfur is mentioned several times in the Bible, and is always associated with judgment. It may be actual burning sulfur, such as at Sodom (and the surrounding cities), or it may refer to conditions so barren and dry that it reminds people of what happened there.
It may refer to the judgment of land (it's destruction), a punishment of death for individuals or nations (all described as wicked), or an eternal condition. In one instance, there is a reference to the color "yellow," but even then it has to do with judgment.
"Bible Pages" with references to sulfur
The cities of the plain (Sodom etc.) - Genesis 19:1-29
- "Sulfur and fire from Yahweh" rained down out of the sky on Sodom and on Gomorrah (and the other cities on the plain) The material was of such nature, that when Lot's wife hesitated, she became a "pillar of salt" - possibly became encrusted with sulfur compounds. From a distance, the smoke that rose from the valley resembled "the smoke of a furnace." (We also read in Genesis 14:1-24 that the valley was filled with pits of bitumen, which were large and plentiful enough, that people fleeing from an advancing army could fall into them and die. These could have contributed to the burning.)
Verses (7 O.T. passages / 7 N.T. passages)
An actual "fire judgment" on the cities of the plains
Sulfur raining down from heaven on Sodom and the nearby cities.
- Genesis 19:24 - Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky. [More details given above.]
- Luke 17:29 - but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all.
- (According to 2 Peter 2:6 and Jude 1:7, this judgment is a picture of the eternal judgment that will be experienced by the wicked. There are many other references to these cities, which tell us things that we should learn from them.)
General description of judgment on the wicked and their land
The habitation of the wicked - scattered with sulfur (according to Bildad the Shuhite).
- Job 18:15 - There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.
The lot of the wicked - blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind
- Psalm 11:6 - On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
A description of judgment on nations
A land of sulfur and salt - part of the judgment on Israel, if they abandon the True God (when it becomes a hot desert waste that reminds people of Sodom and the other cities). This is prophetic... and happened to Israel.
- Deuteronomy 29:22-27 - The generation to come, your children who shall rise up after you, and the foreigner who shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses with which Yahweh has made it sick; and that the whole land of it is sulfur, and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Yahweh overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: even all the nations shall say, Why has Yahweh done thus to this land? what means the heat of this great anger?
- Then men shall say, Because they forsook the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and went and served other gods, and worshiped them, gods that they didn't know, and that he had not given to them: therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against this land, to bring on it all the curse that is written in this book;
The judgment of the Assyrians - the funeral pyre kindled by a stream of sulfur from God
- Isaiah 30:33 - For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, for the king it is made ready. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. Yahweh's breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
Descriptive of massive end-time judgments
Judgment on Gog, Magog, etc. - will include many things, including sulfur (but God will be glorified).
- Ezekiel 38:22-23 - With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
200,000,000 mounted troops that kill 1/3 of humanity - sulfur as both a color on their breastplates, and what comes out of the horses mouths.
- Revelation 9:17-18 - Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.
Judgments that claim to be eternal
The eternal judgment of Edom - the dust will be like sulfur (with burning pitch).
- Isaiah 34:9-10 - Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulfur, And its land will become burning pitch. It won't be quenched night nor day. Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it will lie waste. No one will pass through it forever and ever.
A lake of eternal torment that contains fire and sulfur - for the devil, the beast/false prophet, their followers, and all who are evil.
- Revelation 14:9-11 - Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
- Revelation 19:19-20 - I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
- Revelation 20:10 - The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
- Revelation 21:8 - But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- (Context: God's judgment on the wicked) Isa 30:33 For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, for the king it is made ready. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. Yahweh's breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
- The final judgment of the wicked is often associated with the concept of "burning sulfur."
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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