You mean like the Quaker who warned the thief robbing his house, “Sir, I mean thee no harm, but I am about to shoot where thou standest”?

T: I think the principles of GC 35-37 apply. There's different ways that could have happened. I think God did not send from heaven with the intent of killing Elijah's enemies. They could have put themselves in harm's way.

M: You mean like the Quaker who warned the thief robbing his house, “Sir, I mean thee no harm, but I am about to shoot where thou standest”? Did God send the fire from heaven? Or, did God permit Satan to do it? Did Elijah attempt to save the two bands of fifty by warning them not to stand in the wrong spot?

T: Regarding the Elijah questions, Elijah was not sent to reveal God's character: Christ was. If we wish to see what God is like, we should look at Jesus Christ while hear in the flesh. That's why He came.

Tom, do you think Elijah misrepresented God's character when he prayed for fire to burn alive the two bands of fifty? Also, who or what caused the fire to come down in response to Elijah's prayer?

Regarding the origin of the fire, Ellen wrote: Twice Ahaziah sent a company of soldiers to intimidate the prophet, and twice the wrath of an offended God fell upon them in judgments. The third company of soldiers humbled themselves before God; and their captain, as he approached the Lord's messenger, "fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight." {RH, January 15, 1914 par. 4}

And regarding Elijah representing the character of God, Ellen wrote: Elijah, in his position as a prophet to Israel, had represented Christ, and his work had been, in a degree, similar to that of the Saviour. {5BC 1096.3} Elijah, who had been translated to heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ's second coming . . . {DA 421.4} Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ's first advent. {3T 62.1}

Twice Ahaziah sent a company of soldiers to intimidate the prophet, and twice the wrath of an offended God fell upon them in judgments. The third company of soldiers humbled themselves before God; and their captain, as he approached the Lord's messenger, "fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight." {RH, January 15, 1914 par. 4}

Tom, do you agree "the wrath of an offended God fell upon them in judgments" when Elijah prayed for fire to burn alive the bands of fifty?

M: Tom, do you agree with Ellen that "the wrath of an offended God fell upon them in judgments" when Elijah prayed for fire to burn alive the bands of fifty?

T: I think if we wish to understand God's character, we should look to Christ. Regarding God's wrath, Scripture presents this as God's "giving up" those who have rejected Him to the results of their choice, the same principle as described in GC 35-37. I think the Elijah incident is this same principle. However, I think this tack of focusing on the Old Testament is hopeless, if the goal is to understand God's character. But studying the life of Christ, especially the latter scenes, is hopeful.

Christ is revealed in the Old Testament as clearly as in the New. {3SP 211.2}

"Let not your heart be troubled," He said; "ye believe in God," who is so plainly revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures. {ST, December 20, 1899 par. 5}

The prophets spoke through the messengers of Christ in the Old Testament as much as the apostles voiced His messages in the New Testament, and there is no contradiction between their teachings. {1SM 345.1}

Many professed Christians throw aside the Old Testament, and shut themselves up to the New. The cry now is, "Away with the law and the prophets, and give us the gospel of Christ." {3SP 211.1}