Oh...my...MM The opinions expressed by you seem to make you appear to want so much someone to lead, be in control and orchestrate... free men have no need for other men to dominate.
Christ Himself is our Leader, yet wants us to be His brothers, children, friends, and apprentices, not fawning, flattering slaves, servants or puppets. (He will accept those who think of themselves as such, but, oh! what a limited life and understanding this needlessly creates!)

My "mystery SDA scholar" continues with some amazing insights about God's use of fire, His glory and even the impossibility of christian fatalism:

Fire Reveals

“Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:13.

We will not study the exegesis of this text and its primary time of fulfillment, but simply try to
catch that one thought, that fire reveals. The baptism with fire reveals a man as he really is. It throws the beams of holy light into the innermost recesses of the soul. It shows us ourselves as God sees us.
When Jesus baptizes a man with the Holy Spirit and with fire, there is revealed an amount of pride, selfishness, suspiciousness, love of position, touchiness, and downright meanness that will be an amazement to him. When God baptizes my soul with fire, I come more and more to abhor myself. I sense increasingly that in me there is no good thing. All I have or am that is worth anything has been imputed and imparted to me from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It brings me to my knees before God in contrite confession. And not only that, but it brings me to some of my brethren to tell them of grief over the un-Christ like things in my life, this tongue that speaks so quickly, the suspiciousness of my nature, and a hundred other things. The coming of a baptism with fire will result in a spirit of confession such as we have never known.
Remember the statement, by the Spirit of Prophecy, depicting [in a vision] the assemblage in the auditorium of the Tabernacle at a General Conference in Battle Creek.

“ One day at noon I was writing of the work that might have been done at the last [1901] General Conference if the men in positions of trust had followed the will and way of God. Those who have had great light have not walked in the light. The meeting was closed, and the break was not made. Men did not humble themselves before the Lord as they should have done, and the Holy Spirit was not imparted.
I had written thus far when I lost consciousness and I seemed to be witnessing a scene in Battle Creek. Prayer was offered, a hymn was sung, and prayer was again offered. Most earnest supplication was made to God. The meeting was marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The work went deep, and some present were weeping aloud. One arose from his bowed position, and said that in the past he had not been in union with certain ones, and had felt no love for them, but that now he saw himself as he was. [Fire revealed] With great solemnity he repeated the message to the Laodicean church. . . . The speaker turned to those who had been praying, and said: 'We have something to do. We must confess our sins, and humble our hearts before God.' He made heartbroken confessions, and then stepped up to several of the brethren, one after another, and extended his hand, asking forgiveness. Those to whom he spoke sprang to their feet, making confession and asking forgiveness and they fell upon one another's necks, weeping. The spirit of confession spread through the entire congregation. It was a Pentecostal season. God's praises were sung, and far into the night, until nearly morning, the work was carried on. . . . No one seemed to be too proud to make heartfelt confession, and those who led in this work were the ones who had influence, but had not before had courage to confess their sins.”
Then comes that tragic closing paragraph:
“ There was rejoicing such as never before had been heard in the Tabernacle.
Then I aroused from my unconsciousness, and for a while could not think where I was. My pen was still in my hand. The words were spoken to me:
‘This might have been. All this the Lord was waiting to do for His people. All heaven was waiting to be gracious.’
I thought of where we might have been had thorough work been done at the last General Conference.”
Testimonies, Volume 8, pages 104-106.

Shall we not pray for the baptism with fire, which will show us ourselves as we are? We are prone to judge by the outward appearance and conduct, but God looks into the heart. We must have that fire that teaches the inmost life, until every sin is disclosed and purged away." L.E.F.

Now, I find this quite a striking contrast to God's fire being lessened (when useful to one's designs) to being symbolic, parabolic, figurative, metaphorical, allegorical or any such thing, and should we not be shock if we do?

Phil, Elder Froom's description of the effects of spiritual fire is, indeed, awesome. May the church of God receive such a baptism, now, today.

You win the book, MM PM me your address and I will send it to you.

Giving Elder Froom's intials gave it away, I know, but a promise is a promise.

Wishing the church well is all very nice, but do you understand that Elder Froom's own statements, and his quote from EGW, seriously conflicts with pre-destination, what the glory of God actual is and how it is termed as destructive fire, burning away a thing, Sin, and not merely one's actions of breaking the Law????

I won! Yippee! Thank you. But I cannot, in good conscious, expect a self-sacrificing missionary to divert much needed funds by sending me a book I can buy myself. Please, invest in missions.

Now, back to Elder Froom's insights. Are you ready to discuss his thoughts on predestination, foreknowledge, hellfire, and brimstone? If so, then say on. Post his material and we can study it.

I haven't been following this thread too closely, but I read something about a free book. My conscience isn't as developed as MM's, so I am able to receive free property from self-sacrificing missionaries.

What's the book about?

It's a scientific refutation against evolution. Very clearly written for the non-scientist.
Give me your address if you want one, Tom.

Gents: Let's let the Lord label who is "self-sacrificing" or not. I'll acknowledge the missionary role, but blush at all adjectives.

Thoughtful study of Elders Froom's study can reveal some mighty vital matters concerning the Holy Spirit's role in fire, consumption and sin.
Those who think "spiritual fire" is not real, or merely allegorical may ask themselves: "Do I see spiritual matters as less than material matters?"


Fire Consumes
Let us note Ezekiel's striking parable of the boiling pot, symbolic of Jerusalem:
“Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it way be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.” Ezekiel 24:11.

That is another thing that fire does, it consumes the scum, the dross. But observe this sad comment on Jerusalem of old:
“She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her.” Verse 12.

There was no separation between her filthiness and her gold. Mark well the sad judgment that awaits her:

“Thou shall not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused My fury to rest upon thee.” Verse 13.

We have our choice of letting the purifying fire, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, consume the dross now, or be ourselves consumed in the fierce flames of the last day when He shall “burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12.

Then there is this text:
“He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap [soap for the outside, fire for within] and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:2,3.

He “sits” to purify. He is not in a hurry, not impatient. He will bring the fire to the right heat. He will continue it until the process is complete. Yea, our God is a refiner's fire. Let us who are seeking for the righteousness of God, pray for the Holy Spirit; first, to reveal, and then to consume, that the great scum of sin in our lives may be burned out.

“0 fire of God, burn on, burn on,
Till all my dross is burned away;
0 fire of God, burn on, burn on,
Prepare me for the testing day.”

While I appreciate his in depth study on the purifying affects of spiritual fire upon our hearts and minds, I don't read where he is saying the lake of fire is a metaphor. But perhaps you will be posting those insights shortly? In the meantime, I really am enjoying reading his thoughts on spiritual fire, really I am. So, please, resist, if you can, the temptation to turn this post into something that implies all I care to talk about is God punishing and destroying unsaved sinners. Thank you.

That I think that "the lake of fire as a metaphor" is a myth and fabrication of your own mind: no one has even suggested this, certainly not I. Please don't bring it up here again. Stop trying to control, please.
MSDAOL is not all about you, MM.
Either you do not read other's posts,MM, cannot comprehend other people or you think spreading misinformation on what others say is winning an argument. Only God knows your motive.
I pray that this article will burn away this character defect in you and anyone else who harbors these traits.