Trials By Fire, Trials By Water

Believers undergo two types of interior trial without which they cannot regenerate, the trial by fire (which involves love and hate) and the trial by water (which involves truth and falsehood). Here are two verses indicating the existence of these trials side by side: "Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Psalms 66:12).

"And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us" (Mark 9:22).

If you do not pass these trials by fire and water, then you do not overcome; if you do not overcome, then you do not go to Heaven. If you pass the trials by fire, then you have the seal of God in your hand; but if you do not pass the trials by fire, then you have the mark of the beast in your hand. If you pass the trials by water, then you have the seal of God in your forehead; but if you do not pass the trials by water, then you have the mark of the beast in your forehead. For these marks are symbolic of spiritual things, and have nothing whatsoever to do with human science or geopolitics but rather with the age old choice between righteousness and understanding or sin and error, Heaven or Hell.

Here is a verse directly about the trial by fire: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you" (1 Peter 4:12). And here are two verses directly about the trial by water: "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me" (Psalms 69:1-2).

These trials can try individuals such as you or I; and they can try entire Churches, such as the Church of Sinai and the Christian Church. What is an example of a collective trial by fire? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walking unscathed in the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel. What are some examples of collective trials by water? Noah's ark floating upon the great flood waters. The Church of Sinai crossing the Red Sea on dry ground. What are the corresponding examples of people collectively not overcoming in trials of fire and water respectively? The Nephilim dying in the great flood waters. Pharaoh's army drowning in the Red Sea. The Babylonian guards dying when putting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace.

What does this template look like in real life? Like the non-acceptance by the Church which was at Sinai of its Messiah, who were therefore drowned and burnt up spiritually speaking; and like the acceptance of its Messiah of a new church, the Christian one, which are like the end of one day and the dawn of another, the latter being a new bottle for new wine.

" 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.'" (Rev. 3:19) This symbolically means that those of them who do so are loved by the Lord, and it must be that they are then introduced into temptations or trials, so that they battle against themselves. It is apparent that this is what this statement means, for it says, "as many as I love," which means those people who "buy from the Lord gold refined in the fire" and who "anoint their eyes with eye salve, that they may see" [which salve here fills the place of trial by water because it pertains to eyes: understanding]. It says "I rebuke and chasten them," which means temptation or trial as regards falsities and evils -- to rebuke meaning temptation or trial as regards falsities, and to chasten, temptation or trial as regards evils" (AR215).

One could cite numerous verses pairing fire with water which varies according to local context but employs the same general senses. But here is one that is particularly lovely and consoling and thus an appropriate conclusion: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).

Godspeed.

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