Thousands Witness 'Holy Fire' Miracle in Jerusalem

The Christian Post ^ | 4/15/12 | Anugrah Kumar

[marshmallow]

Thousands of Christians from around the world gathered in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher Saturday to witness a flame that is believed to emerge miraculously from the tomb of Jesus a day before Easter, according the older Julian calendar, each year.

The special ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built at a site where Jesus was crucified and buried, was attended by Christian pilgrims and clerics wearing their robes amid the presence of Israeli police, riot-prevention forces and border security guards.

"I am here because I would like to see the Easter Week from the Holy Land, because I think it is a very unique experience," The Associated Press quoted Nerea Craditotto, a Spanish pilgrim, as saying. Eastern Orthodox churches and others will celebrate Easter on Sunday.

The Christians and clergy standing close to the tomb area lit their candles first and then passed on the flames to others queuing in alleys outside the ancient church. The Holy Fire is revered by many as the power of Resurrection of Jesus and the fire of the Burning Bush of Mount Sinai as mentioned in the Old Testament.

Orthodox Christians say the Holy Fire miracle occurs every year on the day before their Easter. The miracle has been documented each year for over 1,000 years. Christians in many countries, including Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lebanon and Egypt, watch the ceremony live on television each year. After the ceremony, the Holy Fire is brought to some of these countries.

[BereanBrain]

Signs? Wonders? I wonder what our Lord thinks about people who need signs and wonders? What is the need for FAITH if you go by signs and wonders?

Ever read these verses?

Matthew 16:4

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away

2 Thessalonians 2:9

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,

[Jaded]

I’ll see your Matthew and raise you John. Have a Blessed week!

Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

[CrazyIvan]

Agreed. Especially signs and wonders that could be created with a can of starter fluid and a match.

[hinckley buzzard]

Wahtever. Given the hostile surroundings of moslem raghead pagans, it is a miracle that there was a gathering at all.

[CrazyIvan]

You’ve got a point. Sometimes it’s best to just be thankful for small blessings.

[UCANSEE2]

So... we will know the end is near when there are a bunch of fakirs holding up “THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR” signs?

[peter the great]

The place is searched for anything that Can ignite a fire before
e they entered the Holy Sepulcer

[BereanBrain]

Your quote of signs was Jesus performing miracles, and was in the past.

Now let’s look what is coming in the future.

Matthew 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

---

So you are warned NOT to put stock in seeming miracles and signs.

[boatbums]

Draws a good tourist crowd...ongoing for centuries (they say)...just so happens in a noted "holy" site regarded by millions...a little bit too much hype to really be from God. Sorry, our God doesn't need hype or gimmicks to show Himself strong and ever-present. My guess is there's someone hiding with a Zippo or a Bic and the monks are all in on it. As if God needs the show!

[rawcatslyentist]

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

[AndyTheBear]

After she had freed him from the Spirit of the Age, John was frustrated that Reason would not tell him whether or not his island was a real place:

'Well, you would not assure me that it was anything real'

'Nor that it was not.'

'But I must think that it is one or the other.'

'By my father's soul you must not--until you have some evidence. Can you not remain in doubt?'

'I don't know that I have ever tried.'

'You must learn to, if you are to come far with me. It is not hard to do it. In Eschrpolis, indeed, it is impossible, for the people who live there have to give an opinion once a week or once a day, or else Mr. Mammon would soon cut off their food. But out here in the country you can walk all day and all the next day with an unanswered question in your head: you need never speak until you have made up your mind.'

--bold parts from Pilgrims Regress by CS Lewis

[onedoug]

So, was there a fire? This “article” doesn’t say.

[papertyger]

Signs? Wonders? I wonder what our Lord thinks about people who need signs and wonders? What is the need for FAITH if you go by signs and wonders? Ever read these verses?

If your understanding of Matt 13:4 and 2 Thes 2:9 is catagorically legitimate, why did Christ come performing signs and wonders?

[Ditter]

This has been happening for 1000 years? Have we heard of this before now?

[TheOldLady]

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[FormerLib]

Hey, why don’t you go there next year and disprove it in front of the whole world?

[BereanBrain]

it’s not for me to prove/disapprove.

The point is, signs are NOT RELIABLE in the end days.

In fact, they never were.

Did not Pharoah’s magicians replicate the turning of rods into snakes?

The only way to judge (biblically) is by the fruit of person(s). Not signs.

[BereanBrain]

You ask why Jesus came, performing signs and wonders?

Two reasons.

1) To glorify God. This is the reason most miracles take place today. When someone is healed, it’s to glorify God, not to benefit the particular person. It advances God’s kingdom, where he wants it advanced (like mission fields)

2) During Jesus time, so that scripture would be fulfilled, and unbelievers would be forced to decide just WHO is the Messiah? In particular, in Galilee, because Jesus was from Galilee, people would not believe someone from Galilee COULD be the Messiah, so Jesus preformed a sign to help them in their unbelief (see John 4:43-54). Note, we don’t have that excuse. (we are not next door neighbors of Jesus)

The enemy HAS USED, and WILL USE (there is scripture for both) signs to deceive.

Let me ask you then, why do you NEED a sign? Does a believer need a sign?
What is faith for then?

[smvoice]

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1:22-24.

The nation Israel has been blinded and set aside, since Acts 28. They required signs to believe. If they are blinded now by God until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, who are the signs actually for? During the tribulation, there will once again be signs, wonders, and miracles. There will also be a Nation called Israel, whose blindness has been lifted by God. When Israel is operational, signs will be also. Until then, we, the Church the Body of Christ, walk by FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. (2 Cor. 5:7).