Warning by Fire

In this passage, the things of Creation are plagued by fire. God‘s judgment takes the form of reversing Creation, not by a flood, but by smoke and stars falling from heaven and sulfur. Land animals and crawling things that should be under the dominion of man array themselves against the image bearers. We are meant to recognize in this the judgment of God, but not the complete judgment. Rather, the passage shows us that it is a warning, a warning that the Church must sorrowfully see ignored.