http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbrimstone.html
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbrimstone.html
First off, I’d like to say thanks to the staff who wrote this article (and for the whole website), its really cool and helpful. I was reading Gods word this morning in worship, spending some awesome time with Him, and learning some cool things, but I wanted to understand it better about the fire and brimstone (didn’t know what brimstone was) so I looked it up online and came accross this article and it was really helpful, but to get an even better understanding of it, I’d like to try an experiment on it to see it in action. I know it can be dangerous, so does anyone have any suggestions, know of any experiments I could do that have been tested before or perhaps some other websites with picuters or video clips showing its reactions and effects? Thanks. Peace. <><
BTW, the scripture reference is Revelation 20:10 “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
and verse 15 brought tears to my eyes as I faced the reality of my friends and loved ones destiny (who havent turned and committed their lives to Christ)“Rev 20:15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
but praise God for his mercy and grace 
who offers us redemption through Jesus Christ, so we don’t have to spend eternity like that. Check this verse out…this is really amazing…
Rev 21:6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”
Rev 21:7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
what an inheritance! such awesome promises of hope God is so full of love, so amazing and so worthy of “blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever”. (Rev 5:13)
Ok, thanks again <><
Well, as I recall from high-school chemistry lab, sulphur (brimstone) burns to produce sulphur dioxide gas. If I remember correctly, sulphur has to be heated for a while before it begins to smoke and make SO2. While it may not be the most poisonous gas on earth, sulphur dioxide is some pretty foul-smelling stuff. (Think of burning a rotten egg, just to give you an idea of the smell!) So if you ever decide you want to burn sulphur, which I do not recommend, I would advise doing so with a very small amount and in a very well-ventilated area.
You can get an idea of it by firing a blackpowder gun. There’s sulfur in the powder.
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, One. (BTW, I’m the one who wrote that Staff Report, so thanks for the kind words.) I’d just like to be real clear that this forum is for a discussion of brimstone and its literary history. Since you are sort of vaguely talking about the chemistry, I’ll leave your thread here.
However, please be aware that the forum called “Great Debates” is where you can discuss your religious belief or do witnessing. This is not the appropriate forum for such.
Be aware that these Message Boards are frequented by very intelligent and well-educated people, whose religious beliefs (or lack thereof) might be quite different from yours.
Interestingly, the Greek New Testament word for brimstone/sulphur is “theion”, derived from “theos”, of course “G/god”, as it was used as fumigating incense for ritual purification. The Revelation’s first mention of “fire & brimstone” also connects it with the Beast’s devotees being tormented with it “in the presence of the Lamb & the Holy Angels”.
Also, Isaiah 30:33 tells us that Tophet/Gehenna is ignited into fire by a stream of brimstone coming from the LORD’s Breath (Naoshma- the Breath God breathed into Adam in Gen 2:7).
It’s quite possible that “fire & brimstone” symbolizes, not external agents of torture, but the Purging Presence of Deity, which does bring suffering to those who are hostile to Deity- and may in fact refer to a Purgatorial process instead of a hopelessly damned state.
Hopefully this stayed in the realm of factual observations & didn’t stray too far into religious advocacy.
A couple of questions…
maybe the quote should be the bible…
Would the brimstone be liquid? Could it be? I guess a lake of fire precludes ‘normal’ laws of physics, but if the brimstone was on fire wouldn’t it not really be brimstone anymore…?
Also,
…a colorless gas as a result of ignition and sulfurous acid as a result of exposure to air (and water) made it special…? Did ancient people realize this was what was happening? Why would an invisible gas or a sulfurous acid be important? Aroma control, etching, cool science experiments?
I know I’m just being picky, but hey, what else is there to do?