Burning mountains and pillars of smoke — ancient words for a familiar force.
The Bible never uses the word “volcano,” but its imagery — mountains burning with fire, smoke, and upheaval from beneath — is unmistakable to modern readers.
“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood.”— Revelation 8:8
Joel’s prophecy lists “pillars of smoke” among the wonders that mark the day of the Lord.
“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”— Joel 2:30