147 - National Destruction and Armegeddon

JOEL 

"Jehovah is God".  Bible commentaries are reluctant to give a date for Joel's activities except to say that he preached only to Judah and therefore it was probably after the capture of Israel.  

Some, however, place him as early as 835 BCE; this would actually put him about 100 years before Hosea and about 115 years before the fall of Israel in 720 BCE.  If that date is right it is strange that Joel did not even mention Israel.  

On the other hand, if he preached after the fall of Israel it seems strange that he did not use the captivity of Israel as a warning to the people of Judah.

That which the creeping locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten. And that which the swarming locust has left, the locust larvae has eaten. And that which the locust larvae has left, the stripping locust has eaten. Joel 1:4  

In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modern-day Israel and Syria. The first swarms came in March, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. The female locusts immediately began to lay eggs, 100 at a time. Witnesses say that in one square yard, there were as many as 65,000 to 75,000 eggs. In a few weeks they hatched, and the young locusts resembled large ants. They couldn’t fly yet, and got along by hopping. They marched along 400 to 600 feet a day, devouring every speck of vegetation along the way. After two more stages of molting they became adults who could fly - and the devastation continued. Guzik

For a nation has come up on My land, strong and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the jaw teeth of a lioness. He has laid My vine waste and splintered My fig tree. He has stripped it and cast it away; its branches grow white. 1:6-7.  Scholars say that this nation refers to the army of locusts that invaded Israel.  Gill allows that this may refer to the Babylonian army and the damage that they did to the land when they first arrived in Judah 606 BCE.

Those aren't the only problems Judah faced; there was a drought in their land that has completely destroyed all food sources.

According to biblical prophets, these things befall a nation because they have turned their back on the teachings of Jehovah.  Yet, in spite of all of that Jehovah says turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. 

Is Your Faith Real

Yes, tear your heart and not your robes, or, in other words, don't put on a show of religion, rather be genuinely repentant for your sins.   This was Christ's continual beef with the Pharisees of His time - hypocritical religion!  The psalmist wrote The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17.  

and turn to Jehovah your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. 2:12.  This is the prophets continuously repeated anthem: let Him heal your spirit and then, with His help, your lifestyle will also improve.

And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.  Most Bible commentaries agree that this refers to the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit was poured out on the waiting disciples in the upper room. (See Acts ch. 2). 

However, EBC has this slant, There follows ... the promise of a great outpouring of the Spirit on all Israel, (but only Israel) amid terrible manifestations in heaven and earth.  There is some soundness in their thinking.  

Notice that Joel speaks of Jehovah your God.  To Joel that was the national God of Israel.  Also, he distinctly says, your sons and your daughters, your old men and your young men; for Joel, the word your is a reference to the children of Israel.  

Another point is that when the multitude, on the day of Pentecost heard the apostles speaking in tongues, they said,  Behold, are not these who speak all Galileans? Acts 2:7.  This would indicate that the spirit had been poured only on Jewish people.   Furthermore, when Peter talked to his hearers that day he limited that promise to the Israelites, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, 2:14  Again he said, Men, Israelites, hear these words. Act 2:22.

The Christian church loves to claim this promise for the present age but is it perhaps for a future time?  Joel and Peter both associate it with prophecies for the last days: 

• it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. ... And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and miracles on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. Acts 2:20  
• The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious Day of the Lord. Acts 2:17-20.

For, behold, in those days and in that time, when I will bring again the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel 3:1-2. 

It is said that there is no valley in Israel called "The valley of Jehoshaphat" but the word Jehoshaphat means God will judge.  So it is believed that the name "Jehoshaphat" alludes to the Har-Magedon where the battle of Armageddon will be fought.  It is the scene of the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist. Easton Bible Dictionary.

“Valley of Decision” has been used in countless evangelistic meetings to show people that they stand in the “Valley of Decision,” and must decide for or against Jesus. Joel’s context is exactly the opposite. Man does indeed stand in the valley of decision, but it is God who does the deciding, not man. It is a valley of judgment. 


Joel looks out upon the Valley of Jehoshaphat at the Battle of Armageddon, and sees multitudes facing their eternal fate - truly, it is a valley of decision, and those who fight against the LORD and His Messiah are in the wrong place in the valley of decision, ultimately fulfilled at the Battle of Armageddon. Guzik.

146 - The Price of a Female Slave

Adultery

Whether Hosea's "autobiography" is actual or an allegory the message it portrays should speak to all of us.  

He chose a prostitute as a wife; together they built a home with two sons and a daughter.  However, the mother could not get her wayward ways out of her system and she left home to live with Hosea's friend.  Jehovah said to me, Go again. Love a woman beloved by a friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of Jehovah toward the sons of Israel, who turn to other gods. Hosea 3:1.   

In chapter 1 Hosea is told to take to yourself a wife, but by chapter three his love for her has grown and he is told to go back to her, in love, and bring her home again so that their family could be a family again.  

The Bible teaches that in the case of unfaithfulness divorce is allowed but it is by no means obligatory.  If the partner who has been wronged is willing to forgive, the relationship can be restored; according to the love of Jehovah.  If it were not so, how could Jehovah keep on taking us back if we go and follow other gods after we have promised to follow Him forever?

It is true that the Bible allows for divorce in the case of adultery but not just because the guy wants blue walls and she wants pink walls.  Christ said that in the case of divorce, except in the case of adultery, the divorced person may not marry again.  But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, (The word fornication is Used for adultery (Mat_5:32) Fausset's Bible dictionary) causes her to commit adultery. And whoever shall marry her who is put away commits adultery. Matthew 5:32.  

However, churches, in general, have no qualms in going against Christ's teaching in that matter.   For divorcees to get remarried is common practice in almost all churches these days.  Why does the church believe she has the right to pick and choose which of Christ's teachings she wants to follow?

Hosea's wife was already his because years ago she had married him but now he bought her back.  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a homer of barley and a half homer of barley. 3:2.  The cash was half the regular price of a female slave and the 12 bushels of barley made up the remaining half.  This is a picture of how much people are really worth - twenty-four bushels of barley, and yet the amount paid for the redemption of humans is priceless, and this is according to the love of Jehovah.

For Jehovah has a quarrel with the people of the land, this quarrel was not started by Jehovah, it was started by those humans who refuse to live according to the "rules of the book".

Spiritual Adultery

This description does not fit only the Israelites; it describes North America to a "Tee"; 
because there is no truth.  One can hardly answer the phone these days without expecting to be swindled by some smooth talking shyster.

nor mercy, can we not bend over backwards to give more than we promised; more than we owe; can we not "pay it forward"?

nor knowledge of God in the land.  If some time was spent in school teaching the children even the basics of what the Bible teaches, the following list of sins would not be so prevalent in our society.  

The least we should expect is that every person who lives in a country that has Christian churches should know the ten commandments.  Muslim children know the basic rules of the Koran.  

• Children do not learn the ten commandments at home from their unchurched parents; 
• those same children do not go to Sunday school, 
• so the most logical place to learn them is in public schools.  

If only so many of our educators were not so stubborn and blind.  It would not hurt them to admit that the Bible has good teachings.

Hosea knew the ten commandments:

1. There is lying, Hosea 4:2. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16.
2. and swearing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7. 
3. and killing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not kill. Exodus 20:13. 
4. and stealing, Hosea 4:2. You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15. 
5. and the committing of adultery; Hosea 4:2. You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14. 
6. Some versions have this added phrase, they break out; Rashi tells us that this means, They bear children from their friends’ wives. 
7. and blood touches blood. Hosea 4:2. In the ancient Hebrew, this is literally bloody deed touches bloody deed.  Apparently, violent crimes had become so common that one seemed immediately to follow another as if touching it.  Not that much different than the shooting sprees in the USA.

They break all restraint: It all connects back to leaving the knowledge of God.  Soon, truth and mercy are things of the past, and people no longer practice restraint.  When (a) man will not or can not restrain himself, bloodshed and destruction follow.
i. Our modern age is completely set against the idea of restraint.  
ii. The message is the same: You make your own rules.  You answer to no one.  You are the one that matters.  Your universe revolves around you.  You should only restrain yourself if you want to.
iii. The ultimate result is bloodshed after bloodshed.   Barnes Bible Commentary.

let no man reprove. 4:4.  The Targum states it more clearly, "but yet they say, let not the scribe teach, nor the prophet reprove:'' Gill.  

Those that do not want to hear what the Bible teaches accuse us of "picking fights" or "causing dissensions".  The current trend is, never reprove anyone, for fear that they may be offended.  

We must never say anything that is not politically correct, for others may have different opinions than we do, and if we vocalise our opinion we are "belittling" them.  It is doubtful that the Christian church will ever again develop a backbone and stand up for the moral standards that the Bible teaches.

Israel and Ephraim.  Ephraim was the major tribe of the ten Northern tribes constituting Israel; so much so that sometimes Israel is even called Ephraim. (See Hosea 5:9-13 for a good example.)

Israel and Ephraim shall fall by their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them. 5:5.   By being aware of current trends Hosea might have foreseen the coming destruction of Israel, by Assyria, it was only about 25 years away. 

Some believe that Hosea preached from 790-755 BCE.  If this is true his prediction of the fall of Judah was made at least 170 years before it happened.  Was that astute foresightedness; was it a "lucky" guess, or was it that holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21.  

145 - Christ's Coming Kingdom

North America

The following, spoken to the leaders of Israel, sounds as if it also applies to the leaders of the North American people.  Read the words of Isaiah 10:1-4 (in red).

You, North American, people are in for trouble! You, corrupt judges, have made cruel and unfair laws; you, lawmakers, have your spineless stooges at your beck and call.  For a bribe, these lawyers, without moral compunctions, will twist the truth in court cases so that you can cheat the poor and needy and rob widows and orphans, and destroy the lives of rape victims.  Judges, your pawns will do whatever needs to be done to wring the last penny from the hands of the poor and needy; and you call this justice!

But what will you do when you are fiercely attacked and punished by foreigners?  ISIS is at your doorstep; a few have already entered your borders.  You boast that you are the most powerful nation in the world, so where will you run for help?

Where will you hide your valuables?  Your whole mindset is of material wealth; your stocks and bonds; your mansions and fancy cars; your yachts and private planes; how will you feel when they are all confiscated by ISIS? and their cohorts? 

How will you escape being captured or killed?  Mass shootings by terrorists or off balanced minds are prevalent because you insist that everyone, regardless of their mental state, political or religious leanings, is perfectly free to walk the streets carrying firearms.  You asked for it, now How will you escape being captured or killed?

The Lord is still angry, and he isn't through with you yet!  When a country, which was built on Christian principles, turns its back on Jehovah, He has every right to say ... I am furious! Isaiah 10:1-4 CEV.

Jehovah is a long-suffering and a forgiving God.  Even though His nations have scorned Him and scoffed at Him, He still says, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die.  Ezekiel 33:11.

Israel did not repent and they were destroyed.  The words in the Book of Daniel fit North America too: the handwriting on the wall of North America is easy to see.  God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be a nation. Dan. 5: 26-28 CEV.

A New King Is Coming

When the populations of the nations have been decimated, due to the Battle of Armageddon, a new kingdom will be established.  It will be the antithesis of present-day kingdoms.  Someone from David's family will someday be king; we recall, from Matthew chapter one, that Jesus Christ is the direct descendant of King David; and He is coming to set up His kingdom.

The Spirit of the LORD will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight.  Jehovah's spirit will be with the new king to guide Him in the affairs of His new kingdom.  

He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the LORD.  This statement clearly states that Christ is not the LORD - it says that he will know and honor the Lord.  His greatest joy will be to obey the LORD.  This king won't judge by appearances or listen to rumors.

The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice. This is exactly the opposite to what lawmakers in the nations of the world are doing today: note again, you cheat the poor and needy and rob widows and orphans.

His word will be law everywhere in the land.  The words of Christ will be the law.  Those who do not obey will be put to death.  One can't help but wonder, though, if capital punishment is enforced in the land of perfect peace, in Christ's kingdom, should capital punishment not also be part of the civil laws in Christian countries.  After all, that is the Biblical stance on this issue.  

Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes. 11:1-5 CEV.  This statement is an indication as to how literally we should, or should not, accept the words of Isaiah 11.  Since the words honesty and fairness are used symbolically as clothing, is it not also possible to believe that the promised coming kingdom will not be as totally, wonderfully peaceful as we have been led to believe?   It may not even be worldwide!  Is this whole chapter symbolic?  Perhaps it will be a comparative peace; compared perhaps to the Battle of Armageddon.

Notice that in the new kingdom Israel will stop being jealous of Judah, and Judah will no longer be the enemy of Israel.   Instead, they will get together and attack the Philistines in the west. Then they will defeat the Edomites, the Moabites, and the Ammonites in the east.



Some Bible students insist that those people mentioned here are still living in the areas as shown on the map.  According to some the Philistines are the modern day Palestinians.  The Edomites are, of course, the Arabians and the Moabites and the Ammonites are the Jordanians.  The descendants of Moab who have remained in the same geographical area as their forefathers now call themselves Jordanians.   
                                                     www.reference.com › ... › Social Sciences › Cultures & Traditions

 They will rule those people and take from them whatever they want. 11:13-14.  Isn't it interesting that when preachers talk about Christ's coming kingdom of peace, they never mention these verses which tell us that during that kingdom, where Christ rules, according to Isaiah, there will still be wars in the Near East?