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Amos 3:1-15
1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of
Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of
Egypt, saying,
This, for today, would read as:
"O children of Israel, against
the whole family which I brought up from the land of"
"bondage".
Which "family"?
The "family" which YHVH chose for HIS Office of Saviour,
CHRIST, to come through.
And, it is CHRIST that has released, those who know HIM, from bondage.
YAHSHUA, JESUS CHRIST sets you free....free from the ignorance
which is so very pervasive in this last generation...free from the guilt
provoking traditions of man and denominationalism...freedom which allows
each of HIS servants to do their very best for YHVH, Our FATHER,
according to HIS Will and Way.
And, with all this freedom, still yet the children of Israel continue to
fall backwards, forgetting YHVH, the FATHER, and YAHSHUA, JESUS CHRIST,
the Saviour.
Amos 3:
2 You only have I known
of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all
your iniquities.
Of all the
family lineages and different peoples/races in the earth, YHVH chose
those who would be called the family of Israel for this earth age. In
the 1st Heaven age, those first souls created in HIS image, who
eventually made their stand with HIM, when Satan attempted to usurp
YHVH'S Kingdom, became the family through which YHVH would bring forth
HIMSELF, in the Office of YAHSHUA, JESUS CHRIST.
A chosen and blessed people/family...And, FATHER would hold these souls
at a higher level of responsibility, because they were chosen and
blessed.
Because these "should know better", YHVH shall and does come
down harder on these souls for their sins and iniquities (wicked acts).
Amos 3:
3 Can two walk
together, except they be agreed?
This speaks of a pre-arranged plan or appointment to meet at a specific
place and time.
Anything else would be coincidental or an accidental meeting, therefore,
not planned.
YHVH'S HOLY SPIRIT shall be brought together, which was pre-arranged,
with YHVH'S servants' spirits to meet at HIS chosen and specified place
and time, according to YHVH'S Plan. This will not be a chance meeting,
but a scheduled "joining together" of which YHVH has spoken
and taught HIS servants, through HIS HOLY Word.
{ 2nd Baptism}
Amos 3:
4 Will a lion roar in
the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den,
if he have taken nothing?
In chapter 1, it
was written, "And
he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top
of Carmel shall wither."
Again, this has
reference to "the lightning and the subsequent thunder", which
is to say the action, and, then the repercussion or report of that which
has already taken place.
By the time you
hear the lion roar, the action is already in the past.
The lion does not roar until he has already secured/procurred that which
he would take.
Amos 3:
5 Can a bird fall in a
snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare
from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
A bird can not
fall from the sky directly into a net, unless something causes it to do
so.
Satan, and his 'fallen ones' could not enter into this earthly
dimension, and attempt to decieve the whole world pretending to be of
God, accept YHVH allows it, and causes them to do so.
It is not by chance, but according to YHVH'S HOLY Plan that these things
shall occur.
Have you read that which Our FATHER'S HOLY Word has written concerning
Satan and the fallen angels, coming in the sight of earthly flesh men,
disguised as 'goodly angels' and the 'savior'?
Have you read where the vast majority of the world shall be caught in
that net of deception?
2 Cor 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works. KJV
"transformed"
= "disguised"
NT:3345
metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from NT:3326 and a derivative
of NT:4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply
(by accommodation):
KJV - transfer, transform (self).
NT:4976
schema (skhay'-mah); from the alternate of NT:2192; a figure (as a mode
or circumstance), i.e. (by implication) external condition:
KJV - fashion.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
2 Thess 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth
in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. KJV
It is in YHVH'S HOLY Plan, and it has been written.
Amos 3:
6 Shall a trumpet be
blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in
a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
The disruption
of normal, day-to-day activities, when the warning announcements of
imminent danger are broadcast, shall cause the people to become anxious,
fearful, and shudder with terror.
The word "evil"
is more clearly defined as "adversity",
"calamity",
or "distress".
OT:7451
ra` (rah); from OT:7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):
KJV - adversity, affliction, bad, calamity,
displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing),
exceedingly, great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill
(favoured), mark, mischief (-vous), misery, naught (-ty),
noisome, not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,
wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st), wretchedness, wrong. [Incl.
feminine ra` ah; as adjective or noun.].
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
FATHER is in ultimate control of everything that HE allows to occur in
this earth age.
HE, HIMSELF, did not do the evil things, but HE has allowed those same
types of evil events, which Satan brought forth in the 1st Heaven age,
to occur again (over and over within each generation), and, especially
in these end times, unto this last generation.
Why?
The world deserves and has earned these chastisements.
And, YHVH'S chosen 'family' has need to be chastised.
How can these of this HIS chosen 'family' know that they have done that
which is against YHVH, except YHVH chastise them for their ways which
are not of HIM?
Most of those in this last generation, have not a clue as to that which
is good and acceptable to YHVH; nor the opposite, which most are doing,
that which is actually aiding Satan.
Example: CHRIST became Our Passover...not our Easter! Yet, every year,
the majority of 'so-called' Christian churches are sponsoring Easter egg
hunts, which originally began and came out of a heathen fertility
ritual.
Amos 3:
7 Surely the Lord GOD
will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the
prophets.
Mark 13:23
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
KJV
Luke 21:22
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which
are written may be fulfilled. KJV
Luke 24:44
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me. KJV
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
KJV
John 15:15-16
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what
his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things
that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,
that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit
should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you. KJV
John 16:15
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I,
that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. KJV
John 17:1-18:1
17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and
said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may
glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give
eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which
thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory
which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of
the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept
thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me
are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they
have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and
they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou
hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in
them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I
come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou
hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those
that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son
of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that
they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them
into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may
be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and
that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as
thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for
thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known
thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the
love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. KJV
Amos 3:
8 The lion hath roared,
who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
"The
lion hath roared, who will not fear?"
Those servants who love and obey YHVH shall not be fearful, because they
know HIS HOLY Plan.
"the Lord
GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"
YHVH'S called out and chosen servants (of Israel and of the Ethnos) can
teach YHVH'S Truth and HIS HOLY Plan, giving the warnings, as the
prophesies are written in HIS HOLY Word, as they occur again in this
final generation.
Who shall hear, understand, and take heed of that which YHVH will have
HIS servants prophesy?
Rom 11:1-36
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of
Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not
what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God
against Israel, saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and
I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to
myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of
Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according
to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no
more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise
work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but
the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber,
eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto
this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a
stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their
back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but
rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to
provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the
diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their
fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the
Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh,
and might save some of them.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what
shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root
be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild
olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the
root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not
the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be
graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by
faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also
spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be
graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how
much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into
their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness
in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come
in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come
out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained
mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy
they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy
upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his
counseller?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory for ever. Amen. KJV
Amos 3:
9 Publish in the
palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say,
Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great
tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
This "Publish
in the palaces at Ashdod"
would be spiritually translated, for this last generation, "Tell
the people who have joined themselves to the laws, governments, and
other 'high places' of the ravager".
And, this "and
in the palaces in the land of Egypt",
is to say, "Tell all who have joined these laws, governments, and
other 'high places' which hold authority over their people, who hold
YHVH'S children in bondage".
What are YHVH'S servants to say/teach?
"Assemble
yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria,"..."gather
together in the (Christian) nations of the watch-stations".
"and behold
the great tumults in the midst thereof"
... "and be witness to the confusion, uproar, and destruction of
the people".
"and the
oppressed in the midst thereof"
... "and, also, be witness to the doubtful people, the decieved,
and the tyranny of many".
Amos 3:
10 For they know not to
do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their
palaces.
For the people,
the governments, and the other high places which have authority over
their people do not know YHVH'S Truth...they do not know how to do that
which is right, good, and YHVH'S Way.
These are those "who
store up violence and robbery in their palaces"...which
is to say, "those who store up unjust gains, maltreatment against
their people, and oppression of their people".
We can look at these things from both the aspect of nations with their
laws, and/or, unjust, spurious religions and their rule over their
people.
Amos 3:
11 Therefore thus saith
the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and
he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be
spoiled.
Who is the
adversary?
Satan is the adversary, who has already been judged and sentenced,
although his 'being blotted out' is yet to come.
And, no mater how strong, powerful, high and mighty these nations,
governments, and religions think they are, Satan and his
government/religion of disguised fallen angels shall take away the
strength from them all.
This has reference to the 'one world' government/religion that Satan's
disguised fallen angels set up when they arrive in the sight of earthly
flesh men.
Dan 7:3-8
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the
wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and
made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up
itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the
teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon
the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and
dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth
beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had
great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the
residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that
were before it; and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them
another little horn, before whom there were three of the first
horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes
like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. KJV
This is also in referenced in Ezekiel 38.
Ezek 38:18-23
18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come
against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come
up in my face.
19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely
in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the
beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth,
and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my
presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep
places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my
mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against
his brother.
22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood;
and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the
many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great
hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be
known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the
LORD. KJV
Why will all the governments of the world "be
thrown down",
"the steep
places shall fall",
and "every
wall shall fall to the ground"?
The separate and sovereign nations and their governments/laws of this
world shall be consumed by Satan's 'one world' beastly government and
spurious religion, which his fallen angels 'set up' when they arrive in
the sight of earthly flesh men, before Satan's arrival disguised as
'Jesus'.
Amos 3:
12 Thus saith the LORD;
As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece
of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in
Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
This has need to
be considered along with the verse above, as it is still yet in regards
to the "adversary":
"Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about
the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy
palaces shall be spoiled.".
SAMARITANS
[suh MAR ih tuhns] -- natives or inhabitants of Samaria, a distinct
territory or region in central Palestine.
Until the rise of Assyrian power in the ancient Near East, Samaria was
occupied by the tribes of Ephraim and the western portion of the tribe
of Manasseh. Many of the sites in Samaria held important places in
Israelite history. Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were the scene of the
covenant-renewal ceremony in Joshua's time (Josh 8:30-35). Shechem,
situated near Mount Gerizim, was an ancient Canaanite town that regained
its earlier prosperity during the monarchy. It became capital of the
northern kingdom of Israel briefly under Jeroboam I (about 931 BC - 910
BC; 1 Kings 12:25), but it was replaced by Penuel and then Tirzah.
Construction on the city of Samaria was begun by Omri about 880 BC and
completed by his son Ahab (about 874 BC - 853 BC). Samaria became the
new capital of Israel, and successive kings added to it and rebuilt
sections to make it a well-fortified capital. But the city fell to the
Assyrians in 722 BC - 721 BC Most of the leading citizens of the
Northern Kingdom were deported to places in Syria, Assyria, and
Babylonia.
Sargon replaced the deported Israelites with foreign colonists (2 Kings
17:24). These newcomers intermarried among the Israelites who remained
in Samaria. Later their numbers were increased when Esarhaddon and
Ashurbanipal (the biblical Osnapper; Ezra 4:10) sent more Assyrian
colonists to the district of Samaria. These people took the name
Samaritans from the territory and attempted to settle the land. However,
"they did not fear the Lord, and the Lord sent lions among them,
which killed some of them" (2 Kings 17:25). In despair they sent to
Assyria for "one of the priests" who would "teach them
the rituals of the God of the land" (2 Kings 17:27). Thereafter the
Samaritans worshiped the God of Israel. But they also continued their
idolatry, worshiping the pagan gods imported from foreign lands (2 Kings
17:29).
So the Samaritans were a "mixed race" contaminated by foreign
blood and false worship. The Jewish historian Josephus indicates that
the Samaritans were also opportunists. When the Jews enjoyed prosperity,
the Samaritans were quick to acknowledge their blood relationship. But
when the Jews suffered hard times, the Samaritans disowned any such
kinship, declaring that they were descendants of Assyrian immigrants.
When a group of Jews, led by Zerubbabel, returned from the Babylonian
Captivity, the Samaritans offered to help Zerubbabel rebuild the Temple.
When their offer was rejected, they tried to prevent the Jews from
finishing their project (Ezra 4:1-10). When Nehemiah attempted to
rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, he was opposed by Arabic and Samaritan
groups (Neh 2:10-6:14). The breach between the Samaritans and the Jews
widened even further when Ezra, in his zeal for racial purity, pressured
all Israelite men who married during the Captivity to divorce their
pagan wives (Ezra 10:18-44).
The final break between the two groups occurred when the Samaritans
built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming Shechem rather than Zion
(Jerusalem) as the true Beth-el (house of God), the site traditionally
chosen and blessed by the Lord.
The Samaritans trace their beginnings to the time of Eli, who
established the sanctuary for worship of God in Shiloh. They also
believe their religion is distinctive because they base their beliefs
and practices on the Torah, or the Law-the first five books of the Old
Testament. They recognize no other Hebrew Scriptures as authoritative.
At what stage the pagan elements of Mesopotamian religion were removed
from Samaritan belief is impossible to determine. But probably by the
time of Nehemiah (about 450 BC), the Samaritans considered themselves
orthodox. The Samaritans also claimed that Ezra changed the Hebrew text
to favor Jerusalem over Mount Gerizim as the site for the second temple.
But the Samaritans themselves may also be guilty of changing the wording
of the Law to reflect favorably on their traditions.
In the Roman period the Samaritans appeared to prosper. Their religion
was made legal in the Empire, being practiced in synagogues in Italy and
Africa. Suffering persecution from Christians, they finally revolted in
the fifth and sixth centuries. The Roman emperor Justinian (ruled A.D.
527 AD - 565 AD) suppressed the Samaritans and brought them almost to
extinction, a condition from which they never recovered. But two small
units of Samaritans survive until the present time-one group in Nablus
(ancient Shechem) and a second group near Tel Aviv.
The pride of the modern Samaritan community at Nablus is a large scroll
of the books of the Law, inscribed in an angular script much as Hebrew
was written long before the time of Christ.
The Samaritans retained their belief in God as the unique Creator and
Sustainer of all things. They also worshiped Him in the three feasts
prescribed in the books of the Law-Passover, Pentecost, and Booths (or
Tabernacles) - and the solemn Day of Atonement. But their faith was
influenced in later periods by Islamic and other beliefs, unlike the
orthodox Jewish community. To this day they sacrifice one or more lambs
on Mount Gerizim during the Feast of Passover.
(from Nelson's
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson
Publishers)
DAMASCUS
[duh MASS cuss] -- the oldest continually-inhabited city in the world
and capital of Syria (Isa 7:8), located northeast of the Sea of Galilee
and Mount Hermon in northern Palestine.
Damascus was situated on the border of the desert at the intersection of
some of the most important highways in the ancient Near Eastern world.
Three major caravan routes passed through Damascus. Major roads extended
from the city to the southwest into Palestine and Egypt, straight south
to Edom and the Red Sea, and east to Babylon. Because of its ideal
location, the city became a trade center. Its major exports included a
patterned cloth called "damask" (Ezek 27:18). Egypt, Arabia,
and Mesopotamia, as well as Palestine, were some of the trade neighbors
that made Damascus the "heart of Syria."
Damascus owed its prosperity to two rivers, the Abana and the Pharpar (2
Kings 5:12). These rivers provided an abundant source of water for
agriculture. The Syrian people were so proud of these streams that
Naaman the Syrian leper almost passed up his opportunity to be healed
when the prophet Elisha asked him to dip himself in the waters of the
Jordan River in Israel. He thought of the Jordan as an inferior stream
in comparison with these majestic rivers in his homeland (2 Kings
5:9-14).
History. The founder of Damascus was Uz, grandson of Shem (Gen 5:32;
6:10; 10:23). The Bible first mentions the city when Abraham traveled
from Ur to Canaan, passing through Damascus on the way (Gen 11:31;
12:4). Eliezer, Abraham's faithful servant, was from Damascus (Gen
15:2).
Early Egyptian texts refer to Egypt's control over Damascus, but this
influence did not last long. The establishment of Syria (Aram) as a
powerful state with Damascus as its capital (1 Kings 11:23-25) took
place shortly after David's rule over the United Kingdom of the Hebrew
people. David defeated the Syrians and stationed his own troops in
Damascus (2 Sam 8:5-6; 1 Chron 18:5-6). During Solomon's reign, however,
God allowed Rezon, Solomon's enemy, to take Syria from Israel's control
because of Solomon's sins. Rezon founded a powerful dynasty based in
Damascus that lasted more than 200 years.
Shortly after Solomon's death, the king of Damascus formed a powerful
league with other Aramean states. This alliance resulted in many years
of conflict between Israel and Damascus. First, BenHadad of Damascus
defeated King Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:16-20; 2 Chron 16:1-4).
Later, God miraculously delivered King Ahab of Israel and his small army
from the superior Syrian forces (1 Kings 20:1-30).
Even after this miraculous deliverance, Ahab made a covenant with
Ben-Hadad II against God's will (1 Kings 20:31-43). Ahab was killed a
few years later in a battle with Syria (1 Kings 22:29-38).
In the midst of these wars, the prophet Elijah was instructed by God to
anoint Hazael as the new king of Damascus (1 Kings 19:15). King Joram of
Israel successfully opposed Hazael for a time (2 Kings 13:4-5), but the
situation was eventually reversed. Hazael severely oppressed both Israel
and Judah during later years (2 Kings 13:3,22).
Much later, God sent Rezon II, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel,
against wicked King Ahaz of Judah (2 Kings 16:1-6). Ahaz called on the
Assyrians, who had become a powerful military force, for help (2 Kings
16:7). The Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser responded by conquering Syria,
overthrowing the Aramean dynasty, killing Rezon II, and destroying
Damascus, just as the prophets Amos and Isaiah had prophesied (Isa 17:1;
Amos 1:4-5). This marked the end of Syria as an independent nation. The
city of Damascus was also reduced to a fraction of its former glory.
The exact date of the reconstruction of Damascus is unknown, but such an
excellent location could not long remain weak and insignificant.
Damascus was the residence of Assyrian and Persian governors for five
centuries after its conquest by Tiglath-Pileser. Still later, the city
was conquered by Alexander the Great, who made it a provincial capital.
In 64 BC the Romans invaded Syria, making it a province with Damascus as
the seat of government.
All references to Damascus in the New Testament are associated with the
apostle Paul's conversion and ministry. During this time, the city was
part of the kingdom of Aretas (2 Cor 11:32), an Arabian prince who held
his kingdom under the Romans. The New Testament reports that Paul was
converted while traveling to Damascus to persecute early Christians who
lived in the city (Acts 9:1-8). After his dramatic conversion, Paul went
to the house of Judas, where God sent Ananias, a Christian who lived in
Damascus, to heal Paul of his blindness (Acts 9:10-22).
Paul preached boldly in the Jewish synagogues in Damascus, but
eventually he was forced to flee the city because of the wrath of those
to whom he preached. The governor of Damascus tried to capture Paul, but
the apostle escaped in a large basket through an opening in the city
wall (Acts 9:25; 2 Cor 11:32-33).
Little physical change has taken place in the city of Damascus since
biblical times. The long streets are filled with open-air markets that
sell the same type of ancient wares. But modern Damascus does show the
strong influence of Muslim culture. The most important building in
Damascus is the Great Mosque, a Moslem shrine built during the eighth
century A.D. on the site of a former Christian church.
(from Nelson's
Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson
Publishers)
"Thus
saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two
legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out
that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a
couch."
"As the
shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an
ear"
This speaks of a shepherd finding the remains of a sheep (or, one of his
flock).
The remains are evidence that the "adversary" has been there
in their midsts.
These "in
the corner of a bed"
and "in a
couch"
refer to those laying back in comfort, believing that they are safe from
all harm.
YHVH will protect you, IF you do HIS Will.
But, the majority of those in the Christian nations (which had been so
blessed by YHVH, BUT, who also have forgotten YHVH'S LAW and YAHSHUA'S
true acceptable Ways) had never thought that they could be attacked on
their own land...until recently. And, still yet, many close their eyes
to the fact that these attacks will occur again, escalating in
intensity.
Amos 3:
13 Hear ye, and testify
in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon
him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar
shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the
houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end,
saith the LORD. KJV
What are these last three verses
saying?
YHVH'S servants are to take heed to YHVH'S Words of warning...teaching
the people of that which FATHER has forewarned.
"horns" have reference to
"power" and/or "strength"
"altar" speaks of the place
of sacrifice within the assembly houses.
CHRIST became the One Fit Sacrifice for all times, therefore, that which
we should offer up is "Love".
But, "Love" without good deeds, acts, and works for
YHVH/YAHSHUA, is merely an empty word.
"the winter house" is in
reference to a place which is safe, secure, and warm during the winter
months and /or well supplied for the times during a flood.
"the summer house" (summer
parlor) is in reference to a safe, secure, and cool place in the summer
months and/or well supplied for times during a drought.
"And
I will smite the winter house with the summer house"
YHVH will take away your places of safety from within the "winter
house" along with the "summer
house".
"and the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD"
The great houses of wealth in 'government', 'religion', education, and
'economy' shall come to an end (as we know them now).
When?
It shall be begun by YHVH, as HE allows those terrorists of
"Gog" (Ezekiel 38) to attack the "unwalled villages"
of the U.S..
Then, the three Christian nations shall pull out of the U.N. (one world
beast...a deadly wounding), followed by a world war (short lived) , and
then the arrival of the fallen angels of Satan's spurious
government/religion.
Because all laws shall be under this 'one world beast's' control, a
restructuring of the 4 dynasties ('government', 'religion', education,
and 'economy') shall have need to be put into place..."set
up".
At that point, will YHVH have the attention of every soul on the earth?
No, not yet.
Most of the world must first be deceived.
YHVH'S chosen/sealed servants of Israel and of the Ethnos, with YHVH'S
HOLY SPIRIT upon them, shall bring forth (publish) YHVH'S Truth to the
whole world. Yet, the majority shall still yet not take heed nor return
unto YHVH.
The majority, still yet, will have need to be taught in the time of the
LORD'S DAY, in a dimension which indicates they have not yet overcome.
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