So by this we know that end times are being prophesied in this chapter, with details that we can clearly understand when we put our minds to it. The basket of summer fruit means that Israel is ready for harvest and it has to be done right away or the fruit will rot. We do know that Israel became a nation in 1948, and elsewhere in His word it was told us that once that happened, the world would be in its final generation.
We should not let this scare us! It’s a good thing as long as we know what the word of God truly says. The most important truth to know is that the antichrist will arrive on earth first (hence the 6th trump); and Jesus will come to earth after many have bowed to the antichrist (means “instead of Christ”), because they will believe antichrist is the true Christ.
But Jesus’ feet touch the earth at the 7th trump, and those who worshipped the antichrist during his time here will ask for the mountains to fall on them, they will be so ashamed. Yikes.
Amos chapter 8 is a most interesting read (hopefully you will read it in the King James Version of the Bible). In verse 3 the description is of those who are spiritually dead, like so many are at this time in our world.
I’m going to fast forward to verse 11, but in verses 4-10 God talks about those who have put financial oppression and deceit on His people (i.e., the banking industry, which is one of the four worldly dynasties controlled by Satan. The other three are education, politics and religion). Also, note in verse 8 that the “flood” is the flood of lies and deceit that will overwhelm the end time.
Amos 8:11 says, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:”
So when we hear about the famine of the end times, let us not fear our bodies starving; let us instead fear the starvation of our spirits. We see it all around us more and more every day. But there is a solution! Study, learn and understand the true word of God, and you will not be one of those poor starved souls. You will not be fooled by the antichrist, you will wait for Jesus to arrive at the Second Advent, and in the process you will be able to help others not to be fooled.
God has clearly warned us in this chapter not to be fooled by the lies, to know that He is aware of the oppression, and to know and understand the time we live in.
Don’t be deceived! Read and understand God’s word so that you can be fully armored!
God bless you in that endeavor.
Amos 8:1-11
8:1 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
3 And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
KJV
I agree! We will need to make sure our spirits are "fed" to the fullest, in addition to our continuing to leaning heavily on the Holy Spirit so we walk in discernment. Discernment will be the key, as the times will grow darker and people won't know who or what to believe. The Lord showed me some time ago, while reading the Book of Joel (Joel 3:14) that many believers are in the valley of decision and that they are being forced to make a decision as to how much of this world they will continue to allow into their lives, and especially in their walk with God. It is extremely dangerous to our walk with God to use the world as the standard as to how we live our lives. The Holy Scriptures, God's Word, is to be the standard we use when we make the choices that are facing us. We need to be God's standard bearers. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteAwesome words, Fiona, thank you. We MUST realize that the world's standards would be our downfall, and that God's true word is the only standard we can use if we want to inherit eternal life. Not everyone will inherit that eternal life, not even many Christians who don't have discernment. This world is Satan's realm.
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