 |
 |
“A Famine...of Hearing the Words of Yehovah”
Is Amos 8:11 A Fulfilled Prophecy, or For The End Time?
Chapter 21 Preview: It seems that many people have an explanation for the prophecy that mentions the time when there will be a famine of the hearing of the words of Yehovah [God]. There are several explanations, but they seldom use any of the context of Amos 8. This chapter explores when the famine begins and when it ends, using Amos’ own words. The typical explanation goes something like this: “Listen to me, true church, while you can, and pay me your tithes, before it’s too late!”
This chapter in Amos starts off peachy enough—referring to some picturesque fruit—but fresh fruit in a bad environment soon becomes spoiled. That is what appears to be alluded to as the chapter begins.
Amos 8:1 The Sovereign Yehovah showed me a basket of summer fruit!—The Gabriel Bible
But why couldn’t the “famine of the word” prophecy be about the very end of this age, rather than something about a church? After all, even during the worst period in world history, there will be two witnesses warning the world to repent before the year long Day of the Lord Yehovah. Also during the Great Tribulation an angel (messenger) will also be warning people about the beast and his image, so there’s no famine even then!
Amos 8:2 He asked me, “Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then Yehovah told me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I won’t spare them any longer.”
Why couldn’t this prophecy be widely warned about starting immediately after the abomination that takes place inside the coming third temple, that marks the first day of the 3.5 year long Great Tribulation?
The famine begins just as “The entire land will rise like the Nile River, and it will be tossed up and sink again, like the River of Egypt” (Amos 8:8.) When is the last time that happened? And “When That Day Comes,” declares the Sovereign Yehovah, “I’ll cause the sun to set at noon, and I’ll darken the earth in broad daylight.” The Beast’s defilement of the coming temple is when the warnings about the coming famine begin to reach a fever pitch!
But while this warning is going out to the whole world, Satan and his friends will be making life almost unbearable. Refusing the Beast’s mark will cost many people their lives. But their death by martyrdom will save their lives!
V.3 When That Day Comes* the songs in the 'Temple' [1] will turn to wailing,” declares the Sovereign Yehovah. “So many dead bodies! They’re strewn everywhere! Silence!”
[1] This chapter spans from the building of the third temple, to the time just after the two witnesses are killed. Then verse 9 describes the first day of the Day of Yehovah. Ample warning had just been given over a period of 1,260 days. Only after all of this warning is there a famine of the Word! Verse 8 clinches that this is indeed a novel time.Sabbath breaking and greed is the reason for the above events! Same goes for “Sabbatical Years”.
V.4-7 Listen to this, you who trample on the needy, and cause the poor of the land to cease [harvesting free grain]. 5 They’re saying, “When will the New Moon be over, so we can sell grain? And the 'Sabbatical Year' [listen to minutes 21-26] end, so that we can market wheat, skimping on the ephahs, overcharging the shekels, and cheating with rigged scales, 6 so that we can buy the poor with silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell chaff with the wheat?” 7 Yehovah has sworn by the Excellency of Jacob, “I’ll never forget anything they’ve done.
When Yeshua was murdered there was a foreshadowing of the darkness and the massive earthquake that will rock the entire world (Revelation 16:18).
Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44 all refer to a time when the forshadowing occurred, and furthermore it was at the “sixth hour” or noon, as is commonly understood to be the then current way of reckoning time. No other such darkening with quaking is mentioned in the Bible, but the massive encore will happen again and I surmise that it will also be at noon. Revelation 6:12 includes both of these highly unusual events: “...a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth”. So it appears that at least two of the incidents that occurred at the crucifixion of the Lamb of Elohim will also occur during the “Day of Yehovah” (the Lord) when the Passover Lamb returns. (Revelation 14:1 & 4)
But there is another clue! The statement “like someone mourns for their only son” alludes to a specific prophecy that occurs before the Famine! Mourning before the famine will turn to a different kind of mourning for those who repent before the famine!
Zechariah 12:10“Then I’ll pour on the family of David and on the residents of Jerusalem the spirit of favor and a plea for mercy. They’ll see Me (Aleph Tav) [Alpha Omega], the One they’ve pierced, and they’ll mourn for Him, as someone mourns over a firstborn. [2]
[2] Aleph Tav hidden in the Hebrew text here [= Alpha & Omega in Greek] Yeshua is One who was pierced, and knowledge of this will eventually bring about planet wide mourning and sorrow! The Hebrew letters Aleph & Tav, (equivalent to the Greek Alpha and Omega), are left untranslated thruout the Scriptures in pertinent places, in reference to Yeshua, the Alpha & Omega!Only after all this does Amos mention the famine:
Amos 8:11 The time will come,” declares the Sovereign Yehovah, “when I’ll send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of Yehovah! 12 They’ll wander from sea to sea, and from the north clear to the east, they’ll roam around searching for the Word of Yehovah, but they won’t find it.
Why “hearing the Words”? People almost always seek a guru to speak soft words to them. There has never been a shortage of people to fill this “need”, but they usually don’t truly speak for Yehovah. This has been the case since the fall of the last temple. Most professing cherished ones (saints) have absolutely no use for “the temple”. Yet Yeshua (Jesus) was continually concerning Himself with the temple. He called it His Father’s house. It did not really belong to the Jews!
The following verse seems to have a specific local application. If men were to run south they would die in the desert. If they ran west they would drown in the Mediterranean sea.
V.12 The land will mourn, each tribe by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves;
Since the time when the envoys (apostles) were primarily finished with their work—that roughly coincides with the fall of the temple—there has been a scarcity of hearing the word, but never a famine. (In this case spiritual food, as in Matthew 5:6) It does not imply a time when there is no food. The scarcity has extended to this very day! The conditions described in this chapter pertain to the general populace of Israel, and even “the select” (elect), Yeshua’s chosen. The first ray of hope is the Two Witnesses. In Revelation 2 and 3—a book entirely about end time prophecy, John addressed the seven divisions of the end time Assemblies (wrongly translated churches). He compared the situation to his own day and age describing seven local congregations. Most of the Seven Assemblies are a sorry lot—filled with confusion, division and heresy, but they are still the only seven that the Father and Son are directly working with. Other “churches” do not possess the identifing sign!
It’s no wonder that so many young people are already stressed:
V.13 When That Day Comes beautiful virgins and young men will faint for thirst.
The closing verse of the chapter points to the problem and the solution! False religion prevails, but it will cease as soon as the famine is over. After all of the prophecies are fulfilled, the false religions will “never rise up again.”
V.14 Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria [the golden calf], who say, ‘As your god lives, Dan,’ and, ‘As the Way † of Beersheba lives,’ they’ll fall and never rise again:
“The men of Hamath made Ashima. - There are several cities and countries which go under the name of Hamath; but what we take to be here meant is that province of Syria which lies upon the Orontes, wherein there was a city of the same name; which when Shalmaneser had taken, he removed the inhabitants from thence into Samaria. Their idol Ashima signifies the atoner or expiator, from [Chaldee font] asham. The word [sin] is in a Chaldee form, and seems to be the same as [Chaldee font?] ashmath Shomeron, the sin of Samaria, mentioned Amos viii. 14, where ashmath is rendered by the LXX [as] propitiation. It is known to every one who has the least acquaintance with the mythology of the heathen, how strongly and universally they retained the tradition of an atonement or expiation for sin, although they expected it from a false object and wrong means.”—Clarke’s Commentary
Apparently, the Danites worshiped a foreign god by the name of Yahweh, as well as his consort/s or Asherahs). The tribe of Dan is not mentioned in the Bible after Amos 8.
Things have not improved, they just change over time.
The miraculous signs that occurred following the crucifixion: the resurrections, the tearing of the temple veil, the darkness and the earthquake were only the first of such signs portending the beginning of the famine. The Shekinahl left the Temple at this time. Verses 4-6 of Amos 8 seem to pertain to the renewed temple practices likely beginning in March or April 2024.
According to the Talmud, the eternal flame or “the western light” in the temple was extinguished every night for forty years by an unseen hand. Furthermore, every year on the Day of Atonements “the crimson thread remained crimson” which is another miraculous event explained in Talmudic Evidence for the Messiah at 30 C.E. (It took a year for captive Israelite labor to destroy their own temple. The forty years in this link is actually 31 AD to 71 AD.) Also the temple doors swung open every night for the forty years and then there is the miracle of the lot also in the above link.
Judaism has a saying:
“We are taught that for each generation that does not experience the reconstruction of the Temple that it is as though the Temple was destroyed in that generation. Thus, one cannot condemn any generation that fails to brings the world to completion without including his own, with himself included.” —Jewish America)
Yehovah expressed His displeasure with Jerusalem for forty years before a literal famine set in. Those who could have set things straight continued in their stubborn ways for forty years before Elohim quit “speaking to them” each night.
Since the days of the Envoys there has been “little to write home about”. Every “prophet” out there claims to have a corner on the truth. Some teach enough for their followers to obtain eternal Life, yet they endorse other teachings that are rooted in the religion of ancient Babylon, or the reformations of Constantine. Most teachers don’t possess the minimum requirement of truth (Revelation 22:14) to benefit their followers. Why was nothing of great interest prophesied to happen between the Envoys time and ours? Whatever the reason, the spiritual food shortage will take a reprieve before the famine, but as the “marriage supper” awaits on the horizon. But who is really getting married at this “marriage supper?”
“Come out of her [Babylon] My people”
Here is another commonly abused verse—twisted to state that you must leave your current sect or denomination or church. Perhaps you should, but that is not the point of this warning! Some prophets, (that is Biblically speaking, anyone who claims to be speaking under the inspiration of Yehovah,) acknowledge that there is nothing but utter confusion in the realm of religion. Some of these men repeatedly refer to a verse from the book of Revelation to reason with their audience to side with them against the “Babylonians”:
Revelation 18:4 I heard another voice from the sky saying, “COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE [1] so that you don’t participate in her sins, and 'suffer from' her plagues.
[1] But this is not saying that you are in the wrong “Church” (tho you might be). What it is saying is that if you live in the modern nation of Babylon—FLEE! This is as literal as the rest of the book. It means escape from the modern antitype of Babylon—or die. The last time that Israel was conquered by Babylonians, was it, by figurative Babylonians or literal ones?
But is this really a statement from Yehovah to choose one “church” over another? Granted, some are better than others, but to claim that is what Elohim is concerned with here is a crazed fantasy! A little context, when understood literally, makes this a plea for end time Israel—and by this time in prophecy Israel will know who she is—to flee the area of their captivity or die in modern Babylon. Yehovah is as serious as when He had Lot and his family flee from Sodom. Check out the preceding verses. It concerns the end time political and military and yes religious power that will have become the “northern army”—a new superpower. No, it is not New York city or any part of the twelve nations of Israel—they are the captives not the captors! Make a note of that. In fact those who make such statements are “confused”! But then, Babel means confusion in Hebrew. The last time that Israel was conquered by Babylon, was it to figurative or literal Babylonians?
Revelation 18:2-3 He shouted with a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great. She has become a cavern of demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, a home of every 'unkosher' and highly detestable bird, and the home of every 'unkosher' and highly detestable predatory beast. 3 Every nation has drunk the wine of her rage, and the kings of the earth have participated in her prostitution. The merchants of the earth have become rich by her lust for power.
Read the entire chapter. It concerns the real capital city of the coming empire.
Revelation 18:21-24 A messenger picked up a stone like a giant millstone, and threw it into the sea and said, “This is how violently the great state of Babylon will be thrown down, and it will never be found again. 22 The 'sound' of musicians playing harps and flutes and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again. [3] 23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the most influential men on earth, and every nation was seduced by your pharmakeia. 24 The blood of prophets, the 'select', and everyone who has been murdered on the earth was found in her.
[3] The Greek adds: “The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.”
The great spiritual famine will last exactly one year! That year is the Jubilee year immediately following the seven year long Shemitah/Tribulation period. Isaiah chapter 34 provides a great deal of the context. Here is the punch line:
Isaiah 34:8 It is the Day of Yehovah’s Vengeance, a Year of Payback settling the dispute (retribution) over Zion!
Daniel also prophesied about this end time superpower. He called it “the King[dom] of the North”. It will be a European based superpower that will be warring against a confederation of Arab nations known as “the King[dom] of the South”. At a point in time the Beast in charge of the Northern Army will make a “temporary” base of operations. I believe that place will be “between the sea and the beautiful 'special' mountain”. Saddam Hussein actually began to rebuild old Babylon and placed many fine buildings there.
The people of Edom, Moab and Ammon (modern Jordan) will be allied with the Beast and therefore be spared. Later both modern Jordan and Judah will be punished together by Yehovah (Jeremiah 9:25-26). Eventually Israel will control Jordan (Isaiah 11:14). But should anyone flee to Jordan (say to Petra) for safety before the twelve tribes of Israel control the area (during the Everlasting Kingdom) they will be sorely disappointed! Yet for some there is a place of refuge.
Daniel 11:40-45 At the time of the end the King of the South will wage war with him, and the King of the North [Antimessiah] will storm against him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships, and he’ll invade many countries, and overwhelm them like a flood and pass thru their land. 41 [The Antimessiah] will also invade the Beautiful Land [Israel], and many countries will be overthrown, but these will be spared from his grasp: Edom, Moab and most of the descendants of AMMON [4]. [home of Petra!] 42 He’ll 'conquer many' countries. The land of Egypt won’t escape. 43 He’ll take control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Nubians will also be in submission. 44 But then news from the EAST and the NORTH will quickly alarm him, and he [Antimessiah] will leave in a great rage to destroy and completely exterminate many. 45 He’ll pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the beautiful 'special' mountain, yet he’ll come to his end, and no one will help him.
[4] See Zephaniah 2:8-10 and Ezekiel 25There is a parallel account of this fall of Babylon. Again notice that this is not a plea to change churches. Coming out of a religious body that teaches fairy tales rather than Elohim’s Law is absolutely something that you should do as soon as you know to do it. But coming out of the prophesied Babylon is not something that you can do unless you are literally in captivity (even if you don’t fully realize it yet!). This is about the second exodus to the promised land!
Jeremiah 51:6-8 So flee from the 'vicinity' of Babylon! [2] Escape with your lives! Don’t die when she’s punished, because this is the time of Yehovah’s vengeance (Jeremiah 50:28). He’s going to pay her what she deserves! 7 Babylon has been a gold cup in Yehovah’s hand, intoxicating the entire earth, the nations drank her wine. That’s why the nations have gone insane. 8 Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered. They [good people] cried for her! They got balm for her wounds; hoping she’d be healed. Jeremiah 8:22)
[2] Verse 5, implicated Israel and Judah. Verse 4 has Babylonians being cut down in the streets, and verse 6 urging Israel AND Judah to flee indicates that Israel and Judah are living in a land full of guilt. So implement verse 6 and flee!
Perhaps using the phrase “Come out of her My people” would be a good metaphor for coming out of false religion, were it not for the fact that so many people use the phrase who are totally oblivious to the harsh literal reality of the coming captivity. If even one captive goes out looking for a new church, when he should be fleeing his Babylonian captors—when the time comes—then it will be due to the bloody hands of these ministers. Unfortunately, the vast majority will be acting on false information.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. “Because you’ve rejected knowledge, I also reject you as My priests. Since you’ve ignored your Elohim’s Torah, I’ll ignore your children.
Even the “great multitude” or “enormous crowd” of Israelites who are precious to Yehovah will have to endure the Great Tribulation due to a lack of knowledge.
Revelation 7:9-14 After this I saw an enormous crowd of people that no one could count, from every people, nation, tribe and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the Lamb, wearing white robes, and they were holding palms in their hands. 10 They were shouting, “eternal life to Yehovah, to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” 11 All the messengers stood around the throne with the Elders and the four living beings, and they bowed facedown in front of His throne and worshiped Yehovah, 12 and said, “Aw-main'. Blessing and praise and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to Yehovah forever and ever, Aw-main'.’” 13 Then One of the Elders turned and asked me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where do they come from?” 14 I said, “Friend, you know.” He replied, “These are the ones who are coming out [2] of the Great Tribulation. They’ve washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
[2] “The verb form in the Greek for ‘come’ is present participle.” This is an ongoing process! They survive the Great Tribulation! See any “Literal” translation.
This is not just any Tribulation, it is the only reference to “THE Great Tribulation”!
And yes, Hosea was talking about about our generation more than the first captivity:
Hosea 4:1-3 Hear the Word of Yehovah, people of Israel. Yehovah has a covenantal lawsuit against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth, loyalty or knowledge of Elohim in the land. 2 There is only cursing, lying, murder, theft and adultery. They resort to violence and bloodshed. 3 So the land is in mourning, and everyone who lives there is wasting away, along with the wild animals and the birds from the air. Even the fish of the sea are disappearing.
The Envoy John spoke of the same devastating time as did Hosea, in fact he left clues linking Revelation to the prophecies of Hosea—here’s one:
Hosea 10:8...They’ll say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!”
Revelation 6:16-17 and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the One sitting on the throne AND from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because The Great Day of Their anger has come, and who is able to 'survive' that?” [Isaiah 34:4,8]
Modern Israel can’t handle the truth, yet the day of reckoning draws ever closer:
Hosea 9:7 The days of accountability have come. The days of compensation have come. Israel will know that their prophets are fools and their 'inspirational men' are insane, because of the vast number of your sins and the great hatred.
(The prophet”—Machmad—in Hebrew and Arabic, may be a play on words as it is also an apparent reference to Mohammed—yet Israel has always disputed the sanity of her true prophets.)
If my counting is right here, the Year of Retribution (and that famine) begins in the spring of 2031.
Food For Thought
John Swinton, preeminent New York journalist circa 1880 said to the press:
“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.”
Chapter 22 is Ezekiel’s Warning to Israel & Judah & Gog & Magog
