*Joel 2:1-27 can refer poetically to a literal locust invasion which destroyed ancient Israel's crops (Joel 2:25) sometime before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-18). For the day of the Lord in Joel 2:1-27 can refer to an ancient day of the Lord, like, for example, the ancient day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:2,10. Both of these ancient days of the Lord can be different than the future day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), which will not start until a few years after the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12, Joel 2:31) of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. For the future day of the Lord (Christ) (2 Thessalonians 2:2) will not begin until Jesus Christ's Second Coming (1 Corinthians 1:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10), which will not occur until immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
Joel 2:1 referring only to Zion, the holy mountain, and to the land, can mean that it is referring only to a localized day of the Lord which affected only the ancient Israelites in their land. Joel 2:2 can refer to a huge cloud of literal locusts darkening the skies of Israel. Just as literal ants can be referred to as "a people" (Proverbs 30:25), so a huge cloud of devouring locusts can be referred to poetically as "a great people and a strong" (Joel 2:2). Joel 2:3b describes the effects of a locust invasion, which can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring fire (Joel 2:3a). Joel 2:4 can describe locusts running along the ground as looking like little horses. Joel 2:5 can poetically describe locusts leaping high and devouring every plant down to its stubble. "A strong people set in battle array" (Joel 2:5) brings to mind another poetic description of a locust swarm: "go they forth all of them by bands", that is, distributed into ranks (Proverbs 30:27).
Joel 2:6 can poetically describe the immense grief felt by the ancient Israelites as they witnessed their crops being devoured by the locust swarm. Joel 2:7 can describe locusts running along the ground and climbing up walls. "They shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks" (Joel 2:7) again brings to mind another poetic description of a literal locust swarm: "go they forth all of them by bands" (Proverbs 30:27). Joel 2:8 can refer to the locusts not attacking each other, and to how useless a sword was in fighting them. Because locusts are small and have an exoskeleton, they can just bounce off a swinging sword as they fly along. Joel 2:9 can refer to locusts running along the ground through a city, climbing up the walls of buildings and into windows looking for food anywhere they can.
Joel 2:10 can be poetic hyperbole to express how terrible the locust swarm was to the land of Israel, and how the swarm was so vast that it darkened the skies of Israel. The original Hebrew word ('erets: H0776) translated as "the earth" (Joel 2:10) can refer only to a local area of land (Genesis 2:11,13), like how, for example, our word "earthquake" today can refer only to a local event. Joel 2:11 shows that the literal locust swarm was not from Satan, fallen angels, or evil nephilim, but was considered by God to be His own "army", as it were (Joel 2:25). Joel 2:20 can mean that God's literal locust "army" came from the north into the land of Israel, and the swarm was eventually sent by God into the barren desert, where the locusts died of starvation, and their millions of dead bodies rotted in the sun and sent up a great stench. Joel 2:25 shows that it was literal locusts and other plant-destroying insects which God considered to be "my great army which I sent among you".
Joel 2:28-29 shows that the locusts devoured ancient Israel's crops sometime before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD. For Joel 2:28-29 began to happen sometime "afterward", sometime after the locust invasion of Joel 2:1-27. And Joel 2:28-29 began to happen at the Acts 2 day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-18).
~
(Re: Why would God pour out His Spirit on people because of a literal locust invasion?)
The Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD in Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:16-18 did not happen because of a literal locust invasion, but simply happened sometime "afterward" (Joel 2:28), sometime after the literal locust invasion of Joel 2:1-27.
--
*Joel 2:3 -
(Re: Referring to Revelation 11:5?)
No, for Joel 2:3b describes the effects of a literal locust invasion, which can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring fire (Joel 2:3a), just as, conversely, a literal, devouring fire and sword can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring insect invasion (Nahum 3:15). Also, regarding Revelation 11:5, it does not say that God's future, Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3) will destroy "the land" with fire, but only some individual people who will try to harm them, just as Joel 2:1-27 did not say that its literal locust invasion would kill anyone, but only devour the land, in the sense of its vegetation (Joel 2:25). Also, God's Two Witnesses will not look like horses (Joel 2:4), whereas literal locusts can look like little horses running along the ground.
--
*Joel 2:16 -
Here the bridegroom and bride going forth referred to the need for even literal newlywed bridegrooms and brides at that ancient time to abandon their honeymoons and join in the public fasting and prayer of Joel 2:15-17.
~
In Joel 2:16 the original Hebrew word (qadash: H6942) translated as "sanctify" can simply mean "prepare" (Joel 3:9), and so can be used in the book of Joel in the sense of preparing the people to pray for God's mercy via a fast (Joel 2:15-17, cf. Esther 4:16), including a fast without offerings (Joel 1:13-14).
--
*Joel 2:23 refers to literal rain in two seasons which fell on the land of ancient Israel after a severe locust invasion had destroyed its crops (Joel 2:25) sometime before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:16-18).
--
*Joel 2:28 -
Here, "afterward" means sometime after the events of Joel 2:1-27. (See those verses above)
Joel 2:28-29 began to be fulfilled in the first century AD.
(See Acts 2:16 below)
~
(Re: For Israel?)
Joel 2:28 is a prophecy for New Covenant Israel, which includes both Jewish Christians (Acts 22:3, Romans 11:1) and Gentile Christians (Romans 11:17,24, Ephesians 2:12,19, Galatians 3:29). That is why the promise of God's Holy Spirit in Joel 2:28 is fulfilled for both Jewish Christians (Acts 2:16-17) and Gentile Christians (Acts 10:45).
(See also paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 16:16 below. And see the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 below)
~
(All flesh)
See section 2 of Acts 2:16 below.
--
*Joel 2:30-31 -
This will not be fulfilled until the future Tribulation (Revelation 6:12, Revelation 8:7, Revelation 17:16, Revelation 16:19) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
~
(*Pillars of smoke)
(Re: Are *nuclear weapons referred to in Bible prophecy?)
Possibly, for in Joel 2:30 the "pillars of smoke" bring to mind the stalks of mushroom clouds generated by nuclear detonations, which could occur during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Also, in Ezekiel 21:8-16 the "sword" could represent a nuclear bomb which could be detonated in Israel by Arab Islamic terrorists (Ezekiel 21:12). The sword being "bright" (Ezekiel 21:15) could refer to the stupendous flash of light given off when a nuclear bomb is detonated, as bright as lightning. Indeed, the original Hebrew word (baraq: H1300) translated as "glitter" in Ezekiel 21:10 can be translated as "lightning" (Ezekiel 1:13c).
Also, in Revelation 6:4b the "great sword" could represent Israel's own nuclear weapons, which Israel could employ during a future, all-out war which will begin the future Tribulation, and which war will, with its aftermath of famines and epidemics, end up killing one-fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8b).
(See the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
Also, in Isaiah 54:16 the destroying "waster" could refer to nuclear weapons.
And nuclear weapons could destroy the cities of the nations at the end of the future Tribulation.
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: Regarding your comment on Ezekiel 21:8-16 in the section above, are you saying that God wants His Holy Land to be nuked? To be polluted with radiation?)
No, but God could still allow a part of the Holy Land (such as central Tel Aviv) to be nuked by Arab Islamic terrorists, just as He allowed the Holy Land to be turned into a useless desert by the Arabs for centuries, before the Jews returned in the twentieth century and by their labors began to make their land bloom again.
Also, Jesus Christ can miraculously remedy any radiation problem (even a worldwide one), at His future, Second Coming.
(See paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 13:20 below. And see Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: So where are Arab Islamic terrorists supposed to get a nuke?)
Possibly from North Korea. For North Korea is now being squeezed financially so dramatically that it could soon (in its words) feel "forced" to secretly sell its nukes for millions of dollars in hard cash, not only to Arab Islamic terrorists, but also to Iran.
~
(Re: So how is North Korea supposed to actually deliver a purchased nuke to Arab Islamic terrorists, or to Iran?)
By a plane crossing China, or Russia, or by a train crossing Russia. Indeed, Russia could even knowingly facilitate such a secret delivery, just as it has been Russia which has been secretly facilitating North Korea's nuclear weapons and ICBM programs.
~
(Re: Why would Russia want a nuke in the hands of Arab Islamic terrorists, or Iran?)
So that Israel can be nuked by terrorists, thereby weakening the most important ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Also, Russia is not the enemy of the Arabs or Iran, but is friendly with both of them. So it would not have to fear being nuked by Arabs or Iran.
~
(Re: But is not Russia friendly with Israel as well? And would not Russia have to fear being nuked by Israel in retaliation?)
Russia is friendly with Israel only so far as is in its interests. And Russia could gain strategically in the Middle East by secretly facilitating a terrorist nuking of Israel, which Russia would be extremely-careful (through a whole series of cutouts) to make sure could in no way be traced back to Russia. Also, Russia has thousands of nukes of its own, only a few tens of which would be able to turn all of Israel into molten lava. So Israel would probably not nuke Russia.
~
(Re: What can be done about North Korea's nukes, which it claims it must retain for self-defense against the U.S.?)
North Korea has never needed nukes, or ICBMs for that matter, for its self-defense, just as it did not need them during the Korean War. For North Korea had, and still has, the huge armies of China to back it up against any ground invasion from the U.S. and South Korea.
North Korea only wants nukes and ICBMs to use as bargaining chips to get the U.S. military completely out of South Korea, leaving South Korea helpless against a massive North Korean/Chinese ground invasion.
A U.S. precision-bombing destruction of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs must happen soon, before North Korea figures out (that is, is secretly shown by Russian technicians) how to put nukes on top of its ICBMs, making North Korea able to retaliate with nuclear counterstrikes.
But after a U.S. precision-bombing of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs, South Korea could suffer the deaths of millions of its people during a North Korean conventional counterstrike. So the South Korean capital of Seoul, which lies close to the border with North Korea, will have to be evacuated before the U.S. precision-bombing of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs. This evacuation could be done gradually (i.e. over two or three weeks), and could be explained as necessary due to "mysterious high-radiation levels detected throughout the city, which require temporary evacuation until the source of the radiation has been determined and remedied".
~
(Re: But North Korea has already promised Trump that it will get rid of its nukes)
North Korea's promises are worthless, as past administrations have repeatedly found out. And North Korea has now called the U.S. a "gangster" for making it get rid of its nukes. This means that North Korea wants cash to get rid of its nukes. But even if the cash is paid, North Korea will still keep its nukes, as past administrations have repeatedly found out. For Russia and China will continue to support a nuclear North Korea, such as by illegally feeding it petroleum and other vital supplies which thwart U.S. and U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
~
(Re: Why would Russia want North Korea to continue to have nukes and ICBMs?)
So that North Korea can continue to threaten the U.S. and it allies, and hopefully even strike them one day. Also, if North Korea does do that, such chaos would be unleashed that Russia could then invade and annex the northeastern neck of North Korea stretching from the North Korean border south of the Russian city of Vladivostok down to the rail line running between the North Korean cities of Hyesan and Kimchaek.
Annexing this portion of North Korea would give Russia complete control over North Korea's only nuclear-weapons testing site, which is called Punggye-ri, and which consists of huge tunnels and caverns carved-out deep beneath the granite mountain of Mantap. That is, Russia could say that it needs to annex this part of North Korea "for the good of the region, and the world", to prevent any further development of the North Korean nuclear-weapons program.
Of course, the irony will be that it is Russia-alone which has been secretly helping North Korea at that very site to develop its nuclear weapons. But there is no proof of this Russian assistance which can be obtained at this time by Western intelligence agencies. And Russia's taking-over of Punggye-ri will allow Russia to completely scrub all evidence of Russian assistance at that site. Also, the Russian annexation of the northeastern neck of North Korea will increase its strategic presence on the Sea of Japan, which could be helpful should Russia ever go to war with Japan (such as over the Kuril Islands). Also, the Russian annexation of the northeastern neck of North Korea will increase its strategic encirclement of the northeastern neck of China, which could be helpful should Russia ever go to war with China (such as over a part of far-eastern Siberia).
Also, it is curious that North Korea became amenable to negotiations regarding its nuclear program only after there was a catastrophic collapse of a vast underground cavern at Punggye-ri. For this vast collapse could have rendered the site unusable for future nuclear tests. And Russia could have decided that it could not help North Korea to restore the site without exposing its assistance. Also, world economic sanctions against both North Korea (due to its nuclear program) and against Russia (due to other reasons) have recently become so severe that both North Korea and Russia could have decided to abandon the further development of the North Korean nuclear program (for now) until sanctions are lifted.
Once they are lifted, or even if they aren't, North Korea could resume the development of its nuclear program in secret by digging brand new tunnels under Mantap, or at some other site in North Korea's northeastern neck, such as beneath the mountain of Kwanmo-bong. Indeed, digging various tunnels under Kwanmo-bong to be used as nuclear/ICBM labs and testing facilities could have already secretly begun (with secret Russian assistance), under the guise of some other, civilian plan, such as a massive mining project.
There is no way to pressure North Korea enough to give up its nuclear and ICBM programs, so long as Russia and China continue to support a nuclear North Korea. And there is no way to force Russia and China to stop this support, because of their veto power in the Security Council, and because of their nuclear arsenals, which could be unleashed if they are ever attacked militarily by the U.S.
So there is no solution to the problem of North Korea.
And so its nukes could eventually cause devastation, not only in far-eastern Asia, but also in the Middle East, including Israel.
~
(Re: But how could Russia have kept its nuclear and ICBM assistance to North Korea secret for so long? Would not the West's spy satellites have picked up the movement of Russian technicians crossing the border south of Vladivostok into North Korea?)
Not if they have been travelling to North Korea and back to Russia by submarines. That is, imagine if Russia built a submarine base at Vladivostok with a secret underwater entrance into a vast bunker, so that the West could not pick up the movement of Russian subs into and out of that bunker. And North Korea could have a similar setup at one of its naval bases, so that submarines filled with technicians and key components could travel back and forth between Russia and North Korea without ever being seen.
~
(Re: But could not the West send underwater drones to continually patrol the coastal waters between Vladivostok and North Korean ports, so that any secret submarine movements between them would be detected?)
Not if Russia has set up an underwater fence, whether physical or electronic, in those waters which prevent any Western underwater drones from entering them, or doing so without being detected and destroyed by Russian underwater drones. Also, Russia could surround any of its submarines moving between Vladivostok and North Korea with swarms of underwater drones to detect and destroy any Western drones before they come within range of detecting the submarine. That is, the submarine could stick as close as possible to the coast, with the Russian drones moving to its north, east, and south, but far enough away from the submarine, such as five miles, so that they can detect and destroy any Western drone before it can detect the submarine. Also, the Russian drones could give off powerful sonar blasts in a direction away from the submarine, which would jam any sonar systems on the Western drones.
So there is no way for the West to ever prove by technical means that Russia has been secretly assisting North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs.
There would have to be a breakthrough in humint, such as one of Russia's technicians defecting and spilling the beans. But Russia could have slaughtered almost all of them, as security risks, once they brought North Korea's technicians to a certain level of proficiency. And the few left alive could be kept like prisoners, with no access to anyone outside of the program.
--
*Joel 2:31a refers to the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12), part of the first stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapter 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. The sixth seal will happen only six or seven years before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming.
Joel 2:31b refers to the future Day of the Lord.
(See 2 Thessalonians 2:2 and Revelation 6:12 below)
--
*Joel 2:32a is a present reality for Christians (Romans 10:13), whether Jews or Gentiles (Romans 10:12).
--
*Joel 3 might refer to the Gog/Magog event after the future Millennium, and then blend into the subsequent New Earth and New Jerusalem.
(See Ezekiel 39:22 above, and Revelation 20:7 below)
--
*Amos 1 / *Amos 2 -
Amos chapters 1-2 can refer to God's judgment against various ancient nations by the hands of the Assyrians and/or the subsequent Babylonians. Compare what Isaiah 10:5-6 says. Also, ancient armies used fire to destroy the cities they conquered (Joshua 8:20).
(See Amos 5:18 below)
--
*Amos 5:18-20 / *Amos 5:20 -
This refers to an ancient day of the Lord, like, for example, the ancient day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:2,10. In its context, Amos 5:18-20 is addressing the ancient northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 5:1,4-6,21-27), before God brought punishment and defeat to it (Amos 2:6,14-16, Amos 3:1 to 5:27) in 722 BC, at the hands of the Assyrians, who took Israel into captivity into Assyria, "beyond Damascus" (Amos 5:27).
(See also 2 Thessalonians 2:2 below)
--
*Amos 7:1 was referring to a literal locust invasion which was seen by the prophet Amos in a vision, and which God was about to send against the ancient kingdom of Israel in the time of King Jeroboam (Amos 1:1). This locust invasion was to eat up all of the literal growth of grass sprouted in the fields of Israel after King Jeroboam's mowings of the grass (Amos 7:1b). But God made sure that the locust invasion did not happen (Amos 7:3), after Amos prayed that it not happen (Amos 7:2).
~
(Re: Then can we pray that the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 not happen?)
No, for it must happen (Revelation 1:1, Revelation 4:1, Matthew 24:34-35).
~
(Re: Why?)
So that the evil on the earth (both human and fallen-angelic) can be brought to a head, and defeated all at once (cf. Psalms 92:7, Romans 9:28), by Jesus Christ alone at His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19 to 20:3). This will be to His/God's great glory.
(See also Daniel 12:7b and Daniel 4:25c above)
--
*Amos 7:14-16 -
The ministry of prophets is not based on their backgrounds, but on divine inspiration (Amos 7:14-16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16).
For example, while Jesus Christ was the foretold prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,19 (Acts 3:22-26), and was also a carpenter (Mark 6:3), His parables did not employ analogies based on carpentry. For Jesus was not speaking from His own experience, or His own ideas as a human, but only what God the Father told Him to speak (John 12:49, John 14:24b).
Similarly, whereas Amos was a prophet, and was also a herdman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit (Amos 1:1, Amos 7:14), his message rarely employed herding analogies and never used a sycamore analogy, for, like any prophet speaking the word of God Himself, Amos' message was not based on his own experience, or his own ideas (2 Peter 1:21), but was what God told him to say (Amos 7:15-16).
(Compare section 3 of Jeremiah 1:5 above)
--
*Amos 8:2 -
(Re: A pun)
See Daniel 11:17 above.
--
*Amos 8:9 -
This can refer to a literal darkening of the sky on a clear day at noon by a total solar eclipse. For in Amos 8:9 the original Hebrew word (bow': H0935) translated as "to go down" can simply mean "stricken" (Genesis 24:1).
--
*Amos 8:11-12 -
(Re: It may not be a bad idea to start hoarding KJV Bibles)
Indeed.
And this is very easy to do now, when they only cost a dollar at the dollar store.
But they will need to be well-hidden from "hate speech" police house-searches in our future. Perhaps bury the Bibles in plastic containers in the back yard, and then dig them up and secretly distribute them to fellow Christians after all KJV Bibles have been confiscated by the government. But keep another stash handy in case some of these distributed Bibles get discovered and confiscated as well.
[Amos 8:11-12]
It is very sad that print is becoming more and more obsolete as the internet and electronic devices take over everything. For electronic Bibles (not to mention electronic sermons, Bible discussions, and commentaries) are so much easier for internet companies and the government to delete permanently (as "hate speech") than printed versions, which can be hidden away, and which do not require batteries or anything else electronic in order to read.
Long live print! (Including printed newspapers, the "press" of the U.S. Constitution.) Indeed, long live freedom!
Also, be sure to print out all of these Notes today for future reference, before they disappear from the internet when the future Antichrist comes into power, and even before that, when "hate speech" laws will be instituted by the Supreme Court (without any approval by the People in Congress) to try to counter the (hard, but true) teachings of the KJV Bible.
(See also section 2 of Romans 1:26 below)
--
*Amos 9:6 -
The original Hebrew word (ma`alah: H4609) translated as "stories" can refer to "steps" (2 Chronicles 9:18), as in "stairs" (Nehemiah 12:37).
--
*Amos 9:7 -
(Caphtor / H3731)
See Jeremiah 47:4 above.
~
The original Hebrew word (Qiyr: H7024) transliterated as "Kir" could refer to a region of Assyria (2 Kings 16:9).
--
*Amos 9:9-10 -
This could occur at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming. For Amos 9:11-15 refers to the subsequent Millennium.
--
*Amos 9:11-12 -
See Acts 15:14 below.
--
*Amos 9:14-15 / *Amos 9:15 -
Some people believe that Amos 9:15 applies to the reestablishment of Israel in 1948 AD. But Amos 9:15 could refer to what will happen only at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Isaiah 9:7, Amos 9:11). For Amos 9:14-15 was spoken before the taking of the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity (Amos 8:14, Amos 5:27) by the Assyrians in 722 BC. And so Amos 9:14-15 was spoken before the southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians in 586 BC. But Amos 9:14-15 did not apply to the post-Babylonian-captivity restoration of the Jews to their land in 538 BC, for that restoration was subsequently destroyed by a Roman-empire army in 70 AD. So Amos 9:14-15 does not necessarily apply to the subsequent restoration of the Jews to their land in 1948 AD either. This restoration could be destroyed by the Baathists in a future war (Daniel 11:15-17; in verse 17 the original Hebrew word translated as "daughter" is "bath") at the start of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. Jesus Christ will restore the Davidic kingdom of Israel (Luke 1:32b-33, Isaiah 9:7, Amos 9:11) at His Second Coming (Acts 1:6-7, Acts 3:20-21), which will occur immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:2 to 20:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
(See also section 2 of Matthew 24:34 below)
--
*Obadiah 1:1-21 / *Obad. 1:1 -
Obadiah 1:1-16 can include reference to the destruction of ancient Edom which occurred sometime subsequent to the destruction of ancient Judah by the Babylonians in 586 BC (cf. Jeremiah 27:1-10). Obadiah 1:17-21 can then include reference to the return of the Jews to Judah in 538 BC, after their Babylonian captivity (cf. Psalms 137, Ezekiel 35).
--
*Obadiah 1:15 / *Obad. 1:15 -
This can include reference to an ancient day of the Lord, like, for example, the ancient day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:2,10.
--
*Obadiah 1:20 / *Obad. 1:20 -
"Sepharad" (H5614) could refer to a place in Media, a region in what is now northwestern Iran. But based on the idea that "Sepharad" could refer to Spain, Jews from there are called "Sephardi", like how Jews from Germany are called "Ashkenazi", because Germany was called "Ashkenaz" by Jews.
--
*Obadiah 1:21 / *Obad. 1:21 -
After the return of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity in 538 BC, some of them could have occupied the area of Edom, just as some of them lived there after Judah's destruction in 586 BC (Jeremiah 40:11). And Obadiah 1:21 could have a more complete fulfillment during the future Millennium.
--
*Jonah 3:10 -
(Re: Does not double predestination impugn God's *character?)
No, for God's double predestination (Romans 9:11-24) of who will get initially saved at some point during his lifetime (Acts 13:48b) and who will never get saved (John 8:42-47), does not contradict that God can relent from a specific, temporal judgment, such as in Jonah 3:10. Nor does double predestination strip God of any part of His character, but is based on His characteristics of omnipotent sovereignty (Romans 9:20-24) and omniscient foreknowledge (Isaiah 46:10, Revelation 1:1, Acts 2:23).
(See also the "Vessels of wrath" section of Romans 9:11 below)
--
*Micah 1:3-4 / *Mic. 1:3 -
This in its context could refer symbolically to God bringing about the destruction of ancient Samaria (Micah 1:5-7), the northern kingdom of Israel, in 722 BC.
Also, by itself, Micah 1:3-4 is similar to Zechariah 14:3-5, which shows Jesus Christ literally landing on the Mount of Olives (cf. Acts 1:11-12) and splitting it in two at His future, Second Coming, not to bring destruction, but to provide a way of escape for the Jews in Jerusalem from the battle which will be going on there between the armies of the world on the one hand, and the returning Jesus Himself on the other (Zechariah 14:2-3, Revelation 19:19-21), before He restores Jerusalem and sets up His Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Zechariah 14:8-21, Micah 4:1-4).
--
*Micah 1:6 / *Mic. 1:6 -
This could refer to Samaria's destruction by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
--
*Micah 1:7 / *Mic. 1:7 -
The original Hebrew word ('ethnan: H0868) translated as "hires" could refer to gifts given to a harlot (Hosea 2:5) in exchange for her services (Deuteronomy 23:18). In Micah 1:7, it could be used figuratively to refer to all of the gifts given to the idols in Samaria (Micah 1:6-7) as it committed spiritual harlotry, that is, worshipped pagan gods instead of YHWH God. "Hires" could also include all of the merchandise brought into Samaria during its trade with foreign, pagan countries. Compare Tyre's "hire" in Isaiah 23:17-18.
--
*Micah 1:11 / *Mic. 1:11 -
The original Hebrew word (`emdah: H5979) translated as "standing" could refer to an abode. The "he" who will receive it could be the he in Micah 1:9 who will attack Samaria and the other cities in Micah 1:6-11. The "you" from whom he will receive his abode could be the city of Zaanan in Micah 1:11. That is, he will lodge there for awhile.
-
Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Nov 26, 2018
Joel 2:1 referring only to Zion, the holy mountain, and to the land, can mean that it is referring only to a localized day of the Lord which affected only the ancient Israelites in their land. Joel 2:2 can refer to a huge cloud of literal locusts darkening the skies of Israel. Just as literal ants can be referred to as "a people" (Proverbs 30:25), so a huge cloud of devouring locusts can be referred to poetically as "a great people and a strong" (Joel 2:2). Joel 2:3b describes the effects of a locust invasion, which can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring fire (Joel 2:3a). Joel 2:4 can describe locusts running along the ground as looking like little horses. Joel 2:5 can poetically describe locusts leaping high and devouring every plant down to its stubble. "A strong people set in battle array" (Joel 2:5) brings to mind another poetic description of a locust swarm: "go they forth all of them by bands", that is, distributed into ranks (Proverbs 30:27).
Joel 2:6 can poetically describe the immense grief felt by the ancient Israelites as they witnessed their crops being devoured by the locust swarm. Joel 2:7 can describe locusts running along the ground and climbing up walls. "They shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks" (Joel 2:7) again brings to mind another poetic description of a literal locust swarm: "go they forth all of them by bands" (Proverbs 30:27). Joel 2:8 can refer to the locusts not attacking each other, and to how useless a sword was in fighting them. Because locusts are small and have an exoskeleton, they can just bounce off a swinging sword as they fly along. Joel 2:9 can refer to locusts running along the ground through a city, climbing up the walls of buildings and into windows looking for food anywhere they can.
Joel 2:10 can be poetic hyperbole to express how terrible the locust swarm was to the land of Israel, and how the swarm was so vast that it darkened the skies of Israel. The original Hebrew word ('erets: H0776) translated as "the earth" (Joel 2:10) can refer only to a local area of land (Genesis 2:11,13), like how, for example, our word "earthquake" today can refer only to a local event. Joel 2:11 shows that the literal locust swarm was not from Satan, fallen angels, or evil nephilim, but was considered by God to be His own "army", as it were (Joel 2:25). Joel 2:20 can mean that God's literal locust "army" came from the north into the land of Israel, and the swarm was eventually sent by God into the barren desert, where the locusts died of starvation, and their millions of dead bodies rotted in the sun and sent up a great stench. Joel 2:25 shows that it was literal locusts and other plant-destroying insects which God considered to be "my great army which I sent among you".
Joel 2:28-29 shows that the locusts devoured ancient Israel's crops sometime before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD. For Joel 2:28-29 began to happen sometime "afterward", sometime after the locust invasion of Joel 2:1-27. And Joel 2:28-29 began to happen at the Acts 2 day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-18).
~
(Re: Why would God pour out His Spirit on people because of a literal locust invasion?)
The Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD in Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:16-18 did not happen because of a literal locust invasion, but simply happened sometime "afterward" (Joel 2:28), sometime after the literal locust invasion of Joel 2:1-27.
--
*Joel 2:3 -
(Re: Referring to Revelation 11:5?)
No, for Joel 2:3b describes the effects of a literal locust invasion, which can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring fire (Joel 2:3a), just as, conversely, a literal, devouring fire and sword can be poetically expressed as being like a devouring insect invasion (Nahum 3:15). Also, regarding Revelation 11:5, it does not say that God's future, Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3) will destroy "the land" with fire, but only some individual people who will try to harm them, just as Joel 2:1-27 did not say that its literal locust invasion would kill anyone, but only devour the land, in the sense of its vegetation (Joel 2:25). Also, God's Two Witnesses will not look like horses (Joel 2:4), whereas literal locusts can look like little horses running along the ground.
--
*Joel 2:16 -
Here the bridegroom and bride going forth referred to the need for even literal newlywed bridegrooms and brides at that ancient time to abandon their honeymoons and join in the public fasting and prayer of Joel 2:15-17.
~
In Joel 2:16 the original Hebrew word (qadash: H6942) translated as "sanctify" can simply mean "prepare" (Joel 3:9), and so can be used in the book of Joel in the sense of preparing the people to pray for God's mercy via a fast (Joel 2:15-17, cf. Esther 4:16), including a fast without offerings (Joel 1:13-14).
--
*Joel 2:23 refers to literal rain in two seasons which fell on the land of ancient Israel after a severe locust invasion had destroyed its crops (Joel 2:25) sometime before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost in the first century AD (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:16-18).
--
*Joel 2:28 -
Here, "afterward" means sometime after the events of Joel 2:1-27. (See those verses above)
Joel 2:28-29 began to be fulfilled in the first century AD.
(See Acts 2:16 below)
~
(Re: For Israel?)
Joel 2:28 is a prophecy for New Covenant Israel, which includes both Jewish Christians (Acts 22:3, Romans 11:1) and Gentile Christians (Romans 11:17,24, Ephesians 2:12,19, Galatians 3:29). That is why the promise of God's Holy Spirit in Joel 2:28 is fulfilled for both Jewish Christians (Acts 2:16-17) and Gentile Christians (Acts 10:45).
(See also paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 16:16 below. And see the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 below)
~
(All flesh)
See section 2 of Acts 2:16 below.
--
*Joel 2:30-31 -
This will not be fulfilled until the future Tribulation (Revelation 6:12, Revelation 8:7, Revelation 17:16, Revelation 16:19) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
~
(*Pillars of smoke)
(Re: Are *nuclear weapons referred to in Bible prophecy?)
Possibly, for in Joel 2:30 the "pillars of smoke" bring to mind the stalks of mushroom clouds generated by nuclear detonations, which could occur during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Also, in Ezekiel 21:8-16 the "sword" could represent a nuclear bomb which could be detonated in Israel by Arab Islamic terrorists (Ezekiel 21:12). The sword being "bright" (Ezekiel 21:15) could refer to the stupendous flash of light given off when a nuclear bomb is detonated, as bright as lightning. Indeed, the original Hebrew word (baraq: H1300) translated as "glitter" in Ezekiel 21:10 can be translated as "lightning" (Ezekiel 1:13c).
Also, in Revelation 6:4b the "great sword" could represent Israel's own nuclear weapons, which Israel could employ during a future, all-out war which will begin the future Tribulation, and which war will, with its aftermath of famines and epidemics, end up killing one-fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8b).
(See the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below)
Also, in Isaiah 54:16 the destroying "waster" could refer to nuclear weapons.
And nuclear weapons could destroy the cities of the nations at the end of the future Tribulation.
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: Regarding your comment on Ezekiel 21:8-16 in the section above, are you saying that God wants His Holy Land to be nuked? To be polluted with radiation?)
No, but God could still allow a part of the Holy Land (such as central Tel Aviv) to be nuked by Arab Islamic terrorists, just as He allowed the Holy Land to be turned into a useless desert by the Arabs for centuries, before the Jews returned in the twentieth century and by their labors began to make their land bloom again.
Also, Jesus Christ can miraculously remedy any radiation problem (even a worldwide one), at His future, Second Coming.
(See paragraphs 2-3 of Mark 13:20 below. And see Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: So where are Arab Islamic terrorists supposed to get a nuke?)
Possibly from North Korea. For North Korea is now being squeezed financially so dramatically that it could soon (in its words) feel "forced" to secretly sell its nukes for millions of dollars in hard cash, not only to Arab Islamic terrorists, but also to Iran.
~
(Re: So how is North Korea supposed to actually deliver a purchased nuke to Arab Islamic terrorists, or to Iran?)
By a plane crossing China, or Russia, or by a train crossing Russia. Indeed, Russia could even knowingly facilitate such a secret delivery, just as it has been Russia which has been secretly facilitating North Korea's nuclear weapons and ICBM programs.
~
(Re: Why would Russia want a nuke in the hands of Arab Islamic terrorists, or Iran?)
So that Israel can be nuked by terrorists, thereby weakening the most important ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Also, Russia is not the enemy of the Arabs or Iran, but is friendly with both of them. So it would not have to fear being nuked by Arabs or Iran.
~
(Re: But is not Russia friendly with Israel as well? And would not Russia have to fear being nuked by Israel in retaliation?)
Russia is friendly with Israel only so far as is in its interests. And Russia could gain strategically in the Middle East by secretly facilitating a terrorist nuking of Israel, which Russia would be extremely-careful (through a whole series of cutouts) to make sure could in no way be traced back to Russia. Also, Russia has thousands of nukes of its own, only a few tens of which would be able to turn all of Israel into molten lava. So Israel would probably not nuke Russia.
~
(Re: What can be done about North Korea's nukes, which it claims it must retain for self-defense against the U.S.?)
North Korea has never needed nukes, or ICBMs for that matter, for its self-defense, just as it did not need them during the Korean War. For North Korea had, and still has, the huge armies of China to back it up against any ground invasion from the U.S. and South Korea.
North Korea only wants nukes and ICBMs to use as bargaining chips to get the U.S. military completely out of South Korea, leaving South Korea helpless against a massive North Korean/Chinese ground invasion.
A U.S. precision-bombing destruction of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs must happen soon, before North Korea figures out (that is, is secretly shown by Russian technicians) how to put nukes on top of its ICBMs, making North Korea able to retaliate with nuclear counterstrikes.
But after a U.S. precision-bombing of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs, South Korea could suffer the deaths of millions of its people during a North Korean conventional counterstrike. So the South Korean capital of Seoul, which lies close to the border with North Korea, will have to be evacuated before the U.S. precision-bombing of North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs. This evacuation could be done gradually (i.e. over two or three weeks), and could be explained as necessary due to "mysterious high-radiation levels detected throughout the city, which require temporary evacuation until the source of the radiation has been determined and remedied".
~
(Re: But North Korea has already promised Trump that it will get rid of its nukes)
North Korea's promises are worthless, as past administrations have repeatedly found out. And North Korea has now called the U.S. a "gangster" for making it get rid of its nukes. This means that North Korea wants cash to get rid of its nukes. But even if the cash is paid, North Korea will still keep its nukes, as past administrations have repeatedly found out. For Russia and China will continue to support a nuclear North Korea, such as by illegally feeding it petroleum and other vital supplies which thwart U.S. and U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
~
(Re: Why would Russia want North Korea to continue to have nukes and ICBMs?)
So that North Korea can continue to threaten the U.S. and it allies, and hopefully even strike them one day. Also, if North Korea does do that, such chaos would be unleashed that Russia could then invade and annex the northeastern neck of North Korea stretching from the North Korean border south of the Russian city of Vladivostok down to the rail line running between the North Korean cities of Hyesan and Kimchaek.
Annexing this portion of North Korea would give Russia complete control over North Korea's only nuclear-weapons testing site, which is called Punggye-ri, and which consists of huge tunnels and caverns carved-out deep beneath the granite mountain of Mantap. That is, Russia could say that it needs to annex this part of North Korea "for the good of the region, and the world", to prevent any further development of the North Korean nuclear-weapons program.
Of course, the irony will be that it is Russia-alone which has been secretly helping North Korea at that very site to develop its nuclear weapons. But there is no proof of this Russian assistance which can be obtained at this time by Western intelligence agencies. And Russia's taking-over of Punggye-ri will allow Russia to completely scrub all evidence of Russian assistance at that site. Also, the Russian annexation of the northeastern neck of North Korea will increase its strategic presence on the Sea of Japan, which could be helpful should Russia ever go to war with Japan (such as over the Kuril Islands). Also, the Russian annexation of the northeastern neck of North Korea will increase its strategic encirclement of the northeastern neck of China, which could be helpful should Russia ever go to war with China (such as over a part of far-eastern Siberia).
Also, it is curious that North Korea became amenable to negotiations regarding its nuclear program only after there was a catastrophic collapse of a vast underground cavern at Punggye-ri. For this vast collapse could have rendered the site unusable for future nuclear tests. And Russia could have decided that it could not help North Korea to restore the site without exposing its assistance. Also, world economic sanctions against both North Korea (due to its nuclear program) and against Russia (due to other reasons) have recently become so severe that both North Korea and Russia could have decided to abandon the further development of the North Korean nuclear program (for now) until sanctions are lifted.
Once they are lifted, or even if they aren't, North Korea could resume the development of its nuclear program in secret by digging brand new tunnels under Mantap, or at some other site in North Korea's northeastern neck, such as beneath the mountain of Kwanmo-bong. Indeed, digging various tunnels under Kwanmo-bong to be used as nuclear/ICBM labs and testing facilities could have already secretly begun (with secret Russian assistance), under the guise of some other, civilian plan, such as a massive mining project.
There is no way to pressure North Korea enough to give up its nuclear and ICBM programs, so long as Russia and China continue to support a nuclear North Korea. And there is no way to force Russia and China to stop this support, because of their veto power in the Security Council, and because of their nuclear arsenals, which could be unleashed if they are ever attacked militarily by the U.S.
So there is no solution to the problem of North Korea.
And so its nukes could eventually cause devastation, not only in far-eastern Asia, but also in the Middle East, including Israel.
~
(Re: But how could Russia have kept its nuclear and ICBM assistance to North Korea secret for so long? Would not the West's spy satellites have picked up the movement of Russian technicians crossing the border south of Vladivostok into North Korea?)
Not if they have been travelling to North Korea and back to Russia by submarines. That is, imagine if Russia built a submarine base at Vladivostok with a secret underwater entrance into a vast bunker, so that the West could not pick up the movement of Russian subs into and out of that bunker. And North Korea could have a similar setup at one of its naval bases, so that submarines filled with technicians and key components could travel back and forth between Russia and North Korea without ever being seen.
~
(Re: But could not the West send underwater drones to continually patrol the coastal waters between Vladivostok and North Korean ports, so that any secret submarine movements between them would be detected?)
Not if Russia has set up an underwater fence, whether physical or electronic, in those waters which prevent any Western underwater drones from entering them, or doing so without being detected and destroyed by Russian underwater drones. Also, Russia could surround any of its submarines moving between Vladivostok and North Korea with swarms of underwater drones to detect and destroy any Western drones before they come within range of detecting the submarine. That is, the submarine could stick as close as possible to the coast, with the Russian drones moving to its north, east, and south, but far enough away from the submarine, such as five miles, so that they can detect and destroy any Western drone before it can detect the submarine. Also, the Russian drones could give off powerful sonar blasts in a direction away from the submarine, which would jam any sonar systems on the Western drones.
So there is no way for the West to ever prove by technical means that Russia has been secretly assisting North Korea's nuclear and ICBM programs.
There would have to be a breakthrough in humint, such as one of Russia's technicians defecting and spilling the beans. But Russia could have slaughtered almost all of them, as security risks, once they brought North Korea's technicians to a certain level of proficiency. And the few left alive could be kept like prisoners, with no access to anyone outside of the program.
--
*Joel 2:31a refers to the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12), part of the first stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapter 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. The sixth seal will happen only six or seven years before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming.
Joel 2:31b refers to the future Day of the Lord.
(See 2 Thessalonians 2:2 and Revelation 6:12 below)
--
*Joel 2:32a is a present reality for Christians (Romans 10:13), whether Jews or Gentiles (Romans 10:12).
--
*Joel 3 might refer to the Gog/Magog event after the future Millennium, and then blend into the subsequent New Earth and New Jerusalem.
(See Ezekiel 39:22 above, and Revelation 20:7 below)
--
*Amos 1 / *Amos 2 -
Amos chapters 1-2 can refer to God's judgment against various ancient nations by the hands of the Assyrians and/or the subsequent Babylonians. Compare what Isaiah 10:5-6 says. Also, ancient armies used fire to destroy the cities they conquered (Joshua 8:20).
(See Amos 5:18 below)
--
*Amos 5:18-20 / *Amos 5:20 -
This refers to an ancient day of the Lord, like, for example, the ancient day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:2,10. In its context, Amos 5:18-20 is addressing the ancient northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 5:1,4-6,21-27), before God brought punishment and defeat to it (Amos 2:6,14-16, Amos 3:1 to 5:27) in 722 BC, at the hands of the Assyrians, who took Israel into captivity into Assyria, "beyond Damascus" (Amos 5:27).
(See also 2 Thessalonians 2:2 below)
--
*Amos 7:1 was referring to a literal locust invasion which was seen by the prophet Amos in a vision, and which God was about to send against the ancient kingdom of Israel in the time of King Jeroboam (Amos 1:1). This locust invasion was to eat up all of the literal growth of grass sprouted in the fields of Israel after King Jeroboam's mowings of the grass (Amos 7:1b). But God made sure that the locust invasion did not happen (Amos 7:3), after Amos prayed that it not happen (Amos 7:2).
~
(Re: Then can we pray that the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 not happen?)
No, for it must happen (Revelation 1:1, Revelation 4:1, Matthew 24:34-35).
~
(Re: Why?)
So that the evil on the earth (both human and fallen-angelic) can be brought to a head, and defeated all at once (cf. Psalms 92:7, Romans 9:28), by Jesus Christ alone at His future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19 to 20:3). This will be to His/God's great glory.
(See also Daniel 12:7b and Daniel 4:25c above)
--
*Amos 7:14-16 -
The ministry of prophets is not based on their backgrounds, but on divine inspiration (Amos 7:14-16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16).
For example, while Jesus Christ was the foretold prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,19 (Acts 3:22-26), and was also a carpenter (Mark 6:3), His parables did not employ analogies based on carpentry. For Jesus was not speaking from His own experience, or His own ideas as a human, but only what God the Father told Him to speak (John 12:49, John 14:24b).
Similarly, whereas Amos was a prophet, and was also a herdman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit (Amos 1:1, Amos 7:14), his message rarely employed herding analogies and never used a sycamore analogy, for, like any prophet speaking the word of God Himself, Amos' message was not based on his own experience, or his own ideas (2 Peter 1:21), but was what God told him to say (Amos 7:15-16).
(Compare section 3 of Jeremiah 1:5 above)
--
*Amos 8:2 -
(Re: A pun)
See Daniel 11:17 above.
--
*Amos 8:9 -
This can refer to a literal darkening of the sky on a clear day at noon by a total solar eclipse. For in Amos 8:9 the original Hebrew word (bow': H0935) translated as "to go down" can simply mean "stricken" (Genesis 24:1).
--
*Amos 8:11-12 -
(Re: It may not be a bad idea to start hoarding KJV Bibles)
Indeed.
And this is very easy to do now, when they only cost a dollar at the dollar store.
But they will need to be well-hidden from "hate speech" police house-searches in our future. Perhaps bury the Bibles in plastic containers in the back yard, and then dig them up and secretly distribute them to fellow Christians after all KJV Bibles have been confiscated by the government. But keep another stash handy in case some of these distributed Bibles get discovered and confiscated as well.
[Amos 8:11-12]
It is very sad that print is becoming more and more obsolete as the internet and electronic devices take over everything. For electronic Bibles (not to mention electronic sermons, Bible discussions, and commentaries) are so much easier for internet companies and the government to delete permanently (as "hate speech") than printed versions, which can be hidden away, and which do not require batteries or anything else electronic in order to read.
Long live print! (Including printed newspapers, the "press" of the U.S. Constitution.) Indeed, long live freedom!
Also, be sure to print out all of these Notes today for future reference, before they disappear from the internet when the future Antichrist comes into power, and even before that, when "hate speech" laws will be instituted by the Supreme Court (without any approval by the People in Congress) to try to counter the (hard, but true) teachings of the KJV Bible.
(See also section 2 of Romans 1:26 below)
--
*Amos 9:6 -
The original Hebrew word (ma`alah: H4609) translated as "stories" can refer to "steps" (2 Chronicles 9:18), as in "stairs" (Nehemiah 12:37).
--
*Amos 9:7 -
(Caphtor / H3731)
See Jeremiah 47:4 above.
~
The original Hebrew word (Qiyr: H7024) transliterated as "Kir" could refer to a region of Assyria (2 Kings 16:9).
--
*Amos 9:9-10 -
This could occur at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming. For Amos 9:11-15 refers to the subsequent Millennium.
--
*Amos 9:11-12 -
See Acts 15:14 below.
--
*Amos 9:14-15 / *Amos 9:15 -
Some people believe that Amos 9:15 applies to the reestablishment of Israel in 1948 AD. But Amos 9:15 could refer to what will happen only at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Isaiah 9:7, Amos 9:11). For Amos 9:14-15 was spoken before the taking of the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity (Amos 8:14, Amos 5:27) by the Assyrians in 722 BC. And so Amos 9:14-15 was spoken before the southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians in 586 BC. But Amos 9:14-15 did not apply to the post-Babylonian-captivity restoration of the Jews to their land in 538 BC, for that restoration was subsequently destroyed by a Roman-empire army in 70 AD. So Amos 9:14-15 does not necessarily apply to the subsequent restoration of the Jews to their land in 1948 AD either. This restoration could be destroyed by the Baathists in a future war (Daniel 11:15-17; in verse 17 the original Hebrew word translated as "daughter" is "bath") at the start of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. Jesus Christ will restore the Davidic kingdom of Israel (Luke 1:32b-33, Isaiah 9:7, Amos 9:11) at His Second Coming (Acts 1:6-7, Acts 3:20-21), which will occur immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:2 to 20:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
(See also section 2 of Matthew 24:34 below)
--
*Obadiah 1:1-21 / *Obad. 1:1 -
Obadiah 1:1-16 can include reference to the destruction of ancient Edom which occurred sometime subsequent to the destruction of ancient Judah by the Babylonians in 586 BC (cf. Jeremiah 27:1-10). Obadiah 1:17-21 can then include reference to the return of the Jews to Judah in 538 BC, after their Babylonian captivity (cf. Psalms 137, Ezekiel 35).
--
*Obadiah 1:15 / *Obad. 1:15 -
This can include reference to an ancient day of the Lord, like, for example, the ancient day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:2,10.
--
*Obadiah 1:20 / *Obad. 1:20 -
"Sepharad" (H5614) could refer to a place in Media, a region in what is now northwestern Iran. But based on the idea that "Sepharad" could refer to Spain, Jews from there are called "Sephardi", like how Jews from Germany are called "Ashkenazi", because Germany was called "Ashkenaz" by Jews.
--
*Obadiah 1:21 / *Obad. 1:21 -
After the return of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity in 538 BC, some of them could have occupied the area of Edom, just as some of them lived there after Judah's destruction in 586 BC (Jeremiah 40:11). And Obadiah 1:21 could have a more complete fulfillment during the future Millennium.
--
*Jonah 3:10 -
(Re: Does not double predestination impugn God's *character?)
No, for God's double predestination (Romans 9:11-24) of who will get initially saved at some point during his lifetime (Acts 13:48b) and who will never get saved (John 8:42-47), does not contradict that God can relent from a specific, temporal judgment, such as in Jonah 3:10. Nor does double predestination strip God of any part of His character, but is based on His characteristics of omnipotent sovereignty (Romans 9:20-24) and omniscient foreknowledge (Isaiah 46:10, Revelation 1:1, Acts 2:23).
(See also the "Vessels of wrath" section of Romans 9:11 below)
--
*Micah 1:3-4 / *Mic. 1:3 -
This in its context could refer symbolically to God bringing about the destruction of ancient Samaria (Micah 1:5-7), the northern kingdom of Israel, in 722 BC.
Also, by itself, Micah 1:3-4 is similar to Zechariah 14:3-5, which shows Jesus Christ literally landing on the Mount of Olives (cf. Acts 1:11-12) and splitting it in two at His future, Second Coming, not to bring destruction, but to provide a way of escape for the Jews in Jerusalem from the battle which will be going on there between the armies of the world on the one hand, and the returning Jesus Himself on the other (Zechariah 14:2-3, Revelation 19:19-21), before He restores Jerusalem and sets up His Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Zechariah 14:8-21, Micah 4:1-4).
--
*Micah 1:6 / *Mic. 1:6 -
This could refer to Samaria's destruction by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
--
*Micah 1:7 / *Mic. 1:7 -
The original Hebrew word ('ethnan: H0868) translated as "hires" could refer to gifts given to a harlot (Hosea 2:5) in exchange for her services (Deuteronomy 23:18). In Micah 1:7, it could be used figuratively to refer to all of the gifts given to the idols in Samaria (Micah 1:6-7) as it committed spiritual harlotry, that is, worshipped pagan gods instead of YHWH God. "Hires" could also include all of the merchandise brought into Samaria during its trade with foreign, pagan countries. Compare Tyre's "hire" in Isaiah 23:17-18.
--
*Micah 1:11 / *Mic. 1:11 -
The original Hebrew word (`emdah: H5979) translated as "standing" could refer to an abode. The "he" who will receive it could be the he in Micah 1:9 who will attack Samaria and the other cities in Micah 1:6-11. The "you" from whom he will receive his abode could be the city of Zaanan in Micah 1:11. That is, he will lodge there for awhile.
-
Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Nov 26, 2018
