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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. |
In that day --In the Millennial Age. R2670:4, R1710:5
A fountain opened – The great washing time. R2670:4, R1710:5
By faith in the blood of Christ to be made every whit whole and fit for fellowship of angels and saints. R1710:5
"There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins." R1230:1
In full, agreement with this is the significance of the word "Siloam." (John 9:11) It signifies "the sending forth," or "the fountain." R2670:4
To the house of David – In the house of David. R1710:5
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| 2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. |
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| 3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. |
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| 4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: |
In that day – The day of trouble. R2338:5
Shall be ashamed – There will be a general change of front on the part of religious teachers. R2338:5
Of his vision – The false gospel. R2338:5
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| 5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. |
I am no prophet – They will desire to disavow their previous occupation. R2338:5
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| 6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. |
Unto him – Unto the clergy of the nominal church. R2338:5
Religious leaders will be so ashamed of the false gospel which they have proclaimed that they will desire to disavow their previous occupation. R2338:5
In thine hands – Implying injury or destruction of power or influence once exercised. R2338:5
I was wounded – In the time of trouble. R2338:5
Seeming to indicate severe usage received by religious leaders from their former flocks. R2338:5
Our Lord was wounded in the hands--crucified. Q740:2
Seems to have no reference to the wounding of our Lord at his crucifixion. R2338:6
House of my friends – Indicating severe usage at the hands of their former flocks. R2338:5
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11) Q740:2
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| 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. |
My shepherd – The true servants of God. R2338:6
My fellow – The Lord's special messenger in the Harvest of the Gospel age. R3818:6*, R6001:4*
Smite the shepherd – Jesus' death. R5550:3, R1205:2
Pastor. R3776:2
Shall be scattered – The apostles would all be offended, discouraged, stumbled. R5550:3
Therefore, during the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus' chief concern was to regather them and re-establish their faith in him as the long-looked-for Messiah. B111
God permits this for their proving and development. R2338:6
"All ye shall be offended because of me this night." (Matt. 26:31) B111; R4712:2
Turn mine hand – Use my power to protect. R2338:6
No scattering of the sheep, but the reverse--the "hand" or power of the great Jehovah would rest upon the little ones left over. R6001:4*
The little ones – The weak ones. R2338:6
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| 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. |
Two parts – The Little Flock and the Great Company. R3776:2, R3634:1
Two companies, both justified, begotten of the spirit, and candidates for joint-heirship with Christ. (See also Lev. 16:7-10 & Lev. 23:17) R4079:4*
Possibly, the first class is the very elect; the second class, those who go into the Second Death; and the third, the Great Company and all mankind who go into the time of trouble. Q712:4
Cut off and die – Being consecrated unto death. R3634:1
But the third – The world of mankind. R3634:1
These three parts are not equal parts. R3634:1, R508:6*; Q712:4
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| 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. |
Through the fire – The time of trouble. Q712:4; D527
The world of mankind will pass from death conditions to life conditions during the Millennium. R3634:1
Probably some of the living nations will pass over into the Kingdom without going into the tomb. R3634:1
Refine – The great time of trouble will have a refining influence on the world and on the Great Company. Q712:4
All will be granted an opportunity for coming, through the divine processes of the Millennial age, back to the full perfection of human life lost by Father Adam's transgression. R3634:2
Call on my name – All who are returned to harmony with God will recognize him as such. R3634:2
I will hear them – God will recognize them as his people. R3634:2
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