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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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| 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, |
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The word of the LORD – This instruction comes from our Heavenly Father. |
| 2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. |
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Note: "land" as used in verse 2 is two different words. The first is H127 (ground) and the second is H776 (land or country).
A few examples
Gen. 1:25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth [H127] after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Gen. 2:5-7 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. [H127] [6] But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. [H127] [7] And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, [H127] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
A few examples
Deut. 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land [H127] which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land [H776] that floweth with milk and honey. 2 Chron. 6:14 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth [H776]; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: Eze. 6:8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. [H776]Eze. 6:14 So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land [H776] desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Thou – Ezekiel, picturing the man Pastor Russell
Son of man – Pastor Russell in his role as the representative of our Returned Lord Jesus (the "Son of Man") – See Topic Son of Man
Thus saith the Lord GOD – Pay attention!
Unto the land of Israel – The land (territory or country) of Christendom (basically Europe.)
An end, the end is come – In the Hebrew this is actually "End End." When a special emphasis is given in the Hebrew (as in the Greek) the word used is doubled. In other words, God is really emphasizing that this is indeed THE END.
Upon the four corners of the land – Here the word for land is (H776). Please see additional comments for Eze.5:5.
The fact that it is from the four corners suggests that this will be from every direction, a complete end. Please note: this does not indicate a complete end of all nations, but it does indicate a complete end of Christendom. |
| 3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.
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Now – In the days of the son of man (Pastor Russell,) to whom God is here (symbolically) speaking.
Is the end – The end of their corrupt church-state system.
Come upon thee – Upon Christendom.
I will – Sound familiar?
Send mine anger – God's anger only comes after He has been provoked.
Upon thee – Upon Christendom.
Judge thee according to thy ways – God's Justice is manifest in His anger, i.e., the plagues.
Isa. 26:9 "..when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."
I will bring upon thee – Upon Christendom. Once again, no matter what the outward appearance may be, it is God who is doing this.
All thine abominations – Thine – Christendom's. Especially "the abomination which maketh desolate." This is only just. Consider what devastations were brought by the false system upon any who were looking after God if haply they might find Him. Acts 17:27 |
| 4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. |
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Mine – Referring to The Heavenly Father.
Eye shall not spare thee – That is, what My eye has seen I have overlooked in order to give you time to repent of your wicked ways and turn to the right path. But now I will no longer overlook your evil. I will no longer spare you.
Neither will I have pity – I had pity on your fallen condition, but, in spite of all My patience with you and the fact that you have enjoyed My favor (because of the saints that were within your midst,) the situation has changed. The time for pity is now past.
I will recompense – This is better translated: "I will bring."
Thy ways upon thee – This is JUSTICE. The way Christendom has treated others, that is how they will now be treated. Christendom said "We are the ONLY way to God (one of the meanings of 'Babylon' is 'Gateway to God') and all others are false. We are Christ's Kingdom now set up on the earth." – Now they are the ones being shunned and NO ONE believes that claim any more.
Thine abominations – Consider the horrible things done by Christendom against the Lord's true saints throughout the Gospel Age, especially by the "mother" system. See Studies in the Scriptures Volume II Study IX – "The Man of Sin".
The payment for "thine abominations," i.e., the 7 last plagues.
Shall be in the midst of thee – In the midst of Christendom. Remember that Christendom was the union of church and state. This seems a near equivalent to the symbolic "earth" and the 7 last plagues are poured out upon the earth. Now consider the slaughter of millions during WWI alone, not to mention the period from there to the end of WWII.
We should also remember that, not only was Christendom (Christ's Kingdom, falsely so-called, that union of church and state) destroyed by WWI, but that the churches of Europe (Christendom's primary physical territory,) during the period to the end of WWII and beyond, "suffered inestimable losses" – Encyclopedia Britannica.
Ye shall know that I am the LORD – In the end they will indeed know that it was the LORD who did all this – and they will know why. |
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| 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. |
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Thus saith the Lord GOD – Pay attention!
An evil, an only evil – Evil from the standpoint of Christendom. Again, notice the doubling of the word "evil." This is being especially emphasized.
Sounds much like Gen. 6:5.
Behold is come – No more waiting. |
| 6 An end is come, the end is come: it wakes up for thee; behold, it is come. |
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An end is come, the end is come – This appears to be a repetition of verse 2. The Lord is really stressing this point. Christendom should have listened, but they did not. – How about us? Do we recognize Christendom's end?
It wakes for thee – Usually one wakes in the morning. We should remember that Christendom was supposed to be made up of Christians who were to watch for the morning. – Psa. 130:6; Isa. 21:12; Mark 13:35
Some other translations read "It waketh against thee." Rotherham translates this phrase as "It hath roused itself up against thee."
Behold it is come – Look, it has arrived! – And you (Christendom) are not ready for it! |
| 7 The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains. |
Of the mountains – Kingdoms. A318
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The morning is come unto thee – Most translations render this as either "The morning is come.." or some form of the word "destruction" – "Thy doom is come.." or "Destruction is come upon thee.." This is the same word that is used in Isa. 28:5 where "diadem" is clearly the correct thought. The word (Strong's 6843) is only used in Isa. 28:5 and here in vss 7 and 10. - Please see "About KJVwc"
We know that the (millennial) morning began at our Lord's return. Our Lord returns as King - ("having received the kingdom." - Luke 19:12,15) This seems to be reminding Christendom that her claims are false. This unholy union between the church and the gentile kings of the earth is coming down. Remember, the crown taken from Israel at the time of Zedekiah's overthrow was given to the Gentiles and was to be "overturned" and finally given "to him whose right it is" (Eze. 21:25-27) at the end of the "Times of the Gentiles." They must have known their claims were false and this text has the emphasis that it "is come unto thee," i.e., it is come unto Christendom, and she is not ready for it.
Thou that dwellest in the land – This has been speaking of Christendom. Now it is speaking of those "that dwell in the land." This would correspond to the "earth-dwellers" of Revelation.
The time is come – No more delay. see Hab. 2:2-3
The day of trouble is near – The time of trouble has arrived, there is no more delay.
Not the sounding again of the mountains – The phrase "the sounding again" is Strong's H1906 – which occurs nowhere else in the Bible (not much help.)
However, we see that it's root is Strong's H1959, and that does help us.
There are two ways in which this helps us:
1. It's definition is basically "a shout of acclamation."
2. We trace every occurrence of the Bible's use of H1959 and find the following:
| KJVwc | | Isa 16:9,10 Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting [H1959] for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen. [10] And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting [H1959] to cease. | | Jer 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout [H1959], as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. | | Jer 48:33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting [H1959]; their shouting [H1959] shall be no shouting [H1959]. | | Jer 51:14 The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall lift up a shout [H1959] against thee. |
From the above references it is clear that this involves the celebration that comes from the making of wine from the fruit gathered in the harvest. This is what ceases in the Kingdoms (mountains) of Christendom!
After WWI it was clear that this had taken place because the "mountains" no longer existed.
Luke 19:42 |
| 8 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. |
Recompense – We are already entering the great Day of Recompense. R3619:2
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Now – The same "now" as in verse 2. In the days of Pastor Russell.
Will I shortly pour out my fury – His great anger, His wrath. This is manifested in the 7 last plagues. Rev. 15:1
I will – Our God is a God of action. When He says He will do something, He does it!
Judge thee .. etc. – Exactly the same as in Verse 3.
Recompense – [From EBC] We are already entering the great Day of Recompense. R3619 – September 1905. |
| 9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. |
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This entire verse is identical with verse 4 except for this phrase (in the Hebrew it is one word – Strong's H5221) at the end.
That smiteth – This seems to now say "they (Christendom's adherents) will realize (at least at some level) that it is the LORD who brought about this destruction." |
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| 10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. |
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Behold the day – Observe, notice, pay attention! The Day is the Millennial Day, the forepart of which is the Day of their destruction.
Behold, it is come – It is no longer "coming" but it is here now!
Notice also the repeating of "behold." This again is placing great stress on the fact that Christendom should have known, they have had plenty of notice, that indeed the Millennial Day, the Day of the Lord has indeed come.
The morning is gone forth – Christendom's troubles are because the rightful King is taking control in the early part (morning) of the new (Millennial) day.
The rod hath blossomed – The rod [H4294] hath blossomed [H6692].
The first use of H6992 is in Num. 17:8. "And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod (H4294) of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms (H6992), and yielded almonds."
This would seem to be a reminder, not only that Christendom's woes are the result of Christ exercising His power as King (Times of the Gentiles are up and "He whose right it is" has been given the crown) but also that the true church is represented as being with him. This is similar to Eze. 9:2 where they (the church in the flesh) are represented by the "six men" who follow after "the man clothed in linen with the writer's inkhorn." – see also Rev. 19:14-16
Pride hath budded – Budded is Strong's H6524 and is often translated "break forth." Christendom's pride had finally "broken forth" for all to see, evidenced by WWI. |
| 11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them. |
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Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness – The word "violence" (Strong's H2555) primarily carries the thought of a wrong, unrighteousness (see Gen. 16:5; Exo. 23:1.)
The unrighteousness which Christendom has participated in (often enthusiastically) has been practiced for so long that it has reached the point where the unrighteousness and the system (Christendom) have become inseperable.
None of them shall remain – None of Christendom (church-state union calling itself "Christ's Kingdom") will remain.
Nor of their multitude – Nor any of their true followers (those that "dwell" in the land.) – This does not happen all at once. (see earth-dwellers.)
Nor any of theirs – This would seem to include those not part of the church-state system but allied to it. For example, the United States. This is to be a clean sweep that the Lord makes.
Neither shall there be any wailing for them – None will desire to go back to the way things were. No more "divine right of kings, clergy, etc." – Jer. 25:33 |
| 12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. |
The seller mourn – For trouble will be on the entire multitude and there will be no security of property. A315
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The time is come – The time of the Gentile lease of power has been reached and it is now time for Christendom's destruction.
The day draweth near – The Millennial Day is at hand.
Normally the buyer rejoices because he has added something he desired to his posessions.
A seller would mourn because he has to part with his posession.
Let not the buyer rejoice –
Literal: Because there is no longer any real security of property. A315 (from EBC)
Symbolic: The buyer of Christendom's teachings (including the "divine right" of kings and clergy) will give no cause for rejoicing because these are already (during that time) failing and (especially with WWI) being proven to be false. – They say "Christ's Kingdom? are you kidding!" R5829 – Jan. 1916
Nor the seller mourn – Those of Christendom who sell their false doctrines are likewise seeing them becoming more and more disagreeable.
Wrath is upon all the multitude thereof – God's wrath (7 last plagues – Rev. 15:1) is upon all of Christendom and its adherents. |
| 13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. |
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For the seller shall not return to that which is sold – When in the history of Israel (the type) was someone to return to that which they had sold? – Lev. 25:8-10
Although they were yet alive – The fact that it this speaks of returning to something sold while they are still alive seems to solidify the thought of this having reference to the Jubilee. That is when the living seller would return to what he sold. Lev. 25:13
Why will the seller NOT return to what he sold, even though he is still alive?
For the vision – For = "Because," thus "Because the vision.."
Is touching the whole multitude thereof – This vision not only includes the main vision (Hab. 2:2 - "Write the vision.. make it plain upon tables..") but includes now specifically two elements, i.e., (1) The Jubilee and (2) The destruction of Christendom and how it effects Christendom's sphere of influence, here referred to as "the whole multitude thereof."
Which shall not return – The reason they do not return (as would be done in the Jubilee) is because they cannot return to that which no longer exists. Christendom, "Christ's Kingdom" (falsely so-called) has fallen and will not rise again. Nahum 1:9
Neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life – The NIV reads "Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life." Eze. 7:13 NIV |
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| 14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. |
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They have blown the trumpet – The seventh Trump is sounding.
To make all ready – All of Christendom should have been ready. They were supposed to be "watching" for the return of their Lord.
None goeth to the battle – Because they are asleep at their posts. Isa. 56:10
For my wrath – The Seven last plagues. Rev. 15:1
Is upon all the multitude thereof – Upon all of Christendom and its adherents. A238:2
This would seem to be backing up a little in time, from when the Gentile Times began (1914) to the period leading up to it, i.e., 1881-1914. |
| 15 The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. |
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The sword – The word of the Lord. Heb. 4:12
Is without – The Truth of God's Word is no longer within the city. He has withdrawn it along with His people, thus the sword is outside the city (Christendom.) Jer. 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; Rev. 18:23
The pestilence – The plagues.
The famine – Lack of food (the "meat in due season" Matt. 24:45)
Within – These (pestilence and famine) are within (inside of) Christendom.
He that is in the field – "The field is the world" Matt. 13:38.
In ancient times, as today, fields are not usually found within the city but are outside the city. In this case, outside of Christendom.
Shall die with the sword – The word of the Lord (sword) slays those who are connected with Christendom, but not "within" the city, not those "who dwell on the earth." (see earth-dwellers)
There are two ways in which this could apply (and both may be true) to those in the field (the world):1. They completely lose their desire to "seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him." Act 17:272. The do find him, make a consecration and become probationary members of the Little Flock.
He that is in the city – He that is an earth-dweller, one who willingly drinks in the false doctrines of Christendom ("divine right" of kings, clergy, this is Christ's Kingdom, etc.)
Famine and pestilence shall devour him – The lack of Truth within Babylon (the famine) and the promulgation of Present Truth going far and wide under the Lord's direction via His appointed servant – pointing out just how erroneous Babylon's doctrines are (the pestilence, plagues,) these "devour" these inhabitants of mystic Babylon. |
| 16 But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. |
Like doves – Symbols of peace and purity. E212
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They that escape – Escape is Strong's H6403
Of them shall escape – Strong's H6412 – Shall be refugees.
It seems a better translation of the beginning of verse 16 would be: "They that escape shall be refugees on the mountains.."
Shall be on the mountains – On the kingdoms. This seems to indicate that the kingdoms have not yet been destroyed, i.e., this would seem to be prior to the end of 1918.
Like doves – The dove is the universal symbol of peace.
Of the valley – Valleys are (in contrast with mountains) lower, in a position of humility. It would seem that these nominal Christians are more humble-minded than Christendom's "die-hards." These are calling for peace while their leaders still seem to be advocating war. This seems reminiscent of the attitude displayed during the 1914 Christmas Truce.
All of them mourning – Dismayed.
For their iniquity – These seem to at least recognize their sinful condition. They may be mourning over the fact that they had given their support to the false Kingdom of Christ – Christendom. |
| 17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. |
Shall be feeble – Helpless to turn aside the trouble. A315
Of little avail will be the protection which any government can provide, when the judgments of the Lord and the fruits of their folly are precipitated upon them all. D149
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The only other places where we could find this combination (reference to week hands as well as to knees) are Isa. 35:3; Eze. 21:7 and Heb. 12:12-13. Isa. 35:3 is during the early part of the Kingdom, prior to the completion of the time of trouble. There both the week hands and knees are beginning to be strengthened — likely fulfilled both literal and symbolic (as a part of the message of the true church.) In Eze. 21:7 as part of the message from God delivered by the "son of man." It seems to be declaring that the result of coming trouble will make everyone's hands and knees be feeble and "every spirit faint." In Heb. 12:12-13 Paul applies it to the church saying "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
All hands shall be feeble – Hands represent strength, activity, power, etc. This indicates a condition where men have little power or strength.
All knees shall be weak as water – The only other reference to knees being week as water is Eze. 21:7 (above.) We do notice that the knees can become so weak as to shake in fear (Dan. 5:6.) |
| 18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. |
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They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth – The traditional Jewish garb for one in mourning.
Horror shall cover them – Similar to men crying out to the "mountains and rocks, Fall on us.." — Cover us; protect us.. See B139:1 + footnote
Shame shall be upon all faces – As happens with all who, even in the slightest, compare themselves to the Divine standard. |
| 19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity. |
They shall cast – The animosities of the masses will be exercised with violence against the rich. R1690:3, R2904:3
The rich will suffer most. D273
Their silver – The demonetization of silver seems to be referred to. OV339:1; SM691:1; D472
In the streets – Miller Bartella offered the mob, in vain, his fortune for his life--a picture throwing lurid light upon the situation. R2384:2
Financial institutions, including insurance companies and beneficial societies, will go down; and "treasures" in them will prove utterly worthless. D45
Treat it as a commodity and not as money. OV339:1
Shall be removed – "As though it were unclean." (Margin) D45
Become scarce and eventually be completely withdrawn by the people; hiding it as though it were an unclean thing, as the Hebrew text implies. SM691:1; OV339:1
Silver and their gold – And bank notes and bonds. F554; D329
Neither silver nor gold will be available. OV339:1
Not be able to deliver – Procuring neither protection, comforts nor luxuries. F554
The character of the trouble will be one in which the animosities of the masses will be exercised with violence against the rich. R1690:3
Day of the wrath – This is the predicted time of distress of nations with perplexity. (Luke 21:25) D149
They shall not satisfy – With their wealth. D45
Because it – The idolatry of money. B139
Is the stumblingblock – The spirit of acquisitiveness which lies at the foundation of all the trouble is to be found in every land, but nowhere more so than in so--called "Christendom." R2904:4
Those who worship idols of gold, silver, stocks or bonds, will receive severe chastisement before being granted a share in the coming blessings. SM482:1
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They shall cast their silver – 1) All their worldly wealth.
2) The Great Company being sent out of their midst.
In the streets – In the case of worldly wealth: into the highways and byways of the common people.
In the case of Little Flock and Great Company: into the pathways that lead away from Mystic Babylon.
Their gold shall be removed – Literal: Consider the following:Executive Order 6102 is a United States presidential executive order signed on April 5, 1933, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt "forbidding the Hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates within the continental United States". The order criminalized the possession of monetary gold by any individual, partnership, association or corporation. – Wikepedia
The word "removed" is Strong's H5079.
This is translated "shall be as an unclean thing" (or similar language) by JPS, ASV, BBE, CEV, Darby, ISV, MKJV, RV, RVIC, YLT.
Thus the "little flock" is considered as "an unclean thing" by Christendom's adherents.
Their silver and their gold – Neither (Literal) their earthly wealth, nor (Symbolic) those living saints (silver: Great Company, gold: Little Flock) still in the flesh...
Shall not be able to deliver them – Literal: Their money shall become of little value. Consider the Weimar Republic (Germany post WWI,) the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, and later in the U.S. when dollar was allowed to "float" on the world market in the 1971, double-digit inflation of the late 1970's, high unemployment rate of recent years, etc.
Symbolic: The saints could not deliver them because the saints left that system.
The day of the wrath of the LORD – The "day of vengeance," (Isa. 34:8) the day of His wrath (7 last plagues.) Rev. 15:1
Compare with Zeph. 1:18.
They shall not satisfy their souls – "They" in this verse seems to refer to "their silver and their gold." Ecc. 5:10; Hos. 4:10
It is the stumblingblock of their iniquity – Literal: The greed for gaining material wealth prevented them from seeing the Truth of God's word. Eph. 4:18,19; 1 Tim. 6:10
Symbolic: Their great iniquity was that even though "unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:2) they (Christendom) failed to appreciate their privileges and completely misused their privileged position.
Jesus (the pesent Messiah) was a stone of stumbling and rock of offense – Isa. 8:13,14 |
| 20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them. |
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"He, his" in this verse appears to be referring to the pope. "They, theirs" referring to Christendom and its adherents.
As for the beauty of his ornament – The pope's 'ornament' would be his teachings. In a literal sense this could have reference to his crown.
He set it in majesty – Chief among the false doctines of anti-christ is the "trinity." The importance of this doctrine to the Catholic church is described for us in the Catholic Encyclopedia under "The Blessed Trinity""The dogma of the Trinity "The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion - the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another. "Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God." In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son. Yet, notwithstanding this difference as to origin, the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent. This, the Church teaches, is the revelation regarding God's nature which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came upon earth to deliver to the world: and which she proposes to man as the foundation of her whole dogmatic system."
They have made the images – "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.." Exo. 20:4-6
Of their abominations – Especially "the abomination that maketh desolate" – the mass. Dan. 11:31-33; 12:11; C25:4-C25:2; C64:5; C103:1-C104:2
Their detestable things therein – Their various other false doctrines and practices.
I – Jehovah.
Have set it – God has set Christendom's power and glory..
Far from them – Far away from nominal Christendom. |
| 21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. |
The strangers – Others, beyond the revolting hosts of Christendom, will also form a part of the Lord's great army. D549
Anarchists outrivaling heathendom in barbarity; or, possibly, uprisings of the peoples of India, China and Africa against Christendom. D550
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I will – Our God is a God of action who always delivers on His word.
Give it into the hands – Hands picture strength, activity.
Of the strangers – Those not of Christendom. – (The Expanded Bible Comments are taken from Volume IV under the sub-heading "The Lord's Great Army.")
For a prey – These shall prey upon what once was Christendom, i.e., this seems to be describing the Lord's great army. Joel 2:1-11
To the wicked of the earth – The wicked of organized society.
For a spoil – An army takes a spoil, "the spoils of war."
They shall pollute it – Remember, it was called "Christ's Kingdom." These come in who are completely without the true God. They pollute it by taking over, filling it with those who have no belief in any intelligent power superior to man. |
| 22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. |
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My face – God's favor.
I will – Our God is a God of action who always delivers on His word.
Turn also from them – Turn from Christendom and its adherents. This was done in 1878 and especially in 1914.
They shall pollute my secret place – The word for secret place is Strong's H6845.This would seem to refer to those hidden or protected ones, i.e., the spirit-begotten (Little Flock and Great Company.) The spirit-begotten class are the only ones who have access to the antitypical "Holy" (secret place) of the Most High.
The robbers shall enter into it – Please see John 10:1; Jer. 7:11; Matt. 21:13
And defile it – Compare 2 Tim. 4:2-4
This sounds similar to Eze. 44:7. |
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| 23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. |
Make a chain – Bind, unite them together, let them make common cause. D550
The city – Christendom. D550
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Make a chain – For binding, as we find in Rev. 20:1. As a chain is made up of many links, so Present Truth is built up precept upon precept and line upon line. – Isa. 28:10
"Bind, unite them together; let them make a common cause." D550:1
The land – The country of Mystic Babylon.
Is full of blood crimes – The bloody crimes, against the saints and against all who opposed them.
The city – Babylon, Christendom. The same city described in Rev. 16:13,19, made up of the same three parts, i.e., dragon (civil power,) beast (Papal System,) false prophet (Protestant Federation.)
Is full of violence – Christendom was indeed full of the most extreme violence during World War I. So extreme was this violence that by the end of WWI Christendom (the union of church and the kings of Europe – Dan. 2:44) no longer existed, the kings having either been assisinated or abdicated their thrones. |
| 24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled. |
Worst of the heathen – Probably those in Christendom without God and without Christian sentiments or hopes. D550
Their holy places – Their honored or sacred places, their religious institutions, etc. D550
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Wherefore – Because of what has been described above.
I will – We should always remember that, whatever the means being used, it is God who brings this about.
The worst of the heathen – (the Nations - Strong's H1471)
This is the same word used in Gen. 12:2.
See Pastor Russell's description – D550:2
They shall possess their houses – Before the judgment against Christendom their houses (temples [Eze. 9:3; 10:4], places of worship) were inhabited by those who at least actually believed in God. This seems to indicate that situation would change.
I will make the pomp of the strong to cease – The "strong" of Christendom would seem to be those in power, i.e., the aristocracy and the clergy. That was indeed brought to naught, especially between 1914-45.
Their holy places shall be defiled – Their doctrines shall be shown to be corrupt. |
| 25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. |
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Destruction cometh – Taking the position back before 1914, before the destruction of Christendom.
They shall seek peace – The kings of Europe tried desparately to avoid WWI.
There shall be none – They were completely powerless to stop the War. Rev. 16:16 "And He gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." See also Joel 3:2; Zeph. 3:8; Zech. 14:2 |
| 26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. |
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Mischief shall come upon mischief – Mischief is Strong's 1943.
This might be better translated "Ruin shall come upon ruin.."
The only other place where this word is used is Isa. 47:11. Please see context – Isa. 47:8-13 and note how well it fits with the time setting here. Is this what the Lord is directing us to?
We also note how this word "mischief" (ruin) is doubled – "Mischief upon mischief." This is very much like the language of Revelation chapter 18 especially vss. 4-8.
Rumour upon rumour – Strong's H8052.
The reports about what was happening to Christendom were coming so fast that they did not know how to respond. – Consider 4th Volume, how they were being held up to be viewed by the whole world. They were not prepared for the speed of events taking place in this Day of the Lord.
These "rumours/reports" about Christendom, a great many of them true, further eroded the confidence of it's adherents.
Seek a vision of the prophet – Compare with Isa. 29:9-14.
The law shall perish from the priests – "The true Law, the Word of God, has departed from a clergy more learned in church politics and money-raising schemes than in the Bible." FM408
Councel from the ancients – People used to look to the religious leaders of Christendom ("the ancients") for advice. Now (WWI and beyond) they know they cannot go to those who could not explain why Christ would war against Christ.
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| 27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. |
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The king – Satan. Eze. 28:12-15
Shall mourn – Satans mourns over the loss of his great counterfeit system.
The prince – The Pope. Eze. 28:2
Shall be clothed with desolation – The pope had formerly been clothed with all the trappings of Christendom. Rev. 18:16
The hands – Strength, activity.
The people of the land – Nominal Christians.
Shall be troubled – Their attempts to defend the false doctrines brought forward from the dark ages (and codified in 1846 by the Evangelical Alliance) have put them in an indefensible position.
I will do unto them after their way – They attempted to force their false beliefs on others. Now the same things happen to them. In 2015 God has permitted the arrangement where they are being threatened by groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, the same way they previously persecuted those not in agreement with themselves.
According to their deserts will I judge them – God's Justice in action.
They shall know that I am the LORD – Eventually "all shall know me from the least unto the greatest." Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11; Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:12 |