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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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah; 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 prophesieth; neither shall they wear a hairy mantle 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 a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondman 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 between 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 Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my 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 Jehovah, 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 into 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, Jehovah 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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