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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, And shout ye in My holy hill, Tremble do all inhabitants of the earth, For coming is the day of Jehovah, for [it is] near! |
Blow ye the trumpet – "Hearken to the sound of the (watchman's) trumpet." (Jer. 6:17) R309:1*
Still the trumpet is to sound until a company shall be developed who will be the virgins, her companions that follow her. (Psa. 45:14) R309:2*
Calling upon all to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. D241
In Zion – The nominal Kingdom of God. D241
Sound an alarm – Do not, as at the World's Congress of Religions, cry, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. (Jer. 6:14) D241
In my holy mountain – Christendom, professed kingdom of the Lord. D540; A318
Among the true Church of Christ. R309:1
Day of the LORD – The Day of Vengeance, the time of trouble. D11, D655
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| 2 A day of darkness and thick darkness, A day of cloud and thick darkness, As darkness spread on the mountains, A people numerous and mighty, Like it there hath not been from of old, And after it there is not again till the years of generation and generation. |
A day of darkness – Ignorance of the prophetic developments of that time. R264:4
The world will not know of the Lord's presence. R153:1, R264:4
A day of judgment upon mankind socially and nationally, a day of national recompenses; but not of individual judgment. D11
The day that shall "burn as an oven" (Mal. 4:1); wherein the rich men weep and howl for the miseries that come upon them (Jas. 5:1-6); which is "darkness and not light" (Amos 5:20); which the Lord refers to as "great tribulation" (Matt. 24:21, 22); and Daniel as "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." (Dan. 12:1) D11
The same "day" as in Zeph. 1:15, but not the same as in Zech. 14:6,7. D655
A day of clouds – Trouble. R264:5, R153:1; D11, D655
"Behold, he cometh with clouds." (Rev. 1:7) R153:3, R264:6
In the natural storm, lightning and thunder give evidence that atmospheric changes are taking place, that the vitiated and corrupt "air" is to be changed. We rejoice that it will be pure after the storm. R264:5
Thick darkness – The prince of darkness now works. R264:5, R153:2
When the Lord comes and makes trouble and darkness his pavilion, he takes his Bride, delivering her from the strong enemy of the fleshly nature into the perfection of the new divine nature. R265:1
As the morning – The Millennial morning. A9; E359
Upon the mountains – Kingdoms. A318
A great people – The Lord's "Great Army" of trained soldiers of Christendom in rebellion against the powers that be. D546, D543
Not been ever the like – So terrible and so general a revolution. D540
More terrible and more general than the Jewish overthrow of AD70 or the French Revolution, because man today is more dependent on every other member of the social structure than ever before. D540, D536
The battle of this Great Day of God Almighty will be the greatest revolution the world has ever seen because it will be one in which every principle of righteousness will be involved. D541
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| 3 Before it consumed hath fire, And after it burn doth a flame, As the garden of Eden [is] the land before it, And after it a wilderness a desolation! And also an escape there hath not been to it, |
A fire – Destruction. A318
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| 4 As the appearance of horses [is] its appearance, And as horsemen, so they run. |
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| 5 As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle. |
Tops of mountains – Kingdoms. D543
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| 6 From its face pained are peoples, All faces have gathered paleness. |
Gather blackness – As a result of anarchy. R3107:6
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| 7 As mighty ones they run, As men of war they go up a wall, And each in his own ways they do go, And they embarrass not their paths. |
Not break their ranks – Describing, not an undisciplined mob, easily dealt with by war experts, but a mighty, highly-disciplined host. D544
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| 8 And each his brother they press not, Each in his way they go on, If by the missile they fall, they are not cut off. |
Shall one thrust – Press. D543, D544
And when they fall – And they pass through. D544
Upon the sword – Between warlike weapons. D544
Not be wounded – Not change their purpose. D544
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| 9 In the city they run to and fro, On the wall they run, Into houses they go up by the windows, They go in as a thief. |
Run to and fro in – Hasten forward into lawlessness. D544; A324
Verses 9 to 16 and Isa. 13:1-11 are in striking harmony with the battle and winepress figures of Revelation. A324
Up upon the houses – Into the houses. D544
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| 10 At their face trembled hath the earth, Shaken have the heavens, Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining. |
The earth – The present social order. D544
The heavens – The ecclesiastical powers. D544
The Lord's army is boldly arrayed against the conservative forces of Christendom, both civil and ecclesiastical, and hopes even to cope with its present strength. D545
Sun and the moon – The illuminating influences of the Gospel and the Mosaic Law. D544
Shall be dark – Infidelity having become widely prevalent. D544
And the stars – The apostolic lights. D544
Withdraw their shining – When the Gospel is obscured, and the sacrifices enjoined by the Law come to be esteemed as merely barbaric, then the apostles also cease to be recognized as lights. D593
The dark night will come wherein no man can labor. D544
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| 11 And Jehovah hath given forth His voice before His force, For very great [is] His camp, For mighty [is] the doer of His word, For great [is] the day of Jehovah very fearful, And who doth bear it |
Utter his voice – Using the hopes, fears, follies and selfishness of this great army, according to his divine wisdom, to work out his own grand purposes in the overthrow of present institutions and for the preparation of man for the Kingdom of righteousness. D550
Before his army – A great army of discontents--patriots, reformers, socialists, moralists, anarchists, ignorants and hopeless. D550
Not realizing that they have been used as the Lord's great army to overthrow oppression, to bring down the proud and to thresh mountains (kingdoms), they shall boast themselves of the victory of Liberalism. R622:3, R362:2; Q23:6; D547
The trained soldiers of Christendom, in rebellion against the authorities. D549
Now in preparation by the transfer of the loyalty of the soldiers from the crown to the people. D559-D561
The living saints, and many of the world, are now being used as the Lord's soldiers in overthrowing errors and evils. B101
His "regular army" are few--a "Little Flock"; but there is an immense army of "irregulars" in every kind of uniform--Communists, Infidels, Socialists, Anarchists and Nihilists. R817:3
Is very great – And could not, therefore, be the "Little Flock." D543
Executeth his word – The beast, or Roman empire, in its horns or divisions, still exists, and will be slain by the rising of the masses of the people and the overthrow of governments preparatory to the recognition of the heavenly rulership. A259
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| 12 And also now an affirmation of Jehovah, Turn ye back unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, And with lamentation. |
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| 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn back unto Jehovah your God, For gracious and merciful [is] He, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, And He hath repented concerning the evil. |
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| 14 Who knoweth He doth turn back, Yea He hath repented, And He hath left behind Him a blessing, A present and libation of Jehovah your God
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| 15 Blow ye a trumpet in Zion, Sanctify a fast proclaim a restraint. |
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| 16 Gather the people, sanctify an assembly, Assemble the aged, Gather infants and sucklings of the breasts, Go out let a bridegroom from his inner chamber, And a bride out of her closet. |
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| 17 Between the porch and the altar weep let the priests, ministrants of Jehovah, And let them say: 'Have pity, O Jehovah, on Thy people, And give not Thy inheritance to reproach, To the ruling over them of nations, Why do they say among peoples, Where [is] their God ' |
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| 18 And let Jehovah be zealous for His land, And have pity on His people. |
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| 19 Let Jehovah answer and say to His people, 'Lo, I am sending to you the corn, And the new wine, and the oil, And ye have been satisfied with it, And I make you no more a reproach among nations, |
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| 20 And the northern I put far off from you, And have driven him unto a land dry and desolate, With his face unto the eastern sea, And his rear unto the western sea, And come up hath his stink, And come up doth his stench, For he hath exerted himself to work. |
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| 21 Do not fear, O land! joy and rejoice, For Jehovah hath exerted Himself to work. |
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| 22 Do not fear, O cattle of the field! For sprung forth have pastures of a wilderness, For the tree hath borne its fruit, Fig-tree and vine have given their strength! |
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| 23 And ye sons of Zion, joy and rejoice, In Jehovah your God, For He hath given to you the Teacher for righteousness, And causeth to come down to you a shower, Sprinkling and gathered in the beginning. |
For you the rain – Truth. B256
Rain has come in abundance in the last few years. Palestine again blossoms. 10,000 olive trees have been planted in Samaria. HG649:2
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| 24 And full have been the floors [with] pure corn, And overflown have the presses [with] new wine and oil. |
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| 25 And I have recompensed to you the years That consume did the locust, the cankerworm, And the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, My great force that I did send against you. |
Caterpillar – Figuratively represents God's army. R5527:1
Great army – The saints will not be in that army at all. R5527:1, R362:3
Of discontented, along the lines of Socialism, claiming that it is God's remedy. Eventually it will go into anarchy. Q23:7
Anarchists may be part of God's great army, in that he will supervise their campaign. R5527:1
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| 26 And ye have eaten, eating and being satisfied, And have praised the name of Jehovah your God, Who hath dealt with you wonderfully, And not ashamed are My people to the age. |
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| 27 And ye have known that in the midst of Israel [am] I, And I [am] Jehovah your God, and there is none else, And not ashamed are My people to the age. |
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| 28 And it hath come to pass afterwards, I do pour out My Spirit on all flesh, And prophesied have your sons and your daughters, Your old men do dream dreams, Your young men do see visions. |
To pass afterward – Verses 28 and 29 need to be transposed to see the two outpourings clearly; probably reversed to obscure the matter until the proper time. E164, E219; R376:5, R852:2, R1411:5, R2504:5, R2930:2
After the days mentioned in the next verse. E219; R636:6, R5317:6, R226:6, R2930:2; CR216:6
After the completion of the selection of the Church, the Christ. R4497:6, R3361:2
Will be fulfilled under the ministration of the Millennial Kingdom. R4467:3
As a work of the Times of Restitution. R636:6
After "we have received the spirit of adoption." (Rom. 8:15) E163
After the Day of Vengeance has humbled the arrogance of men. D518, D653
After the days when the new dispensation shall have been fully ushered in, when the New covenant shall become operative in the world, when Messiah shall take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them all a heart of flesh. HG274:3
After the world has witnessed the Lord's peculiar blessings on Israel in the Millennial dawn. D639
When the High Priest finishes the sacrifice he will "pour out his spirit upon all flesh"; just as, at the completion of the first sacrifice, he "poured out his spirit on his servants and handmaidens" at Pentecost. R4340:5
During the Gospel age none can receive God's spirit except by consecration; while, in the next age, the carnal mind, being removed, the acquirement of the mind of the spirit will be without difficulty. R636:6
Pour out my spirit – To put a new spirit within them, as it was in Adam before sin entered. R111:1, R1412:3; CR399:3
The general baptism of the spirit. E217
It is the same spirit in both outpourings, received in the same way, from the same source, through the same channel; but its seal and witness are very different to the two groups. R1411:6; E220
To them also, a spirit of begetting, begetting again as human sons. R1412:3
A second Pentecostal blessing. PD73/87
Then, as now, it will be the spirit of truth; the recipient must first come to a knowledge of at least the first principles of the truth and be consecrated to God's service. R1411:6
The spirit of the truth. With truth will go its spirit, its influence, its power to correct the heart and life and to bring it into accord with God. R2504:6
Through the truth and the divine judgments of that time. In proportion as they receive his spirit they will come into the attitude of sonship. R5583:5
A sign of relationship to God, then as human sons, not as "new" or spiritual, ones. R376:4, R5452:4
Not signifying as during this age, a begetting to a spirit nature; but simply that the recipient has come into harmony with Christ, the Mediator--not a change of nature, but a restitution to that which had been lost. E220, E221
In proportion as men shall come into full harmony with that holy Spirit will any of them become eligible to the eternal conditions of life and joy beyond the Millennial age. E165
As they receive of his spirit they will be coming back to soundness of mind. CR399:3
The miracle that will cause the knowledge of the Lord to cover the whole earth as the waters cover the mighty deep. (Isa. 11:9) ; HG432:3; HG443:4
"The Autumn rain brings them blessings." (Psa. 84:6) D653
The Ancient Worthies must receive it in the future. R5074:4
"And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come." (Rev. 22:17) E165
Upon all flesh – All that Joel here prophesied was not fulfilled at Pentecost, but what they saw was all foretold by Joel, and more too. R1411:6
All the families of the earth shall be blessed. R4666:6, R5317:6; T88
No longer only on the few special servants. E239
Upon the whole world of mankind. R5317:6, R1411:6, R5452:4; T88
All reconciled to God under the New covenant. R2070:4
All the willing and obedient. R5066:6
That they may come back into sonship. R5452:4
After the overcoming Church has been glorified. R2504:5
Israel's blessing implies the blessing of all nations; the seed of Abraham being first. OV118:1
Pictured by the increase of the widow's pot of oil until every available vessel was filled. (2 Kings 4:1-7) R558:4
Enlightening them, helping them overcome inherited tendencies, and restoring them to perfection. E218
It will be necessary for them, as now for those who would profit thereby, to consecrate themselves to God, and eat the truth. E218; R5583:5
By no means insuring the same results to them as to the Little Flock of the Gospel age; no longer pointing to sacrifice, but to the laying hold of earthly rights and privileges more freely. R852:4
The spiritual mind is to be restored to all flesh during the Millennial age. R636:6
Then, indeed, all will understand and appreciate the promises now being grasped by the "Little Flock." A86
Including the Ancient Worthies, to fix, establish and crystallize their already perfect characters. R5074:4
Your sons – In the receiving of these earthly sons, Israel will be the first. God will pour upon them "the spirit of grace and of supplication." (Zech. 12:10) R376:5, R2504:5; OV118:1
Your daughters – We have examples of women prophesying: Anna (Luke 2:36-38); Philip's four daughters (Acts 21:8,9); Miriam (Micah 6:1-4); Huldah (2 Chron. 34:21-28) and Deborah (Jud. 4:4-24). R1549:3
Shall prophesy – Teach, or declare. R226:6, R227:4, R376:5
Teach--not a teaching in the church or of the church, but a teaching of the world by the world, under the supervision of the glorified Christ. R4467:3
Your old men – Ancient men--the prophets. R4467:4
Dream dreams – The things they hoped, dimly understood, and greatly longed for. R4467:4
Shall see visions – They will see that of which their Ancients prophesied. PD73/87; HG274:3
Shall see the glorious visions (of restitution blessings, etc. in process of fulfillment) of which your ancient men dreamed. R4467:4, R227:4
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| 29 And also on the men-servants, and on the maid-servants, In those days I do pour out My Spirit. |
Servants and ... handmaids – The Church during this Gospel age, begotten to sonship, "New Creatures in Christ." R5452:4, R636:6, R2504:5, R4666:6
Slaves--those bound to the Lord by a covenant. R226:6
The holy Spirit is to be poured upon these only during the Gospel age. R4497:6, R5537:2, R5066:6; CR216:6
All of the "gifts of the spirit," during the Gospel age, shall be poured out upon God's servants and handmaids, preparing the way for the spirit to be poured on "all flesh" during the next age. R103:6
Regardless of age, sex or national distinction. R4467:3
In those days – During the Gospel age. D639; R2930:3, R226:6
The two ages and their blessings are distinguished by the expressions "in those days," signifying the Gospel age, and "after those days," signifying the Millennial age. R4467:3
Pour out my spirit – This blessing began at Pentecost, and will close with the anointing of the last member of the Body of Christ. R4467:3, R226:6, R4340:5, R5317:6, R376:5; SM753:T
There have been counterfeits of the holy Spirit in the past, and also in modern religious revivals. D565
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| 30 And I have given wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, Blood and fire, and columns of smoke. |
I will shew wonders – The day of trouble preceding the Millennial day of blessing. R1411:6
Prefigured by the wonderful manifestation at the establishment of the Law covenant at Mt. Sinai which caused Moses and all the Israelites to fear and quake. (Heb. 12:26-28) HG399:2
In the heavens – Powers of spiritual control. A318
In the earth – Society. A318
Fire – The burning of cities and villages is surely a fire in the earth. SM317:T
Pillars of smoke – Are rising from battlefields, burning villages and funeral pyres. SM317:T
May refer to social upheaval, political and financial troubles; also some great physical manifestation of divine power in the time of trouble. R5318:1
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| 31 The sun is turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful. |
The sun – Symbolically, the true Gospel light, the truth; and thus, Christ Jesus. D590; R5917:T
Into darkness – Literally, in the dark day of May 19, 1780, which extended over 320,000 square miles. D587
Symbolically, by denial that we were bought with the precious blood, and by substituting the theory of Evolution. D592
Obscured by the thick clouds of worldly wisdom. R5917:4
And the moon – Symbolically, the light of the Mosaic Law. R5917:4; D590
The darkening of the Gospel sunlight results in the darkening of the moonlight. D593
Into blood – By claims that the typical sacrifices were "bloody" and barbaric. D592
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| 32 And it hath come to pass, Every one who calleth in the name of Jehovah is delivered, For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there is an escape, As Jehovah hath said, And among the remnants whom Jehovah is calling! |
Shall come to pass – During the Millennium. R5317:6
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