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| 1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
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The oppressing city – Babylon, Christendom. D527
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| 2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. |
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| 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. |
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| 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. |
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| 5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. |
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| 6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. |
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| 7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. |
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| 8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. |
Wait ye upon me – We are to wait on him in all things and not take matters into our own hands. OV287:3; R5112:6; CR168:6
Have full confidence in God that his methods are best in every way. OV62:1; R5203:3
The Lord's times and seasons are best for us, and any attempt on our part to push ourselves in advance of the Lord's will would be sure to react unfavorably. R5672:3
Now is the time for patience and for remembering that Socialism cannot do for the world what it desires and teaches. R4135:1
"Be patient, therefore, brethren." (Jas. 5:7) SM191:2; R1520:1
Jehovah says to the Church: "I shall attend to this matter myself." R4990:2
Wait for his time. God has a plan that is surely working itself out. R4135:1
God's people must not interfere with the powers that be. SM191:2; R5526:5
God's people are forewarned not to use carnal weapons and not to trust in such weapons in the hands of others. The trust of God's people is to be in God. R5733:4, R5526:5
It is not the duty of every one of the Lord's people today to become public reprovers of public officials, even though they may see unrighteousness practiced. R3424:5
Do not avenge yourselves on those who legally oppress you, but wait for justice. R1607:4
We are not to demand justice, but to be sympathetic and forbearing. R1607:4, R4899:3
We should neither advocate the coming revolution, nor take part in it. R1607:4
Let us seek to subdue and calm the passions of men in the coming strife and do nothing to augment them, pointing out that the worst government is better than no government, and that we have, in fact, the best of all earthly governments. OV287:2
Do not attempt to force husbands, wives, parents and children up to the line of perfect justice toward you. R4899:3
As young David was content to wait God's time for bringing him to the throne; and not as Jeroboam, possessed of more confidence in himself than trust in God. R4723:3
Until the day – The time of trouble. R4627:3
The Day of Wrath. HG417:6
Not a 24-hour day. R2971:3; A334, A138
That I rise up – "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:19) R5574:2
To the prey – All opposers of his righteous course. R1913:2
My determination – His plan declared. R794:4*
Gather the nations – All the nations. R1785:5
By God permitting them to work out their own selfish propensities. R5526:5; D271
The peoples of all nations, in opposition to present governments. A317
Drawn together by rapid communication systems. R5526:5; D270; HG417:6
Preparatory to the transfer of earth's dominion to "him whose right it is"--Immanuel. (Ezek. 21:27) D271
The opposing hosts of the last final conflict are gathering at the present time--forming one vast community of general interests--commercially, financially and politically. Q769:3, Q849:T
Since mankind are sinners by nature, their cooperation is most likely to be along selfish lines, therefore most likely to be evil. R5161:1
Selfishness has gathered the nations and has been preparing them for the predicted, fast-approaching retribution. D271
Not only contributing to the severity of the judgment, but also making it impossible for any to escape, thus making the great tribulation short as well as decisive. D272
May assemble – May draw together the kingdoms. A317
The world of mankind is being brought into close touch; barriers of language are being broken down, etc. R5161:1
In the only manner in which they could be assembled, in common interest and activity; but not in brotherly love. D271
The kingdoms – Unite them for common safety, so that the trouble will be upon all, and all will fall. A317
To pour upon them – The kingdoms. A317
Mine Indignation – The Lord's indignation will burn hotly against all unrighteousness, all iniquity, all falsehood; that these may be thoroughly removed. SM57:1
It is the "Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty." (Rev. 16:14) D528
All my fierce anger – By permitting Satan and his legions to have a great deal of power on earth. R2189:4
The natural result of sin. R350:3*
For all the earth – The entire present social fabric. A317, A318; B162; D13, D272; SM58:2; R5364:1, R5526:4, R2543:6, R1607:5, R668:1; HG515:5
The world that now is. (2Pet. 3:7) D271
Including the nations beyond Christendom, for they are bound together by commercial and other interests, and justly so; for they have failed to appreciate what light they have seen. D27
A fire of anarchy will completely consume earthly governments and Churchianity. R2565:4
Everything evil, both root and branch. (Mal. 4:1) R4628:4, R2844:5, R2544:1
Shall be devoured – As Israel was "burned to the lowest hell." (Deut. 32:22) E357
All evil principles of government and society manifested and destroyed as a necessary preparation for the coming blessing. R188:5
All the giants of vice and selfishness. D370
The utter destruction of humanity is not meant. R5364:1
Consumed. The tares will cease to be tares; they will cease to claim for their worldly systems the name "Christendom." C148, C149
With the fire – Wrath, indignation; the great trouble of the Day of the Lord with which this age will end. B162; C148; D269, D370, D528; R4628:1
Of truth. R794:4*
Knowledge is bringing on the restless social conditions. R5526:5
The fire of God's righteous anger. R5863:6, R5532:4; OV58:3, OV86:1, OV323:3
The Lord's anger will burn against all kinds of injustice and iniquity. R4628:1, R2844:5
Which must consume all the giant evils so entrenched in the world. R5442:4
Devouring the political, financial, social and religious structure of the world. R5733:4, R3935:2, R2565:4, R1644:5, R1615:5
The fire of God's zeal is a forcible symbol, representing the intensity of the trouble and the destruction which will envelop the whole earth. A317
Trouble, strife, confusion. R5526:5, R5364:1, R5161:5; SM58:2
Fire represents the destruction of whatever is burned--tares, dross, earth (social organization), or whatever it may be. A318
Not merely to destroy, but especially to purify. R3684:4, R5442:4
The same fire spoken of by Peter, through which the world is to pass at this next great dispensational change. HG18:5; HG19:4
Anarchy. D271; HG398:6; HG417:6
Which will come about in a very natural manner. R26:2, R2971:4
Into which the "tare" class of Christendom will be cast. R2565:1, R2543:6
A necessary preparation for the glorious reign of righteousness that shall immediately succeed it. R5989:2, R1913:2, R188:5
This symbolic burning will be the new missionary method by which the Church glorified, with her Head, will "bring in everlasting righteousness." (Dan. 9:24) R2463:1
So great is the trouble here described that the world is said to be burned up by the Lord's anger. R26:2, R268:6, R409:5, R592:3
The same fire of the Lord's anger against every evil thing will continue to burn throughout the entire Millennial age, destroying some found unworthy of life eternal. R2544:1
Not literal fire, as proven by the next sentence, indicating surviving people. R4627:3, R4990:2, R5733:4 R3935:2, R5364:4, R2971:3, R2543:6, R1814:1; SM58:3; OV58:3; Q777:1
Of my jealousy – Of my zeal. A317; C148; OV86:1
Or, anger, justice. R1814:1, R1785:5
Or, zeal for righteousness. R2971:4
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| 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. |
For then – After this destruction of the kingdoms and the present social order in the time of trouble. A317; D529; R5733:4, R3414:5, R1607:5
When the harvest ends; when Jesus begins his reign as Mediator of the New covenant, and Babylon is no longer. R5827:2, R5823:3, R4627:6, R5920:4
After men shall have been humbled and made ready to hear and heed his counsel. D519
As a consequence of the preceding terrible judgments upon the nations. HG18:5
After the storm comes the sunshine. HG19:5
Turn to the people – The masses. SM145:1
Who are therefore not destroyed by the fire, and who are also shown to be unconverted at the time it takes place. A317; R4627:6; R5364:1[R5364]
Not (as some hold) the saints, who, after the earth has melted and cooled off, will return to earth and build houses and inhabit them. A317
Implying a cessation of death, a stopping of the proceedings against those waiting to go into this prison-house. Q216:4
A pure language – The pure word of truth, uncontaminated by human tradition. A317; SM145:1; R2994:4, R5161:5, R5364:4, R5097:6
Instead of a confused message: the contradiction of creeds of heathenism and Churchianity (Babylon). OV253:2; SM58:3, SM145:1; R4627:6, R2994:4, R5364:4; F123, F710
A pure message. R4627:3, R5097:6, R5364:1, R5823:3; OV324:T, SM58:3
Unmixed with falsity and error, as now. R996:5
The confusion of doctrines will all terminate with this present age. R5161:5
Man's communications with each other will no longer be selfish, but pure, truthful and loving. D272; R1520:4
The pure Gospel of the Love, Justice and Mercy of God. OV86:1; CR408:5
A clear declaration of the divine will and plan of salvation. R5442:4, R3684:4
A pure method. Q430:3
A language of sincerity. Love will then mean love. R1520:4
The Lord, now speaking in anger, will then speak words of comfort and mercy to chastened hearts. R5823:3
It will be the work of the thousand years of Messiah's reign to make known the pure message of God. R4390:3, R5733:4
A pure word of instruction, which they can understand. R2994:4
The unadulterated truth. R1785:5; D529
One manner of communication. R794:4*
The "still, small voice" (1 Kings 19:12), or "voice of Eden," as Luther's translation puts it. R5753:2, R5752:3, R5733:4, R3414:5; SM796:T
The "voice of Eden" will be heard bringing the message which will be "the desire of all nations." (Hag. 2:7) R5753:2
As typified by Elisha's purifying the brackish waters at their foundation by casting in a handful of salt. (2 Kings 2:19-22) R5780:2
Call – Recognize our Lord as the great teacher. SM59:T
To serve him – Being prepared by having experienced the misrule of the "Prince of this world." R268:6
Will this ever come? Yes!--the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. R5112:6
When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isa. 26:9) SM701:1
The scourging, the curse of Elijah (Mal. 4:5, 6), the symbolic fire, will accomplish for mankind in a short time what the message of Elijah failed to accomplish. OV324:T
With one consent – Then " every knee shall bow and every tongue confess." (Isa. 45:23) R5098:1
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| 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. |
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| 11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. |
My holy mountain – Kingdom. A318
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| 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. |
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| 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. |
Remnant of Israel – Of both houses, natural and spiritual. R518:5*
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| 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. |
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| 15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. |
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| 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. |
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| 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. |
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| 18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. |
The solemn assembly – There are some who see many of these things but follow afar off; but when the tribulation gets heavy enough, they will be separated and gathered. R519:1*
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| 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. |
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| 20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I bring back your prosperity before your eyes, saith the LORD. |
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