Book of Hosea Chapter 5 Vs. 11

 Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Hos. 5:11

Ephraim is oppressed... He is delivered over to oppressors by God’s just judgment. Such were Pul and Tiglath-pileser, kings of Assyria. Archbishop Newcome distinguishes between these phrases thus.

because he willingly... It was not forced upon them, they did it willingly. Though there was a law commanding, yet there was in the people a forwardness and too great a readiness, to comply and obey that law which made idolatry the establishment in the ten tribes.

after the commandment... To forbear going to the temple, and to worship the calves at Dan and Beth-el, as Jeroboam son of Nebat required. The commandment of Jeroboam to worship the golden calves and go into idolatry (1Kgs. 12:28; 2Kgs. 10:29-31).

God allowed Ephraim to be oppressed and broken by his neighbors, as judgment from God for his unfaithfulness to God.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed is his right, for he willfully went after vanity.

According to Hos. 5:11-14, judgment had already begun. Ephraim was oppressed and trampled. Again Hosea alluded to a covenant curse (cf. Deut. 28:33 2, NASB). This judgment may refer to the Assyrian invasion of 733 B.C (cf. 2Ki. 15:29). However, Israel’s troubles were ultimately attributable to her own sin, not to Assyrian imperialism. The word idols is a conjecture (cf. NIV marg.), for the Hebrew word ṣāw is obscure. Man’s command (NASB) is a highly unlikely translation. The word is possibly a corruption of vanity (šāw’, RSV, following the LXX) or filth (ṣāw’, i.e., excrement. The reference is probably to false gods (hence NIV’s idols). The Hebrew literally reads, for he persistently walked after vanity/filth (?). The idiom walk after, translated follow(ed)(ing), appears elsewhere with false gods as an object (cf. Deut. 4:3; 6:14; 8:19; 28:14; Jer. 2:5; etc.).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 13

 Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

that shall endure... The ones who persevere are the same ones who are saved, not the ones whose love grows cold (verse 12). This does not suggest that our perseverance secures our salvation. Scripture everywhere teaches precisely the opposite: God, as part of His saving work, secures our perseverance.

True believers are protected by the power of God through faith for … salvation (1Pet. 1:5). The guarantee of our perseverance is built into the New Covenant promise. God says: “I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me” (Jer. 32:40).

Those who do fall away from Christ give conclusive proof that they were never truly believers to begin with (1Jhn. 2:19). To say that God secures our perseverance is not to say that we are passive in the process, however. He keep us through faith (1Pet. 1:5), our faith.

unto the end... Greek: telos, the actual end of anything (Mat. 24:6, 24:14), not sunteleia, the joining of two ages (Mat. 13:39, 13:40, 13:49; 24:3; 28:20; Heb. 9:26). Here telos means the end of life or the age as it may be.

Scripture sometimes calls us to hold fast to our faith (Heb. 10:23; Rev. 3:11), or warns us against falling away (Heb. 10:26-29). Such admonitions do not negate the many promises that true believers will persevere (John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:38-39; 1Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6).

Rather, the warnings and pleas are among the means God uses to secure our perseverance in the faith. Notice that the warnings and the promises often appear side by side. For example, when Jude urges believers, keep yourselves in the love of God (Jude 21), he immediately points them to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling (Jude 24).

We see the words he that shall endure until the end. You see, unlike what some ministers would have you believe, there is a terrible time of testing. Many ministers have their congregations believing that there will not be problems, if you have your life right with God.

What about that part of verse 13 that said you must endure to the end, if you are to be saved? God will bless His own, and if you pray and believe, He will help you through the rough times; but trials and tribulations will come to all of us. How we handle the problems is what really counts. When the going gets rough, do we run or stand?

Endure does not mean good times. Endure means hang on in the face of adversity. If we are to be saved, that seems to be our lot. No one knows for sure how soon the end of this struggle will be. Our job is to hang on and give everything we have to God. He will help us, if we will resist the enemy.

shall be saved... Greek: sozo, saved Greek: Used 110 times in the New Testament of salvation from sin (Mat. 1:21; Heb. 7:25), danger (Mat. 14:30; 27:42), spiritual conflict (John 12:27; 1Tim. 4:16), sickness (Jas. 5:15), hell (John 3:16-18; Mark 16:16), and slavery (Jude1:5).

Those who remain faithful to the Lord until the end of that period of time will be saved, that is, delivered (Mat. 24:13). This does not refer to a personal self-effort at endurance that results in one’s eternal salvation, but to physical deliverance of those who trust in the Savior during the Tribulation. They will enter the kingdom in physical bodies.

Book of Hosea Chapter 5 Vs. 10

 Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. Hos. 5:10

the princes of... Judah had followed in the sinful footsteps of Israel. Hosea compared Judah’s greedy princes to those who move boundary stones in order to steal land from others. The Law condemned this practice (Deut. 19:14; 27:17).

The princes of Judah, according to the statement here, were like the apostates in Ephraim. For this cause both nations would fall.

remove the bound... Boundaries, marked by stones, could be easily moved at night. Moving them was tantamount to stealing land from a neighbor (Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Pro. 22:28; 23:10). Worse, Israel’s leaders were moving spiritual lines established by God (compare verse 11).

pour out my... This is speaking of a time when God's fury has come up in His face, and He has poured His wrath on His unfaithful. It appears, they had moved the landmarks, that God had strictly forbidden them move. This automatically brings judgment from God.

At this point (Hos. 5:10) the discourse swerves from the religious to the political leaders of Israel; but as the princes were included with the priests in the exordium (Hos. 5:1), we can hardly count this a new oracle.

The princes of Judah are like landmark-re-movers-commonest cheats in Israel-upon them the Father will pour out His wrath like water.

Even Judah would not be spared ultimately (cf., however, Hos. 1:7). Its leaders were also guilty of breach of covenant. They were like those who move boundary stones for they showed no respect for God’s commands. Moving boundary stones was clearly forbidden in the Law (Deut. 19:14) and carried a curse (Deut. 27:17). The act was tantamount to theft as it obscured the legal boundary between properties and was a way of taking some land that belonged to another. Perhaps this particular crime was cited in order to allude to the acts of social injustice being carried out by the Judean upper class (cf. Isa. 5:8; Mic. 2:1-2). On Judah’s sinful leaders the Lord would pour out His anger like a flood of water (lit., like water), possibly meaning like rainwater (cf. Amos 5:8; 9:6).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 12

 

Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

And because iniquity... Meaning, either the malice and wickedness of outrageous persecutors, which should greatly increase. Or the treachery and hatred of the apostates; or the errors and heresies of false teachers; or the wickedness that prevailed in the lives and conversations of some, that were called Christians.

Shall abound (πληθυνθῆναι)

Lit., shall be multiplied. See Acts 6:1, 6:7; 7:17; 9:31; Heb. 6:14.

The love of... The consequence of which would be, the love of many shall wax cold. This would be the case of many, but not of all; for in the midst of this abounding iniquity, there was some whose love to Christ, to his Gospel, and to the saints, did not abate. But then there were many, whose zeal for Christ, through the violence of persecution, was greatly damped. And through the treachery of false brethren, were afraid of the saints themselves.

Of many (τῶν πολλῶν)

The A. V. in omitting the definite article, misses the force of Christ's saying. It is not the love of many people only that shall be chilled, but of the many, the majority, the great body.

Wax cold (ψυγήσεται)

The verb means originally to breathe or blow; and the picture is that of spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind.

Not knowing who to trust; and through the principles of the false teachers, the power of godliness, and the vital heat of religion, were almost lost; and through a love of the world, and of carnal ease and pleasure, love to the saints grew very chilly.

And they left; as the instances of Demas, and those that forsook the Apostle Paul, at his first answer before Nero, show. This might be true of such, who were real believers in Christ; who might fall under great decays, through the prevalence of iniquity. Since it does not say their love shall be lost, but wax cold.

Believing Jews will be betrayed by nonbelievers (Mat. 24:10), and many will be deceived by rising false prophets (cf. Mat. 24:5; Rev. 13:11-15). Wickedness will increase, causing the love of most people (for the Lord) to grow cold.

Book of Hosea Chapter 5Vs. 9

 Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. Hos. 5:9

shall be desolate... In the upcoming invasion Ephraim would be devastated. Rather than leading Ephraim into battle, Benjamin would be pursued by the same invader. The line might be paraphrased, behind you, O Benjamin, Ephraim’s conqueror advances. It shall not be lightly rebuked, nor even more grievously chastened; it shall not simply be wasted by famine, pestilence, and the sword; it shall be not simply desolate, but a desolation, one waste, in the day of rebuke, when God brings home to it its sin and punishment. Ephraim was not taken away for a time; it was never restored.

shall surely be... The desolation of Ephraim was certain to take place because it had been announced by the Lord, whose word is inviolable (I proclaim what is certain). This coming judgment would fulfill the covenant curse in Lev. 26:32-35.

Ephraim must suffer because of the institutions of Omri and Ahab, Hos. 5:11; and Judah, because her princes were grasping and fraudulent.

Doubt not that this which I say shall come upon thee, for it is a sure saying which I have made known; literally, one well-grounded, as it was, in the mind, the justice, the holiness, the truth of God. All God's threatenings or promises are grounded in past experience.

So it may also be, as though God said, Whatever I have hitherto promised or threatened to Israel has come to pass. In all I have proved Myself true. Let no one then flatter himself, as though this were uncertain, for in this, as in the rest, I shall be found to be God, faithful and true.

This just speaks of the surety of the coming battle and their captivity. God has given them ample warning, and they have not taken heed.

The desolation of Ephraim was certain to take place because it had been announced by the Lord, whose word is inviolable (I proclaim what is certain). This coming judgment would fulfill the covenant curse in Lev. 26:32-35.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 11

 

Signs of the End of the Age

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

and many false... Out of from among the churches of Christ; at least under the name of Christians. For false teachers are here meant, men of heretical principles, pretending to a spirit of prophecy, and to new revelations, and a better understanding of the Scriptures.

and shall deceive... As they all of them had their followers, and large numbers of them, whose faith was subverted by them. And who followed their pernicious ways, being imposed upon and seduced by their fair words, specious pretenses, and licentious practices.

In many churches, very little praying is going on. It is very difficult to separate the activities that are going on in the church with the activities of the world. The world has been brought into the church. Very few churches really have services where you can feel the presence of God. We have gotten so worldly that God really doesn’t feel very welcome.

True repentance and commitment are hardly even part of the function of the church, anymore. Some churches go months and months without one single conversion.

False prophets, preachers, and other officers have brought such a watered down version of Christianity into the church that, except for the fact you are in a church house, you would believe you were at some form of world entertainment.

The messages and services are appealing to the flesh. Many are being deceived. The only way not to be deceived is to know what the Bible says yourselves. Read it every day. Ask God to help you. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and help you to discern right from wrong.

Satan is clever, and he is out to destroy Christianity and the Christians. The only weapons that we have to fight him with are the name of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus, and the Word of God. Do not be deceived; learn the warnings in the Bible.

Be wise in Jesus. Truly, this part of the prophecy has been fulfilled as well.

Believing Jews will be betrayed by nonbelievers (Mat. 24:10), and many will be deceived by rising false prophets (cf. Mat. 24:5; Rev. 13:11-15).

Book of Hosea Chapter 5 Vs. 8

 Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah

Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. Hos. 5:8

Blow ye the... The sound of battle trumpets was about to be heard in Israel. An invading force would sweep to the borders of the Southern Kingdom. Gibeah and Ramah were located a few miles north of Jerusalem in Benjamite territory in the Southern Kingdom (cf. Jos. 18:25, 18:28). The enemy was already upon them and thus her watchmen were to sound the alarm (Num. 10:9).

Bethaven... Beth-aven, house of naught—referring to Beth-el where Jeroboam set up one of the golden calves to worship (1Kgs. 12:28-33; 13:1).

Gibeah … Ramah: Located on Judah’s northern border with Israel.

These places mentioned are the line of attack. It shows the progression of the battle. The cornet was an instrument that could be heard from great distance, and the silver trumpet was blown to call the people to battle. Beth-haven was a place near, and the trumpet could be heard by Benjamin.

cry aloud at... Beth Aven (probably Bethel; cf. Hos. 4:15), though originally a Benjamite town (Jos. 18:22), was then just inside Israel’s southern border. Beth-aven, (Bethel). situated in southern Israel (4:15). All three were strategic defense cities.

After thee, O... The significance of the last clause in Hos. 5:8, lead on, O Benjamin (lit., behind you, O Benjamin) is not clear. The same expression appears in Deborah’s song in reference to mustering Israel’s troops (Jdg. 5:14). At that time Benjamin went ahead of Ephraim into battle against the northern Canaanite forces (NASB). Perhaps this ancient song was given a sarcastic twist by Hosea.

Blow ye the... The sound of battle trumpets was about to be heard in Israel. An invading force would sweep to the borders of the Southern Kingdom. Gibeah and Ramah were located a few miles north of Jerusalem in Benjamite territory in the Southern Kingdom (cf. Jos. 18:25, 18:28). The enemy was already upon them and thus her watchmen were to sound the alarm (Num. 10:9).