Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 14

 THE CONFUSION OF THE NATION

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. Hos. 7:14

have not cried... And they have never cried unto Me with their heart, but they keep howling from their beds for corn and new wine. No real repentance theirs, but some fear of drought and miscarriage of the harvests, a sensual and servile sorrow in which they wallow.

with their heart... Prayer, repentance, and service to God must be with the heart or they are fruitless (Isa. 29:13; Mat. 14:8; Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 13:15).

when they howled... they assemble themselves for corn and wine.

Nine Characteristics of Rebels

1. Secret sins (Hos. 7:1)

2. Falsehood and lying (Hos. 7:1, 7:13)

3. Obstinate hearts (Hos. 7:2)

4. Glory in sins (Hos. 7:3)

5. Love of wine and women (Hos. 7:4-5, 7:14)

6. Extreme passions (Hos. 7:6)

7. Prayerlessness (Hos. 7:7, 7:10)

8. Ignorance (Hos. 7:9, 7:11)

9. Wicked imaginations (Hos. 7:15)

upon their beds... The former phrase may speak of appeals to pagan fertility gods upon beds of sacred prostitution, while the latter, if the marginal reading is correct, harkens to Elijah’s encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel (1Kgs. 18:28).

assemble themselves for... It appears, from this verse, they cried upon their beds at night, but did not direct those cries to God. At least they did not cry for Him with their hearts. Their hearts were far from God. This assembling themselves for corn and wine could be speaking of some false worship they were involved in. To rebel against God, is to rebel against His authority.

1Sam. 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams."

Jesus said the following, which actually is the same statement.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

They did not keep God's commandments, because they did not love God. They rebelled against Him.

Israel’s rejection of the Lord is illustrated here. The nation desired a plentiful crop (grain and new wine) but refused to exhibit the wholehearted devotion to God without which agricultural prosperity was impossible. They wailed (yālal; lit., howled; cf. Joel 1:11) and cut their bodies as they mourned over the crop failure. In the second sentence, the reading in the NIV margin (They slash themselves, following the LXX) seems better than They gather together. Cutting oneself was a sign of mourning (cf. Jer. 16:6; 41:5; 47:5) forbidden by the Law (Deut. 14:1) because of its pagan associations. The prophets of Baal cut themselves in an effort to arouse Baal, the storm god, to action (cf. 1Kgs. 18:28).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 42

No One Knows That Day and Hour

 

Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Watch therefore: for... In view of the coming of Christ suddenly when He is not expected, you that will be living on earth after the rapture and at the very coming of Christ, be watchful (Mat. 24:39-42). Be always on your guard, that you may not be taken unawares, and that you may be properly prepared to meet God either of judgment or mercy, whenever he may come. This advice the followers of Christ took, and therefore they escaped; but the miserable Jews rejected it, and were destroyed. Let us learn wisdom by the things which they suffered.

This will be an individual calling. You cannot hang on to someone and take them with you. Each individual will be judged, whether they will rise to meet Jesus or be left. You see, in these passages, that someone you work with every day may not make it.

We should witness to everyone we come in contact with; especially to our families and friends. Time is running out. We must get them saved now before the trumpet blows. We should be anticipating His coming and praying.

not what hour... What hour

Later texts, however, read ἡμέρᾳ, a, day. ποίᾳ ἡμέρᾳ, in what kind of a day, whether near or a remote one. Similarly Mat. 24:43: ἐν ποίᾳ φυλακῇ, in what kind of a watch, whether a night or a morning watch.

Lord doth come... The literal visible coming to the earth with the raptured saints.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

The Lord encouraged His disciples to keep watch (grēgoreite the word rendered be alert in 1Thes. 5:6), because they could not know on what day the Lord would come (cf. Mat. 25:13). The limits of the Tribulation period are known to God, for the Seventieth Week of Daniel will have a definite starting time and a definite ending time.

Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 13

 THE CONFUSION OF THE NATION

Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. Hos. 7:13

This brief unit begins on an ominous note. Woe (’ôy) suggests impending doom (cf. Num. 21:29; Jer. 4:13, 4:31, alas; Jer. 48:46), as the next sentence (cf. Destruction to them) clearly shows.

because they have... The basis for judgment was Israel’s rebellion (cf. Hos. 8:1; 13:16) against the Lord (because they have strayed from Me and because they have rebelled against Me).

though I have... Despite His desire to save them (God said, I long to redeem them), they had spoken lies against Him. The word for redeem (pāḏâh) is used frequently to describe the deliverance from Egypt (cf. Deut. 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 24:18; 2Sam. 7:23; Psm. 78:42; Mic. 6:4). In this context lies probably refers to Israel’s practical denial of God’s redemptive ability, expressed through her attempts to find security through other nations.

because they have... This is the reason for all destruction from God; it has always been the cause and it always will be.

They have left the safety of their God and sought others. The safest place for a bird is in his own nest. The destruction comes on them, because they have transgressed God's law. God was their redeemer. They have become unfaithful to Him. It appears their lying here, is a denial of God.

Woe to them that they have strayed from Me! Damnation to them that they have rebelled against Me! While I would have redeemed them they spoke lies about Me.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 41

 No One Knows That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:41“Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

at the mill... The mill (τῷ μύλῳ)

The ordinary hand-mill with a handle fixed near the edge of the upper stone, which is turned by two women.

shall be taken... Taken like the flood took them all away or destroyed them (Mat. 24:39; Luke 17:27). Did the flood rapture or destroy the people that it took away? So the second coming will not rapture but destroy many at the battle of Armageddon to make the carcasses that will be eaten by the fowls of Mat. 24:28; Luke 17:34-37; Eze. 39:17-22; Rev. 19:17-21.

the other left... Not destroyed, like Noah and his family were left and not destroyed. At Armageddon many will be left to continue living on earth when Christ reigns (Zec. 14:16-21; Mat. 25:34, 25:46; Isa. 2:2-4; 66:19-21; Rev. 20:4-10).

That separation process is described in detail in the judgment of the sheep and goats (in Mat. 25:31 to 46), where He takes the goats on the one hand and sends them into everlasting punishment. His sheep on the other hand and gives them the Kingdom. So they are left. Very important, they are left for the Kingdom. So it is this that we have to keep in mind.

The future generation will be warned for three and a half years. And the fact is they’re being warned right now. They’ve been warned ever since the New Testament was written whatever generation it is that will be alive when that happens, and that could be this one. But they’re not going to awake to it until they’re taken away in judgment.

Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

But the period before His coming will be like the time in the days of Noah. People then were enjoying the normal pursuits of life, with no awareness of imminent judgment. Life continued normally for the people of Noah’s day for they were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. But the Flood came and took them all away. It was sudden and they were unprepared.

Clearly the church, the body of Christ, cannot be in view in these statements. The Lord was not describing the Rapture, for the removal of the church will not be a judgment on the church. If this were the Rapture, as some commentators affirm, the Rapture would have to be posttribulational, for this event occurs immediately before the Lord’s return in glory. But that would conflict with a number of Scriptures and present other problems that cannot be elaborated on here (cf., e.g., see 1Thes. 4:13-18 and Rev. 3:10). The Lord’s warning emphasized the need to be prepared, for judgment will come at a time when people will least expect it.

Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 12

 WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES

When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. Hos. 7:12

When they shall... The 9th prophecy in Hosea (Hos. 7:12-16, fulfilled). Next, Hos. 8:1.

Seven Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. I will spread My net upon them (Hos. 7:12).

2. I will bring them down.

3. I will chastise them, as I have told their congregation.

4. Woe to them! They have fled from Me.

5. Destruction is before them (Hos. 7:13).

6. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue (Hos. 7:16).

7. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

they shall go... Best rendered: whenever they go. The ultimate ruin produced by this policy of dependence on foreign states and of double dealing intrigue was even at this early stage foreseen by the prophet, and portrayed under the simile of Jehovah’s net snaring the unwary bird.

I will spread... As fowlers spread the net, watch the birds, and cast it over them to catch them, so will God do to Ephraim. So he did with Israel when he accepted the alliance of Shalmaneser, and turned tributary. And again, when Israel sought by Egypt’s help to get out of the snares of their vassalage to Shalmaneser, who revenged the conspiracy with a total captivity. Nor can there be likelihood or possibility these fugitives should escape when it is God’s net, and he spreads it, his almighty power, his all searching wisdom, and his just vengeance, that follows them.

I will bring... Though they attempt to fly, yet as fowls in the net they shall certainly fall, I will bring them down; as he did when they were gathered into Samaria as a net, and there made prisoners, and thence carried captives.

I will chastise... Thus they shall be punished.

as their congregation... Both from the law of Moses which they had with them, and as they had heard from my prophets which I have sent unto them. I will, saith God, make good my word.

Just as the silly dove is caught in the net unexpectedly, they are caught in the trap of their own making. They were unaware that Egypt, or Assyria, was not where their chastisement would come from, but from God. God could use any country He chose to for the carrying out of His chastisement. They had angered God with their actions.

Poor pigeon of a people, fluttering from one refuge to another! But as they go I will throw over them My net, like a bird of the air I will bring them down. I will punish them as their congregation have heard this text as it stands: can only mean in the manner I have publicly proclaimed in Israel.

Worst of all, Israel’s policy had no place for the Lord (cf. Hos. 7:7, 7:10). Consequently He Himself would intervene in judgment. While Israel sought out alliances with all the naiveté of a dove (Hos. 7:11), the Lord would come like a wise and well-equipped Fowler and trap them.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 40

 No One Knows That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:40 “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

Then shall two... Then at the second coming, not at the rapture (Mat. 24:29-31; 25:31-46).

Shall be taken - left

Both verbs are in the present tense, which makes the saying more lively. One is taken and one is left. So Rev.

Life will go on with the routine until it’s too late, and then instant devastation. And so, that generation will be like Noah’s generation, Warned and warned many, many times. That generation was warned for 120 years as the ark was built.

The strongest reason to take the separation depicted in this passage as a reference to ones taken away in judgment is the context. It appears that (verses 40- 41), are illustrating that which preceded it (in verses 36- 39), namely that those who were not prepared in the days of Noah were taken away in judgment by the flood.

Verse 39 ends by saying, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Clearly the emphasis in this verse is on unbelievers being taken away in the judgment of the flood. Therefore (verses 40- 41), drive that point home by giving a couple examples of the coming separation that will occur at this time of judgment.

took them all... Rapture Or Destruction?

Destroyed them all (Luke 17:27), that is, the ones that needed to be destroyed, and saved Noah and family. So Christ will destroy some at His coming and leave some to replenish the earth in the Millennium (Zec. 14:16-21; Isa. 2:2-4; 66:19-21; Rev. 20:1-15).

Now Jesus gets very specific (in verses 40-41). “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left”. “Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

What do we mean taken? I’ve heard people say this means the Rapture. You can’t bring in the Rapture here. This is long after that. This is talking about taken in judgment.

Look again at verse 39. “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away”. It’s based on that imagery. It’s based on that picture of the flood sweeping men away into death. Two are going to be in the field when that final devastating flood of fire comes. And one is taken in judgment. Two at the mill and one is taken in judgment and the other left. what are they left for?

They’re left to go into what, into the Kingdom. And they become those who populate the Millennial Kingdom. They are the redeemed. So you’ll have people on the job. Some will be believers and some will be unbelievers. The unbelievers will be swept away and the believers will be preserved.

Analogous to Noah’s day, the individuals who will be taken are the wicked whom the Lord will take away in judgment (cf. Luke 17:37). The individuals left are believers who will be privileged to be on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ in physical bodies. As the wicked were taken away in judgment and Noah was left on the earth, so the wicked will be judged and removed when Christ returns and the righteous will be left behind to become His subjects in the kingdom.

Book of Hosea Chapter 7 Vs. 11

 THE CONFUSION OF THE NATION

Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Hos. 7:11

like a silly... There is nothing more simple than a dove. Ephraim ignored God’s calls, was unmoved by calamity and sufferings, and would not seek the Lord in all her trouble. No creature is less able to defend itself than the dove, which flies from the bird of prey to the net of the fowler. In this powerful metaphor, we have a political allusion. King Hoshea (19^th and last king of Israel), is called Ausih on the Assyrian monuments. Having usurped the throne after the murder of Pekah, he purchased his recognition as king of Israel by giving a large present to the Assyrian monarch (730 B.C.).

they call to... Instead of calling to God who could and would help, they called to Egypt who could not, and went to Assyria who would not. So God complains by Isaiah, To Me, thou hast not called, O Jacob (Isa. 43:22). This was their folly; they called not to God, who had delivered them out of Egypt, but, alternately, to their two powerful neighbors, of whom Egypt was a delusive promisor, not failing only, but piercing those who leant on it; Assyria was a powerful oppressor.

A silly dove is unaware of the danger of flying head long into a net. Ephraim has forgotten their help is in God. They seek help from Egypt (world), and from Assyria. They are heading for their own trap.

There is nothing more simple than a dove. Ephraim ignored God’s calls, was unmoved by calamity and sufferings, and would not seek the Lord in all her trouble.

With virtue and single-hearted faith have disappeared intellect and the capacity for affairs. Ephraim is become like a silly dove-a dove without heart, to the Hebrews the organ of the wits of a man they cry to Egypt, they go off to Assyria. Poor pigeon of a people, fluttering from one refuge to another!

In her efforts to arrange foreign alliances, Israel could be compared to a dove, which exhibits little sense (cf. Hos. 11:11). Under Menahem (ca. 743 or 738 B.C) Israel submitted to Assyrian suzerainty (2Kgs. 15:19-20). Pekah (ca. 734 B.C) joined a coalition against Assyria, which Tiglath-Pileser III violently crushed (2Kgs. 15:29). Hoshea (ca. 732-722 B.C), after acknowledging Assyrian rulership for a time, stopped tribute payments and sought an alliance with Egypt (2Kgs. 17:3-4). This act of rebellion led to the destruction of the Northern Kingdom (2Kgs. 17:4-6), the inevitable result of a foreign policy which for 20 years had been characterized by vacillating and expedient measures.