Amos "The
Whole Family From Egypt" This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and made available with written permission by http://www.theseason.org Amos 3:1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying," God is speaking to both the house of Israel and the house of Judah, the whole house of Israel. That means the children today of all thirteen tribes. (Joseph being both Ephraim and Manasseh) Amos 3:2 "You only have I know of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." God says of all the families of the earth, you're my favorite, yet for all your iniquities I will punish you for all you have done. He's going to punish Israel even harder than other nations. If your child and the neighbor's child get into trouble, when time for punishment comes, you're more concerned and severe with your own child than the neighbor's child. Why? Because you love your child and want to correct him. God is totally and completely fair with all His children. God said in Ephesians 1:4: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." God had chosen Israel from that first earth age, before this current earth age had even begun. It was what happened in that age that caused the predestination of the elect in this age. During that age we see one-third followed Satan and fell, one-third were passive, and one-third followed God and did not sway. That's when the election took place, and as it says in verse 5, that selection was done for His good pleasure. Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" This is a Hebrew saying that we have to be careful. What it is talking about is that if two people are in two different locations in a town (or country), can they come and meet at a certain point unless both had prearranged it? No. What God is driving at is this: I have a plan, and I wrote it down, and sent my prophets to tell you about it. I even wrote it in the stars. But if you don't read my plan or listen to my prophets, you will not be ready when I come. You will miss the boat. If you're going to walk with me, the Living God, you had better read that letter and fix that Word in your mind, especially in this last generation, just what intersection you're to be at. It will not be by accident you arrive at the proper place and at the proper time. God's Word lets us know what current events mark the end of this earth age, to let us know who and how to worship, and who we better not worship. It's pre-arranged all right in God's Word. Amos 3:4 "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?" God is saying, "even animals have common sense". Why would the lion roar unless he senses danger. If you're one of the young lions in the latter days, you won't know when to roar. You will not know when to act or react. We are to be mature as Christians in Christ, to know just as the mature lion senses when he is to respond, when to fight, and when to draw back: To know speak and when to keep our mouth closed. Amos 3:5 "Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?" A "gin" is a snare or a trap. If you set a trap for a bird and you see it's empty, are you going to take it up? No! You leave it until it catches the game. Until you read and study God's Word, your traps for the Lord will remain empty. Your message to others for God will be only confusion unless you understand God's plan and message. Your spiritual knowledge and understanding is your trap. Amos 3:6 "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" When Japan attacked the United States on December 7, 1941, the trumpet sounded, and the nation instantly came alive. There was no joking, no games, or no silly play. It was all business preparing for war. Though we were slack prior to the attack, once the war started then all foolishness ended. My friend, the trumpets of the apostles and prophets are sounding daily in the news. The prophecies are being fulfilled in the nations, homes, schools, in our jobs, and on the world scene. If you wait for the bombs to fall (Antichrist's arrival), it will be too late. Are you sealed with the knowledge to defend yourself against the lying wonders and flood of lies that Satan will bring? Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." The verses in chapter three are over-simplified with common sense, as God tries to get our attention to prepare ourselves. Is it a great mystery why things are happening as they are today; or what is about to happen? No. God told us here that He will do nothing unless He forewarns us first. He also said that when He said He would do something, you can count on it. The prophets have sounded the alarm, and it is time to prepare for the spiritual battle of the final time. That final battle of this earth age will be a battle of words, concepts, and ideas; and the battlefield of Satan is fought with lies and deceptions, while our armor of protection is God's Word sealed in our minds. Amos 3:8 "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" The "lion" of the tribe of Judah, is God's only begotten son. When Jesus Christ has forewarned us through His Word there is no fear. God has spoken through His prophets, and we gain all knowledge of events of the end times through His Written Word. The question should be, have you listened? Amos 3:9 "Publish in the palaces as Ash'-dod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Sa-ma'-ri-a, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof." The palaces are the fortresses of Egypt and Syria (Ashod), and God is telling us that on that "Day of the Lord", they will assemble their forces in Samaria (watch-mountain). The Syrians are the former Assyrians whose empire ruled the civilized world and overthrew the former "House of Israel". In Isaiah 14:24-28, Isaiah prophesied of a time "He" would break the back of the Assyrians. When the Grecian empire overthrew these people, did God get the credit? The world gave the credit to "Alexander the Great" and his Greek forces. Amos is not prophesying of that time, but of the end time. In a very short time in our the future it will be payback time. Samaria is the area just north of Jerusalem. It is there that armies of Egypt and Syria are gathered for this battle. This is not one of the Arab-Israeli wars of years past. How do we know? Antichrist hasn't been here yet. The battle of Armageddon happens at the end of Antichrist's reign. The Word "Armageddon" means 'the gathering place of the crowd', and it is just north of Jerusalem that the crowd from the entire world will gather, for on the side of the north is where Satan will set up his throne to rule over his one world system. Amos 3:10 "For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces." Why don't the Syrians know to do right? They don't know God's Word. There is a blinding force over their eyes today; it's called Islam. It's their set of moral laws to follow and methods that they set up to reach the one true God. It's a beautiful religion with many parallels to Christianity. In fact, the dedication of Muslims to their faith is to be admired. However, though the form and mechanics are there, and their knowledge of the "One True God"; they failed to follow the "One True God's" way to himself. Their prophet has designed another way than the writings of the prophets of Israel. They have left God's son out of the way to God and tried to come through another door. When Jesus Christ comes on the "Day of the Lord", all will know their error. However, this is also addressed to Israel. We can see throughout the world the plotting of doing violence and mischief. From the killings in Waco, Texas and the financial cover-ups in Washington, D.C., to all the violence and terror in our cities and abroad; I'm referring to those who claim to be of Judah and are not. The media is the tool of Satan and his kids. Amos 3:11 "Therefore thus saith the Lord God; And adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled." Who is this adversary? It's Satan. Just as he was in Job's day, he is constantly accusing God's children. In these latter days, Satan will be in all the land. He will take over all parts of every person's life here on earth. How can this be? The preparation is well under way, with the one world system which now controls many parts of our lives. Once Michael casts Satan from heaven, (see Revelation 12:9) Satan will control all nations, and just as Nebuchadnezzar ruled old Babylon, and required all to bow to his image, so also will Satan (Antichrist) rule "Mystery" Babylon of the end times; all men and nations will submit and worship him, and do it gladly. Why? They think he is the the true Messiah. All except the elect. Remember in verse 7, God said; "I will do nothing unless you're forewarned". In verse 11 we are warned again that Satan will have full control and authority. Amos 3:12 "Thus saith the Lord; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Sa-ma'-ri-a in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch." This shepherd is the true Shepherd, not a fake. God is telling us that in that day, His children are going to be under so much pressure they will not have a full household (family), or even escape with their property. All families will have members go whoring after Antichrist, and the resistance you give to Satan may even cost you all or part of your property. Are you willing to risk your home to stand as one of God's elect? You are risking, or trading, five months of testing for and eternity with God, and our Lord and Savior. Are you willing? How do they take it from you? By usury! Those credit cards and time payments will control your life and force you to comply with Satan's system, as well as through regulations and taxation. Amos 3:13 "Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts," God is saying, let it be known in all thirteen tribes (House of Jacob, Joseph being Manasseh and Ephraim); all Judah, and the Christian nations of this world, these warnings He is giving about these end times. Amos 3:14 "That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth'-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground." God said in the day I return, I'm going to visit your churches (Beth'-el), to see what you're doing with the tithes given me. He said, He will cut off their power of service and end it. Those false churches will fall to Satan. However, that which is true will stand. You can't let the traditions of men rule you and expect God to be happy with you. If you do follow false teachings, God has warned you what will happen to you: You will be deceived to follow the Antichrist. However, God will see you through, when you stand. Amos 3:15 "And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an en, saith the Lord." What God is saying here is that to all you that have two houses, a summer and a winter house from ill-gotten gains from His people; He is going to bring them down on your head. You have cheated and stolen your way into wealth, and that time is over. God is aware of those that serve Him, and received their wealth as a blessing of God. This verse is not directed to them, but to those who have left God out of their lives and businesses. When usury is used as a tool of bondage, or theft, that gain is what this verse is directed to.
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