Amos in chapter 6 is telling of a consequence to Israel that is like the end fate of Babylon during the time of Daniel some 200 years later. King Belshazzar has gathered his nobles and wealthy to celebrate their wealth and possession. This included the personal use of the golden bowls and cups take from the Jerusalem Temple by his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar. They sat in celebration while the Persians invaded the inner courts of the palace and kingdom itself.

Just as Amos points out in chapter 6, modern day Christian religions are also self-indulging. Does one worship God through the Holy Spirit out of self-placation? Perhaps today it is close to worshipping rituals out of routine, habit, social pressures, or tradition? Try reversing communion just once. Give the cup offering first then the bread. Communion habitually follows the sentence structure of 1 Corinthians 11:26. It is not a sentence defining a structured sequence but a single sentence explaining the meaning of each element. Is there a priority in the value of the drink or bread? Might it be but one statement with two parts? Is it not tradition that dictates the sequence of communion?

JIV NOTE per Amos 6: Ironic? Coincidental? Providential? In 2016 Israel attempted to launch a satellite they named Amos 6. Just as we read of the failed WOE of Amos’s message in chapter 6, this Falcon 9 SpaceX satellite named Amos 6 failed on the launch pad. In the time of Amos, Israel is depending upon their abilities; not trusting in G-d.

Amos 6:1 “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!” Might one write in 2016 regarding the failed Israeli satellite launch; “woe to you in your presumptive pride and indulgence who try to make a name for yourselves in this secret satellite launch.”

We teach – You Decide (Jstark)

Nahum 3:8a sums up this scenario in Amos 6:1,2 quite well: [paraphrased] “Do you think you are better than the sun-god of Egypt or other nations and populations? This warning was true of Israel during the time of Amos and remains true today.

Amos 6:3-6 Each verse is prefaced with the word WOE. Amos points out the Godless attitude and culture of the ten Northern Tribes of Israel. They think themselves above and without a need for their living God. Their false gods and self-reliance are good enough. Amos 6:3 can easily be a woe to those in modern time who create huge debts and not think there will be a day of doom. This is true of individuals, families, and States.

Amos 6:7 gives word of the pending judgment of the ten Northern Tribes of Israel for their actions of self-reliance. In the prophesied 7-year Tribulation Israel will feel self-confident in the first 3 ½ years due to a treaty. Without warning at the 3 ½ mark, judgment will come upon them by the antichrist when he sets himself up in the new Temple in Jerusalem then invades Israel itself.  Is this another coincident, irony or a providence from God to the nation of Israel today when in comparison to the pending Assyrian invasion for which Amos warns?

We continue to find parallels in the next few verses in Amos 6. Zechariah 13:8-9 points out that two-thirds of Jerusalem’s population will die at the hand of the anti-Christ. Compare Zechariah 13:8-9 with Revelation 12:12-*13 and we see in the latter passage that God will salvage or save another remnant. Remember that only a remnant returned from captivity in Babylon.

*The woman referred to in verse 13 is Israel.

Amos 6:8 identifies God’s wrath upon “the city”. This is Jerusalem. Let’s process this information per the Word of God through Zechariah 13:8-9, and Revelation 12:12-13. If Jerusalem is going to be attacked and a great slaughter of two-thirds of its population but a remnant will be saved, this means the city of Jerusalem in the Tribulation is total property of Israel, not Jordan and no longer the West Bank of Palestinians. Fact is (speculation) this may be the Tribulation fuse that sets the world against Israel.

Amos 6 continues with correlations suited best for our abilities to understand. Many will die [v9 & 10], for those who survive giving praise to G-d will be hushed [v10], destruction will be everywhere [v11], and Justice will be nonexistent [v12]. Verse 12 compares or makes the judgement of Israel analogous to horses trying to run on rock or plows attempting to till rock as if it were soil.

Amos 6:13 explains the vanities of Israel during the time of Amos and probably modern times up to and including the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation. Have we not taken enemies by our own strength? The Lo-bebar mentioned in verse 13 is a town in Gilead. It was considered a ghetto during the time of King David, a lowly place. Lo-debar conquered the neighboring city of Karnaim in Bashan. King Jeroboam II of the northern kingdom conquered this city and annexed it to Lo-debar. A lowly place annexes a city of significance. What self-pride had the people to whom Amos is prophesying. This was also the avenue used by the Assyrians to move into, conquer, then disperse the population of the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel. Today this is territory is part of Jordan.

Amos 6:14 is a prophecy fulfilled around 720 B.C.

Re. Dr. Jstark
2020