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Nation “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”
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king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or
teraphim. Afterward,” the prophet continued, “the children of Israel
shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They
shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.”
Hosea 3:4,
5
.
In symbolic language Hosea presented God’s plan of restoring
to every repentant one the blessings granted Israel in the days when
they were loyal to Him in the Promised Land. Referring to Israel
the Lord declared, “‘I will give her her vineyards from there, and
the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the
days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of
Egypt. And it shall be, in that day,’ says the Lord, ‘that you will call
Me, “My husband,” and no longer call Me, “My Master.”’”
Hosea
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2:15, 16
.
In the last days of earth’s history, God will renew His covenant
with His commandment-keeping people. “I will betroth you to Me
forever; ... in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy.
... And you shall know the Lord.” “And I will have mercy on her
who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not
My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say,‘You are my
God!’”
Verses 19, 20, 23
.
From “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” some will gladly
respond to the message, “Fear God and give glory to Him; for the
hour of His judgment has come.” They will turn from every idol that
binds them to earth and will “worship Him who made heaven and
earth, the sea and springs of water.” They will free themselves from
every entanglement and will stand before the world as monuments
of God’s mercy. Obedient to the divine requirements, they will be
recognized as those who have kept “the commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:6, 7, 12
.
“I will bring back the captives of My people Israel. ... I will
plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be plucked up from
the land I have given them.”
Amos 9:14, 15
.
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