Study Desk

"Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

"Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.

"Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.

I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.

And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel.

"For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal.

"It will come about in that day that I will respond," declares the LORD. "I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth,

And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and to the oil, And they will respond to Jezreel.

"I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they will say, 'You are my God!'"

Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity.

My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, And they have played the harlot, departing from their God.

They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery.

I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes; So the people without understanding are ruined.

The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the LORD.

They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them.

I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.