Study Desk

During a time of peace, he will come into the richest parts of the province and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

“With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him.

Those who eat his provisions will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.

The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; he will take action, then return to his own land.

Ships of Kittim will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant.

His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

He will not show regard for the gods of his fathers, the god desired by women, or for any other god, because he will magnify himself above all.

Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches.

He will also invade the beautiful land, and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of the Ammonites.

He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape.

He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river. He raised both his hands toward heaven and swore by him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.

When Ephraim saw his sicknessand Judah his wound,Ephraim went to Assyriaand sent a delegation to the great king.But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

He will revive us after two days,and on the third day he will raise us upso we can live in his presence.

Foreigners consume his strength,but he does not notice.Even his hair is streaked with gray,but he does not notice.

When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin,they became his altars for sinning.

Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;Judah has also multiplied fortified cities.I will send fire on their cities,and it will consume their citadels.

Ephraim’s watchman is with my God.Yet the prophet encounters a bird trapon all his pathways.Hostility is in the house of his God!

I have seen Ephraim like Tyre,planted in a meadow,so Ephraim will bring out his childrento the executioner.