What is the main message in the book of Amos, what value does it hold for today’s modern society?
When one looks at the ‘smaller books’ of the Old Testament, one wonders just what value can be drawn from them in today’s modern society, with this in mind:
-What is the main message in the book of Amos, what value does it hold for today’s modern society?
Answer:
Amos mentioned a literal earthquake that occurred during the reign of King Uzziah (Azariah) of Judah. Zechariah 14:5 refers back to this earthquake, so verse 1 is important for verifying that a future literal earthquake will take place at the end of the present age.
This roaring of verse 2 will take place in the future when God delivers the Holy Remnant out of Jacob’s Trouble. “The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.” These events, which are all future, are related to the end time. Since Amos mentioned a literal earthquake in verse 1 and in verse 2 speaks about Carmel, there is an intended association; namely, the earthquake of the future, although primarily on Jerusalem, will also affect Mount Carmel. Zechariah associated the same future earthquake with Geba and Rimmon, an area that embraces Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:5,10).
The future earthquake is also mentioned in Ezekiel 38:19,20. “For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains [plural] shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.” This earthquake will be literal to emphasize that when the Kingdom is established, it will be known. One will not have to read a book to know that the Kingdom is here.
All three prophets mentioned the same miraculous earthquake at the time of the establishment of the Kingdom. Amos spoke of the earthquake at Carmel. Zechariah spoke of the earthquake from Geba to Rimmon in the Jerusalem area. Ezekiel spoke of a great shaking in all the land of Israel and the mountains (plural). The combination of Scriptures shows how widespread and dramatic the literal earthquake will be. Birds will fly and fish will be affected, as well as men and even some insects. The implication is that when the Lord “roars,” He will be heard. Thus “in that day,” it will be known that the Lord’s Kingdom is being established. Today Israel includes both the northern and the southern kingdoms, and it will be a combined kingdom at the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Amos.
All that in just the first two verses
-What is the main message in the book of Amos, what value does it hold for today’s modern society?
Answer:
Amos mentioned a literal earthquake that occurred during the reign of King Uzziah (Azariah) of Judah. Zechariah 14:5 refers back to this earthquake, so verse 1 is important for verifying that a future literal earthquake will take place at the end of the present age.
This roaring of verse 2 will take place in the future when God delivers the Holy Remnant out of Jacob’s Trouble. “The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.” These events, which are all future, are related to the end time. Since Amos mentioned a literal earthquake in verse 1 and in verse 2 speaks about Carmel, there is an intended association; namely, the earthquake of the future, although primarily on Jerusalem, will also affect Mount Carmel. Zechariah associated the same future earthquake with Geba and Rimmon, an area that embraces Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:5,10).
The future earthquake is also mentioned in Ezekiel 38:19,20. “For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains [plural] shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.” This earthquake will be literal to emphasize that when the Kingdom is established, it will be known. One will not have to read a book to know that the Kingdom is here.
All three prophets mentioned the same miraculous earthquake at the time of the establishment of the Kingdom. Amos spoke of the earthquake at Carmel. Zechariah spoke of the earthquake from Geba to Rimmon in the Jerusalem area. Ezekiel spoke of a great shaking in all the land of Israel and the mountains (plural). The combination of Scriptures shows how widespread and dramatic the literal earthquake will be. Birds will fly and fish will be affected, as well as men and even some insects. The implication is that when the Lord “roars,” He will be heard. Thus “in that day,” it will be known that the Lord’s Kingdom is being established. Today Israel includes both the northern and the southern kingdoms, and it will be a combined kingdom at the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Amos.
All that in just the first two verses
