April 21, 2026: Isaiah 65 - My Servants Shall Sing for Joy of Heart

“Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit.” (Isaiah 65:14)

After having spent the last five months writing a devotional about Gog and Magog and another on the book of Revelation’s Mystery, Babylon the Great, I prayed to God to show me what He wanted me to write about next, and that I wanted to write about having joy in these perilous times. I believe the Holy Spirit directed me to return to the book of Isaiah, and focus on chapter 65. While the first part of this chapter does not open with joy, it definitely ends in joy. It will be joy for those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. We trust in Jesus the Christ, God’s only begotten Son, who came to earth as God in the flesh, offering salvation of sins to all who believe in Him, who choose to accept His free gift of salvation. We as believers in Christ will be able to have joy in these perilous times because we know what, or shall I say, who, is coming at the end of these times, and that is the One whom we have been longing to see: Jesus. For me, personally, I compare my thoughts about what it will be like to see Jesus to what Job so beautifully wrote as he was in deep turmoil and pain:

“All my inward [close] friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. My bone cleaveth [clings] to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed [how my heart yearns] within me.” (Job 19:19-27)

Like Job, I feel all alone in my faith. I have had friends “un-friend” me because of my faith. When I became a new believer in Jesus and was excited to share the good news with them and they didn’t want to hear it and they thought I had lost my mind, they stopped being my friend. I have had friends who profess to be saved and with whom I studied the Bible on a weekly basis at their home stop our gathering together over politics. I told them I did not want to discuss politics because I was done with politics and do not put my trust in any politician as I believe they are two sides of the same coin, and they are not serving God, the One true God. I have other friends who are believers in Jesus who want me to go to church with them, but I politely decline. I just am not satisfied with going to church once or twice a week and going through the same ritualistic routines of listening to “worship services” so loud that I need to wear earplugs so my ears won’t ring afterwards, followed by a 30-45 minute sermon that is devoid of any real meat of God’s word and avoids anything related to Bible prophecy. I refuse to go to church just to be a part of the social gospel, where everything is fun and happy, while the world is literally on fire. Sadly, this reminds me of the so-called Christian churches in Nazi Germany that, instead of speaking out regarding the horrors that were happening all around them as the Jews were being carried in railroad cars to the death camps, the church attendees just “sang a little louder” so they could drown out the sound of the cries of the people - children, women, and men - locked inside of the trains as they passed by. (Source: https://www.writtenlives.ca/sing-a-little-louder-the-subtle-conquest-of-indifference/) The world is in chaos, and the people attending church services should be being warned by their pastors of the deception that is happening all around us so that they won’t be part of the great falling away that we are told by God in His word will happen in the end times, which I believe is happening before our very eyes. Many of the American “churches” absolutely disgust me, for a large percentage of them are supporting a mad man who is leading not only our country but other countries as well into the pit of hell, and hardly anyone is speaking out against him.

No, instead, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me in November 2022 to dig into the word for myself, to study it deeply, read and re-read Scriptures, and let the Holy Spirit give me understanding, and, as He sees fit, reveal what hidden meanings may be contained in the words therein. When I first began studying God’s word at a much deeper level, I was relying on Bible commentaries to help me understand what God’s word meant. After a while, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to stop reading them, and let Him give me understanding. I must admit, I felt very insecure about doing this, for I did not - and do not - want to write anything that is incorrect, and I certainly do not want to mislead anyone. But I felt the Holy Spirit gently guiding me, telling me that instead of only reading a Bible verse or two, I needed to read an entire chapter, or multiple chapters, or sometimes even the entire book, in order to get the full context of what is written. The Holy Spirit also showed me when I needed to read the referenced Scriptures in the middle column of my Bible to provide additional context to what I was reading. He also had me begin reading the Strong’s Concordance in both Hebrew and Greek to understand the meanings in the original language. Since November 2022, I have learned to rely on and trust in the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are still times when I still have doubts as to whether or not I am understanding what the Holy Spirit is having me write, and I have been what I will call “stuck” and didn’t know what to write about a certain verse or verses, but I kept going, trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead me, and He did. There have been times when I prayed to God and said that I am not going to post the devotional on my website until I knew that what I had written was of Him, even if it went entirely against what I had been taught by pastors and people I listened to on YouTube over the years. The last two on the subjects of Mystery, Babylon the Great in the book of Revelation and the prior one on Gog and Magog are two in particular where I had this happen to me. I admit that fear was one reason why I struggled, but I heard the Holy Spirit telling me, “Fear God, not man.”

At this point in my life, I can’t live my life as one who loves Jesus only on the surface level. I don’t say this to brag about myself because I am nothing. Anything I have written in these devotional messages that has brought glory to Almighty God is not of me but of Him and His Holy Spirit. I have reached a point in my walk of faith where I just can’t do “churchianity” as it is in America, and I don’t want to. Jesus is my everything. I have learned through all the trials in my life, all of the times when I was brought to my knees in prayer, calling out to Him, that I can do nothing without Him in my life.

Years ago, I was going to my church regularly on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, and I loved going. I loved singing all of the popular modern Christian songs, until the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to leave my church. At first, I pushed back, for I loved the church that I attended, and I had made friends there. However, the Holy Spirit began to show me some red flags about the church, and within several months, I did leave the church. Before I left the church, I found out from some of my friends who also attended the same church that they had had the same thing impressed upon them by the Holy Spirit. Some of them also left, but some stayed. I later attended another church for about two years, and once again, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to leave it. The second time was not as difficult as the first time, and I had already seen some red flags. I know now that the Holy Spirit knew that if I remained in the church system, I would not grow as a believer in Jesus Christ, and that I would be deceived. Looking back, I know that while I was taught correctly on some of the things in the Bible, I was also taught an agenda on some of the other things, and that agenda is aligned with politics and politicians and that it is not of God.

Now, about seven years later after leaving the American church system, I know without a doubt, that I have learned more by studying God’s word on my own, under the direction and teaching of the Holy Spirit. Since November 2022, I have learned more than I learned when I went to church for about 11 years. I have also had to put aside what I have been taught for years because the pastor said that is what God’s word says, and I have to intently focus on what the Holy Spirit says about God’s word.

I know that I am not for everyone, and that is fine; we all are at different points in our walk with Jesus as our Savior. As I previously said, being at this stage in my faith, where I am “all-in” for Him is a very lonely walk, but I know that in the end, it will be so very worth it. All of the hurt from the mocking and the scoffing, the pain, the loneliness, the doubt as to whether or not I really heard Him speak to me will all be gone, for He will be there and I will see Him for myself. I will behold Him with my very eyes.

Now, let’s begin in Isaiah 65 and read the words that God gave to Isaiah to write about Israel:

“I am sought of them that asked not for me: I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” (Isaiah 65:1)

Through the prophet Isaiah, God is speaking to His people, Israel. Isaiah is prophesying that a nation that God has not called will seek Him and will find Him. He is telling them this because when Israel’s Messiah, Jesus the Christ, would come, the first time, to offer them salvation of their sins, they would reject Him, and instead, the Gentiles would seek and find Him. The apostle Paul, who was an educated Jewish man, a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin, who once persecuted the early Christians, would later go on to quote Moses and Isaiah:

“But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people [not a nation], and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias [Greek for “Isaiah’] is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.” (Romans 10:18-20)

Let us continue reading the words that God gave Isaiah to write regarding Israel, but specifically the people of Judah, when Israel was divided into the two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Nt only had they turned away from God, but they turned to worship and sacrifice to false gods:

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; which remain [sit] among the graves, and lodge in the monuments [tombs], which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things [unclean meats] is in their vessels; which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose [Cause my wrath to smoke], a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense [repay], even recompense into their bosom, your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.” (Isaiah 65:2-7)

This is similar to what Isaiah wrote in the opening verses of his book when he described what he saw in his vision:

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib [manger or feed trough]: but Israel doth not know [understand], my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden [weighed down] with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified [soothed] with ointment.” (Isaiah 1:1-6)

The apostle Paul made a similar statement about Israel:

“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying [contrary] people.” (Romans 10:21)

Modern day Israel has not learned from the mistakes of their forefathers. It has rejected God’s word that told them clearly that their Messiah would first come as a lowly servant and not as the conquering king they so desired in the days when He came the first time, when they were under Roman rule. As recently as March 17, 2026, the following was reported on Israel365news.com: (Source: https://israel365news.com/416833/leading-rabbi-says-the-messiah-could-arrive-thursday-cites-500-year-old-book-naming-the-strait-of-hormuz-as-site-of-final-war/)

“A respected Israeli rabbi is making a striking claim: the Messiah will be announced this Thursday, Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and the beginning of the Biblical calendar year.”

“‘God willing, Rosh Chodesh of Nisan, the beginning of the Biblical calendar year, is this Thursday, and there will be an announcement,’ Rabbi Rosenblum declared in a lecture that has been circulating widely. ‘The radio will broadcast from Jerusalem, and in five minutes, we will hear a warning: the Messiah has arrived.’”

Just as in the days of Jesus, when the Scribes and Pharisees rejected their true Messiah, so too, are the Jewish religious leaders of today continuing in their rejection of Him. Nothing has changed. Thursday, March 19, 2026 came and went, and there was no announcement of the Messiah. Just as the days of old, this rabbi is deceived and is deceiving many. I pray that his heart and the hearts of those who listen to him will change and that they will seek and find the true Messiah of Israel: Jesus Christ. Praise God that there is a very small fraction of Jews who have turned their heart to their true Messiah, in belief that He is who God and the Scriptures say He is, but the majority of the Jews have rejected Him. That is why they will soon undergo their time of Jacob’s trouble, meaning Israel’s trouble.

It has been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus was crucified, gave up His life, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, and I believe we are on the verge of the time when God will turn His attention back to HIs people, Israel. That time will begin when the antichrist confirms a 7-year covenant with Israel. Yes, Jesus will arrive again, at His second coming, but it will be after the time of Jacob’s trouble. However, this time when Jesus comes, He will come bringing judgment. The claims made in the referenced article above by Rabbi Baruch Rosenblum are false claims, false prophecies. Just as there were many false prophets during the times in which the Bible was written, so too are there false prophets in our world today. I pray that his claims will be widely rejected by the Jewish people, and instead, they will turn to their true Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

Now, let us continue reading from Isaiah chapter 65:

“Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.” (Isaiah 65:8-10)

In the grapevines, there are clusters of good grapes and sour or worthless grapes, also called wild grapes. Instead of just destroying the entire vine, God is saying that He will save the good grapes that will produce new wine, and this is symbolic of God not destroying all of Israel but saving a remnant, which are they who have sought Him. I believe this ties back to what Isaiah wrote in chapter 5:

“Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it [dug it up], and gathered [cleared] out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made [hewed out] a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt [between] me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought forth wild grapes? And now go to [come]; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up [burned or consumed]; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden [trampled down]: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment [justice], but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” (Isaiah 5:1-7)

Isaiah then pronounces six woes and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah:

“Woe unto them that join house to house [accumulate houses], that lay field to field [accumulate fields], till there be no place, that they may be placed [dwell] alone in the midst of the earth [land]!” (Isaiah 5:8)

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink [pursue intoxicating drink]; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” (Isaiah 5:11)

“Woe unto them that draw [drag] iniquity with cords of vanity [falsehood or emptiness], and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, Let him make speed, and hasten his [God’s] work [work of judgment], that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” (Isaiah 5:18)

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21)

“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward [a bribe], and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isaiah 5:22-23)

The words of Isaiah to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah remind me of what God had the prophet Ezekiel speak in chapter 22 regarding what He called, “the bloody city,” which is Jerusalem. Before continuing in Isaiah chapters 5 and 65, I am going to switch gears and focus on Ezekiel chapter 22. Although the book of Ezekiel was written at the time when Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem, I believe it also relates directly to what is happening in our world today, with the unprecedented alignment of Israel and the USA during the Gaza war and their recent attacks on Iran. First, let us read what God said through Ezekiel about Jerusalem:

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the blood city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in [by] thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen [Gentiles], and a mocking [mockery] to all countries. Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous [defiled of name] and much vexed [full of tumult].” (Ezekiel 22:1-5)

God tells Jerusalem in His words above that it is guilty because of the blood that it has shed and has become a reproach or disgrace to all of the Gentile/non-Jew nations, those both near and far from Israel. God also said that He has made these nations mock Israel, which has become infamous. Are we not seeing that happening in our world today, on an increasing level? Jerusalem is the bloody city, for she is guilty of shedding blood. She makes idols and defiles herself. I believe Israel’s modern day idols are the IDF and their sophisticated weaponry, which they have received from the USA, particularly Donald Trump, who is another idol to them, with many in Israel lifting him up to an almost Messiah-like figure. Aligning one’s country to a country that is full of corruption and violence, as Netanyahu has done with Donald Trump and America, is not a good alliance and will only bring death and destruction. As written in the Scriptures from Ezekiel above, because of this, in verse 4, God says He has made her a reproach to all the Gentiles, and a mocking to all countries. I believe we are seeing this increasing at a rapid pace all over the world.

As we continue in Ezekiel 22, let us read more about what God says about Jerusalem and the sins of her people:

“Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood [has used his power to shed blood in thee]. In thee have they set light by [made light of] father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed [mistreated] the fatherless [orphan] and the widow.” (Ezekiel 22:6-7)

God says the princes, which means rulers, chiefs, or governors, have used their power to shed blood, and that is what we are seeing with Netanyahu and certain members of his administration, as well as the IDF. They aren’t treating the fatherless and the widows as they should, says God. They have oppressed the strangers, and we have seen that in Gaza and recently in the settlements in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, where Jews are attacking both Muslim and Christian communities. Just a recent as April 1, 2026, more attacks have happened. (Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-palestinians-said-wounded-by-settler-assailants-in-west-bank-village-of-tayasir/) These settler attacks have increased so much so that 1,000 Diaspora Jews have appealed to Israeli’s President Herzog to intervene. (Source: https://www.jta.org/2026/03/26/israel/hundreds-of-diaspora-leaders-call-for-action-against-jewish-extremist-terror-in-the-west-bank) Per the article, the letter to the president states”:

“‘Mr. President, the terror, death and destruction inflicted by Jewish-Israeli extremists against innocent Palestinians across the West Bank is an abomination,’ says an open letter published Thursday. ‘It is not only morally shameful but a strategic threat to the future of Israel. It damages world Jewry and the relationship of future generations with Israel.’”

“The letter continues, ‘Sadly, based on events and on the statements of the most extreme coalition partners it can be concluded that the violence now engulfing the West Bank is not only condoned by the government but is in fact policy.’”

“The new letter signed by Diaspora Jews calls on Herzog to advocate for change with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers who have not interceded to stop the violence. The signatories include prominent philanthropists including Charles Bronfman; liberal rabbis from multiple countries; and former British and Canadian ambassadors to Israel.”

As recent as April 15, 2026, the Israeli settler violence continues, with the following reported by The Times of Israel: (Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/378-incidents-of-settler-violence-in-west-bank-over-40-days-of-iran-war-left-wing-group-reports/)

“During the recent 40 days of hostilities with Iran, there were 378 incidents of extremist settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank, the Yesh Din organization reports.

“These attacks were staged in 148 Palestinian communities and dwellings across the territory, says Yesh Din, which opposes the settlement movement and monitors settler violence.

“Eight Palestinians were shot and killed, and 200 were injured by extremist settlers during the period of the Iran war, the group adds.

“‘Settler violence could be stopped if only there was a real desire on the part of the government and state authorities, but Israel has no motivation to change the situation,’ Yesh Din says of the data.

“‘On the contrary, Israel’s policy encourages criminal settlers and leads to the spread of violent farming outposts across the entire West Bank,’ it adds in reference to the tactics of settler activists to establish agricultural settlement outposts designed to displace rural Palestinians from their homes.”

The descriptions of the violence in modern-day Israel seem to be a close match to what is written by the prophet Ezekiel long ago. Ezekiel goes onto describe sexual sin, including adultery and incest, and other sins, including bribery and extortion:

“Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths. In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood [slander to cause bloodshed]: and in thee they [are they who] eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness. In thee have they discovered [uncovered] their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was [violated women who are] set apart for pollution [during their impurity]. And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled [violated] his sister, his father’s daughter. In thee have they taken gifts [bribes] to shed blood; thou has taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained [profited from] of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:8-12)

Notice that in the last verse above, God says that Jerusalem, the “bloody city,” “hast forgotten me.” Just as this was true at the time that Ezekiel wrote this, so too, is it now, and I believe that Jerusalem and Israel have lost their way. I believe that there is more to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas than what we are being told by Israel, and Israel’s treatment of the people of Gaza went far and beyond what God would have had them do, with many people being killed in that war. Further, as a nation, they are still in rejection of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and I believe God’s judgment is coming to them, soon, just as God promised Israel back then that judgment was going to come upon them:

“Behold, therefore, I have smitten [struck] mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood [bloodshed] which hath been in the midst of thee. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it. And I will scatter thee among the heathen [nations], and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume [remove] thy filthiness out of thee. And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen [defile yourself in the sight of the nations], and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 22:13-16)

God promised to scatter Israel among the Gentile nations, and He did. In those nations, the people of Israel would defile themselves in the sight of the Gentiles. God then tells Ezekiel:

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross , behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass [bronze], and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.” (Ezekiel 22:17-22)

I do not believe what God is describing above has happened yet but it will happen, and that will be during the time of Jacob’s trouble. I believe this is describing what the prophet Zechariah wrote about:

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try [test] them as gold is tried [tested]: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9)

The prophet Isaiah also wrote of God refining Israel in the furnace of affliction. God is speaking, pleading with Israel to listen to Him, and to see that He has told them these things from the beginning, and yet they refused to hear Him. Though the words in Isaiah chapter 48 are written concerning the time after Babylon conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and God was getting ready to release the captives of Judah after 70 years in Babylon, I believe it also speaks to a future fulfillment, during the time of Jacob’s trouble. As God spoke to Israel then, so too is He speaking to Israel now. He wants them to hear Him and return to Him, but sadly, most refuse. God tells them that for His name’s sake, He will not cut them off, meaning He will save a remnant of Israel. As God saved a remnant at the time Babylon conquered Jerusalem and Judah, so too, will He save a remnant of Israel during the coming time of Jacob’s trouble:

“Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters [wellsprings] of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. For they call themselves of [after] the holy city, and stay [lean] themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name. I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed [proclaimed] them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass [bronze]; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee [made thee hear] new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off [destroy thee not]. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with [as] silver; I have chosen [tested] thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted [profaned]? and I will not give my glory unto another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned [stretched out] the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” (Isaiah 48:1-13)

We know that something has to happen that will cause Israel to undergo its time of trouble, and I believe that is when the world is coming against Israel and the coming antichrist will step in and confirm his covenant with the many (Daniel 9:27), which I believe will include Israel. I believe this will be something that promises safety to Israel, and Israel will look to the antichrist to “save them” instead of looking to Almighty God to save them. This is when I believe is when their time of trouble will begin.

As we previously read the words written by the prophet Ezekiel of God telling Israel that He will gather them to blow the fire on them to remove the dross from them, there is coming a day when God is going to deal with Israel, with Jerusalem. I believe that Ezekiel’s prophecy is a dual-fulfillment prophecy, where the first fulfillment happened when Jerusalem was conquered and destroyed by Babylon and its people were scattered and then a remnant of them returned to Israel after 70 years. I believe the second fulfillment will happen during the coming time of Jacob’s trouble. I believe that we are seeing the build-up to that time.

Let us continue in Ezekiel chapter 22 and read what God’s word says about Jerusalem, which I believe speaks perfectly to the rulers in Jerusalem, both political and religious, that exist today. I believe there may be a parallel to the current war between Israel/USA and Iran, where Israel has named its military actions “Operation Roaring Lion.” Per the Times of Israel, it was Benjamin Netanyahu that named the operation, which was not the name the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was going to give it: (Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-names-its-operation-against-iran-lions-roar/)

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening [tearing] the prey; they have devoured souls [lives]; they have taken the treasure and the precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated [done violence to] my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference [not distinguished] between the holy and profane [unholy], neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening [tearing] the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls [lives], to get dishonest gain.” (Ezekiel 22:23-27)

Another source had this to say about why Netanyahu named the military operation “Roaring Lion” (Source: https://www.akronjewishnews.com/news/local/why-is-it-called-operation-roaring-lion/article_9b5e63cf-a80a-59a0-ab12-fbe060e3f60b.html)

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu reportedly chose the name after another internal name was selected by the Israel Defense Forces, according to The Times of Israel. Other reports have said the IDF’s internal name for this operation was ‘Operation Shield of Judah.’”

“The name ‘Roaring Lion’ is said to have biblical connections to the Old Testament and the tribe of Judah. It also follows the lion theme that Israel established in June 2025 when it named the IDF’s last operation in Iran as ‘Rising Lion.’”

In addition to the book of Ezekiel, there are other Scriptures in the Bible that speak about a roaring lion:

“Woe to her that is filthy [rebellious] and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Her princes [ruler, leader, chief, captain, official] within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow [they leave not a bone till morning]. Her prophets are light [insolent] and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted [profaned] the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment [justice] to light, he faileth not [never fails]; but the unjust knoweth no shame.” (Zephaniah 3:1-5)

“As a roaring lion, and a ranging [charging] bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.” (Proverbs 28:15)

Yes, I believe Israel has a right to defend itself, but I believe it has gone too far, as it did during its war in Gaza that began in October 7, 2023. God did not call Israel to be like the rest of the nations in the world, but to be set apart, for Him. However, in their quest for independence and military might and their vow to never again let anyone nearly annihilate them from the face of the earth, I believe, sadly, that they have become just like the rest of the world. Many of Israel’s political and military leaders have let their power and strength go to their heads, putting it first instead of Almighty God. Like Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu wants more and more power and has become a wicked ruler over the people. This has increased significantly since Netanyahu has nearly joined himself at the hip with Donald Trump. Israel has become like the wicked USA and all other nations that became powerful and did everything they could to stay in power, including oppressing its own people and other nations. This is not what God wants for Israel, and His word is clear: God wants Israel to put Him first. I believe that they have not obeyed Him, and we are seeing the results of their actions.

I pray that Israel will see that a Lion is coming and He will roar, and that is the Lion of the tribe of Judah - Jesus, our Messiah - the one prophesied long ago in the book of Genesis by Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is Jesus alone who is worthy to open the seven seals on the scroll that begins the series of 21 judgments upon Israel and upon the entire earth. It is Jesus who will return at His second coming and will tread the winepress with the wrath of God:

“Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in [on] the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped [crouches] down, he couched [lies down] as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: his eyes shall be red with [darker than] wine, and his teeth white with [whiter than] milk.” (Genesis 49:8-12)

“And I [the apostle John] saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book [scroll] written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book [scroll], neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed [overcome] to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” (Revelation 5:1-5)

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture [robe] dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite [strike] the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture [robe] and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Let us continue reading in Ezekiel chapter 22:

“And her prophets have daubed [plastered] them with untempered morter, seeing vanity [false visions], and divining lies unto them, saying Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed [mistreated] the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.” (Ezekiel 22:28-29)

Just as we read previously about a false prophet saying that the Messiah would arrive on March 19, 2026 and that it was linked to the US war with Iran, and that day came and went, it seems to align with what God’s word says above regarding false prophets. In addition, Israel has gone too far in its treatment of strangers. This is what God’s word says they are to do:

“And thou shalt not oppress a stranger [sojourner]: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)

Now, let us read the rest of Ezekiel 22:

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge [a wall], and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way [deeds] have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:30-31)

The time of Jacob’s trouble is coming, whether Israel believes it or not, whether the world wants to believe it or not.

Now, let us move on from Ezekiel chapter 22. When we consider what we read previously in Isaiah chapter 5 when God pronounced six woes on the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah, His words do not seem to be linked to the time when Judah and Jerusalem would be conquered and destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I believe it is written that way intentionally by God because it is not tied to a specific time in Israel’s history but to Israel’s continued specific sins against Him. If we look at the Scriptures prior to Isaiah chapter 5, specifically in chapter 2, we read that the timing of what is written is about the second coming of Jesus Christ, when He will reign in righteousness on earth for 1,000 years, from Jerusalem. As we read the words below, let us remember that Jesus had not yet come the first time, with the book of Isaiah being written approximately 700 years before Jesus’ first coming:

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, and it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:1-4)

The Scriptures above are speaking about the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble, when Jesus returns to earth at His second coming. It is at that time when Jesus will destroy the wicked with the sword of His mouth and will take His reign upon the earth, from Jerusalem, for 1,000 years. During the time of Jacob’s trouble, God will save a remnant of Israel, and it is this remnant who is God’s elect and who represent the good grapes of God’s vineyard.

Jeremiah the prophet also wrote how God had planted Israel as a noble vine, but that Israel had become a strange vine to Him:

“For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands [bonds]; and thou saidst, I will not transgress [serve]; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest [thou layest down], playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” (Jeremiah 2:20-21)

Both Isaiah 5 and 65 tell us what will happen to those in Israel who are represented in God’s word as the wild grapes of the grapevine, the ones who rebel against Him:

“Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5:24)

“But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop [Troop or Fortune, a pagan deity], and that furnish the drink offering unto that number [Number or Destiny, a pagan deity]. Therefore will I number you to [for] the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.” (Isaiah 65:11-12)

God is specifically speaking to the bad fruit, the wild grapes of the vine of Israel, telling them that they will be destroyed because they went after other gods, false gods, instead of being faithful to Him. Next, God compares what will happen to those who are faithful to Him, who are His servants, to those who are unfaithful to Him, who are not His servants, and who do not want to serve Him:

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl [wail] for vexation of spirit [grief of spirit]. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” (Isaiah 65:13-16)

There is no promise of anything good for the wild grapes of Israel, those who reject God and who are unfaithful to Him and do not want to serve Him. There is no promise of anything good for those of Israel who have rejected God’s only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. The same is true for every single person who rejects God’s free gift of salvation, paid for by the precious and sinless blood of Jesus Christ. No, the promises of blessings will apply only to His servants, whether they be Jew or Gentile.

Next, God goes way forward into the future, after the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, when He will resurrect every person who has died and will judge them based on their works. This is known as the Great White Throne Judgment. Since our good works cannot save us, every person who is not saved will be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15) Afterwards, God will destroy the heavens and the earth by fire and will create a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. Before continuing in Isaiah 65, first let us read in 2 Peter that speaks of the destruction of the current heavens and earth:

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against [until] the day of judgment and perdition [destruction] of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:7-10)

Now, let us read from Revelation that tells us about God creating a new heaven, a new earth, and new Jerusalem:

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Continuing in Isaiah, let us read how Revelation echoes what Isaiah wrote:

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind [come upon the heart]. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” (Isaiah 65:17-19)

What we read next in Isaiah 65, I believe, is referring not to the eternal state, which comes after the millennial reign of Christ, after the Great White throne Judgment, and after the creation of a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem, but is referring to the time in which we will live on earth during Jesus’ 1,000-year reign:

”There shall be no more thence an infant of days [Live but a few days], nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isaiah 65:20)

During the 1,000-year reign of Jesus on the earth, I believe there will be three types of people alive: 1) Those who were saved prior to the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble, and who will be in their sinless and glorified, eternal bodies, meaning their bodies are not like our human bodies. They will return with Jesus Christ at His second coming, as described in Revelation 19:14. 2) Those who were not saved prior to the start of Jacob’s trouble but who were saved during it. Many of them will be killed, or martyred, for their faith in Jesus Christ because they will refuse to take the mark/name/number of the beast/antichrist and will refuse to worship him. I do believe it is possible that some may survive the tribulation period, such as those who are still alive near the time when Jesus will return. Except for those who are martyred, they will still be in their earthly, fleshly bodies, just as all believers in Christ who are alive today. Thus, they will still be able to sin, just as we who are saved and alive on earth still sin. 3) Everyone who is born during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ to those who are in their human/non-glorified bodies. Just as we have a choice today whether or not to believe in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, so too will these people. You might wonder how they could choose NOT to be saved, since Jesus will be alive and reigning from Jerusalem. However, we must remember that during Jesus’ first time on earth, though He was not reigning as King, He still offered salvation to all who would believe on Him, and He was still rejected by the majority of people, first by the Jews, the ones Jesus came to save first, and also by the majority of the Gentiles.

Prior to the start of Jesus’ millennial reign on earth, I do not know if there will be any unsaved people who will survive the tribulation period and will have not taken the mark of the beast. I suspect that most of them who do survive will have taken the mark of the beast, and when they do that, we are told in the Bible in Revelation 14:9-11 that they will drink of the wine of the wrath of God and spend their eternity being tormented with fire and brimstone. Thus, they will not enter into the millennial kingdom of God and will be slain the sword (Revelation 19:21). In the rare chance that unsaved sinners are alive at Jesus’ second coming and who did not take the mark of the beast, then of course, they will be in their earthly bodies and will be subject to sinning, just as we all who are alive today.

Again, I believe that the Scripture above from Isaiah 65:20 is referring to the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the current earth and is not referring to the eternal state. The reason I believe this is because when we are in our eternal state, per God’s word below in Revelation 21:4-5, there is no more death or sorrow. Thus, infants won’t be dying because all the saved people will be in their eternal state. Sinners won’t be dying in the eternal state because all people who died in their sin, who rejected God’s salvation, will be in the lake of fire:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:4-5)

“But the fearful [cowardly], and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

As we continue in Isaiah 65, we read more about what life will be like during the Millennial Kingdom. I believe this must be talking about the Millennial Kingdom and not the eternal state because it speaks of bearing children. In the eternal state, there won’t be any bearing of children. Life in the Millennial Kingdom will be similar to how it was in the days of Adam and Eve, with people living much longer than they do in our world today:

“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for [bring forth children for] trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock [ox]: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat [food]. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:21-25)

These Scriptures are addressed not only to the saved Jews but also to the saved Gentiles; all who are called God’s servants. No longer will their hard work be for the benefit of someone else; they will live in the houses that they will build, and they will eat the food that they will plant.

Jesus told the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection of the dead, that when we are in heaven, meaning the new heaven and the new earth, after we are resurrected and in our glorified bodies, we won’t marry but will be like the angels of God in heaven. He also told them that He is not the God of the dead but of the living:

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err [are mistaken], not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching [concerning] the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29-32)

Thus, in the eternal state, when the current earth and heaven are destroyed, and a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem will have been created, there will be no marrying and no bearing of children, for the number of the servants of God will have reached their fullness. Everyone that put their faith and trust in God to save them will have done so and will be living in the eternal state in the new earth and new heaven. However, all those who rejected Him will have been resurrected, found guilty, and cast into the eternal lake of fire.

I want to return to the concept of Israel being the vineyard of God, and how God lovingly established the vineyard, put a hedge of protection around it, and tended to it, as a good vinedresser would do. Though God did all this, instead of bringing forth good grapes, Israel brought forth mostly wild grapes. However, God has and will again, save a remnant of His vineyard, but the remnant will need to go through very difficult times so that they can see that they need God. Jeremiah wrote of the remnant of Israel that was judged by God when He sent King Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Judah and Jerusalem because of Israel’s sins against God:

“Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean [deal with severely] the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets [branches].” (Jeremiah 6:8-9)

The prophet Hosea also wrote about Israel being a vine, and how they used the fruit that they bore to worship false gods instead of the One true God:

“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made good images [improved his sacred pillars]. Their heart is divided [Divided in loyalty]; now shall they be found faulty [guilty]; he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images [ruin their sacred pillars]. For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to [for] us? They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.” (Hosea 10:1-4)

The fruit that Israel bore was not used for glorifying God but for themselves and their false gods that they worshipped. Thus, it made Israel like an empty vine. Again, though the book of Hosea was written to the nation of Israel over 700 years before Jesus came to earth the first time and was previously fulfilled when Assyria conquered Samaria of the northern kingdom of Israel, I believe that there very much still is meaning and applicability to the nation of Israel that exists in our world today. Just as Israel had no king at the time the book of Hosea was written. so too, does Israel not have a king now, and it will not until Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, returns to earth at His second coming, at the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble.

In the last sentence in the Scriptures above from Hosea 10, I believe it is possible that the covenant may be the covenant that Daniel mentioned in Daniel 9:27, that is ultimately confirmed by the coming antichrist and which begins the time of Jacob’s trouble. Whether or not that is correct, we are told by Hosea that judgment springs up like poison in a field afterward. Time will tell.

Let us read what else Hosea wrote about Israel:

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow [untilled] ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled [plundered] as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.” (Hosea 10:12-15)

God spoke to His people back then, telling them to stop their sinful ways and to seek and return to Him, but they refused to listen. Thus, God sent judgment upon them.

Psalm 80 also speaks about the vineyard that God planted, with that vineyard being Israel. Asaph, the writer of the psalm, opens it by asking the Shepherd of Israel, who is Jesus Christ, to hear him and to restore the nation of Israel. Let us read that psalm in its entirety:

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us [Restore us] again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves. Turn us [Restore us] again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen [nations or Gentiles], and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars [cedars of God]. She sent out her boughs unto the sea [The Mediterranean], and her branches unto the river [The Euphrates]. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges [walls or fences], so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her [her fruit]? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance [presence]. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken [revive] us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn [Restore] us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” (Psalm 80)

This psalm is written by Asaph, who was a musician and a prophet of Israel. He opens the psalm by appealing to the Shepherd of Israel to hear him, and he prays that God will turn Israel to Him, and cause His face to shine, which also means to give light, and that Israel shall be saved. Asaph makes this plea in verses 3, 7, and 19. I find it very interesting that Asaph asked God three times to cause His face to shine, to give light, and that the Scriptures tell us that Jesus is the true Light:

“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of [to] the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:6-8)

“And he said, It is a light thing that thou [Jesus] shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten [bring revelation to] the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John [John the Baptizer; Jesus’ cousin]. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He [John] was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:6-9)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them [the scribes and Pharisees], saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:47-49)

“And he [Jesus] had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:16)

Asaph asks God how long will He be angry with His people. Then he says something very interesting in verse 5 above that reads “Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.” Per Strong’s Concordance, the words “in great measure” are derived from the Hebrew word “shalish,” which means “a third.” Source: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7991a.htm) I believe this very well may be talking about the one-third remnant of the Jews that will survive the coming time of Jacob’s trouble.

In Psalm 80 verses 8-11, Asaph writes how God brought a vine out of Egypt, where Israel was the vine and planted that vine. He wrote how God prepared a place for Israel, and the vine was deeply rooted and prospered, reaching unto the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River. However, then Asaph asks God why He broke down Israel’s hedges, leaving her vulnerable to be plundered and attacked by wild beasts. Notice that in verses 4, 7, 14, and 19, Asaph is referring to God as “LORD God of hosts” or “God of hosts,” where “hosts” means army, war, or warfare. Next, in verses 14-15, Asaph asks God to return and visit this vine, and the vineyard, and the branch that God had made strong for Himself. Asaph is speaking of Israel. In Psalm 80 verse 16, we read how it, meaning the vine, the vineyard, and the branch, are burned with fire and cut down. I believe that this is speaking of the coming time of Jacob’s trouble, when God will put Israel through the furnace of affliction, the refiner’s fire, which we previously read about in Isaiah 48:1-13.

Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, also speaks of this refiner’s fire. First, we are told about God’s messenger, who was John the Baptizer, Jesus’ cousin, who will prepare the way before Him. This is speaking when Jesus came to earth the first time, offering salvation. Then it turns to speak of Jesus’ second coming, which is known as the Day of the Lord, that includes the time of Jacob’s trouble. During this time, Jesus will put Israel through the refiner’s fire. God says that in this fire, He will purify the sons of Levi, the priestly tribe. They will come out cleansed or purified. However, the ones of Israel that shall choose to remain in their various sins will receive God’s judgment:

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire. and like fullers’ soap [launderers’ soap]: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge [refine] them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant [pleasing] unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wage [exploit the wage earner], the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [turn away the alien] from his right, and fear not me [because they do not fear me], saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1-5)

Let us read more from the last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi, and the last chapter in it, chapter 4, which stands as a warning to Israel:

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread [trample] down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite [strike] the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4)

Notice in the Scriptures above in verse 1 that speaks of burning up the all proud who do wickedly “that it shall leave them neither root not branch.” This aligns perfectly with what is written in Psalm 80 verses 14-16. For all who are proud and choose to remain in their sin and continue doing wickedly rather than fearing God and abiding in Him, God will put them through the refiner’s fire. They will be cut off completely, with neither root nor branch left on the vine of the vineyard. They will be burned completely, with nothing remaining but ashes. I believe this represents the two-thirds of Israel who will die in the coming time of Jacob’s trouble. Those in Israel who do fear God’s name will be saved by the Sun of righteousness, meaning Jesus, and they will trample the ashes of the wicked under their feet. Malachi chapter 4 ends with God reminding His people to remember His law, with its statutes and judgments. God also tells them He will send Elijah the prophet before the Day of the Lord. We know from the words of Jesus that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come. Gotquestions.org has a good article about this. (Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/John-Baptist-Elijah.html)

Returning to Psalm 80, let us read the last three verses, 17-19, again:

“Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken [revive] us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn [Restore] us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” (Psalm 80:17-19)

The One who sits at the right hand of God is Jesus (Acts 2:32-33, 7:55-56, 16:19, Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 10:12, 1 Peter 3:22). It is Jesus who is called “the Son of man” many times in the Bible, and Jesus referred to Himself in that manner many times. God made Jesus strong, empowering Him, and giving Him all authority:

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just [righteous]; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (Jesus Christ; John 5:26:30)

“Then said Jesus unto them [scribes and Pharisees], When ye have lifted up [crucified] the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue [abide] in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:28-32)

“But Jesus held his peace, and the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said [It is as you said]: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63-64)

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18)

“I [the prophet Daniel] saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people [peoples], nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)

In Psalm 80:18, the psalmist Asaph asks God to “quicken us” so that they, meaning Israel, will not turn away from Him and instead will call upon His name. In Hebrew, the word is “chayah” and it means “To live, to be alive, to revive, to restore to life.” (Source: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2421.htm) Then, in verse 19, Asaph says “Turn us again,” which in Hebrew is the word “shub,” and it means “Return, turn back, restore, repent.” (Source: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7725.htm) I believe this means there is a two-part process for the nation of Israel. The first part is the literal saving of the lives of the remnant of Israel, those who will call upon the name of the Lord. Second, is a restoration of that remnant, who will repent, meaning they will turn back to God, which will cause His face to shine, and Israel shall be saved. The apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and severe persecutor of the early believers in Jesus Christ, wrote about calling upon the name of the Lord:

“But what saith it? The word is nigh [near] thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [put to shame]. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [Gentile]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

As we remember the words of Asaph in Psalm 80 regarding the vineyard, vine, and branch of Israel, let us never forget that it is only Jesus who can offer salvation. Only Jesus can save Israel, and only Jesus can save the Gentiles. It is Jesus the Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, who sits at the right hand of God. It is Jesus who is the true Branch:

“And there shall come forth a rod [shoot] out of the stem [stock or trunk] of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow [bear fruit] out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes [by what he sees], neither reprove after the hearing of his ears [decide by what he hears]: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity [decide with uprightness] for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite [strike] the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle [belt] of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins [belt of his waist].” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper [act wisely], and shall execute judgment and justice [justice and righteousness] in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment [justice] and righteousness in the land [earth] In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.. (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows [companions] that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at [men of a sign]: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving [inscription] thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.” (Zechariah 3:8-9)

“Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both [both offices].” (Zechariah 6:11-13)

It is only when Jesus returns at His second coming at the end of the time of Jacob’s trouble, and will save a remnant of Israel and wash the filth of their sin away, that Israel will be the branch of the vine that God intended her to be, a good and fruitful vine. It is only then will they be beautiful and glorious, and that will only happen through The BRANCH, Jesus the Christ:

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely [appealing] for them that are escaped [have survived] of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written [recorded] among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood [bloodshed] of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow [shade] in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert [shelter] from storm and from rain.” (Isaiah 4)

It is Jesus who is the righteous Branch, and if we abide in Him, if we stay with Him, keep trusting in Him, then we like a fruitful grapevine, will bear fruit, and that includes the saved of Israel.

Jesus spoke about a vine as well. Let us read what He said about the true vine:

“I am the true [genuine] vine, and my Father is the husbandman [vinedresser]. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth [prunes] it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through [because of] the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto [for] you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (Jesus Christ; John 15:1-11)

There is a lot of information packed into the words above spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. First, He tells us that HE is the true vine, and His Father is the vinedresser. If you have ever read and studied the Bible for yourself, you will know with certainty that the entire book is about Jesus. Without Him, we can do nothing. Believers in Him, whether they be Jew or Gentile, are the branches of the vine. Jesus wants us, as believers in Him, to bear fruit, which includes telling others about Him and shining His light in a dark world that needs Him. In order to do this, we must keep ourselves aligned with Jesus, we must abide in Him. We cannot go on living like we used to prior to turning Him and being saved, and continue with our sinful ways. Though we won’t ever be perfect while we are still in our fleshly bodies, we should begin to change for the better, and hopefully people will notice a change in us. We should desire to know Him better by praying to Him and reading His word, the Bible, as much as we can, daily is best. With all of the world’s temptations and stresses, it is easy to drift away from Him, like a ship lost at sea, and we must guard against this by abiding in Him. We should find ourselves letting go of our desires for this world and instead, wanting more of Him. Yes, we still have our responsibilities in life, but our top priority should be Him. This can be a difficult thing to understand as a new believer, but looking back upon my own life and when I first put my trust in Jesus to save me, I could have saved myself a lot of grief if I had put Him first in my life.

I want to emphasize how many times in the Scripture above from John 15:1-11, how many times He told us we must abide in Him:

“Abide in me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (John 15:4)

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto [for] you.” (John 15:7)

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:11)

However, if we do not abide in Jesus, then He does not abide in us, and this is what He tells us what will happen:

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)

Contrary to popular belief, salvation is not a one and done event; no, we must continue to abide in Jesus so that He will abide in us. He is the living vine that sustains us and enables us to bear fruit; He is our life blood. If we don’t abide in Him, we as a branch on that grapevine will wither and die and be cut off and thrown into the fire. Once we turn to Jesus and ask Him to save us, we must stay in Him. While we may venture off the path sometimes, we must always return to Him. Otherwise, we will return to our sinful ways and bear no fruit, and we eventually will reject the Savior once again. The book of Proverbs chapter 4 has some very good instructions for what I believe will help us to abide in Jesus:

“Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened [hindered]; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast [firm] hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it [do not travel on it], turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except [unless] they have done mischief [evil]; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward [deceitful] mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:10-27)

In Jesus’ words in the Scriptures that we read previously from John 15:1-11, He tells us that when we bear fruit, He will purge us, which means He will prune us so that we can produce even more fruit. The Greek word for purgeth is “kathairó,” and it means “To cleanse, to purify, to prune.” (Source: https://biblehub.com/greek/2508.htm) Thus, in order for us to bear more fruit, we must be cleansed or purified, and we do that by sinning less and desiring more of Him. We do it by abiding in Him. Sadly, many people who profess to be saved by Jesus do not abide in Him, and when life gets difficult, they turn away from Him and return to their sinful ways. They do not bear any fruit, and they are like the dead branches on the vine that dry up and break off and are gathered and put into a fire. This is Jesus telling us that these are unbelievers who will spend their eternity in the lake of fire. Unlike what many pastors and teachers in churches tell us today, we cannot go on living our lives like we used to prior to getting saved, because eventually, it will cause us to drift away from Jesus, no longer abiding in Him, to our eternal detriment. I am not saying that we must change overnight; no, that is certainly not the case. But, over time, we should begin to change. We should desire to be more like Him and not like the world.

Those of us who are His servants, both Jews and Gentiles, will have everlasting joy, even though we may feel like we are currently walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We must remember that Jesus is with us, and He will never leave nor forsake us. We must cling to Him like never before in these dark times, remembering that it will all be worth it in the end, when we will see our Redeemer face to face. I want to leave you with several Scriptures that give us hope as we go through these difficult times and remember who and what awaits us at the end of them:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters [waters of rest]. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23)

“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth [tell of] all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest [you sat] in the throne judging right [in righteousness]. Thou hast rebuked the heathen [Gentiles or nations], thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put [blotted] out their name for ever and ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings [deeds]. When he maketh inquisition for blood [avenges blood], he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: that I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion [Jerusalem]: I will rejoice in thy salvation. The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken [caught]. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion {Meditation or Song]. Selah. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. Arise, O LORD; let no man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” (Psalm 9)

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” (Psalm 68:1-3)

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11)

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (Jesus Christ; John 16:22)

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [ensnare] us, and let us run with patience [perseverance] the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author [originator] and finisher [perfector] of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“…That the trial [testing] of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried [tested] with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing [revelation] of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish [confirm], strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11)

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings [deeds] among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” (Isaiah 12)

The Scripture below is a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus. As He was resurrected to eternal life, so shall all we who believe on Him alone for our salvation be resurrected to eternal life, and we will have fullness of joy:

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:8-11)

Finally, I leave you with a Scripture that I believe sums up, what all true believers in Jesus Christ long to hear Him speak to us when our time on earth is done:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 25:21)