It’s not long, Hosea 14, but it is totally a Millennium Passage!

Let me show you …

“1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” Again, Hosea 14, in its entirety, all 9 verses.

The addressee … Israel, verse 1 specifies.

The problem … Israel had “fallen” … into sin, still verse 1.

The solution … prayer (“say to the Lord”) and repentance (“turn”), seeking God’s Face, verse 2. Notice here that the Lord gives Israel the exact words to say! This is a major point!

Next, note the result … Israel realizing that God (Jesus) is the ONLY Saviour! Not Asshur (Assyria), not our horses (war horses), not even the “work” of our hands! Only the Mercy giving God, the God of Abraham! All this is found in verse 3.

Then verse 4 … God is talking, planning, promising … “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” The Millennium, after the Tribulation and conversion of Israel! Yes, as in “All Israel shall be saved.” Romans 11:26

Then in verses 5-7 the Millennium is described. What glorious conditions … “I (the Lord Jesus) will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” Literally so, I believe!

And this renewed condition, this amazing restoration, seems to be permanent, verse 8 … “Ephraim (Israel) shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?” Something unprecedented has happened! Israel so in love with Jehovah God! Total loyalty!

Then the Lord speaks again: “I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.” Verse 8, at the end. God, the prayer-answering, always-observing, fruit Giver!

And the chapter concludes with a “Holy Spirit” Editorial! “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” Verse 10, sounds a lot like Proverbs!

Hosea the jilted lover … now the great prophetic preacher!

Indeed …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

How many times do we have to be told about the Millennium? To begin to get the Picture? Yet many present-day “scholars” say it’s all figurative language … describing God’s blessings on the Church right now!

That’s nearly anti-Semitism!

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Yes, Hosea 6:1 …

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”

Israel is speaking!

And she’s had a change of attitude, spirit! (No longer does she desire to run from the Lord!) “Let’s go TO, TOWARD Him now!”

Undoubtedly for many years the Lord has “torn” her. A strong verb, translated in the King James Text as “tear in pieces” 6 times! To treat as “prey” one time! And “ravening” 3 times!

And “smitten” her too? Meaning “to beat” 9 times! This fierce treatment leads to death often, over 100 times in the Bible. But NOT in Israel’s case! She is still around! Spared of God!

Why has God been like this?

Israel’s sins! Unconfessed and blatant, after promising God she would obey Him fully!

But Israel here has been infused with “hope!” God can do that. In many ways, I suspect. And still observe humanity’s free will in the process.

If we will “return,” Israel believes … using “shub” which is the repentance verb of the Old Testament … God will receive us!

More than that …

He will “heal” us! Where “raphe” is the word for “physician” 5 times! (The Divine Physician!) It’s also “cure” one time and “repair” one time!

And He, the Lord will also “bind us up,” put “bandages” around our wounds, our now healing wounds!

Amazing!

True FAITH!

And just when will this miracle occur?

At the onset of the Millennium!

I believe during the last stages of the Battle of Armageddon!

When Jesus returns to earth!

One Hosea verse … thrilling!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Holy Spirit sure can say a lot in a single compound Sentence!

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Back to Hosea this morning: “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:4-5

And Israel has been indeed “many days” now without a “King” and without a Temple (“sacrifice”). The most surprising thing in this list is “terraphim,” likely a reference to the household idols Israel at times (dark, backslidden times) has utilized!

The overall point is the emaciated existence Israel has endured for centuries. A nation “without …!”

But Jesus is coming, her King!

And Israel will return to her Land, a land she did not even own until May of 1948, not inhabited by Jews since 70 AD anyway!

But somehow God will place in her a “hunger” for Himself! Israel will choose to “seek” her God. A very strong verb, “baqash,” which can at times mean “beg,” craving Him that intently!

From “without” to enjoying God’s “Goodness!”

Via the “Fear of the Lord,” faith and trust in King Jesus! And His shed Blood on Calvary, that which flowed so freely when our Lord was “pierced” on that old rugged Tree!

And when will this all happen?

“In the latter days,” meaning the Millennium!

I shall likely close every lesson hereafter (nearing the end of this series) with the prayer of Revelation 22:20 …

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, Hosea!

Even Hosea, the Old Testament Prophet that talks so much about love, and sin, and restoration!

At least I believe these two verses are Millennial:

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the SAND of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.” Hosea 1:10-11

God’s “population promise” to Abraham will some day be fulfilled; literally, mathematically!

“Here’s that Promise, specifically … Genesis 22:17-18 … “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the SAND which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Obeyed in being willing to sacrifice Isaac!)

“Ye are not my people,” a saying Hosea used twice, consecutively … Hosea 1:9 negatively and Hosea 1:10 (our Text today) positively!

Yet the positive side of this Blessing become even stronger in this Text, not just “You will become My people,” but … “Ye are the sons of the living God.” That’s sounds like the New testament, the Age of Grace!

This great miracle, conversion … happens at the beginning of the Millennium, when Israel (the Nation) is saved!

“One Head,” that is Jesus!

God appointed, but here pictured as wanted by Israel too!

“Jezreel” means “scattered” in Hebrew, but here God has “regathered” His dispersed people.

Called them home to the Holy Land, from all the earth’s other lands! Every continent, every state, every isle when they once dwelt.

Excuse all the exclamation marks, please. I can’t write about this without using them!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

Revelation 22:20

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Out Text this morning, Ezekiel 39:25-29, ends magnificently!

It is the culminating Paragraph of the Bible Account of God’s defeating a massive army, one attacking Israel. Or planning to attack anyway, to spoil (rob) that wealthy little Country …

A great Battle which involves some huge nations, poised to conquer Israel. “God and Magog,” along with “Persia (Iran), Ethiopia and Libya!” Plus “Gomer” (Germany) as well! (These nations are identifiable yet to this very day! Primarily Russia and her allies.)

God defeats this coalition, killing all but “the sixth part!” It will take Israel “seven months” to bury all the dead!

But then our Text, sort of a general summary … “25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 39:25-29

That last verse has captivated my attention … “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”

Did you notice the Lesson title?

Verse 29 looks to me like a Parallel to the “Day of Pentecost” in Acts chapter 2. God plans to again “pour out” His (Holy) Spirit! Once upon the Church! Now upon His favorite Nation!

The verb “pour out” is “shaphak,” and in Hebrew means (and is translated) “to gush out” once! A copious Gift!

Zechariah 12:10 is similar … “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications.”

And the result?

Salvation for Israel!

Sanctification too!

And an eternity of service to the Lord God Almighty!

Wow!

“3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5 One shall say, I am the LORD’S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” Isaiah 44:3-5 here seems to be describing the same glorious Event.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is God’s “Comforter” to mankind! (This is Jesus’ favorite Name for the Spirit.)

God’s “Completer” one Preacher said.

Yet He is so neglected today.

Christian friend reading here today, do you know Him?

One God, triune in Persons, Essence!

Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Each Member of the Godhead being active in every aspect of our Christian lives! (As He was in every aspect of Creation, for that matter!)

Israel, her best days are still coming.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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