|
An
Army of Locusts
2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm
in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land
tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at
hand;
2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds
and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the
mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been
ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to
the years of many generations.
2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame
burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and
behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall
escape them.
2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses;
and as horsemen, so shall they run.
2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains
shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that
devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle
array.
2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all
faces shall gather blackness.
2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the
wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his
ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every
one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they
shall not be wounded.
2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run
upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they
shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall
tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars
shall withdraw their shining:
2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army:
for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth
his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very
terrible; and who can abide it?
Rend Your Heart
2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me
with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and
with mourning:
2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn
unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of
the evil.
2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a
blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink
offering unto the LORD your God?
2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a
solemn assembly:
2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble
the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the
breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the
bride out of her closet.
2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy
people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach,
that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should
they say among the people, Where is their God?
The Lord’s Answer
2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity
his people.
2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people,
Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye
shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a
reproach among the heathen:
2:20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army,
and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his
face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the
utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour
shall come up, because he hath done great things.
2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD
will do great things.
2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the
pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth
her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their
strength.
2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the
LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain
moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain,
the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats
shall overflow with wine and oil.
2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust
hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the
palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and
praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt
wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my
people shall never be ashamed.
The Day of the Lord
2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in
those days will I pour out my spirit.
2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the
earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD
come.
2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call
on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount
Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath
said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
