AMOS AND ISRAEL'S FUTURE

AMOS AND PROPHECY

Amos was addressed to northern Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (2:6). God will “roar” from Jerusalem (1:2).

Amos 5:2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

In the strongest of words, God seems to indicate that Israel will never again be restored (5:2). In the context of 9:11-15 this must be understood as a reference to the generation which went into captivity.

Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

The Day of the LORD can have a two-fold application: (1) it can punish Israel’s enemies or (2) it can punish Israel (5:8). God will raise up a “nation” against them (6:14). “Israel shall surely go into captivity” (7:17).

Amos 8:2 … The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

Again God appears to be about to end all relations with Israel (8:2). The sun will be darkened when Israel is punished (8:9). There will be a famine of hearing the word of the LORD (8:11).

Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; ---saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.

Amos 9:9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, YET shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

Amos 9:10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

Amos 9:8 is one of the most important texts in the Bible which explains the Dispensational approach to prophecy. In the same verse God says that (1) He will destroy Israel “from off the face to the earth” and also says “Saving [Nevertheless: NAS; except: RSV] that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jocob.” A “house” is NOT a spiritual kingdom or the Church. A “house” refers to the literal physical nation of Israel. Regardless of how many and how harsh the rebukes and curses placed upon Israel and Judah, God refuses to UTTERLY destroy them!

Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

After God scatters Israel (9:9), He promises to restore the literal house of David to its former status (9:11). This is worded as an unconditional prophecy and is not a reference to the Church. The final fulfillment is yet future.

Amos 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

The restoration of Israel will also result in the restoration of Esau’s remnant of Edom. Even more, it will result in the inclusion of the nations [Gentiles: NKJ] “which are called by my name.” Because of this prophecy in 9:12, the Apostle James was convinced that God’s plan included the salvation of the Gentiles (Acts 15:14-18).

Amos 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

The returning remnant of Israel will turn the land into a garden (9:13-14).

Amos 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Israel will once again be placed into its land and “no more be pulled out of their land which I have given them.” This prophecy must be literally interpreted and will be literally fulfilled. It makes no sense to spiritualize it as a reference to heaven. Again, like the other prophets, Amos does not have the conclusion that God will eventually “utterly” forsake Israel as his chosen heritage (9:11-15).