The people have not understood. Believers have not understood. They have not understood that during a time of judgment mercy is exhausted and no quarter is given to the enemy. You must understand that. In 9 days' time the cutting-down begins everywhere. The mountains of iniquity will be struck. Do you know what this means?

"All of [Yahweh's] works are emet (truth), and His ways are justice; and He is able to bring low those who walk in pride" (Dan.4:7b, NRSV).

No, you have not understood, or you would not jest, nor would you be dancing when you are supposed to be mourning because "the days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come" (Hos.9:7a, NRSV) and they are coming suddenly and swiftly. This is the time when these ones declare that "the navi (prophet) is a fool, the man of the Ruach (Spirit) is mad" (v.7b, NRSV). This is such a time. But "the navi (prophet) is a sentinel for my Elohim (God) over Ephraim, and a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his Elohim (God). They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins" (vv.8-9, NRSV)

Wake up! Cease your jesting and your procrastination. Be sober, be diligent, be afraid! Are the signs not plain for you to see? Must the Destroyer come to your own doorstep before you will see, and acknowledge that the Devarim Elohim (Words of God) are true and are not to be trifled with? But by then it will be too late because the day of teshuvah (repentance) for the wicked will have passed.

Now listen, Israel, pay attention nations of Ephraim and Manasseh [1]! The day of your judgment has come and you have been found wanting:

"Ephraim is stricken,
their root is dried up,
they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb.
Because they have not listened...
my Elohim (God) will reject them;
they shall become wanderers among the nations"
(Hosea 9:16-17, NRSV).

As the bad crops burn so new sprouts will arise from the ashes. A new crop will arise, both good and evil, and they shall be separated at the last day in the time of the last generation. And "at dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off" (Hos.10:15b, NRSV).

Endnotes