Ezekiel 38 Cross References - ISV

¹ The Prophecy against GogThis message from the LORD came to me: ² “Son of Man, turn your attention toward Gog, from the land of Magog, leader of the head of Meshech, and of Tubal. Prophesy this against him: ³ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Watch out! I’m coming after you, Gog, leader of the head of Meshech, and of Tubal. ⁴ I’m going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out—you and your whole army—along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush, and Libya will be accompanying them, all of them equipped with shields and helmets. ⁶ Gomer with all its troops, and the household of Togarmah from the remotest parts of the north with all its troops—many people will accompany you. ⁷ Be prepared. Yes, prepare yourself—you and all of your many battalions that have gathered together around you to protect you.
⁸ “‘“Many days from now—in the latter years—you will be summoned to a land that has been restored from violence. You will be gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which formerly had been a continuous waste, but which will be populated with people who have been brought back from the nations. All of them will be living there securely. ⁹ You’ll arise suddenly, like a tornado, coming like a windstorm to cover the land, you and all your soldiers with you, along with many nations.”’”
¹⁰ The Invasion Strategy“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This is what’s going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: You’ll be thinking, making evil plans, ¹¹ and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. ¹² I’m going to confiscate anything I can put my hands on. I’ll attack the restored ruins and the people who have been gathered together from the nations, who are acquiring livestock and other goods, and who live at the center of the world’s attention.” ¹³ ‘Businessmen based in Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish, and all of its growling lions will ask you, “Are you coming for war spoils? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, and to gather lots of war booty?”’”
¹⁴ God’s Rebuke to Gog“Therefore, Son of Man, prophesy to Gog and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “When the day comes when my people are living securely, won’t you be aware of it? ¹⁵ You’ll come in from your home in the remotest parts of the north. You’ll come with many nations, all of them riding along on horses. You’ll be a huge, combined army. ¹⁶ You’ll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land. In the last days, Gog, I’ll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.”’”
¹⁷ A Prediction for the Distant Future“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Surely you’re the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings of my servants, Israel’s prophets, aren’t you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn’t they? ¹⁸ So it will be that on that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘my zeal will ignite my anger. ¹⁹ Because of my zeal and burning anger, at that time there will be a massive earthquake throughout the land of Israel. ²⁰ I’m going to shake the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the wild beasts, all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and every single human being who lives on the surface of the earth. Mountains will collapse, as will their mountain passages, and every wall will fall to the ground. ²¹ Then I’ll call for war against Gog on top of every mountain,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘and every weapon of war will be turned against their fellow soldier. ²² I’ll judge them with disease and bloodshed. I’ll shower him, his soldiers, and the vast army that accompanies him with a torrential flood, hailstones, fire, and sulfur. ²³ I will exalt myself and demonstrate my holiness, making myself known to many people, who will learn that I am the LORD.’”

² Japheth’s descendants included Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

⁵ Japheth’s descendants were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

¹⁹ “I will put up signs among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations—to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, (who draw the bow), to Tubal and Greece, to the far off coastlands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. Then they will proclaim my glory among the nations.

¹ Ezekiel’s Commission to Prophesy“Son of Man,” the LORD said, “get up on your feet. I want to talk to you.”

² “Son of Man,” he said, “turn your face to oppose the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.

⁴⁶ “Son of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south.

² “Son of Man, turn your attention to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke them.

¹³ Greece, Tubal, and Meshech bartered with you, exchanging slaves and bronze vessels for your wares.

²⁶ “Meshech and Tubal will be there, along with all of the hordes that surround her grave. Every one of them is uncircumcised, killed violently, because they spread terror throughout the land of the living.

² “Son of Man, turn your attention toward Mount Seir and begin to prophesy against it. ³ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Watch out! I’m coming to get you, Mount Seir! I’m stretching out my hand to strike you, and I’m going to turn you into a desolate wasteland.

³ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Watch out! I’m coming after you, Gog, leader of the head of Meshech, and of Tubal.

¹ The Destruction of Gog“Now as for you, Son of Man, prophesy against Gog and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord GOD has to say: “Watch out, Gog, you leader of the head of Meshech and of Tubal!

⁶ ‘I’m also going to incinerate Magog, along with those who are settled down and at home in the islands. That’s when they’ll learn that I am the LORD.

¹¹ “When all of this happens, I’m going to set aside a grave site for Gog in Israel’s Traveler’s Valley, near the approach to the Dead Sea. She will block off everyone who tries to bypass it. There they will bury Gog, and rename the area ‘Valley of Gog’s Gang’.

⁸ He will go out to deceive Gog and Magog, the nations at the four corners of the earth, and gather them for war. They are as numerous as the sands of the seashore. ⁹ They marched over the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came from God out of heaven and burned them up,

⁸ “‘Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says, “Because you’ve spoken falsehood and deceptions, I am therefore opposing you,” declares the Lord GOD.

³ Tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Watch out! I’m coming to get you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt! You big monster! You lay in wait in the middle of your waterways and say, “My waterways belong to me! I made them for myself!”

³ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Watch out! I’m coming to get you, Mount Seir! I’m stretching out my hand to strike you, and I’m going to turn you into a desolate wasteland.

¹ The Destruction of Gog“Now as for you, Son of Man, prophesy against Gog and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord GOD has to say: “Watch out, Gog, you leader of the head of Meshech and of Tubal! ² I’m going to turn you around, drag you along to your destruction, and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel. ³ There I will strike your bow from your left hand and your arrows from your right, causing your fall. ⁴ You will collapse on the mountains of Israel, along with all of your soldiers and the nations that have accompanied you. There the raptors, vultures, and wild animals will feed on you. ⁵ You will fall dead in the open fields, because I have ordered this to happen,’ declares the Lord GOD. ⁶ ‘I’m also going to incinerate Magog, along with those who are settled down and at home in the islands. That’s when they’ll learn that I am the LORD. ⁷ I’ll make my holiness and reputation known in the midst of my people Israel, and I won’t let my holiness be profaned anymore. The nations will learn that I, the LORD, am holy in the midst of Israel. ⁸ Pay attention! It’s coming and will certainly happen,’ declares the Lord GOD. ‘This will be the day about which I’ve spoken!’”’”
⁹ The Aftermath of the Battle“After all this happens, the people who live in the cities of Israel will be kindling fires for seven years, using small shields, large shields, bows, arrows, clubs, personal weapons, and spears to do so. ¹⁰ They won’t need to cut down trees from the fields nor gather firewood from the forests, because they will light fires with the weapons as they plunder the plunderers and loot the looters!” declares the Lord GOD.

²⁸ Because of your rage against me, your complacency has reached my ears. I’ll put my hook into your nostrils and my bit into your mouth. Then I’ll turn you back on the road by which you came.’

⁸ Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks and as agile as a gazelle on a mountain slope.

⁵ The Edomites are Defeated
Amaziah gathered Judah together and organized them according to their ancestral households under commanders of thousands and hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered an army from those who were 20 years old and older. He discovered that there were 300,000 elite soldiers qualified for war duty and capable of handling spears and shields.

²⁹ Your insolence has reached my ears, so I’ll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I’ll make you turn back on the road by which you came.

⁹ Horses, get up! Chariots, drive furiously! Let the warriors go forward, Ethiopia and Put, who carry shields, and the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.

¹² She lusted after the Assyrians—governors, commanders, warriors clothed in gorgeous attire, cavalry mounted on their horses—all of them desirable young men.

⁴ ‘So I’m going to plant a hook in your jaw and make the fish in your waterways grab hold of your scales. I’ll bring you up out of the middle of your waterways, along with all of the fish from your waterways that cling to your scales,

¹⁵ You’ll come in from your home in the remotest parts of the north. You’ll come with many nations, all of them riding along on horses. You’ll be a huge, combined army.

² I’m going to turn you around, drag you along to your destruction, and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel.

⁴⁰ “‘At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. He’ll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through.

⁶ Ham’s DescendantsHam’s descendants included Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

⁸ Cush fathered Nimrod, who became the first fearless leader throughout the land.

⁸ Ham’s descendants were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

¹⁰ Tyre’s International Makeup“Soldiers from Persia, Lud, and Libya, served in your army. They were your mighty soldiers. Their helmets and shields adorned your barracks walls, and they won battle decorations for you.

⁵ “Ethiopia, Libya, descendants of Lud, all those who have mixed themselves, and Libya—along with everyone in the land of Israel who is in league with them—will die violently.”’”

⁹ Sudan was her source of strength, along with Egypt— there were no limits. Put and the Libyans were her allies.

² Japheth’s descendants included Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
³ Gomer’s descendants included Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

⁵ Japheth’s descendants were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
⁶ Gomer’s descendants were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.

¹⁴ Beth-togarmah traded horses, war horses, and mules in exchange for what you had to sell.

⁸ But if you do go, strengthen yourself for war. Do you think God will throw you down before the enemy, since God has the power both to help or to overthrow?”

¹ The Nations and God’s Anointed Why are the nations in an uproar, and their people involved in a vain plot? ² As the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his anointed one, they say, ³ “Let us tear off their shackles from us, and cast off their chains.” ⁴ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

⁹ “Band together, you peoples, but be shattered! Listen, all you distant countries! Strap on your armor, but be shattered. ¹⁰ Take counsel together, but it will all be for nothing; go ahead and talk, but it will all be for nothing, for God is with us.”

²² This is the message that the LORD has spoken in opposition to him: “‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem— she tosses her head behind you as you flee.

³ “Prepare buckler and shield, and advance into the battle! ⁴ Harness the horses! Riders, mount up! Take your positions with your helmets! Polish lances, and put on armor! ⁵ Why am I seeing this? They’re terrified, they have turned back. Their warriors are crushed, and they take flight. They don’t look back. Terror is on every side,” declares the LORD.

¹⁴ “Announce in Egypt, proclaim in Migdol. Proclaim also in Memphis and Tahpanhes. Say, ‘Take your positions and be ready, for the sword will devour all around you.’ ¹⁵ Why are your warriors prostrate? They don’t stand because the LORD has brought them down. ¹⁶ They repeatedly stumble and fall. They say to each other, ‘Get up! Let’s go back to our people and to the land of our birth, away from the oppressor’s sword.’

¹² Lift up the battle standard against Babylon’s walls. Strengthen the guard; post watchmen. Set men in position for an ambush. For the LORD will both plan and carry out what he has declared against the inhabitants of Babylon.

⁹ The LORD’s Call to Judgment“Declare this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up your elite forces! Let all the soldiers draw near! Call them up! ¹⁰ Beat your plow blades into swords, and your pruning knives into spears! Let the frail say, “I am strong!” ¹¹ Hurry and come, all you gentiles! Gather yourselves together!’” “LORD, cause your mighty army to come down. ¹² “Let the nations be awakened and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; because I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

¹² “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I am about to do this, prepare to be summoned to your God, Israel!”

² I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem, to lay siege against it. The city will be captured, the houses will be ransacked, the women raped, and half of the city will go into exile, but the remaining people will not be cut off from the city. ³ Then the LORD will go out to battle against those nations, waging war as in a day of battle.

¹ Jacob’s Final BlessingsAfter this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, “Assemble yourselves around me so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days.

⁵ You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the iniquity of the parents to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me,

¹⁴ Meanwhile, since I have to return to my people, come and listen while I tell you what this people will be doing to your people in the last days.”

³⁰ In your distress, when all these things happen to you in days to come and you return to the LORD your God, then you will hear his voice.

¹¹ At that time, the LORD will reach out his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. ¹² He will raise a banner for the nations and will assemble the dispersed of Israel; he will gather the scattered people of Judah from the corners of the earth.
¹³ Israel’s Victory over Its EnemiesEphraim’s jealousy will vanish, and those who are hostile to Judah will be eliminated; Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah, and Judah will not be hostile to Ephraim. ¹⁴ But they will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west, and they will plunder the people to the east. They’ll lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them. ¹⁵ The LORD will totally destroy the gulf of the Sea of Egypt. He will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River with a violent wind, breaking it up into seven streams, and making a way for people to cross on foot. ¹⁶ And there will be a highway for the remnant that is left of his people out of Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.

²² They will be herded together into the Pit; they will be shut up in prison, and after many days they will be punished.

⁶ you will be visited by the LORD of the Heavenly Armies— with thunder, an earthquake, and great noise, with a windstorm, a tempest, and flames from a devouring fire.

⁶ In his time Judah will be delivered and Israel will dwell in safety. This is the name by which he will be known: ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’

³ Indeed, the time will come,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I’ll restore the security of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘I’ll bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they’ll possess it.’”

¹⁸ Jacob’s Restoration“This is what the LORD says: ‘I’m going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings. A city will be rebuilt on its ruins and a palace will sit on its rightful place.

⁵ The king of Babylon will take Zedekiah to Babylon and there he will stay until I judge him,” declares the LORD. “If you fight against the Chaldeans, you won’t succeed.”’”

³⁷ I’m about to gather my people from all the lands where I’ve driven them in my anger, wrath, and great indignation. I’ll bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.

¹⁶ At that time Judah will be delivered and Jerusalem will dwell in safety. And this is the name people will call it, “The LORD is Our Righteousness.”’

⁴⁷ But I’ll restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days,” declares the LORD. This concludes the judgment on Moab.

³⁹ “But in the latter days I’ll restore the fortunes of Elam,” declares the LORD.

²² The punishment for your sin is complete, you women of Zion, and God will no longer exile you. He will punish your iniquity, you women of Edom, and he will expose your sins.

²⁶ They will live in safety in the land, building houses and planting vineyards. They’ll live in safety while I judge everyone who maligns them among those who surround them. At that time they’ll learn that I am the LORD their God.’”

¹³ I’m going to bring them out from foreign nations and from foreign lands. Then I’ll bring them to their own land and feed them in Israel—on the mountains, in their valleys, and in all of their settlements throughout the land.

²⁵ “I’m going to enter into a covenant with them, one of peace, and I’ll eliminate wild beasts from the land so they can live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests. ²⁶ I’m going to make them and everything that surrounds my hill a blessing. I’ll send down the rain! At the appropriate time there will be a rainstorm of blessing! ²⁷ I’ll bring fruit to the trees in the orchards, the land will yield its produce, they will live securely on their land, and they will learn that I am the LORD, when I break the bar that has been their yoke and deliver them from the control of those who have enslaved them. ²⁸ They will no longer be plundered by the nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will settle down confidently, with nothing to frighten them.

¹ Prophecy to Israel’s Mountains“Now as for you, Son of Man, prophesy to Israel’s mountains and tell them, ‘Listen to this message from the LORD, you mountains of Israel: ² “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The enemy has been saying about you, “Good! The ancient heights are back in our possession!”’”’
³ “Therefore this is what you are to prophesy: ‘Here’s what the Lord GOD says, “You’ve been turned into a desolate wasteland and crushed by everyone who surrounds you for a very, very good reason. You’ve become the property of all the other nations and you’ve become the object of gossip and whispering campaigns of the nations.”’”
⁴ “Therefore listen to what the Lord GOD has to say, you mountains of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains, to the hills, to the waterways, to the valleys, to the desolate wastelands, and to the abandoned cities that have become an object of derision to the mountains that surround you: ⁵ “‘Because this is what the Lord GOD says: “Motivated by my burning zealousness, I have spoken against the rest of the surrounding nations, including Edom, who confiscated my land, taking possession of it with joyful enthusiasm and with animal-like malice, in order to plunder Israel’s pastures.’ ⁶ “Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and speak to its mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Pay attention! In my zealous anger I’m speaking because you’ve had to endure the mockery of the world’s nations.”’”
⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “I hereby raise my hand to swear this oath: the nations that surround you will have their own mockery to endure! ⁸ But you mountains of Israel are going to sprout branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, because they’ll be coming soon.’”

²⁴ I’m going to remove you from the nations, gather you from all of the territories, and bring you all back to your own land. ²⁵ I’ll sprinkle pure water on you all, and you’ll be cleansed from your impurity and from all of your idols.”
²⁶ “‘“I’m going to give you a new heart, and I’m going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. I’ll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one that’s sensitive to me. ²⁷ I’ll place my spirit within you, empowering you to live according to my regulations and to keep my just decrees. ²⁸ You’ll live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, you’ll be my people, and I will be your God. ²⁹ In addition, I’ll deliver you from everything that makes you unclean. I’ll call out to the grain you plant, ordering it to produce abundant yields, and I will never bring famine in your direction. ³⁰ I’ll increase the yields of your fruit trees and crops so that you’ll never again experience the disgrace of famine that occurs in other nations. ³¹ Then you’ll remember your lifestyles and practices that were not good. You’ll hate yourselves as you look at your own iniquities and loathsome practices. ³² I won’t be doing any of this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “so keep that in mind. Be ashamed and frustrated because of your behavior, you house of Israel!”’”
³³ The Restoration of Israel’s Cities“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘At the same time that I cleanse you from all of your guilt, I’ll make your cities become inhabited again and the desolate wastelands will be rebuilt. ³⁴ The desolate fields will be cultivated, replacing the former wasteland that everyone who passed by in times past had noticed. ³⁵ They will say, “This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden, and what used to be desolate ruins are now fortified and inhabited.” ³⁶ Then the surviving people that live around you will learn that I, the LORD, have rebuilt these ruins and have cultivated these pastures that used to be desolate wastelands. I, the LORD, have spoken this, and I’m going to bring it about!’
³⁷ “This is what the Lord GOD has to say: ‘I’m going to allow the house of Israel to ask anything they want from me, including this: I’m going to increase their population as a shepherd increases his flock. ³⁸ The desolate cities will be filled with flocks of human beings, just like Jerusalem used to be filled with flocks of sheep during the times of the appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

²¹ Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Watch me take the Israelis out of the nations where they’ve gone and return them from every direction. I’m going to bring them back into their own land. ²² I’m going to make them a united people in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and I’ll set a single king to rule over them. They’ll never again be two separate people. They’ll never again be divided into two kingdoms. ²³ They will never again defile themselves with their idols, with other loathsome things, or with any of their sins. Instead, I will deliver them from all of the places where they have sinned, and then I’ll cleanse them. They will be my people and I will be their God.”’”
²⁴ David’s Rule as King“‘“My servant King David will be there for them, and one shepherd will be appointed for them. They will live according to my decrees, keep my regulations, and practice them. ²⁵ They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob and on which your ancestors lived. They will live in that land, along with their children and grandchildren, forever. David my servant will be their everlasting leader. ²⁶ I’ll make a secure covenant with them, one that will last forever. I will establish them, make them increase in population, and will place my sanctuary in their midst forever. ²⁷ I will pitch my tent among them and will be their God. They will be my people, ²⁸ and the nations will learn that I, the LORD, am the sanctifier of Israel when I place my sanctuary in their midst forever.”’”

¹¹ and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. ¹² I’m going to confiscate anything I can put my hands on. I’ll attack the restored ruins and the people who have been gathered together from the nations, who are acquiring livestock and other goods, and who live at the center of the world’s attention.”

¹⁶ You’ll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land. In the last days, Gog, I’ll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.”’”

²⁷ When I bring them back from the nations and gather them together from the lands that belong to their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them right in front of the eyes of the world, ²⁸ and they will learn that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into exile and who gathered them back to their land. I will not leave any of them remaining in exile. ²⁹ I’ll no longer hide my presence from them again when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

³ I told her, “You will remain with me a long time, you won’t be promiscuous, you won’t be involved with any man, and I’ll do the same.”
⁴ Likewise, the people of Israel will dwell a long time without a king, without a prince, without sacrifice, without sacred pillars, and with neither ephod nor teraphim. ⁵ Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come in awe to the LORD and to his goodness in the last days.

¹⁴ I will surely restore my people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine from them. They will plant gardens and eat the fruit from them. ¹⁵ I will plant the people of Israel in their own land, never again to be torn out of their land that I gave them,” says the LORD your God.

³ For the revelation pertains to an appointed time— it speaks truthfully about the end. Though it delays, wait for it, because it will surely come about— it will not be late!

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

¹ Elam and Media are RebukedA message concerning the pasture by the Sea. “Like whirlwinds in the Negev sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a distant land. ² A dire vision has been announced to me: the traitor betrays, and the plunderer takes loot. Get up, Elam! Attack, Media! I am putting a stop to all the groaning she has caused.

⁴ For you have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat— for the blistering attack from the ruthless is like a rainstorm beating against a wall,

² Look! The LORD has one who is mighty and strong, like a hailstorm and destructive tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing water— and he will give rest to the land.

¹³ The People’s Response to JudgmentLook, he comes up like clouds, and his chariots are like a whirlwind. His horses are as swift as eagles. Woe to us—we’re destroyed!

¹¹ Tell those who coat it with whitewash that it will fall. It will be washed off by the rain. Great hailstones will fall and a stormy wind will strip it off.

² A day of doom and gloom, a day of clouds and shadows like the dawn spreads out to cover the mountains— a people strong and robust. Never has there been anything like it, neither will anything follow to compare with it, even through the lifetime of generation upon generation.”

⁴ He devises iniquity on his bed and is determined to follow a path that is not good. He does not resist evil.

³ They plot against your people and conspire against your cherished ones. ⁴ They say, “Let us go and erase them as a nation so the name of Israel will not be remembered anymore.”

² You know when I rest and when I am active. You understand what I am thinking when I am distant from you.

¹⁴ planning evil with a perverse mind, continually stirring up discord.

¹⁸ a heart crafting evil plans, feet running swiftly to wickedness,

² The good person will gain favor from the LORD, but the man who plots evil will be condemned by him.

²¹ Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD’s purposes will prevail.

⁷ But this is not what he intends, and this is not what he thinks in his mind; but it is in his mind to destroy, and to cut down many nations.

¹ God’s Warning to His People “Woe to those who are crafting iniquity, planning evil well into the night! When morning’s light comes, they carry out their plans because they have the power to do so.

²¹ because it’s from within, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come, as well as sexual immorality, stealing, murder,

² By supper time, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him.

³ Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money you got for the land?

⁹ “How could you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter asked her. “Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and these men will carry you outside as well.”

²² So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven you.

⁵ Therefore, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise from God.

⁹ “The enemy said, ‘I’ll pursue them, I’ll overtake them, I’ll divide the spoil. I’ll satisfy my anger on them, I’ll draw my sword, and my hand will bring them to ruin.’

⁷ So the five men left and went to Laish, and observed the people who were living there carefree, as Sidonians tend to do, in peace and quiet. There was no ruler in the land oppressing them for any reason. They were living far away from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone.

²⁷ But the descendants of Dan took what Micah had made, along with the priest who had worked for him, and went to Laish, to a quiet and carefree people, and killed them with swords. Then they set fire to the city.

⁹ Their eyes secretly watch the helpless, lying in wait like a lion in his den. They lie in wait to catch the afflicted. They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us! Let’s lie in wait for blood; let’s ambush some innocent person for no reason at all. ¹² Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit. ¹³ We’ll find all kinds of valuable wealth, and we’ll fill our houses with spoil. ¹⁴ Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse.” ¹⁵ My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths! ¹⁶ For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.

²⁹ Do not plan to harm your neighbor, when he is living peacefully beside you. ³⁰ Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

²⁴ By your messengers you have insulted the LORD, and you have said, “With my many chariots I have climbed the heights of mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its pines; I reached its remotest heights, the most verdant of its forests. ²⁵ I myself dug wells and drank foreign waters; with the soles of my feet I dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

³¹ “Arise, go up against a nation at ease, living securely,” declares the LORD, “without gates or bars, living alone. ³² Their camels will become booty, their many herds will become spoil. I’ll scatter to the winds those who shave the corners of their beards, and I’ll bring disaster on them from every side,” declares the LORD.

⁸ “‘“Many days from now—in the latter years—you will be summoned to a land that has been restored from violence. You will be gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which formerly had been a continuous waste, but which will be populated with people who have been brought back from the nations. All of them will be living there securely.

⁴ That other angel told him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be an inhabited city without walls due to the number of people and livestock within it. ⁵ I myself will be an encircling rampart of fire,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be the glory in her midst.’

¹⁵ They run swiftly to shed blood.

³⁷ Gaal spoke up again to say, “Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and there’s a company approaching from the diviner’s oak tree.”

²⁴ Restoration and RedemptionTherefore this is what the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies, the one who is Israel’s Mighty One, declares: “Now I’ll get relief from his enemies and avenge myself on his foes. ²⁵ When I turn my attention to you, I’ll refine your dross as in a furnace. I’ll remove all your alloy.

⁶ I’m sending my fury against a godless nation, and I’ll command him against the people with whom I’m angry to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.

¹⁶ In addition, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your oppressors—all of them— will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will become plunder, and all who spoil you will become spoil.

⁴³ Fields will be bought in this land about which you will say, “It is a desolate place without people or animals. It is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.” ⁴⁴ People will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and call witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah, the towns of the hill country, the towns of the Shephelah, and the towns of the Negev, for I’ll restore their fortunes,’ declares the LORD.”

¹² “This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘In this place that is now a ruin without people or animals, and in all its towns there will again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks. ¹³ In the towns of the hill country, in the towns of the Shephelah, in the towns of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them,’ says the LORD.”

¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I’m going to give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He’s going to carry off her wealth, confiscate her war implements, and use it all to pay wages for his army!

³³ The Restoration of Israel’s Cities“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘At the same time that I cleanse you from all of your guilt, I’ll make your cities become inhabited again and the desolate wastelands will be rebuilt. ³⁴ The desolate fields will be cultivated, replacing the former wasteland that everyone who passed by in times past had noticed. ³⁵ They will say, “This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden, and what used to be desolate ruins are now fortified and inhabited.”

⁸ and I will cut off the inhabitants of Ashdod, along with Ashkelon’s ruler. I will turn to attack Ekron, and the rest of the Philistines will die,” says the Lord GOD.

¹² And the angel of the LORD replied, “LORD of the Heavenly Armies, how long will it be until you show mercy to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, with whom you have been angry for these past seventy years?”

¹⁷ The Future Prosperity of Zion“Also announce the following: ‘This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “My cities will again overflow with prosperity. The LORD will comfort Zion once more and will choose Jerusalem again.”’”

⁸ I will whistle for them, gathering them together, because I have redeemed them, and they will multiply as they were before. ⁹ I will scatter them among the nations, and so they will remember me in distant countries. They will rear their children, and they will return. ¹⁰ I will bring them once again out of the land of Egypt, gathering them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, but there will not be enough space for them.

⁷ “Arise, sword, against my shepherd, against the mighty one who is related to me,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. “Strike the shepherd, the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the insignificant ones.

⁴ I am surrounded by lions. I lie down with those who burn with fire— that is, with people whose teeth are like spears and arrows— whose tongues are like sharp swords.

¹³ “I’ll give away your wealth and your treasures as plunder, for free, because of all your sins throughout your territory.

¹⁷ Hope for Israel“Israel is a scattered flock, driven out by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria, and then afterward King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gnawed his bones.

³⁸ They’ll roar together like young lions; they’ll growl like lion cubs.

³ She raised one cub in particular, teaching that fierce lion to become a hunter-prowler— to eat human beings. ⁴ The nations heard about him. He had become caught in their trap. They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. ⁵ When she learned that her plans had been frustrated and that her hopes were dashed, she took another of her cubs and turned him into a fierce lion. ⁶ He prowled around among the lions, became a strong, young lion, and learned to become a hunter-prowler— to eat human beings.

¹³ therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I’m going to raise my clenched fist in Edom’s direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! I’m going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence!

¹² Tyre’s Trading Partners‘Tarshish was your business partner because of your phenomenal wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

¹⁵ Men from the low country south of Edom and many of the coastlands were your markets for ivory tusks and ebony that they brought to trade with you.

²⁰ “Dedan traded with you, exchanging riding blankets.

²² Traders from Sheba and Raamah paid for the best of what you had to offer with all types of spices, precious stones, and gold. ²³ Haran, Canneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad did business with you,

²⁵ Ocean-going fleets carried your merchandise.”
Tyre’s Coming Storm “How filled you were! How glorious you were, at home in the heart of the sea!

² “Son of Man, start singing this lamentation about Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him, ‘You may have called yourself a lion among nations, but you’re a monster at sea. You thrash about in your rivers, muddy the water with your feet, and relieve yourself in the rivers.’

¹¹ Nineveh: the Lion’s Den DestroyedWhere is this lion’s den? Where is the place where the young lions fed, where the lion and its mate walked with their young, the place where they feared nothing? ¹² This lion renders its prey to pieces to feed its whelps, and strangles enough prey for its mate, filling its lairs with prey and its dens with rendered flesh. ¹³ “I am against you,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and I will send your chariots up in smoke. A sword will devour your young lions, I will eliminate your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

³ Hear the wailing of the shepherds, for the magnificence of the forest is ruined! Hear the roar of the lions, for the Jordan’s arrogance is ruined!

¹ “At that time, seven women will cling tightly to one man and will make him this offer: ‘We’ll provide our own bread. We’ll provide our own clothes. Just let us marry you so we won’t be stigmatized anymore.’”
² The Future Glory of Jerusalem“At that time, the LORD’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel and Judah.

²⁸ and the nations will learn that I, the LORD, am the sanctifier of Israel when I place my sanctuary in their midst forever.”’”

¹¹ and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors.

⁵ I myself will be an encircling rampart of fire,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be the glory in her midst.’

⁸ For this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “In pursuit of glory I was sent to the nations who plundered you, because whoever injures you injures the pupil of my eye.

⁴ I’m going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out—you and your whole army—along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords.

⁶ Gomer with all its troops, and the household of Togarmah from the remotest parts of the north with all its troops—many people will accompany you.

² I will gather all nations, bringing them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will set out my case against them there, on behalf of my people, my heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations, apportioning my land among themselves.

⁸ “Just you wait!” declares the LORD. “The day will come when I stand up as a prosecutor, for I am determined to assemble the nations and to gather the kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation upon them— all of my fierce anger. All the earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.

² ‘Look, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. ³ It will come about at that time that I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight; so everyone who burdens themselves with it will be crushed, even though all of the nations of the earth gather themselves against it. ⁴ At that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will strike every horse with panic and every rider with insanity. I will keep my eyes on the house of Judah, but I will blind every horse of the invading armies.

¹⁴ They are demonic spirits that perform signs. They go to the kings of the whole earth and gather them for the war of the great Day of God Almighty.

¹⁶ The spirits gathered the kings to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.

⁸ He will go out to deceive Gog and Magog, the nations at the four corners of the earth, and gather them for war. They are as numerous as the sands of the seashore.

⁴ I’ve made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so he will pursue them. But I’ll receive honor by means of Pharaoh and his army, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelis did.

²⁹ because I know that after my death, you’ll surely act wickedly and turn from the road that I’ve instructed you. As a result, evil will fall on you in days to come, because you’ll act wickedly in the sight of the LORD, causing him to become angry due to your behavior.”

⁴⁵ Then David told the Philistine, “You come at me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I’ll strike you down and remove your head from you. And this very day I’ll give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel, ⁴⁷ and this whole congregation will know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or spear. Indeed, the battle is the LORD’s and he will give you into our hands.”

¹⁹ Now, LORD our God, I’m praying that you will deliver us from his control, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God!”

¹⁷ Let them be humiliated and terrified permanently until they die in shame. ¹⁸ Then they will know that you alone— whose name is LORD— are the Most High over all the earth.

² “It will come about in the last days that the mountain that is the LORD’s Temple will be established as the highest of mountains, and will be raised above the hills; all the nations will stream to it.

²³ For when he sees in his midst his children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel.

²³ I’m going to affirm my great reputation that has been defiled among the nations (that is, that you have defiled in their midst), and those people will learn that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I affirm my holiness in front of their very eyes.

⁸ “‘“Many days from now—in the latter years—you will be summoned to a land that has been restored from violence. You will be gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which formerly had been a continuous waste, but which will be populated with people who have been brought back from the nations. All of them will be living there securely. ⁹ You’ll arise suddenly, like a tornado, coming like a windstorm to cover the land, you and all your soldiers with you, along with many nations.”’”

²³ I will exalt myself and demonstrate my holiness, making myself known to many people, who will learn that I am the LORD.’”

²¹ ‘I’m going to display my glory among the people, and every nation will see the judgment that I administer by my own hand among them.

²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he is making known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days.“While you were in bed, the dream and the visions that came to your head were as follows:

²⁴ The Fourth Man in the FurnaceAstonished, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up in terror, and asked his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?”
In reply they told the king, “Yes, your majesty.”
²⁵ “Look!” he told them, “I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being.”
²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. ²⁷ The regional authorities, viceroys, governors, and royal advisors gazed at those men and saw that the fire had no effect on their bodies—not a hair on their head was singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not smell of fire.
²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and announced: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ So I decree that people from any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will be destroyed and their house reduced to rubble, because there is no other god who can save like this.”

³² You’re to be driven away from people. You’re to live with the wild animals of the field. You are to be made to eat grass like cattle, and seven years will pass you by until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires.’”
³³ The decree was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar immediately. He was driven away from people to eat grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.”
³⁴ The King’s Sanity Returns“When that period of time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed the Most High, praising and honoring the one who lives forever: For his sovereignty is eternal, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation. ³⁵ All who live on the earth are nothing compared to him. He does what he wishes with the heavenly armies and with those who live on earth. No one can hold back his power or say to him, ‘What did you do?’
³⁶ At that moment I recovered my sanity, and my honor and majesty returned to me, for the sake of my kingdom. My advisors and officials sought me out, my throne was restored, and even more greatness than I had before was added to me. ³⁷ In conclusion, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and give glory to the King of heaven: For everything he does is true, his ways are just, and he is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

¹⁵ But the men who had gone as a group to the king told him, “Remember, your majesty, that according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, any decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be repealed.”
¹⁶ Daniel in the Lions’ PitAt this point, the king ordered Daniel brought in and thrown into the lions’ pit. The king spoke to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve constantly, will deliver you himself.” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the opening to the pit, and the king affixed a seal to it with his personal signet ring and with the signet rings of his officials so that no one would interfere with Daniel’s situation. ¹⁸ Then the king retired to his palace to spend the night fasting. He enjoyed no entertainment, and he couldn’t sleep.
¹⁹ The king got up at dawn and went quickly to the lions’ pit. ²⁰ As he approached where Daniel was in the pit, he cried out to him in a voice filled with anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve constantly, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
²¹ Daniel replied to the king, “May your majesty live forever! ²² My God sent his angel and sealed the mouths of the lions. They have not harmed me, proving that I’m innocent before him. Also against you, your majesty, I’ve committed no offense.”
²³ The king was ecstatic, so he gave orders for Daniel to be released from the pit. Daniel was taken up from the pit, and no injury was found to have been inflicted on him, because he had believed in his God. ²⁴ Then the king gave orders to bring those men who had tried to have Daniel devoured, and they threw them, their children, and their wives into the lions’ pit. They had not reached the floor of the pit before the lions had overtaken them and crushed all their bones.
²⁵ Darius Exonerates DanielAfterward, King Darius wrote to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived throughout his realm:
“May great prosperity be yours!
²⁶ “I hereby decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, who endures forever. His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed, and his dominion continues forever. ²⁷ He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

¹⁴ Now I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.’

⁵ Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come in awe to the LORD and to his goodness in the last days.

¹ The Future Reign of God “But in the last days it will come about that the Temple Mount of the LORD will be firmly set as the leading mountain. It will be exalted above its surrounding hills, and people will stream toward it.

¹⁵ As I did when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you awesome things. ¹⁶ The nations will look on and will be ashamed in spite of all their power; they will cup their hands over their mouths, and their ears will be deaf. ¹⁷ They will lick the dust like a serpent; they will crawl from their strongholds like snakes. They will fear the LORD our God. They will be terrified because of you.

⁹ Therefore, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. ¹⁰ May your kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

¹ A Prophecy about the FutureNow the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,

¹ What People will be Like in the Last DaysYou must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come.

⁵ The Lord is at your right hand; he will utterly destroy kings in the time of his wrath. ⁶ He will execute judgment against the nations, filling graves with corpses. He will utterly destroy leaders far and wide.

¹ Israel’s DeliveranceAt that time, with his fierce, mighty, and powerful sword, the LORD will punish the gliding serpent Leviathan—the coiling serpent Leviathan—and he will kill the dragon that’s in the sea.

¹ Judgment of the Nations “Come near, you nations, to listen, and pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes out of it. ² For the LORD is angry against all the nations, and furious against all their armies. He has doomed them to destruction, and given them up to be slaughtered. ³ Their slain will be thrown out; and as for their dead bodies— their stench will ascend; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. ⁴ The valleys will be split, all the stars in the heavens will fall down, and the skies will be rolled up like a scroll. All their starry host will fade away like leaves withering on a vine, or fruit withering on a fig tree. ⁵ For my sword will be seen in the heavens. Look! It descends in judgment on Edom, on the people I have doomed to destruction. ⁶ The LORD has a sword bathed in blood; it’s covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, and with fat from the kidneys of rams.”
Judgment on Bozrah and Edom “For the LORD holds a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

¹ God’s Day of Vengeance “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, in garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in such splendor, marching in his great might? It is I, speaking in vindication, mighty to save. ² “Why is your clothing red, and your garments like those worn by the ones who tread in the winepress? ³ “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from my people no one was with me, I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and I stained all my clothing. ⁴ “For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come. ⁵ I looked, but there was no helper, I was appalled that there was no one to give support; so my own arm brought me victory, and as for my wrath, it supported me. ⁶ I trampled people in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and I poured out their lifeblood on the ground.”

¹⁵ “Take notice! The LORD will come with fire, and his chariot will be like a whirlwind, to pay back his anger—yes, his anger!— in fury, and his menacing rebukes in flames of fire. ¹⁶ For with fire and with his sword the LORD will proceed to judgment on all humanity, and those slain by the LORD will be many.”

¹⁰ The Invasion Strategy“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This is what’s going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: You’ll be thinking, making evil plans, ¹¹ and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country that is at rest, its people living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors.

⁴⁰ “‘At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. He’ll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through. ⁴¹ He’ll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials.
⁴² He’ll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt won’t escape. ⁴³ He’ll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites at his feet. ⁴⁴ However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he’ll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many. ⁴⁵ When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas facing the mountain of holy Glory, he’ll come to his end, and no one will help him.’”

⁹ The LORD’s Call to Judgment“Declare this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up your elite forces! Let all the soldiers draw near! Call them up! ¹⁰ Beat your plow blades into swords, and your pruning knives into spears! Let the frail say, “I am strong!” ¹¹ Hurry and come, all you gentiles! Gather yourselves together!’” “LORD, cause your mighty army to come down. ¹² “Let the nations be awakened and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; because I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. ¹³ Put in the sickle, because the harvest is ripe. Come and go down, because the winepress is full. The wine vats are overflowing, because their evil is great! ¹⁴ “Multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of Judgment! For the Day of the LORD is near in the Valley of Judgment!

² ‘Look, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. ³ It will come about at that time that I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight; so everyone who burdens themselves with it will be crushed, even though all of the nations of the earth gather themselves against it. ⁴ At that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will strike every horse with panic and every rider with insanity. I will keep my eyes on the house of Judah, but I will blind every horse of the invading armies. ⁵ The leaders of Judah will say to themselves, “Those who live in Jerusalem are my strength through the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, their God.” ⁶ ‘At that time, I will make the leaders of Judah like a brazier filled with blazing wood, or like a torch setting fire to harvested grain. They will devour all the invading armies, both on the right hand and on the left. As a result, Jerusalem will again be inhabited in its rightful place—as the real Jerusalem.’”
⁷ The LORD will deliver the tents of Judah first, so that neither the glory of the house of David nor the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem overshadows Judah. ⁸ At that time, the LORD will defend those who live in Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them at that time will be like David. The entire house of David will be like God—indeed, like the angel of the LORD in their midst!

¹ The LORD Comes to the Mount of Olives“Look! A day is coming for the LORD, when your plunder will be divided among you. ² I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem, to lay siege against it. The city will be captured, the houses will be ransacked, the women raped, and half of the city will go into exile, but the remaining people will not be cut off from the city. ³ Then the LORD will go out to battle against those nations, waging war as in a day of battle. ⁴ His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a very large valley, with half of the mountain moving toward the north and half toward the south. ⁵ You will run away through my mountain valley, because the valley of the mountains will extend as far as Azal. You will flee, as you fled from the earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah. And so the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones will be accompanying you.”
⁶ A Unique Day“At that time, the daylight will be neither bright nor overcast. ⁷ It will be a unique day, known only to the LORD—neither daytime nor nighttime—and it will come about at twilight there will be light! ⁸ At that time, flowing waters will run perennially from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half to the Mediterranean Sea. ⁹ The LORD will be king over all the earth at that time. There will be one LORD, and his name the only one. ¹⁰ The entire land will become like the Arabah plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem. It will be raised up and inhabited where it is, from the Gate of Benjamin to the First Gate, then to the Corner Gate, to the Hananel Tower, and to the king’s winepresses. ¹¹ People will live there, there will be no more destruction, and Jerusalem will be safely inhabited.”
¹² God’s Judgment on Jerusalem’s Attackers“This will be the plague with which the LORD inflicts all of the people who have attacked Jerusalem: he will cause their flesh to rot away, even while they’re standing on their feet. He will cause their eyes to rot away in their sockets, and their tongues to rot away in their mouths. ¹³ At that time, they will be stricken with a terrible panic from the LORD. Everyone will attack each other. ¹⁴ Judah, too, will fight at Jerusalem. Then the wealth of the surrounding nations will be gathered up: gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance. ¹⁵ A similar plague will also strike horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all of the animals in those camps.”
¹⁶ Discipline of the Nations“It will come about that all of the survivors of the nations who came against Jerusalem will come there from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, and to observe the Festival of Tents. ¹⁷ If anyone from the families of the earth will not come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, there will be no rain for them. ¹⁸ If the people of Egypt do not come to Jerusalem to take part, they will have no annual Nile overflow. A plague will come from the LORD to strike the nations who do not come to observe the Festival of Tents. ¹⁹ This will be the punishment for Egypt and all nations who do not come to observe the Festival of Tents.”
²⁰ Holiness to the LORD“At that time, there will be written on the bells of the horses: HOLINESS TO THE LORDand the pots in the Temple of the LORD will be like the bowls in front of the altar— ²¹ every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be consecrated to the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. Everyone who offers sacrifices will come, will take them, and will cook in them. Furthermore, at that time, there will no longer be a Canaanite in the Temple of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.”

²² For a fire breaks out in my anger— burning to the deepest part of the afterlife, consuming the earth and its produce and igniting the foundations of the mountains.

⁷ The world shook and trembled; the foundations of the mountains quaked, they shook because he was angry. ⁸ In his anger smoke poured out of his nostrils, and consuming fire from his mouth; coals were lit from it.

⁴⁶ How long, LORD, will you hide yourself? Forever? Will your anger continuously burn like fire?

⁵ “‘Because this is what the Lord GOD says: “Motivated by my burning zealousness, I have spoken against the rest of the surrounding nations, including Edom, who confiscated my land, taking possession of it with joyful enthusiasm and with animal-like malice, in order to plunder Israel’s pastures.’ ⁶ “Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and speak to its mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Pay attention! In my zealous anger I’m speaking because you’ve had to endure the mockery of the world’s nations.”’”

² The LORD’s Anger against AssyriaA jealous God, the LORD avenges. The LORD avenges; The Lord is an angry husband. The LORD takes vengeance on his enemies, reserving anger for his adversaries.

²⁹ For “our God is an all-consuming fire.”

²⁰ “The LORD won’t forgive such a person. Instead, the zealous anger of the LORD will blaze against him. All the curses that were written in this book will fall on him. Then the LORD will wipe out his memory from under heaven.

⁷ The world shook and trembled; the foundations of the mountains quaked, they shook because he was angry.

¹³ The LORD marches out like a warrior; he stirs up his rage like a man of war; he makes his anger heard; he shouts aloud; he declares his mastery over his enemies:

¹³ “Only then will I stop being angry—my burning in anger. Then they’ll know that I’ve spoken out in my arduous anger. Only then will my burning anger against them be exhausted.

²⁵ The Final Restoration of Israel“Therefore this is what the Lord GOD has to say: ‘I’m going to restore the resources of Jacob and show mercy to the entire house of Israel. I’ll be zealous for my own reputation and for my holiness.

¹⁸ Response to the People’s RepentanceThen the LORD will show great concern for his land, and will have compassion on his people.

¹⁶ “The LORD will roar from Zion, and shout from Jerusalem. The heavens and the earth will shake, but the LORD will be the refuge of his people, and the strength of the people of Israel.”

⁶ “For this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘Once more, in a little while, I will make the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land to shake. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and the One desired by all nations will come. Then I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

²¹ “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. Tell him, ‘I’m going to shake the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overthrow royal thrones. I will annihilate the strength of national governments. I will overthrow chariots along with those who drive them. Both horses and their riders will fall, each one by means of his comrade’s weapon.

¹⁴ The LORD’s Concern for ZionThen the angel who was speaking to me told me, “Announce this: ‘This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “I have a deep concern for Jerusalem, a great concern for Zion.

²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.”

¹³ At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁸ There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, and a powerful earthquake. There has never been such a powerful earthquake since people have been on the earth.

²⁰ Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be found.

²⁵ And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks and canals running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

²³ A Vision of ChaosI looked at the earth, and it was formless and void, at the heavens, and there was no light there. ²⁴ I looked at the mountains; they were quaking, and all the hills moved back and forth. ²⁵ I looked, and no people were there. All the birds of the sky had gone. ²⁶ I looked, and the fruitful land had become a desert. All its towns were broken down because of the LORD, because of his burning anger.

³ Therefore the land will mourn, and all who live there will languish, along with the wild animals of the field and the birds of the air. Even the fish in the sea will disappear.

⁴ He rebukes the sea, and it evaporates; he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, while the flowers of Lebanon languish. ⁵ Mountains shake because of him, and the hills melt. The earth goes into upheaval at his presence, as does the world with all of its inhabitants. ⁶ Who can stand before his fury? And who can endure his fierce anger? His displeasure pours out like fire, and rocks are broken to pieces because of him.

⁴ His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a very large valley, with half of the mountain moving toward the north and half toward the south. ⁵ You will run away through my mountain valley, because the valley of the mountains will extend as far as Azal. You will flee, as you fled from the earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah. And so the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones will be accompanying you.”

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not those of the world. Instead, they have the power of God to demolish fortresses. We tear down arguments

¹² The Vision of the Sixth Seal OpenedThen I saw the lamb open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned as red as blood. ¹³ The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind.

²² As the 300 trumpets were being sounded, the LORD turned the swords of the Midianite soldiers against one another throughout the entire army, and the army ran away as far as Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah. They got as far as the outskirts of Abel-meholah, near Tabbath.

²⁰ Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. Now the swords of all the Philistines were against each other, and there was very great confusion.

²³ The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them, and after they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they worked on destroying one another!

¹⁶ He declared a famine on the land; destroying the entire food supply.

¹⁷ “Or if I were to bring war to that land and say, ‘Hey, sword! Pass throughout the land so I can destroy both man and beasts in it,’

²² I will overthrow royal thrones. I will annihilate the strength of national governments. I will overthrow chariots along with those who drive them. Both horses and their riders will fall, each one by means of his comrade’s weapon.

²⁴ Then the LORD rained sulfur and fire out of the sky from the LORD on Sodom and Gomorrah,

²² Then the LORD told Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people, animals, and all the vegetation of the field throughout the land of Egypt. ²³ When Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. The LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.
²⁴ There was very heavy hail, and lightning was flashing continuously in the midst of the hail. There had not been anything like it in the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. ²⁵ The hail struck everything, including people and animals, outside in the fields throughout the land of Egypt. The hail struck all the vegetation of the fields and shattered all the trees in the orchards.

¹¹ While they were fleeing in front of Israel and descending the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD rained down huge hailstones on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died because of the hailstones than were killed by the Israelis in battle.

⁶ He rains on the wicked burning coals and sulfur; a scorching wind is their destiny.

¹² The brightness before him scattered the thick clouds, with hail stones and flashes of fire. ¹³ Then the LORD thundered in the heavens, and the Most High sounded aloud, calling for hail stones and flashes of fire. ¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered them; with many lightning bolts he frightened them.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God; the waters saw you and writhed. Indeed, the depths of the sea quaked. ¹⁷ The clouds poured rain; the skies rumbled. Indeed, your lightning bolts flashed. ¹⁸ Your thunderous sound was in a whirlwind; your lightning lights up the world; the earth becomes agitated and quakes.

¹⁷ And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floods will overflow your hiding place.

³⁰ God’s Judgment on AssyriaAnd the LORD will make heard—yes, he will make heard—his majestic voice, and make his arm seen descending in raging anger and in a flame of consuming fire, with a cloudburst, thunderstorm and hailstones. ³¹ Indeed, the Assyrians will be shattered at the LORD’s voice, when he strikes them with his scepter. ³² And every stroke of his punishing rod that the LORD brings down on them will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, as he fights against her in battle with a brandished arm.
³³ For the Fire Pit has long been prepared; truly it is for the king; it will indeed be made ready. And its pyre will be deep and wide, with abundant fire and wood. Like a stream of burning sulfur, the breath of the LORD will set it ablaze.

¹⁶ For with fire and with his sword the LORD will proceed to judgment on all humanity, and those slain by the LORD will be many.”

³¹ A tumult reaches to the ends of the earth because the LORD is bringing an indictment against the nations. He judges all flesh. He has given the wicked over to the sword,’ declares the LORD.

¹⁷ “I’ll send famine and wild beasts against you that will rob you of your children. Pestilence and bloodshed will devastate you when I’ll declare war on you. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

¹² God’s Judgment on Jerusalem’s Attackers“This will be the plague with which the LORD inflicts all of the people who have attacked Jerusalem: he will cause their flesh to rot away, even while they’re standing on their feet. He will cause their eyes to rot away in their sockets, and their tongues to rot away in their mouths. ¹³ At that time, they will be stricken with a terrible panic from the LORD. Everyone will attack each other. ¹⁴ Judah, too, will fight at Jerusalem. Then the wealth of the surrounding nations will be gathered up: gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance. ¹⁵ A similar plague will also strike horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all of the animals in those camps.”

²⁷ The rain fell, the floods came, the winds blew and battered that house, and it collapsed—and its collapse was total.”

²¹ Huge hailstones, each weighing about a talent, fell from the sky on people, who cursed God because the plague of hail was so terrible.

¹⁶ The LORD has made himself known, executing judgment. The wicked are ensnared by what their hands have made. Interlude

⁷ I’ll make my holiness and reputation known in the midst of my people Israel, and I won’t let my holiness be profaned anymore. The nations will learn that I, the LORD, am holy in the midst of Israel.

¹³ Everyone in the land will be involved in the burials, and this will serve as a reminder for them that I have glorified myself,” declares the Lord GOD.

²⁷ When I bring them back from the nations and gather them together from the lands that belong to their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them right in front of the eyes of the world,

³ They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the lamb: “Your deeds are both spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty. Your ways are just and true, King of the nations. ⁴ Lord, who won’t fear and praise your name? For you alone are holy, and all the nations will come and worship you because your judgments have been revealed.”

¹ The Vision of WorshipAfter these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God. ² His judgments are true and just. He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her immorality. He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.” ³ A second time they said, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.” ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!” ⁵ A voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all who serve and fear him, from the least important to the most important.”
⁶ The Vision of the Marriage Supper of the LambThen I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying, “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning.