Chapter 4 - An Examination of End Times (Continued)
Book of Hosea
The first verse of the book of Hosea tells us everything we know about the author's background and that isn't much, only that he was the son of Beeri (also unknown, not Beeri the Hittite, see Genesis 26:34). He was a prophet sent by God to warn Israel and Judah of coming judgment. He lived during seven kings of Israel, Jeroboam (Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash), Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea. Israel at that time was enjoying prosperity and had turned away from God. Hosea married a "wife of whoredom" (see Hosea 1:2) as an example of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Hosea's prophecies were primarily threefold: 1) a call to repentance; 2) a description of the scope of God's pending judgment; and 3) the promise of restoration. It is the restoration message that pertains to the end times.
Hosea records five ‘rounds’ of indictments, each ending with the promise of future restoration, some of which has been fulfilled as evidenced today with the existence of the nation of Israel. But much of these promises are still yet-future. The first round (see Hosea 1:2-2:1) promises that the people of Israel will be great in number, they “shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered.” (Hosea 1:10b) The prophecy also notes that the people of both Israel and Judah will reunite and appoint one leader, believed to be a reference to Jesus returning who then occupies David’s throne (see Hosea 1:10-2:1, see also 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 22:51, Micah 4:1-5; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 14:1-21).
The second round of indictments (see Hosea 2:2-3:5) uses Hosea’s unfaithful wife as an example of Israel’s unfaithfulness. God warns, “I will strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I will leave her to die of thirst, as in a dry and barren wilderness. And I will not love her children, for they were conceived in prostitution." (Hosea 2:3-4, NLT) In Hosea 2:6-13, God further describes His pending judgment of Israel. From verse 14 through to the fifth verse of chapter three, God once again, due to His love for the people, promises restoration. Verse four could describe Israel today, “For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods.” (Hosea 3:4) While verse five describes Israel in the future, “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:5)
Hosea chapter four introduces the third round of indictments against Israel (see Hosea 4:1-6:3). The charges against Israel begin with “There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.” (Hosea 4:1b-3) Note the observation that there is no knowledge of God in the land. In verse six, God tells Hosea that, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6a), the people of Israel had rejected God’s Word making them at that time ignorant of God and His Word. This should serve as a reminder that knowing the Word of God is important, we can’t follow Jesus unless we know what He desires from us. Christians should always be engaged in Bible study. The prophecy of this third indictment promises that even though Israel remains unrepentant, they will seek God’s face (see Hosea 5:15) and He will restore them like rain that waters and refreshes the earth (see Hosea 6:1-3).
The fourth round of indictments (see Hosea 6:4-11:11) begins with a scathing observation regarding their lack of love for Him, being like a morning cloud, nothing but vapor. He reminds them that “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) He wants them to love Him, not be a people who heartlessly follows protocol. The indictments against Israel continue, followed by a long list of punishments for their sins. Then in Hosea 11:8-11, God promises that they will come back into the land and return to their homes.
The fifth and final round (see Hosea 11:12-14:9) opens with the pronouncement that Ephraim and Israel have been deceitful and intentionally lied to Him, but recognizes that Judah remains faithful. However, that praise doesn’t last long as we read in Hosea 12:2 “The LORD has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds.” Both Israel and Judah together as the children of Jacob are indicted in this round. In the first verse of chapter 14, we find a passionate plea for their repentance, “Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God” (Hosea 14:1a). The remaining verses again outline God’s plan of the restoration of Israel and the permanent regathering of His people.
History has recorded that the punishments of Israel and Judah in the book of Hosea have indeed been executed, and the people of Israel have been regathered. But not all of these five sets of restoration promises have been fulfilled. Full restoration and ultimate fulfillment will occur when Jesus returns.