“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Hosea was one of the Old Testament Prophets of God and was given a tough assignment. He obeyed God’s direction, and today, we have a “picture” of God’s faithfulness even when we are unfaithful to Him.

Hosea was directed by God to marry “a wife of whoredoms,” which would cause much heartbreak. “The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2).

Hosea lived during the same time as Isaiah, so God was speaking through many men at this time. Hosea’s life was to be a “picture” of the relationship between Israel and God. God ordained marriage and uses it as a picture of His love for Israel and Christ’s love for His Bride, so it seems odd that God would tell Hosea to marry an adulteress. This should never be taken as the standard of marriage; infidelity is serious. This directive was to graphically show the faithfulness of God, as represented by Hosea, and the unfaithfulness of Israel, represented by Gomer.

Unfaithfulness to God by worshipping pagan idols is called adultery. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).

At this time in history, David’s kingdom of Israel had been divided into the Northern Kingdom called Israel and the Southern Kingdom called Judah. Israel was very unfaithful to God by embracing wicked pagan worship and turning away from God. Idolatry is equal to whoredom, and so Gomer was representative of the idol worship found in the Northern Kingdom. Although Israel had rejected God, He was still faithful to them and tried to bring them back into a faithful relationship. Idolatry is an abomination to God. Christians need to be sure to worship and submit to Him and not put anything ahead of our love for Him.

God holds marriage in high esteem, but today it’s turned into a thing of evil or skipped altogether. It’s only to be between one man and one woman and is the only acceptable place for sexual activity. The Apostle Paul discusses marriage and the role of the wife and the husband. Wives have a responsibility to the marriage.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:22-24).

Gomer had trouble submitting to her own husband, and so Christians, as the Bride of Christ, have trouble submitting to our Lord. Woman’s lib and the “woke” movement are tools of Satan to destroy God’s ordained plan. Gomer was a prostitute and indulged in whoredom. She is a “picture” of the nation of Israel over the years. Sometimes they have submitted to God, but other times they indulge in adultery through idolatry and not submitting to God. A husband has his own place in God’s plan. He is to love his wife as Christ loves His church.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For not man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:25-29).

I’m very blessed to have been married to a Godly man and know how easy it is to submit to his love.

When the division of the kingdoms happened, Jeroboam became king over the Northern Kingdom, and like America today, it was prosperous but very corrupt. Evil and wickedness were legalized, while those who feared God and worshipped Him were criminalized. When the leader of a nation is evil, the whole nation follows suit. The Levites, who were faithful to God, left Israel and fled to the Southern Kingdom ruled by Rehoboam, who was King Solomon’s son.

“And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD: and he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he made” (2 Chronicles 11:13-15).

The “high places” were places where evil acts were done and worship of idols was at its worst. Instead of the God-ordained Levitical priesthood, Jeroboam appointed non-Levitical priests who led the adulterous worship. It was Satanic. Today we have the ACLU, which champions the “rights” of human sacrifice, called abortion, and promotes the protection of deviant sexual practices while trying to silence Christians. The similarities between Hosea’s time and America today are obvious.

After the Levites left, other people who wanted no part of the wickedness also left. “And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 11:16). There were many people who were faithful to God Almighty. Today we need to follow their example and take no part in the evil that’s gripping the United States and, indeed, the entire world.

Christians need to shun the ways of the world and put God first. Christians will soon be taken away from the evil when God calls us Home in the Rapture. Because those who refused to be a part of the evil of the Northern Kingdom left, the Southern Kingdom was strengthened. Christians today can strengthen our own nation by refusing to be a part of the wickedness of spiritual prostitution, returning to the pure worship of God, and submitting to His ways.

Hosea wasn’t a part of the idolatry of the Northern Kingdom, but Gomer was. Hosea was a faithful husband, just as God is faithful to Israel in spite of their rejection of Him. God was very clear in speaking of the evils of Israel. “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1).

That sounds much like America today. Our schools aren’t required to teach truth, and children aren’t taught God’s truth at home. A little boy may be encouraged to be a little girl, or a little girl encouraged to be little boy. The deception is ungodly. Also accepted and not discouraged are children who believe they are animals, and schools provide litter boxes for them. The truth that God is the Creator is replaced with the lie of evolution. When knowledge of God is denied, truth and mercy soon disappear. It’s happening today, but Christians live in denial and keep silent. Too often, like Gomer, Christians even join in the evil. We’re more afraid of being accused of being judgmental than we care about God’s truth and honoring Him.

It isn’t being judgmental when standing upon God’s truth. We aren’t under the Mosaic Law, but that Law is the heart of God. The 10 Commandments are a hint of how God views morality. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

Jesus spoke plainly when He talked about the commandments and said that God’s truth goes deeper than our actions and is shown by our very thoughts. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Have you ever been angry? I have. Jesus also said looking at another person lustfully is the same as adultery. Our thoughts are important, and they will guide our actions. Today, idol worship and lust have led to all kinds of debauchery. Idols? In America? Yes, many. Hollywood stars are touted as sex symbols and lusted after. There are also more subtle forms of idol worship, such as preferring to attend a sports event rather than assembling with Christian friends. Anything you place higher in your priority than God is idolatry… adultery to God. Emulating the lifestyles of most of the rich and famous, including government leaders, is as evil as the pagan worship of the Northern Kingdom.

The world is being groomed to accept the Mark of the Beast, which will make you beyond salvation. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).

The one-world order of religion, economy, and government is coming about quickly, and it’s all addressed in the Book of Revelation. Study that book and be aware of the times in which we live. Be sure that any government edict you follow isn’t opposed to God’s word. Ignorance of Biblical truth and spiritual whoredom is making it easy for the Anti-Christ to step in as the evil world leader, and the Mark of the Beast is being prepared.

Digital money? Christians won’t be on earth to see these things fully implemented; we are seeing the beginnings. We must stand true to God today. We must not be like Gomer. It’s important that we share God’s truth with the adulterous idol worshippers of the world because if they continue to reject God, their eternity will be horrific. God is always faithful, as pictured by Hosea, and has given us Scripture to guide us. If you choose not to study Scripture, you are missing important information about the times in which we live.

One of the problems of today is that many people who claim to be Christians follow the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. When King Solomon built the Temple and dedicated it, there was much joy among the people, and God was worshipped. God was pleased but gave a warning that we need to heed today. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). That verse is directed toward the Jewish nation prior to the division. Still, all who claim to be of God need to pay attention to this warning.

Do you call yourself a Christian? That means you are called by God’s name, and you need to turn from anything you do that doesn’t agree with God’s commands. We all need to submit to God and stop being unfaithful to Him. We mustn’t be like Gomer.

God has never stopped loving His chosen people, and more prophecy is being fulfilled each day. He has reestablished Israel (both kingdoms), and they are back in their land. Jerusalem is their city, and no part of it belongs to heathens. There is much fighting against Israel, just as God said there would be, but they won’t be ousted from their land again. The terrorist attacks will eventually be stopped, and all of Israel’s enemies will be defeated. There are still many prophecies yet to be fulfilled, and God will always be faithful to Israel.

The Rapture of Christians is a prophetic event that will happen soon. For nearly 2,000 years, God has been focusing His attention on Christians. We have not replaced Israel, as some false teachers would have us believe. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27).

That is a wonderful promise, but there will be a very difficult time, sometimes called the Time of Jacob’s Trouble and also called the Tribulation. Christians will be in Heaven during those final seven years, and that’s a prophetic word from God. As we watch world events, it’s easy to see that prophecy is being fulfilled quickly, and all things are happening just as God foretold and in His timing. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The story of Hosea and Gomer is a beautiful example of God’s love. I have only scratched the surface, but the Book of Hosea contains many prophecies. God’s love, represented by Hosea, is faithful even though Gomer, Israel, has rejected His love. Christians need to study, truly study, all of the prophetic books (that would be Genesis through Revelation) to understand what our future is. Israel has one destiny, and Christians have another.

Idolatry does not honor God, and we are all guilty of putting pride of self above God. God won’t tolerate pride and vanity because they come from Satan. “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it” (Isaiah 5:18-19).

When you see pride paraded publicly, you can be sure God is not being honored. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter?” (Isaiah 5:20). God’s love is perfect and eternal, but if we choose to reject Him and call evil good, then we reap the result of our adultery, He will allow us our free choice of spending eternity separated from Him. Remember that God gave His Son to be the final sacrifice for our salvation. If you choose not to accept His death, burial, and resurrection for your salvation, then you choose to spend eternity separated from Him.

God is faithful, like Hosea, even when we are steeped in idolatry and reject Him. He has not given up on Israel, just as Hosea never turned away from Gomer. Learn the lessons to be found in Hosea, and be faithful to God. Don’t be like Gomer by chasing after idolatry. Be faithful to God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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What a joy it is to know that Jesus paid the price to redeem us from eternal death. Do you feel that joy? Many things can cause us to forget that joy. One thing that always seems to take joy away is confusion. There are so many “teachers” who have contradicting opinions, and they all speak with confidence and conviction. A new Christian, or one who hasn’t studied Scripture, can become confused as to whether they are saved or not. All conflicting teachings cannot be correct, so how do you know who to listen to?

I’ve been as confused as anybody, but through the years, I’ve learned to run everything through Scripture. God never changes, and His word always is truth. Confusion over what God’s word means isn’t a new problem but has been around for thousands of years.

The Apostle Paul did more to spread the Good News than anybody in history, and from various letters, we know that there were false teachers who would confuse people with new ideas. The gnostic teachers were very busy trying to corrupt the truth. Today we hear of people pushing New Age, meditation, yoga, purpose-driven, contemplative prayer, “Christian Meditation,” and more. Also, there were Judaizers who tried to draw Christians into thinking they were still beholding to the Law of Moses. Today, it’s called the “Hebrew Roots” movement. Some groups today say you cannot eat certain foods or be out after sundown on Friday night. It’s very important to understand the Law and the Prophets, but Christ died to provide us with the only way to find salvation. That way is to be born again.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

There’s even confusion over that verse. Some would have us believe that proof of your faith is speaking in tongues or suddenly becoming perfect. It’s not that complicated but means to admit you’re a sinner and humbly ask Jesus to forgive your sins.

The best way to know what to believe is to go to the source… Scripture. At various times in my life, I’ve been confronted with people who have very strong opinions of what God’s word says. I can’t think of one congregation I’ve attended that didn’t have unbiblical quirks. For instance, a very dear friend once told me that “God doesn’t even know you exist until you are baptized.” Not only did he equate baptism with salvation, but the baptism was only valid if done in his particular denomination. That was a very odd idea to me, so I went to Scripture and found this opinion to be false.

The entire Old Testament is account after account of people who lived prior to Christ being crucified and raised from the dead and never had a Christian baptism. People like Adam, for instance, and Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to name just a few. The pastor from that congregation wouldn’t teach from the Old Testament, so it’s no wonder there was confusion.

God certainly knew these men. Read about Jeremiah who was a young man who God called to be a prophet. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God certainly knew Jeremiah long before Christ gave His life on the cross. That was enough to convince me that baptism is something that is very important as a public declaration of a personal decision. King David was certainly known to God, as were all of the Old Testament heroes of the faith. Take a look at Hebrews chapter 11, and you’ll see accounts of people who lived prior to the cross and heard God’s voice. They responded and accomplished great things because of their faith.

How many Christians today rest contentedly on the fact that they were baptized so that’s good enough for salvation? Were you a baby when you were baptized? At that time, did you realize you were a sinner and make a confession of faith? Faith is a personal choice, and a baby cannot choose to accept Christ. A baby has no idea about sin, nor can they make a profession of faith.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

If you haven’t made your own decision or confession of faith but were baptized as an infant, then you need to study God’s word and truly understand that you are a sinner and need Jesus to forgive you. Baptism doesn’t bring salvation; only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will save you.

The final command to His disciples was to spread the Good News. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). It’s unbelief that condemns a person, not the lack of being baptized. That being said, baptism is very important. It’s a public declaration of an inward change and is an act of obedience.

Today, some well-meaning Christians would have us believe that we have to act a certain way or do certain things in order to be saved. The Apostle Paul was very to the point in his letters, which were all inspired by the Holy Spirit. He wrote to the Congregation in Ephesus to assure them, and us, that there is nothing that we can do to earn our salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If there had been a way to salvation other than through the shed blood of Christ on the cross, Jesus wouldn’t have had to suffer and die. There is no other way than by faith. You aren’t saved by “going to church,” although fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ will help keep you walking along the right path. Paul also made it clear, when writing to the believers in Rome, that it made no difference what a person’s ethnic background is, that faith is the key.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).

Salvation is offered to everyone, and it’s up to each of us to share the Gospel with the people around us. Somehow, we’ve come to the false thinking that only pastors and missionaries are competent to share the Gospel with others. If your family and friends don’t hear the Gospel, they will never come to salvation. You need to share your faith.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15).

When we make a profession of faith, and it’s earnest, there should be a change of heart. Your neighbors and friends will see the new person you’ve become, and you’ll have the opportunity to share your faith. Don’t keep silent.

Once we come to realize how much we need Jesus and have placed our faith in Him, our faith should be evident in our changed life. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Remember that whatever you do and whatever you think, you will involve Christ. It isn’t easy to put sinful lifestyles aside. And the sin of gossiping and being judgmental or telling “white lies” are all sins to be overcome with Jesus’ help. There are many sins that are generally accepted by the world but aren’t acceptable in a Christian’s life. The Holy Spirit is sealed within us at the moment of true faith, and if we allow Him to work in us, we will bear His fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:22-24).

Christ gave everything for our salvation, and the only way to thank Him is to live our life to honor Him.

Salvation has many benefits. The first is the fact that we will live eternally with Jesus. The alternative is eternal death in the lake of fire. You see, your soul will live eternally, but we have a choice of living with Jesus or eternally dying. It only takes true faith to be assured of eternal life with Jesus. Admit that you’re a sinner. Too often, pride stops us from recognizing our sins. We are all sinners, but those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ are forgiven sinners. We will continue to struggle against sin, but the important thing is to keep your heart, mind, and spirit turned to Jesus.

Study your Bible and let the Holy Spirit show you God’s ways. Don’t try to twist Scripture to conform God to you, but honestly study and conform your life to God. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Don’t just sit back and let someone tell you what Scripture says. Study for yourself. Instead of watching television and filling your mind with the ways of the world, pick up your Bible and study. One thing you can be assured of is that we are all a heartbeat away from death. No matter how young or how old you are, death could come at any time. Nobody is promised tomorrow. If death doesn’t take you, then Christians have the promise of the Rapture.

There are many ill-informed people who deny the truth that time is getting short. Time will end just as Bible Prophecy discloses. There will be a final seven-year period of time filled with horrendous judgment, but Christians won’t face those final years. All Christians will be taken Home prior to that time. Many people don’t study Scripture, so they don’t have the joy of knowing that Jesus will call us all Home. So many signs are pointing to the fact that it will happen soon. I hope that it happens before you finish reading this commentary. God didn’t give us an exact date, but He did give many signs.

The world is swiftly moving to a one-world economic system, and that is a sign of the end. As Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine, we know it’s just a stepping stone to the Middle East. Russia is already aligning with Iran against Israel. As I see reports of battles breaking out in Syria, specifically near Damascus, I remember that Damascus will be destroyed.

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 17:1-3).

It will happen; God said so. As you watch these things and many others happening, remember that the final seven years are on the near horizon, and the Rapture is even closer. You need to be sure that your salvation is secure. The only way to do that is to profess your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism won’t save you, nor will any other work.

You can profess your faith now, today. Salvation is too important to think that you will always have time to repent. Nobody is promised tomorrow.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.