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Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Six): Complacency and Laodiceanism
Article by John W. Ritenbaugh and Richard T. RitenbaughGod and the Prophet Amos, a small-town Jewish herdsman, faced certain rejection and persecution for his message, yet he boldly denounced the Israelites from beginning to end. Though prudent people feared to speak up due to retribution, Amos feared no one but God. When challenged with, "Who are you to come into Bethel and Samaria and preach against us?" he resolutely declared, "The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?" God had given him authority to censure their corruption and complacency, and the roaring lion of prophecy stirred within him, for repentance was still possible for Israel. As God reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets, He collaborated with Amos, inspiring him while allowing his personality to surface in his words, beginning with "The words of Amos," followed by "The LORD roars from Zion" and "Thus says the LORD." Amos addressed the nation's leadership, exposing their complacency and pride, which led the citizens to follow their self-indulgent, morally degenerate examples. He warned that their unwarranted pride produced a self-pleasing religion and overconfidence, causing them to resist and reject God. His teaching was effective, stirring reactions as he preached at the shrines, spreading word of doom for the nation. When accused by Amaziah, a high religious official at Bethel, of failing to teach God's way, Amos faced public persecution but stood firm, making a witness that enabled further prophecy. Tested by Amaziah with baseless accusations of disloyalty, selfish motives, and threats against his personal security, Amos revealed his true colors as a man of God. He responded, "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore fruit," asserting that God Himself commissioned him to prophesy to His people Israel. Refusing to be silenced, he delivered a prophetic denunciation against Amaziah, illustrating the fruits of complacency and pride, and emphasizing the urgency for God's people to seek Him and change their ways before the window of opportunity closes.
Amos (Part One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos gives a series of dire warnings, beginning with Israel's enemies, but concluding with a blistering indictment on Israel herself for her hypocrisy.
Amos (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughModern Israel cannot see the connection between its own faithlessness to the covenant and the violence of society that mirrors her spiritual condition.
Meet the Minor Prophets (Part Two)
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe twelve books of the Minor Prophets—including Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah—are often overlooked in favor of the Major Prophets and the four gospels.
Amos (Part Thirteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe people to whom Amos writes have the mistaken assumption that because they have made the covenant with God, they can bask in a kind of divine favoritism.
Amos (Part Twelve)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod will do what He must to bring Abraham's seed to repentance and salvation, including allowing crisis, hardship, humiliation, and calamity.
Amos 5 and the Feast
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Just because we keep God's feasts does not necessarily mean we are in sync with God's Law or intent. The Israelites kept the feasts in a carnal manner.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part One)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is an astounding prophecy, closely paralleling the conditions in the Western world today. Amos reveals how unrighteousness undermines society.
Amos (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is addressed to the ones who have made the new covenant with God. Having made the covenant, we must remember that privilege brings peril.
Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHow can we evaluate whether our Feast is 'good' or not? God's criticism of Israel's feasts in Amos 5 teaches what God wants us to learn from His feasts.
Prophets and Prophecy (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJohn the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the 'Elijah to come.' We must apply duality of prophecy carefully and cautiously rather than indiscriminately.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughIsrael had every opportunity that the Gentiles did not have. God gave the Israelites gifts to live a better way, but they completely failed to reflect Him.
Prophets and Prophecy (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAlthough by no means a wild man, John the Baptist experienced alienation from people, especially the entrenched religious and political leaders.
Prophecy and the Sixth-Century Axial Period
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughProphecy has many purposes, but it is never intended to open the future to mere curiosity. Its higher purpose is to give guidance to the heirs of salvation.
Take Heed and Remember the Less Fortunate
Sermon by Kim MyersWhen a nation loses its morals, people feel free to take advantage of one another, especially the poor. God hates seeing the poor oppressed.
Unity and Our Responsibilities
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughBecause of the justification that individual sins do not matter much, Israel's collective unity was destroyed. We cannot practice this self-excusing mindset.
All About Edom (Part Three): Obadiah
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Bible's most comprehensive prophecy about Edom appears in Obadiah. This "minor" prophet foretells the future for the descendants of Esau.
The Sixth Century Axial Period (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)A prophet is one who carries a message from another. A true prophet's message will derive from existing Scripture, even if he is breaking new, unexplored ground.
Don't Be Indifferent
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe frightful Trumpet Plagues are coming on the world because of the breaking of covenants on the part of people who should have known better.
The Sixth Century Axial Period (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Prophets, even though they may bring new messages, stay consistent with existing Scripture and doctrine as they speak on behalf of God.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Two)
Article by John W. Ritenbaugh and Richard T. RitenbaughBecause of God's intimate relationship by covenant with Israel and His church, His people have a greater responsibility to follow His instructions.