B T1 1,2-. The Symbol. Basket of Summer Fruit. T2 -23. Signification.
689-687 B.C.
Amos 8)
1 Thus has the Lord GOD showed to me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.(Summer put for ripe fruits characterizing the summer. Ready for harvest. Cp. 2 Sam. 16:2. Jer. 40:12.)
2 And He said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit."
Then said the LORD to me, "The end is come upon My People of Israel (Cp Jer. 1:11,12. The end time prophecy is here); I will not again forgive them any more. (Summer fruit is ripe for the picking, if you are on the path of the "plumbline." This fruit is ready for harvest, meaning the last days are near. For the most part, the harvest means chastisement. Most will be deceived.)
3 And the songs of the temple shall become howlings in that day, says the Lord GOD: there shall be many corpses (see 6:9,10. Spiritually dead. See Ezek. 37. Physically they are alive.) in every place; they shall cast them forth (i.e. and burn them) with 'Hush!'. (See 6:10. The temple is the church. They cast forth spiritually dead bodies with a great "religious" hush.)
A3 U 4-6. Incrimination.
V 7-13. Threatening. Mourning.
U 14-. Incrimination.
V -14. Threatening. Fall.
4 Hear this, O you that devour a needy one, even to cause the poor of the land to cease to exist, (God is mad at these, those that take advantage for ill gotten gains.)
5 Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone (see Num. 10:10,&c.), that we may sell corn? and the sabbath (Ex. 20:10. Stopping their business for a day), that we may set forth wheat (put for the place where it is kept = open granaries, or sell grain), making the ephah small (measuring the goods), and the shekel great (weighing the money), and falsifying the balances by deceit? (Hidden dynasty of economy, overvalue the dollar. Inflation. The false teachers cheat the needy of truth. They are robbing the people of God's Word. Their chaff is causing God's children to fall away from Him.)
6 That we may buy impoverished ones for silver (teaching God's word falsely. See 2:6. Prov. 6:11), and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell [as good wheat] the refuse of the wheat?' (Through inflated debt and interest they hold the people in bondage and even sell them the moldy wheat. Who would buy moldy wheat? Have you ever been to a "Beth-el" that has an "Amaziah" in the pulpit putting forth truths that are all moldy from the traditions of men? This is where our spiritual "bread" comes from. Are you being fed? How will antichrist come into power? He will offer prosperity and peace. He will be able to buy many souls. Is your soul for sale?)
7 The LORD has sworn by the excellency of Jacob (i.e. by Himself, as in 6:8. Ref. Ex. 15:7. Cp. 4:2; 6:8. Hos. 5:5; 7:10), Surely I will never forget any of their works. (Its in the book. Rewards will be good for good, bad for bad. Rev. 14:13. God doesn't forget good works or evil works.)
8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwells therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood (referring to the overflowing of the Nile. Cp. Satan's flood of lies. You should be immune to that flood of lies, because you love God and have His seal in your mind); and it shall be cast out and subside, as by the flood of Egypt.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon (this determines the time of the fulfillment of this "threatening". See Isa. 13:10; 59:9,10. Jer. 15:9. Joel 2:1,2; 3:15. Mic. 3:6. Can this refer to the earthquake of 1:1?), and I will darken the earth in the clear day: (Day of darkness for those who don't care. It irritates our Father when He's not listened to. The children of light won't be in darkness.)
10 And I will turn your feasts (ref. Ex. 12:14; 23:15,16. Lev. 23. They turned it into parties. See Jer. 23:1) into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head (the outward symbols of mourning. Cp. v.3. Isa. 15:2. Ezek. 7:18); and I will make it as the mourning of an only son (false Christ), and the end thereof as a bitter day. (When those who see the True Messiah returning after having worshiped antichrist, it will be a sad day for them.)
11 Behold, the days come, say the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (The famine of the last days will not be for physical food or water. It will be a famine for truth. Cp. 1 Sam. 3:1. Ps. 74:9. Ezek. 7:26. I am sure Father becomes irritated with His children that don't pay attention to Him. He has written a letter to His children. Those that study His letter are equipped with the knowledge to deal with the events of the end time. The cause of chastisement is is a lack of hearing the words of the Lord. Who is at fault? The tradition of men and false teachers are causing God's children to spiritually starve and thirst. God's Word is filled with promises and blessings; however, if you never hear His Word, you can't claim the promises and blessings. Don't allow the chaff to become mixed with your wheat! See Jer. 23.)
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Can't find a church that teaches truth. See Zech 8:10)
13 In that day shall the fair virgins (see Gen. 24:43) and young men faint for thirst. (For hearing the truth.)
14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria (guilt, trespass. Put for the idol herself), and say, 'Your god (other than God, false Messiah), O Dan, lives;' and, The mode [of worship] of Beer-sheba lives;' (2 places where the 2 golden calves were set up [1 Kings 12:26-30])
even they (i.e. the 2 calves, or 'they that swear') shall fall, and never rise up again." (See v.5 again, then Mic. 3:5.)