Jacob’s Final Warning
Now, brothers and sisters, I told you I would prophesy. Here it is: everything the prophet Zenos said about Israel—when he compared them to a cultivated olive tree—will absolutely come true. When God reaches out a second time to bring his people back, that will be the final time his servants go out with his power to care for and prune his vineyard. And after that, the end will come quickly. How blessed are those who have worked hard in his vineyard! And how cursed are those who get thrown out to face their own fate! The world will burn with fire.
How merciful our God is to us! He remembers Israel—roots and branches alike. All day long he reaches out to them. They’re stubborn and resistant, but everyone who doesn’t harden their heart will be saved in God’s kingdom.
A Plea to Turn Back
So please, brothers and sisters, I’m pleading with you: turn back to God. Come to him with everything you’ve got, and hold tight to him just as he holds tight to you. While his mercy is still extended to you in the daylight, don’t harden your heart. Today, if you hear his voice, don’t harden your heart. Why would you choose death? After being fed by God’s good word all day long, will you produce rotten fruit? Will you force him to cut you down and throw you into the fire?
Don’t Reject What You’ve Been Given
Will you reject these words? Will you reject what the prophets have said? Will you reject everything spoken about Christ—after so many have testified of him? Will you deny Christ’s good word, God’s power, and the gift of the Holy Spirit? Will you snuff out the Spirit and mock the great rescue plan laid out for you? Don’t you know that if you do these things, Christ’s power to redeem and resurrect will force you to stand before God—ashamed, crushed by guilt, facing the full weight of justice? Justice can’t be ignored. You’ll be thrown into that lake of fire and sulfur, where the flames never die out and the smoke rises forever and ever. That lake of fire and sulfur means endless suffering.
So please, brothers and sisters, turn back. Enter through the narrow gate and stay on the hard path until you reach eternal life. Be wise. What more can I say? Finally, I say goodbye until we meet before God’s judgment seat—which terrifies the wicked with fear and dread. Amen.
Influences
- 6:4 — Romans 10:21 (KJV)But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
- 6:5 — Galatians 4:12 (KJV)Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
- 6:6 — Hebrews 3:7, 8 (KJV)Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
- 6:6 — Hebrews 3:15 (KJV)While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
- 6:7 — Matthew 3:10 (KJV)And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- 6:8 — Acts 2:38 (KJV)Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- 6:9 — Acts 17:18 (KJV)Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
- 6:9 — Romans 8:39 (KJV)Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 6:10 — Revelation 19:20 (KJV)And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
- 6:10 — Matthew 3:12 (KJV)Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
- 6:10 — Revelation 14:11 (KJV)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.
- 6:10 — Revelation 21:8 (KJV)But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- 6:10 — Revelation 20:10 (KJV)And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
- 6:11 — Matthew 7:13, 14 (KJV)Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
- 6:11 — Matthew 7:13 (KJV)Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- 6:11 — Matthew 7:14 (KJV)Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.