Reminder of HaShem’s Judgment
Prophet Jeremiah, zs'kl, was one of the four major Jewish prophets and he prophesied for thirty years. He lived in Jerusalem during the tragic period of the city's destruction by the Babylonians, which occurred over several stages. He prophesied an ineluctable, unavertible disaster.
In the book of Jeremiah, chapter seven, we read Prophet Jeremiah rebuking the Jews who pretended to know HaShem but denied Him by their actions:
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from HaShem"
"Stand at the gate of HaShem's house and there proclaim this message: "'Hear the word of HaShem. This is what HaShem the Almighty, God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave to your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,…and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, "We are safe" safe to do all these detestable things?'"
Prophet Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem that they would be punished harshly for their sins. He pleaded with the people to turn away from sin and to return to God, but to little avail. Most people of Judah did not heed the warning! Not even the Kohanim believed the words of Prophet Jeremiah. In fact, when the Kohanim heard what he said, they arrested him, whipped him, and put his feet in chains for the day. The Kohanim could not believe that HaShem would allow their enemies, the Babylonians, to enter Jerusalem and destroy the city and the temple that King Solomon, zs'kl, had built. They were angry with Prophet Jeremiah because he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.
Something important to consider is that although most Jews refused to listen to the prophet Jeremiah, this does not mean that they were not listening to anyone! They were listening to men who called themselves prophets--but they were false prophets! The Scriptures tell us about many men who made themselves out to be prophets of God, but in reality they were hypocrites and deceivers, because their messages did not come from God. Consequently, while Prophet Jeremiah was proclaiming God's judgment which was to befall Jerusalem, the false prophets were speaking to the people of Judah, saying, "No, no! The disaster 'Jeremiah' is predicting will not happen! Babylon cannot destroy Jerusalem! No one can destroy the temple of God! You will not see disaster! You will only have peace!!"
Prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews to beware of the words of those who preached falsehood. However, most of the people of Judah did not heed the warning of HaShem's prophet, Jeremiah. Instead they believed the words of the false prophets.
In the end, after it was too late, the king, the Kohanim, the people, and the false prophets found out who had proclaimed the true word of HaShem! They found out because everything that Prophet Jeremiah had announced concerning the destruction of Jerusalem came to pass. Hashem's Word always comes true. Always!
Prophet Jeremiah also prophesized that the Jews would be scattered from their homeland and persecuted. He also said HaShem would protect the Jews from total destruction and that they would one day return to their homeland and that the "second" Israel would be more impressive than the first.
Today, we can see with our own eyes that the Jews have indeed survived worldwide dispersion and that they have re-established Israel (in 1948), after 19 centuries of exile and persecutions throughout the world.
For those who believe, no further proof is needed. If, c'v, you have even an ounce of doubt of the authenticity of the above prophecies, a team of
archaeologists in Israel has unearthed the royal seal of an Old Testament prince who is said to have tossed the prophet Jeremiah down a well.
The stamped engraving, known as a "bulla," was discovered about 600 feet south of the Temple Mount. The letters on the seal are in ancient Hebrew.
The prophet's writings tell of the actions that Gedaliah, zs'kl, and his fellow princes took against him:
"Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire." (Jeremiah 38:6)
The prophet was rescued after an Ethiopian eunuch pleaded with the king on Jeremiah's behalf, saying, "he is to die of hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city." (38:9) The king then ordered 30 men to hoist up the prophet before the city fell to the Babylonians.
Consider this promise from HaShem, penned by the prophet Jeremiah:
HaShem says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)
In the Day of Judgment, all will finally know what is true and what is false. However, HaShem wants you to discern what is true and what is false NOW--because on Judgment Day it will do you no good to know the truth which you disdained during your lifetime on earth! On the Day of Judgment it will be too late to repent!
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In the book of Jeremiah, chapter seven, we read Prophet Jeremiah rebuking the Jews who pretended to know HaShem but denied Him by their actions:
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from HaShem"
"Stand at the gate of HaShem's house and there proclaim this message: "'Hear the word of HaShem. This is what HaShem the Almighty, God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave to your forefathers for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,…and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, "We are safe" safe to do all these detestable things?'"
Prophet Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem that they would be punished harshly for their sins. He pleaded with the people to turn away from sin and to return to God, but to little avail. Most people of Judah did not heed the warning! Not even the Kohanim believed the words of Prophet Jeremiah. In fact, when the Kohanim heard what he said, they arrested him, whipped him, and put his feet in chains for the day. The Kohanim could not believe that HaShem would allow their enemies, the Babylonians, to enter Jerusalem and destroy the city and the temple that King Solomon, zs'kl, had built. They were angry with Prophet Jeremiah because he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.
Something important to consider is that although most Jews refused to listen to the prophet Jeremiah, this does not mean that they were not listening to anyone! They were listening to men who called themselves prophets--but they were false prophets! The Scriptures tell us about many men who made themselves out to be prophets of God, but in reality they were hypocrites and deceivers, because their messages did not come from God. Consequently, while Prophet Jeremiah was proclaiming God's judgment which was to befall Jerusalem, the false prophets were speaking to the people of Judah, saying, "No, no! The disaster 'Jeremiah' is predicting will not happen! Babylon cannot destroy Jerusalem! No one can destroy the temple of God! You will not see disaster! You will only have peace!!"
Prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews to beware of the words of those who preached falsehood. However, most of the people of Judah did not heed the warning of HaShem's prophet, Jeremiah. Instead they believed the words of the false prophets.
In the end, after it was too late, the king, the Kohanim, the people, and the false prophets found out who had proclaimed the true word of HaShem! They found out because everything that Prophet Jeremiah had announced concerning the destruction of Jerusalem came to pass. Hashem's Word always comes true. Always!
Prophet Jeremiah also prophesized that the Jews would be scattered from their homeland and persecuted. He also said HaShem would protect the Jews from total destruction and that they would one day return to their homeland and that the "second" Israel would be more impressive than the first.
Today, we can see with our own eyes that the Jews have indeed survived worldwide dispersion and that they have re-established Israel (in 1948), after 19 centuries of exile and persecutions throughout the world.
For those who believe, no further proof is needed. If, c'v, you have even an ounce of doubt of the authenticity of the above prophecies, a team of
archaeologists in Israel has unearthed the royal seal of an Old Testament prince who is said to have tossed the prophet Jeremiah down a well.The stamped engraving, known as a "bulla," was discovered about 600 feet south of the Temple Mount. The letters on the seal are in ancient Hebrew.
The prophet's writings tell of the actions that Gedaliah, zs'kl, and his fellow princes took against him:
"Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire." (Jeremiah 38:6)
The prophet was rescued after an Ethiopian eunuch pleaded with the king on Jeremiah's behalf, saying, "he is to die of hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city." (38:9) The king then ordered 30 men to hoist up the prophet before the city fell to the Babylonians.
Consider this promise from HaShem, penned by the prophet Jeremiah:
HaShem says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)
In the Day of Judgment, all will finally know what is true and what is false. However, HaShem wants you to discern what is true and what is false NOW--because on Judgment Day it will do you no good to know the truth which you disdained during your lifetime on earth! On the Day of Judgment it will be too late to repent!
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