Fire of God: Prophecy of Amos
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, Nov. 2024

Now Amos, who was a shepherd used of God as a prophet, brought God’s judgement through prophecy to the nations.
The absolutely destructive power of God’s fire is clearly evident and there emerges a pattern or technological insight into the way in which our mighty God destroys using fire.

Amos was a sheepbreeder from Tekoa (Tekoa: a wilderness area where king Jehoshaphat of Judah defeated the people of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir)

His name was very prophetic; “Burden Bearer” for he truly was a bearer of great burdens for the Lord. His words were released into the earth two years before a natural disaster in Israel which God used to judge the nation. (Amos 1:1, Zechariah 14:5)

Introduction
The name Amos means ‘burden’ or ‘burden-bearer’ and he was from the town Tekoa plus minus 6 miles South of Bethlehem. It is interesting to note that he belonged to the (poor home) shepherds there and was not trained in any school of the prophets and yet without dedicating himself to the calling of a prophet he was called by God to prophesy concerning Israel. During the reign of Uzziah King of Judah and Jeroboam, King of Israel plus minus 786 – 746 BC. At the age of 47 years. The amazing thing about Amos is that his ministry lasted only a few years. Afterwards he went back to farming. The imagery of Shepherds and sheep abound in this book.

Place
Prophecies were directed to Judah and Israel at a time when the two Kingdoms were at the summit of their prosperity, inducing idleness, luxury, oppression of the poor and idolatry very prevalent.

Purpose
To warn them about judgement and final captivity.
Judgements upon surrounding nations of Damascus, Philistia, Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab (Chapter 1:1-3) upon Judah (Chapter 2:4-5) and Israel herself (Chapter 2:6-16).
Divine indictment of the whole family of Jacob (Chapter 3:1-10 and three denunciatory sermons (Chapter 3:1-6, 14) and five symbolic visions (Chapter 7:1-10).

Future Kingdom blessings of restored Israel (Chapter 9:11-15) embracing the Messiah’s return and the establishment of the earthly messianic reign (Chapter 9:11-12) millennial prosperity (Chapter 9:13) and a restored Jewish nation (Chapter 9:14-15).
This has all been fulfilled, except the earthly reign of Christ. Israel was restored after Pentecost and then it spread to the world.
Similarly, in the book of Amos God uses fire to punish the nations.

To understand the way in which this fire works, we need to examine how it was applied to each nation individually. Amos saw these things concerning his time and God is showing His servants the prophets
today from the scriptures. For He says:
Amos 3:7
“Surely the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets. ”

Fire: H784 ‘êsh ( Humour: South African equivalent – ‘Eish!’ when someone tells you something that hits hard, your reaction could be: ‘Eish!’)
BDB Definition:
1) fire 1a) fire, flames
1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) A theophany is a visible manifestation of a deity, or a time when someone believes they have seen God. The word comes from the Greek words theos, meaning “god”, and phainein, meaning “to show or to appear”
1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)
1d) altar-fire
1e) God’s anger (figuratively)

Palaces
H759 Strong’s Concordance ‘armôn’ pronounced: ‘ar-mone’
From an unused root (meaning to be elevated); a citadel (from its height): – castle, palace. Compare

2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Co 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Let us understand that God is cleansing His own Church and destroying principalities that is coming against it today – each nation represented being a principality or power that is coming against God’s remnant, His called-out ones the church:

City/Nation Reason for Fire and Judgment
Damascus

Attacks
War against God’s people – raids, ‘threshing Gilead”
God said that for three transgressions and for four He would not turn away the punishment of Damascus. Because they threshed Gilead with implements of iron. God stated the reason for judgement for all His ways are just. As for the execution of the Word, He sends a fire to devour the palaces and break the gate bar [A prominent part of any stronghold] of Damascus.
the most ancient of Oriental cities; the capital of Syria ( Isaiah 7:8 ; 17:3 ); situated about 133 miles to the north of Jerusalem.

Gaza

Captivity
One of the five chief towns of Philistia and probably the oldest. (Easton’s BD)
Represent Philistines: Deported entire population to Edom, founded by Esau
“The plain around is fertile and wells abound”,
Gen_10:19). Joshua reached it in his conquests but did not take it (Jos_10:41; Jos_11:22). Judah captured it (Jdg_1:18) but did not hold it long, for we find it in the hands of the Philistines in the days of Samson, whose exploits have rendered it noteworthy (Jos_16:1-3, 11, 30).
Gaza, with the other chief towns, sent a trespass offering to Yahweh when the ark was returned (1Sa_6:17)
Later captured by Egyptians. Alexander the Great. Romans, Saladin, Turks.
Tyre

Betrayal and focus on commerce
Represents Phoenicia – deporting Israel, betraying brotherhood covenant
Tyre continued a commercial center, and Jerome says that it was the noblest and most beautiful of the Phoenician cities and an emporium of commerce for almost the whole world (Commentary on Ezekiel)

Edom

Family strife and unnecessary civil war pursued their Israelite brothers with the sword.
The Edomites were kinsmen to the Israelites since they both were descended from Isaac by his twin sons—Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel).
Num 20:20
Edom transgressed four times and was punished for pursuing his brother with the sword, casting off all pity. Edom was the home of Esau, the brother of Jacob who became Israel.
(Hayden R.E., Professor of Old Testament Oral Roberts University, Spirit Filled Life Bible, Book Introductions, Outlines, and Notes, commentary on the Book of Amos 1:6, 11.)
God thus sent a fire on Teman, the most important city in southern Edom which devoured the palaces of Bozrah, the most prominent city in the north; effectively wiping out the whole region.

Ammon

Cruel annexation
Warning Against Church greed and exclusivity

Jordan – The LORD pronounces judgment on the inhabitants of Ammon because they ripped open pregnant women in Gilead to enlarge their territory.
2 Kings 15:16
Ammon’s four transgressions were the most gruesome. They ripped open the women with child in Gilead so that they might enlarge their territory. This is what Church organisations do when they kill infant ministries within by suppressing the Spirit of God in them. I know of organisations which prefer to build one centre to show how much people they have while the smaller churches suffer. The root and motive is greed. Large churches with thousands of members are totally Scriptural; the church in Jerusalem, Antioch, but they were involved in the purpose of God to extend the Kingdom by planting other churches. When the church in Jerusalem became exclusive, God allowed them to be persecuted to such an extent, that believers were spread across the face of the earth in order to save all nations. Let this be a warning to all who are called of God, not to think of enlarging our territory but His. Every time we receive an intake of souls our mindset should be God’s. More for You Father! Our relationship with our Father will help us as ministers to see things from His Perspective. The apostolic ministry in the church today is giving tremendous insight to this Perspective – apostle dr. Andre Pelser has been teaching a series at Life of Christ Bible Institute in Cape Town, RSA, covering this subject of “Apostolic Perspective.” in depth. Any true apostle will help to enlarge the saint’s vision – apostles have been given the Grace to impart God’s perspective. The warning is continued in this decree of judgement:
“God will send a fire on the wall of Ammon … which will destroy its palaces…”
Further, in Amos 1:15 …
“Their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together says the Lord.”

Moab

Defilement and desecration of legacy

Raise up Kings and Priests like Josiah to Reform District East of the Dead Sea
The Moabites were kinsmen to the Israelites because they traced their ancestry to the older daughter of Lot (Genesis 19:37). They were a pagan people who worshiped a god named Chemosh (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7).
The actions of the Moabites show that they had no respect for human dignity of the Edomites. They humiliated Edom by disrespecting their dead. They not only defiled the graves of the king of Edom but also burned it to lime (or powder), rather than leaving the bones to have a proper burial. The LORD would not fail to punish those who disrespect a dead person’s body.
Moab did fall to the Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser in the eight century BC and to the Babylonians in the sixth century BC.

Chemosh was the god of the Moabites (Numbers 21:29; Jeremiah 48:7, 13, 46). Scripture calls him “the abomination of Moab” (1 Kings 11:7). Unfortunately, Chemosh-worship was introduced into Israelite culture by King Solomon, who had wives from other cultures who turned his heart to other gods (1 Kings 11:4–7). Chemosh was one of those gods worshiped by Solomon’s wives. The cult of Chemosh was eventually destroyed in Judah by King Josiah (2 Kings 23).
Chemosh also features in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. In a passage about false gods, Milton refers to Chemosh as a god whom the Israelites worshiped with “lustful orgies” and “wanton rites” and calls Chemosh “th’ obscene dread of Moab’s sons” (Book 1, line 406). Milton also mentions King Josiah, who “drove them thence to Hell” by abolishing the practice of Chemosh-worship in Israel.
https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Chemosh.html

Judah

Breach of covenant and departure of peace Ancient covenant not kept: peace departs: Therefore, the LORD said that He would send fire upon Judah, which would consume the citadels (fortresses) of Jerusalem. The term Jerusalem means “possession of peace.”
During the roughly 400 year intertestamental period, between the writing of the last book of the Old Testament and the advent of Jesus, the Seleucid king Antiochus IV (175-163 BC) destroyed the temple and executed many Jews. A few years later Judas the Maccabee—the leader of the Maccabean revolt (167-134 BC) against the Seleucid empire—liberated Jerusalem, and the Jews were able to restore the temple. In 63 BC, the Romans besieged and took the city, making Judah part of the Roman empire. In 40 BC, Caesar Augustus made Herod the Great king over Judah. In 20 BC, Herod began renovating the Jewish temple that had been built in the sixth century. That renovation project was completed in AD 66. The Romans subsequently destroyed the temple in AD 70, as a part of their crushing of Jewish zealots during the Jewish Wars (67-73 AD). This persecution resulted in a massive dispersion of the Jews throughout the world.
Nevertheless, the Bible predicts that one day the Jews will return to their homeland. The Jerusalem temple, which was destroyed by the Romans, will be rebuilt. In those days and at that time, the LORD “will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem” (Joel 3:1).

Israel

Prosperity used for corruption versus covenant with God The Israelite condition during the time of Amos is worth noting here. In Amos’s days, that is, under the leadership of King Jeroboam II (793-753), Israel enjoyed a period of political stability and economic prosperity. This was because the Assyrian king Adad-nirari III removed Syria as a political threat to Israel. Then Assyria quickly lost its power shortly afterward, while Egypt was declining. Thus, Israel enjoyed a period of diminished threat from neighboring kingdoms. Israel used this period of prosperity to commit great sins against the LORD their God. They forgot the reality that it was the LORD, and following His righteous ways, that had allowed them to become prosperous.
Lust and corruption were being judged by the Lord.
The poor were being trampled underfoot. The rich were exacting usury and taking the garments of the poor to comfort themselves while committing sin. Sick situation. Time for change!
Jesus was the answer – as always!

Damascus: one of the oldest cities of the world.

Gen 25:20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
Arameans – family of Abraham, mostly hostile to Hebrews. David subdued them. (ISBE)

It is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with Abraham’s victory over the confederate kings under Chedorlaomer ( Genesis 14:15 ). It was the native place of Abraham’s steward ( 15:2 ). It is not again noticed till the time of David, when “the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer” (q.v.), 2 Samuel 8:5 ; 1 Chronicles 18:5 . In the reign of Solomon, Rezon became leader of a band who revolted from Hadadezer ( 1 Kings 11:23 ), and betaking themselves to Damascus, settled there and made their leader king. There was a long war, with varying success, between the Israelites and Syrians, who at a later period became allies of Israel against Judah ( 2 Kings 15:37 ).
The Syrians were at length subdued by the Assyrians, the city of Damascus was taken and destroyed, and the inhabitants carried captive into Assyria ( 2 Kings 16:7-9 ; Compare Isaiah 7:8 ). In this, prophecy was fulfilled ( Isaiah 17:1 ; Amos 1:4 ; Jeremiah 49:24 ). The kingdom of Syria remained a province of Assyria till the capture of Nineveh by the Medes (B.C. 625), when it fell under the conquerors. After passing through various vicissitudes, Syria was invaded by the Romans (B.C. 64), and Damascus became the seat of the government of the province. In A.D. 37 Aretas, the king of Arabia, became master of Damascus, having driven back Herod Antipas.
This city is memorable as the scene of Saul’s conversion ( Acts 9:1-25 ). The street called “Straight,” in which Judas lived, in whose house Saul was found by Ananias, is known by the name Sultany, or “Queen’s Street.” It is the principal street of the city. Paul visited Damascus again on his return from Arabia ( Galatians 1:16 Galatians 1:17 ). Christianity was planted here as a centre ( Acts 9:20 ), from which it spread to the surrounding regions.
In A.D. 634 Damascus was conquered by the growing Mohammedan power. In A.D. 1516 it fell under the dominion of the Turks, its present rulers. It is now the largest city in Asiatic Turkey. Christianity has again found a firm footing within its walls. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary.)

 
Gaza – Additional notes:
Gaza was one of the cities that Joshua failed to capture in his lifetime (Joshua 10:41 [with Rashi], 11:22, 13:1-3), leaving that task to the tribe of Judah (Judges 1:1-2). Although our Masoretic text says that Judah conquered Gaza (Judges 1:18), both the Septuagint (ibid.) and Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews 5:2:4) say otherwise. Gaza certainly never developed any significant Israelite presence during the biblical period, and even if it was captured by Judah, it would almost immediately revert to a Philistine territory (cf. Judges 6:4).³
Samson slept with a prostitute in Gaza as the Gazans (unsuccessfully) plotted his assassination (Judges 16:1-3) and, in one of the most tragic parallels to our current situation, once the Philistines discovered the source of Samson’s strength (Judges 16:16-17), they took him as a captive into Gaza (Judges 16:21).
When the Philistines captured the Ark in battle (I Samuel 4:1-11), they brought it, in turn, to Ashdod, the Dagon Temple, Gath, and Ekron. In retribution, God struck them with hemorrhoids (I Samuel 5:1-12). To heal from these divine maladies, they were forced to return the Ark and pay a bizarre tribute: a figure of a golden hemorrhoid and a golden mouse for each of the five Philistine cities (I Samuel 6:1-17, especially 6:17). (Source: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/gaza-in-the-bible/

It occurs also in the early catalogue of cities and tribes inhabiting Canaan in the earliest times (Gen_10:19). Joshua reached it in his conquests but did not take it (Jos_10:41; Jos_11:22). Judah captured it (Jdg_1:18) but did not hold it long, for we find it in the hands of the Philistines in the days of Samson, whose exploits have rendered it noteworthy (Jos_16:1-3, 11, 30). The hill to which he carried off the gate of the city was probably the one now called el-Muntar (“watch-tower”), which lies Southeast of the city and may be referred to in 2Ki_18:8, “from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city,” Gaza, with the other chief towns, sent a trespass offering to Yahweh when the ark was returned (1Sa_6:17). Hezekiah defeated and pursued the Philistines to Gaza, but does not seem to have captured it. It was taken by Sargon in 720 bc, in his war with Egypt, since Khanun, the king of Gaza, joined the Egyptians and was captured at the battle of Raphia (Rawlinson, Ancient Monarchies, II, 142). It was probably destroyed (see Amo_1:7). It was certainly dismantled by Alexander the Great in 332, when it dared to resist him. It was then exceedingly strong, verifying its name, and was most bravely defended, so that it took Alexander two months to reduce it. He put to death all the men and sold the women and children as slaves (Grote, History of Greece, XI, 467ff). It was restored, however, and we learn that Jonathan forced it to submit to him (Josephus, Ant, XIII, v, 5; 1 Macc 11:62), and Alexander Janneus took it and massacred the inhabitants who escaped the horrors of the siege (Josephus, Ant, XIII, xiii, 3). Pompey restored the freedom of Gaza (ibid., XIV, iv, 4), and Gabinius rebuilt it in 57 bc (ibid., XIV, v, 3). Gaza is mentioned only once in the New Testament (Act_8:26), in the account of Philip and the eunuch. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries ad, it became a center of Greek commerce and culture, and pagan influence was strong, while the church rounded there was struggling for existence. Many martyrs there testified to the faith, until finally, under Theodosius, Christianity gained the supremacy (HGHL, 12th edition, 188). It fell into the hands of the Arabs in 634 ad, and became and has remained a Moslem city since the days of Saladin, who recovered it from the Crusaders in 1187, after the battle of Hattin. It is now a city of some 20,000 inhabitants, among whom are a few hundred Christians. (Source: ISBE)