“NOTES ON HOSEA’S LAST SHOUT TO THE AMERICAN CHURCH: FROM WILDERNESS TO WONDER – IF YOU BE WILLING” (WITH VIDEO)

1. THEOLOGY

“[HOSEA], say to your brethren, Ammi [or You-are-my-people], and to your sisters, Ruhamah [or You-have-been-pitied-and-have-obtained-mercy]. ‘Plead with your mother [your nation]; plead, for she is not My wife and I am not her Husband; [plead] that she put away her [marks of] harlotry from her face and her adulteries from between her breasts, lest I strip her naked and make her as in the day she was born, and make her as a wilderness and set her like a parched land and slay her with thirst.

Yes, for her children I will have no love nor pity nor mercy, for they are the children of harlotry. For their mother has played the harlot; she who conceived them has done shamefully, for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers that give me my food and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my refreshing drinks.’ Therefore, behold, I [the Lord God] will hedge up her way [even yours, O Israel] with thorns; and I will build a wall against her that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them [inquiring for and requiring them], but shall not find them.

Then shall she say, ‘Let me go and return to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now.’ For she has not noticed, understood, or realized that it was I [the Lord God] Who gave her the grain and the new wine and the fresh oil, and Who lavished upon her silver and gold which they used for Baal and made into his image. Therefore will I return and take back My grain in the time for it and My new wine in the season for it, and will pluck away and recover My wool and My flax which were to cover her [Israel’s] nakedness. And now will I uncover her lewdness and her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of My hand.

I will also cause to cease all her mirth, her feastmaking, her New Moons, her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts and appointed festive assemblies. And I will lay waste and destroy her vines and her fig trees of which she has said, ‘These are my reward or loose woman’s hire that my lovers have given me;’ and I will make [her plantations] an inaccessible forest, and the wild beasts of the open country shall eat them. And I will visit [punishment] upon her for the feast days of the Baals, when she burned incense to them and decked herself with her earrings and nose rings and her jewelry and went after her lovers and forgot Me.’ says the Lord.

[However], behold, I will ALLURE her [Israel] and bring her into the WILDERNESS, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be in that day,’ says the Lord, ‘that you will call Me Ishi [my Husband], and you shall no more call Me Baali [my Baal]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [the Baals] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned or seriously remembered by their name.

And in that day will I make a covenant for Israel with the living creatures of the open country and with the birds of the heavens and with the creeping things of the ground. And I will break the bow and the sword and [abolish battle equipment and] conflict out of the land and will make you lie down safely. And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will even betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness, and you shall know (recognize, be acquainted with, appreciate, give heed to, and cherish) the Lord.

And in that day I will respond,’ says the Lord; ‘I will respond to the heavens [which ask for rain to pour on the earth], and they shall respond to the earth [which begs for the rain it needs], and the earth shall respond to the grain and the wine and the oil [which beseech it to bring them forth], and these shall respond to Jezreel [restored Israel, who prays for a supply of them]. And I will sow her for Myself anew in the land, and I will have love, pity, and mercy for her who had not obtained love, pity, and mercy; and I will say to those who were not My people, “You are My people,” and they shall say, “You are my God!”’” – HOSEA 2:1-23, AMPC

KEY TERMS:

• “ALLURE.” ‘Pathah’ [ מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ]: “To open or make roomy; to enlarge or persuade; to entice or seduce.” NOTE: “פָתָה (‘pāthāh’) is a verb of moral and relational weight. Across roughly twenty-eight Old Testament occurrences it describes: ‘The act of opening another person up—emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually—so as to turn, persuade, [invite], allure, or mislead.’ The Context decides whether that ‘Opening’ is gracious or sinister, protective or destructive. Scripture therefore employs the word to expose seduction into sexual sin, manipulation by violent people, self-deception, the lure of idolatry, and, strikingly [for the present situation]: ‘The  Gracious Wooing of God Himself.’”

• “WILDERNESS.” ‘Midbar’ [הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר]: “Driven into an open field, a pasture, a desert.” NOTE: “‘Midbar’ appears roughly 271 times across the Old Testament and serves as a theological stage where the Lord reveals His character, forms His Covenant People, disciplines the Wayward, and foreshadows Redemptive Hope. While commonly rendered ‘Wilderness’ [or ‘desert’], the term covers a spectrum from arid waste to pasture-land, united by its absence of settled agriculture and its need for Divine Provision.”

QUOTATION. “When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage; Give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, Or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill My Calling and to give the best in me, To guard my every neighbor and protect his property. And if, according to My Fate, I am to lose my life; Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife.” ― EDDIE CLEVELAND, Forged by Fire, 2019; edited

COMMENTARY. “The plural ‘Baalim’ refers to the worship of the same deity in different places, with distinguishing local characteristics. Thus, there was a ‘Baal-Zephon,’ a ‘Baal-Hermon,’ a ‘Baal-Gad,’ &c. (See W. R. Smith, Old Testament in the Jewish Church, 1881, p. 229). ‘The days of Baalim mean the whole period during which Baal has been worshipped by the Faithless Israel.’

‘Therefore.’ — ‘This word does NOT make God’s gentle treatment a consequence of the sin of Israel.’ Some prefer to render by ‘Nevertheless,’ but the Hebrew word ‘lakhēn’ is sometimes used in making strong transitions, linked, it is true, with what precedes, but not as an inference. Comp. Isaiah 10:24). ‘Grace transforms her Suffering into discipline.’ The Exile in Babylon shall be a repetition of the experiences of The Wilderness in which she was first espoused to Jehovah. ‘There [in Deprivation] will I speak to her heart; i.e., comfortingly, lovingly’ [but only to those who choose to HEED My Disciplines].” – CHARLES ELLICOTT, An Old and New Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1878, 1897 edited

1. TEACHING

“Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the WILDERNESS [‘erémos’ (ἔρημον), ‘desolate, barren wasteland’] to be TEMPTED [‘peirazó’ (πειρασθῆναι), ‘prove, test, discipline’] by the devil.” – MATTHEW 4:1, AMP

THE GAUNTLET. “‘To run the Gauntlet’ is to to face a series of difficult obstacles or a severe ordeal in order to prove someone’s fitness for service.’

‘For reasons that only Divining the Mind of God can understand, God indeed TESTS His own people, and often, severely.’ Indeed, He put His own Son to an horrific Death on that bloody, agonizing Tree in order to Save the entire world. So why would so many Christian Churches, uniquely in America, preach a ‘different gospel’ of peace and ease and pleasure and prosperity?

Stepping out on some limbs again, I have had a growing sense that: ‘BY THE END OF 2026 – “The Year of the Beast” – True Remnant Christians are going to be increasingly singled out for Surveillance and Oppression.’

THE COMING PERSECUTION. While once again I could not find an analysis by a Christian writer on this issue of a most terrible importance, I decided to let the actual record do the talking here.

So let’ start with TRUMP’S PROMISE OF 2023.

“I am your Warrior, I am your Justice. For those who have been wronged and betrayed … I am your Retribution.” – Robert Downen & William Melhado, The Texas Tribune, “Trump Vows Retribution at Waco Rally,” Mar. 25, 2023; edited

The crushing irony here is that on occasion, President Trump does keep his word! Witness the recent report by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit organization based in the United States. Ostensibly, a nonpartisan group, Protect Democracy seeks to check what it believes are Authoritarian attacks on U.S. Democracy.

HIT LIST. In their report titled, “Tracking Retaliatory Use of Arrests, Prosecutions, and Investigations by the Trump Administration” released just a few days ago on June 12, 2026, here is who they found under legal assault by the President.

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia: Targeted by administration’s immigration policies.

• Miles Taylor: Former Chief of Staff of DHS-Criticized Trump.

• Chris Krebs: Former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at DHS-Criticized Trump and validated his 2020 election defeat.

• Hannah Dugan: Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge-Opposed administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

• Ras Baraka: Newark Mayor-Criticized administration’s immigration policies.

• LaMonica McIver: U.S. Representative-Criticized administration’s immigration policies.

• Letitia James: New York Attorney General-Prosecuted Trump.

• David Huerta: SEIU (Service Employees International Union), California President-Protested administration on behalf of Labor.

• Alex Padilla: U.S. Senator-Disrupted a press conference on immigration policy.

• Brad Lander: Former NYC Comptroller-Criticized Trump.

• James Comey: Former F.B.I. Director-Criticized Trump.

• John O. Brennan: Former C.I.A. Director-Criticized Trump.

• Adam Schiff: U.S. Senator and Former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee-Served on the January 6th Committee; criticized Trump.

• Lisa Cook: Federal Reserve Governor-Served as a Democratic member of the Federal Reserve.

• John Bolton: Former National Security Advisor-Criticized Trump.

• Kat Abughazaleh: Former Democratic Congressional Candidate-Led Chicago anti-ICE protests.

• Mark Kelly: U.S. Senator, former U.S. Navy Captain and NASA astronaut-Criticized Trump.

• Jerome Powell: Former Chair of the Federal Reserve-Resisted political interference in Fed policy.

• Jason Crow: U.S. Representative-Criticized Trump’s military policies.

• Maggie Goodlander: U.S. Representative-Criticized Trump’s military policies

• Chrissy Houlahan: U.S. Representative-Criticized Trump’s military policies.

• Elissa Slotkin: U.S. Senator- Criticized Trump’s military policies.

• Rep. Chris Deluzio: U.S. Representative-Criticized Trump’s military policies.

• Tim Walz: Governor of Minnesota- Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

• Jacob Frey: Mayor of Minneapolis-Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

• Kaohly Her: Mayor of St. Paul- Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

• Keith Ellison: State Attorney General- Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

• Mary Moriarty: Hennepin County Attorney- Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

• MN Church Protesters: Criticized immigration enforcement surge in MN.

Southern Poverty Law Center: Monitored far-right hate groups and opposed Trump policies.   Reid Hoffman: American Future Republic President-Funded E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuits against Trump.   Gavin Newsom: Governor of California-Criticized Trump.

policies

DK. Now I want you all to Reflect and Reason: IF President Trump swore an Oath to Persecute his enemies; and IF he is now in fact doing so by this and other accounts; THEN what makes you think he will not ultimately attempt to come after those of US who oppose or criticize him? Selah.

1. LAST THOUGHTS

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out, Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” ― MARTIN NIEMÖLLER, “When They Came,” 1946; edited

AMERICAN REALITY. The difference between a “Fear Monger” and a “Herald” is that the former is interested only in frightening people into a frantic, irrational Panic. The latter is interested only in alerting people to take action in order to Protect them.

Thus, the following closing comments.

Got up around 4 am to do final preps for this Commentary and opened my i-phone to an unsettling but informative feed. It was a brief video account of a US citizen getting a knock at the door from two FBI AGENTS. The Reasons for their visit? “We noticed some anti-ICE comments you posted” on a social media account. (Link is posted at the end of the Commentary).

Selah. Selah.

Beloved, as I have stated before: ‘Time for Play Church in America is over.’ Though our Pastors continue to pretend that it’s not, to the now mortal Endangerment of their congregations.

It is long, long past time to WAKE UP!

HOW TO RESPOND. Should (or when) this sort of visit take place at your residence, here is a simple AI Overview (ret. June 17, 2026; edited) of what to do under the Law and the United States Constitution.

• OPEN. When Agents from ICE or the FBI arrive at your home, do not open the door unless they have a valid judicial search warrant. You have the right to remain silent and to verify their authority without letting them inside.

1. Keep the Door Closed: Do not open the door to speak with the Agents or to receive documents.

2. Ask to See a Warrant: Ask the Agents what Agency they represent and request that they slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window.

3. Check the Warrant: To be valid, a search warrant must be signed by a judge and include your correct name and address. An ICE administrative warrant (Forms I-200 or I-205) is not enough to force entry into your home.

4. State You Do Not Consent: Clearly say (through the closed door) that you do not consent to them entering your home.

5. Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent: You are not required to answer questions about your identity or immigration status. You can state, “I wish to remain silent and speak with a lawyer.”

6. Do Not Resist: If Agents force their way in, do not physically resist, but clearly state that you do not consent to their entry or search.

7. Do Not Lie or Show Fake Documents: Providing false information or forged documents can lead to severe criminal charges and negatively impact your immigration status [or citizenship for legal residents].

8. Do Not Sign Anything: Never sign any paperwork without consulting an attorney first.

9. If They Already Entered or Arrest You: If Agents make entry or detain you, you still have the right to remain silent. State clearly that you want a lawyer. Do not discuss your case with anyone until you have legal representation.

THE PROMISE.  “FEAR NOT [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you but shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all. For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!” – ISAIAH 41:10-13, AMPC

To all those who are ‘WILLING,’ beloved, all this Promise is sealed in the very Blood of Christ that seals those who truly LOVE God and OBEY His Commands. Unto Life or if necessary, Unto Death.

And oh, the very Wonders awaiting us, even to become known as: “Those Who Remained with Him,” (Los Que Permanecieron con Él) unto the very End!

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/UtStyAY3JtI

FBI VIDEO: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/trump-politics-fascism-ugcPost-7472665688898338817-5Max/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACaYDKoBU-Td7D9cWOQ8I_RgJhxtwU2yRTE