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FAMINE OF GOD’S WORD = “TRUTH”
Today, there is much confusion and bewilderment within both the Jewish and Christian religions as to the
exact meaning and intent of much of the Bible. Moreover, there are literally hundreds of opinions on any given
topic found within the Bible. This situation makes it extremely difficult for those who are attempting to truly
understand God's laws, precepts, and principles to do them.
So does a single authority from God and His teachings exist, or are we living in the times spoken of by
the prophet Amos in which there is “a famine of the word?” “Behold, the days come, says 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: 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. in that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.” (Amos
8:11-13).
Many professing Christians believe that Amos' prophecy about a famine of hearing God's word is speaking of
the time during the great tribulation, just prior to Christ's return.
However, this assumption does not take into consideration the fact that the two witnesses of Revelation
11, will be proclaiming God's truth and will be sending a warning message to the world with great power for
three and a half years before Christ's return to set up the His Fathers kingdom.
We are reminded in Ezekiel 7, of what this end age activity will look like Ezek 7: 25-26, “Destruction
cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall
be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel
from the elders.”
The English word = 'hearing' = in Amos chapter 8, verse 11, is translated from the Hebrew word 'shama,'
which means to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention and obedience). Meaning to have good
understanding. This Hebrew word 'Shama,' means more than just hearing sounds “shama” is the key to
understanding the prophecy of Amos. The scriptures clearly show that God's word will continue to be proclaimed
during the great tribulation by the two witnesses and God's two existing churches, that are keeping the
commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus the Christ! Rev 12:17.
With the lack of hearing God's word in the context of Amos’s prophecy, connotes a barrier that will not
allow an understanding of God's word. It is true that the time-frame of Amos' prophecy covers the end of this
age, and it also covers many centuries, prior to the end of this age. That explains why God prevents many from
understanding His words. When studying Amos's prophecy we find when it came into full force and when it will
come to an end. Shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, there was a active organized church
spreading God's gospel and truth throughout the world. However, as dynamic as this church was, it virtually
disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
From 70 to 120 A.D., there was very little recorded about the true Church of God. When historians began to write
about the church again, they wrote of a different church from the one that embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ
and the Apostles. Today, we find churches that call themselves Christian, yet the vast majority do not even faintly
resemble God’s early churches, that were teaching God’s truth.
Christianity is one of the world's largest religions, there are literally thousands of Christian organizations
that profess Christianity and claim to worship and serve the God of the Bible. Each professes to follow the
teachings of Jesus Christ as expounded in the pages of the Bible, and each believes that they have a keen
understanding of the Bible and God's will for mankind.
In this age, Christian organizations offer a variety of religious experiences. Whatever one's approach is to
religion, there is a Christian organization that can be found in order to fill their desire for religious expression.
The choices of Christian churches range from one extreme to another: small personal groups, large crowds, quite
scholarly and intellectual groups, noisy frenzied charismatic churches, there seems to be no end to the choices
a person has when seeking a religious experience.
Most of these Christian organizations are separated by major doctrinal differences and many differing
philosophies and concepts about how to worship the God of the Bible, and there is much confusion about what
God expects of each person who wants to worship and serve Him. These doctrinal differences and attitudes
between these various Christian organizations should cause anyone who is truly serious about their eternal life,
should seriously question why there are so many different competing Christian churches and philosophies.
It is true, that since the advent of the printing press, the Bible has remained the most published and most
read book in the world. The Bible has been translated into almost every language and distributed to billions of
people. There is virtually no populated place on this planet where one cannot find a copy of the Bible. However,
few people understand this book and practice the laws, precepts, and principles contained within its pages. If this
were not true there would only be one church teaching one gospel and truth.
The simple fact is that we are living in a time when there is very little true understanding of God's word.
Even though there is not a famine of God's word on the printed pages, of the Bible, But, there is a famine of
understanding the word of God.
During this age, hundreds of millions of people hear and read the Bible being taught every day, but with
virtually no explanation as to what the Bible text truly says and means. Conservative, reform, and orthodox
Judaism, along with professing Christians claim Conservatorship of the biblical text, and each claims that the
creator God has guided and inspired their understanding of the biblical word. The problem is that each of these
religions are divided into many factions with each faction having widely differing views, opinions, and
interpretations of what the biblical word says.
All factions of Judaism believe that some kind of oral law is necessary to make the Torah God’s word
understandable and workable! Is that what God’s word tells us to do? Deut 4: 2 is very clear “You shall not add
unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the
Commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”
Many churches seem to see the Talmud and the oral law as an evolving system in which successive
generations of rabbis have the authority to alter the application of God’s written law as necessary to fit current
circumstances. But, orthodox Jews feel less free to ignore, modify, or change the oral laws. On the other hand,
the vast majority of professing Christians believe that neither the written law or the oral law apply to them, so they
are free to worship God as they please and live their lives without any biblical constraints or fear of punishment.
Given the fact that there is much syncretism, confusion and divergent opinion about the biblical teachings among
the various biblically based religions, we need to be awake and not asleep. We are living in the times of Amos'
s prophecy. ‘There is a famine of hearing ( understanding) God's word.” If this were not true, it would be an easy
task to find a trustworthy source of biblical understanding. But there is no contradiction or divergent opinion as
to the meaning of the biblical teaching if taken directly from God’s Word of Truth.
There are three major reasons why so few people understand God's words during this age. The prophet
Daniel records one of the reason that the understanding of God's word is withheld from most people today.
Dan.12: 8-10, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these
things?And he said, go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed. But the wicked shall do
wickedly: and none of the wicked shall Understand; but the wise shall understand.”
Much of what is recorded in the Bible is there for the benefit of those who have a need to know certain
things, because these things pertain to them and no one else. Therefore, this knowledge is withheld from other
people because it will not benefit them at this time. Notice Matt 13, “Jesus the Christ teaching on this subject.
“Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they
understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, by hearing you shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears
are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and should Understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed
are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matt.13:13-16). [See Rom.15: 4; and 1.Cor.15:11] In
connection with Matt 13.
Let”s broaden and expand on Matthew 13, to involve the House of Israel. In Jer 5: and verses 20 - 25,
“Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, Saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without
understanding; Which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: fear you not Me? saith the Lord: will
you not tremble at My presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that
it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can
they not pass over it? But this people have a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither
say they in their heart, let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his
season: He reserves unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. your iniquities have turned away these things,
and your sins have with-holden good things from you.”
Most of the house of Israel and house of Judea worship false gods and have departed from their covenant
relationship with the true God. Therefore, many of the blessings that they were promised for obedience including
an understanding of God's word has been withheld from them until they repent of their sins.
Many believe the reason that Jesus spoke in parables was to make His meaning clear; however, this was not
what he said. He said that He spoke in parables to conceal information that could lead people to conversion. “But
when He (Jesus ) was alone, those around Him with the Twelve asked him about the parable. And He said to
them, "to you it has been given to know the Mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all
things come in parables, so that 'seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not
understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them” (Mark 4:10-12 NIV). The word 'mystery' in
verse 11, is translated from the Greek word 'mysterion', which means 'mystery' or 'secret'. Jesus clearly said that
those outside of His called were not permitted to understand the secret plan of God that would lead them to
salvation at the wrong time.
The apostle Paul spoke to the Colossians about this same mystery, he told them that it was only revealed
to the saints: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which has been
hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [secrecy] among the gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory” (Col 1: 24 - 27).
Why the secrecy ? Why would this information that leads a person to eternal life be kept secret? And
why is it only revealed to God's elect? The mystery [or secret] of eternal life has been preached since the time
of Adam, but only a very few have been allowed to understand it. God the Father and Jesus the Christ loves their
human creation much more than most people can begin to comprehend. It is this love and concern for each
individual that prevents God the Father from offering eternal life to all of mankind before the establishment of
His kingdom on earth.
God the Father and Jesus Christ want everyone to become a part of the God family; they want everyone to
obtain eternal life: In 1 Tim.2: 4 we read, “Who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of
Truth.” Also see 2 Pet.3: 9 and Psa.136:1-16. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.” This love and concern is the reason that God the Father and Jesus the Christ have formulated a plan
that will afford each individual the foremost opportunity for success. God the Father knows the potential and
character of each individual and in which phase of His plan to offer them the opportunity for eternal life. This plan
is in order for each person to have the best possible conditions for success in obtaining redemption. They must
be allowed to live in a time and environment in which they can succeed if they desire to.
Therefore, a true understanding of God's word is withheld until their time, their calling arrives for them.
Only the restoration of God's laws, precepts, and principles in their original physical and spiritual meaning and
intent, will bring an end to the prophecy of Amos concerning the famine of understanding God's gospel and His
truth. The promise to bring an end to Amos' prophecy concerning the lack of understanding of God's word
and circumstances surrounding the ending of this prophecy that is mentioned many times in both the Old and the
New Testaments.
The following two prophecies concerning Elijah show when Amos' prophecy will begin to end and when
God's laws, precepts, and principles will begin to be understood in their entirety. God says in Malachi, “Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn
the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth
with a curse” (Mal. 4: 5-6). Matt 17: 11, our Lord replied, “......., Elijah truly will come first and restore all
things.” Within these two prophecies are the keys to understanding the ministry of Elijah during the end of this
age what exactly will be restored. We were just told that he will prepare the way before Christ's return, and that
he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons and the hearts of the sons to the fathers. Why do the hearts of
the fathers need to be turned to the sons and the hearts of the sons to the fathers, and what is it that needs to be
restored? Restoration is only necessary when something has not been maintained in it's original form. We
should understand God's written law has not changed since it was given to Moses and recorded in the books of
the law— God's law, so they do not need to be restored because they are eternal.
What has been degraded and is in need of restoration is the understanding, teaching, and application of
God's laws, precepts, and principles that have been lost or perverted through the centuries. The biblical record
is replete with God's admonitions for the whole house of Israel to return to His law and His way of life.
During the time of Jesus the Christ many of God's original laws, precepts, and principles had been
perverted and unrecognizable. The pharisees played a big part in this. “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and
to His disciples, saying, the scribes and the pharisees sit in Moses' seat: civil seat, all therefore whatsoever they
bid you observe, that observe. And do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move
them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men” ( Matt. 23: 1- 5).
Understanding that the perversion of God's laws, precepts, and principles would continue until His return.
In Luke 18: verse 8, “Jesus asks if He will find the faith on earth when He returns?” After the death of the apostle
John and the disappearance of the early church, as an organized entity with a governing authority, the teachings
of Jesus and the apostles concerning God's laws, precepts and principles were perverted to the point that very
little is truly understood today about the written law and its physical and spiritual intent and meaning. Therefore,
in order for the confusion about what the sovereign Father and Jesus the Christ expect of each individual is to be
resolved, a true understanding of God's law and His Sabbath keeping must be restored because in Exo 31:13-
14, we learn, “.......speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, verily My Sabbaths you shall keep: for it is
a sign between Me and you through out your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord that does sanctify
you. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: Every one that defiles it shall surely be put to
death: for whosoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
The prophetic reference by Jesus of the restoration of all things surely includes a restoration of all God's
Holy Sabbath’s. It has been perverted since it was given at Mount Sinai many centuries ago.
The restoration of God's truth to be taught includes a restoration of God's law, precepts, and principles.
They are necessary for a person to live a total righteous lifestyle. Only the restoration of God's laws, precepts, and
principles to their original physical and spiritual meaning and intent will bring an end to Amos' prophecy
concerning people's serious lack of understanding of God's word.
The message of the Elijah is centered around the restoration of the full Truth of God. Therefore, we should
expect Elijah’s principles to restore an understanding of how God is to be honored as He instituted His laws at
Mount Sinai,the same rule of laws that Jesus the Christ instituted at Jerusalem, works together with God the
Father in truth.
When these two aspects of the Father's and Son are restored and understood in the light of their plan for
eternal life for mankind, then it can be truly said, that the hearts of the fathers are turned to the sons and the hearts
of the sons to the fathers.
Belief in and adherence to God's truth results in a return to a harmonious relationship between the
fathers who taught righteousness. Patriarchs, like Moses, Aaron, Apostles, and others, those who taught God’s
word and walked its path.
As said earlier, there is much confusion and bewilderment within both the Jewish and Christian religions
as to the exact meaning and intent of much of the Bible. There are literally hundreds of opinions on any given
topic found within the Bible. We truly are living in the times spoken of by the prophet Amos?
Yes, we are living in the times of Amos' prophecy of a famine of God's word. A famine of understanding
God’s truth in His word. However, for those whom the sovereign Father is calling His elect bride, there is no
need to remain ignorant. Moreover, we who have been called and come to the table of the Lord, can eat and drink
of God's word.
We are in lightened in Isaiah 55:6 -7, “Seek you the Lord while He may be found, call you upon Him
while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
The fulfillment of prophecy is a major proof that the sovereign God exists and that He has the power and
authority to control the destiny of mankind. Moreover, the fulfillment of Amos's prophecy concerning a famine
of God’s word and a famine of the understanding of God's word alerts us that God's plan for mankind is right
on schedule and we are very close to the return of the Messiah.☜
James Russell