8:17. Then He said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O Son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger; and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.—So lightly do modern Babylonians, apostate religionists, regard their abominable beliefs, that they will not even give consideration to the presentation of the truth about Jehovah and His Divine Plan of the Ages. It is the church—clergy and members—who brought on the barbarous world-war. They could have stood like a rock for peace; but the clergy, with devilish exhortations, urged their fellow-savages to bloodshed. The Divine judgment has gone against them and soon will swallow them up in the earthquake (revolution) and fire (anarchy) of the Time of Trouble. The last clause should read. “They send a stench to My nostrils.”
Destructive Criticism Of The Bible
8:18. Therefore will I also deal in fury; Mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in Mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.—The fury of “Christians” in this savage war will be visited upon them in the succeeding revolution and anarchy. When the real Time of Trouble is on, after the war, Christendom will realize the terrible truth that it is the punishment of Divine Justice—and will pray mightily to God. Their prayers cannot be favorably answered (Prov. 1:28) until “the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14) has finished its work of “bruising to heal.”—Hos. 6:1.
“In the world despised, neglected,
Deemed its refuse and its dross,
She whose Lord the earth rejected
Shares His sorrow, bears His loss.”