EGW WritingsHosea 5

The Review and Herald

February 5, 1914

RH February 5, 1914, par. 1

Full of significance are the words of the prophet, “Like people, like priest.” Hosea 4:9. The idolatrous priests were leaders in crime. “As troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent.” Hosea 6:9. “Blood toucheth blood.” Verse 2. God’s message to the murderous priests was: “Hear ye this, O priests, ... for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, a net spread upon Tabor. And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.” Hosea 5:1, 2. Everywhere violence and crime reigned supreme.

Testimony for the Church — No. 27

Jeremiah.

T27 42.1

He entreated them to hear the words that he spoke. He cited them to the prophecies of Hosea, Habakuk, Zephaniah, and others whose messages of reproof and warning had been similar to his own. He referred them to events which had transpired in their history in fulfillment of the prophecies of retribution for unrepented sins. Sometimes, as in this case, men had arisen in opposition to the message of God, and predicted peace and prosperity, to quiet the fears of the people, and gain the favor of those in high places. But in every past instance the judgment of God had been visited upon Israel, as the true prophets had indicated. Said he “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him.” If Israel chose to run the risk, future developments would effectually decide which was the false prophet.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 10 (1895)

Lt 82, 1895

10LtMs, Lt 82, 1895, par. 1

Sabbath, October 19, the gathering at the tent was larger than we expected, as in the forenoon meetings were held by our people in the different churches. Hereafter all will come to the ground on Sabbath and Sunday. In the forenoon Brother Corliss spoke from Hosea words that were full of instruction. I spoke in the afternoon from the fourth [chapter] of John: “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” [Verse 10.]

Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2

Chapter 18—Publishing and Traveling

2SG 123.1

At this time there was quite an excitement among the Methodists in Oswego. They held many meetings, and their leaders were very zealous, praying for and exhorting sinners to be converted. Some of the adventists who were preaching time, often joined them in their meetings, and then would tell us that a glorious work was going on among the Methodists, that God was with them, or they would not be thus blessed. The question was often asked, “What do you think of Bro. M.? The Lord works through him in a special manner. He and his wife visit from house to house conversing with sinners, and praying for them, and Bro M. was engaged so zealously in prayer last night for the mourners who came forward to the anxious-seats, that he broke a blood-vessel, and was carried to his home in a feeble condition.” They triumphed over the believers in present truth. I told them to wait and see the result of the matter, and referred them to Hosea 5:6, 7.

Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862 (vol. 1)

Fruitage of Public Ministry in Oswego

1BIO 175.1

Two who asked the Whites what they thought of the county treasurer were 21-year-old Hiram Patch and his fiancee. They had attended the meetings of the lay evangelist, had listened to James White, and were undecided as to which group to join. Ellen White was given a vision that they witnessed. After the vision she told the young couple, “Wait and see the result of the matter.” She referred them to Scripture texts presented to her in vision, which read: “They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. They have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions” (Hosea 5:6, 7).

The Review and Herald

April 14, 1853

RH April 14, 1853, par. 4

But let this view that Mr. S. ridicules be compared with Hosea 5:6, 7. “They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. They have dealt treacherously against the Lord; for they have begotten strange children; now shall a month devour them with their portions.” This certainly shows that the Lord changes his position in some way, and presents good reasons to believe that Satan would at some period get up counterfeit conversions.

Manuscript Releases, vol. 15 [Nos. 1136-1185]

MR No. 1140—Image to the Beast Formed Before Close of Probation

15MR 13.3

I quote from your tract: “The Lord plainly tells you the literal days He will be pleading with you, in Hosea 5:7—for fifteen days on the testimony, and fifteen more days on the laws, in the loud cry. I shall not be able to get this tract before any of you more than thirty days before the time is accomplished.”

The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials

Chapter 88—To Bro. and Sr. Garmire

1888 698.1

I quote from your tract: “The Lord plainly tells you the literal days he will be pleading with you, in Hosea 5:7,—for fifteen days on the testimony, and fifteen more days on the laws, in the loud cry. I shall not be able to get this tract before any of you more than thirty days before the time is accomplished.” You say,” Hundreds will be in the Tabernacle; and as they have rejected the Lord, he will reject them, and send them strong delusions, that they may believe a lie.” Who was it that was deluded? Who was it that believed a lie? Then you make quotations from Sr. White to substantiate your false theories. Forty thousands of these leaflets were sent out. One of your party prevailed upon a young man who was naturally conscientious, to steal the mailing list of the Review and Herald, from which to obtain names to whom to send your falsehoods. Such work, in no sense bears the divine mark. This was a State’s prison crime. Time has proved you to be a false prophet, and Anna’s visions false exercises. God never works in this way.

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 23—The Decline and Fall of Israel

SS 151.1

The closing years of the kingdom of Israel were marked with violence and bloodshed not witnessed even in the worst periods under the house of Ahab. For two centuries the ten tribes had been sowing the wind; now they were reaping the whirlwind. King after king was assassinated. “They made kings, but not through Me,” the Lord declared of the godless usurpers. “They set up princes, but without My knowledge.” Hosea 8:4, RSV. Those who should have stood before the nations of earth as the depositaries of divine grace “dealt treacherously against the Lord” and with one another. Hosea 5:7.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 11, 1890

6LtMs, Lt 11, 1890, par. 4

I quote from your tract: “The Lord plainly tells you the literal days he will be pleading with you, in (Hosea 5:7), for fifteen days on the testimony, and fifteen more days on the laws, in the loud cry. I shall not be able to get this tract before any of you more than thirty days before the time is accomplished.” You say, “Hundreds will be in the Tabernacle; and as they have rejected the Lord, he will reject them, and send them strong delusions, that they may believe a lie.” Who was it that was deluded? Who was it that believed a lie? Then you make quotations from Sr. White to substantiate your false theories.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 23—The Assyrian Captivity

PK 279.1

The closing years of the ill-fated kingdom of Israel were marked with violence and bloodshed such as had never been witnessed even in the worst periods of strife and unrest under the house of Ahab. For two centuries and more the rulers of the ten tribes had been sowing the wind; now they were reaping the whirlwind. King after king was assassinated to make way for others ambitious to rule. “They have set up kings,” the Lord declared of these godless usurpers, “but not by Me: they have made princes, and I knew it not.” Hosea 8:4. Every principle of justice was set aside; those who should have stood before the nations of earth as the depositaries of divine grace, “dealt treacherously against the Lord” and with one another. Hosea 5:7.

PK 280.1

Of Ephraim the prophet testified, “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.” [The prophet Hosea often referred to Ephraim, a leader in apostasy among the tribes of Israel, as a symbol of the apostate nation.] “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good.” “Broken in judgment,” unable to discern the disastrous outcome of their evil course, the ten tribes were soon to be “wanderers among the nations.” Hosea 7:9; 8:3; 5:11; 9:17.

PK 280.2

Some of the leaders in Israel felt keenly their loss of prestige and wished that this might be regained. But instead of turning away from those practices which had brought weakness to the kingdom, they continued in iniquity, flattering themselves that when occasion arose, they would attain to the political power they desired by allying themselves with the heathen. “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian.” “Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” “They do make a covenant with the Assyrians.” Hosea 5:13; 7:11; 12:1.

The Review and Herald

January 29, 1914

RH January 29, 1914, par. 3

Of the tribe of Ephraim, a leader in apostasy among the ten tribes, the Lord said: “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not.” “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good,” declared the prophet. Hosea 7:9; 8:3. “Broken in judgment” (Hosea 5:11), unable to discern the sure result of continued apostasy, the ten tribes were soon to be “wanderers among the nations.”

RH January 29, 1914, par. 4

There were in Israel those who realized that unless they strengthened their position politically, they would be unable to regain the prestige they had had among the nations. But instead of turning away from those practices which had brought weakness to the kingdom, they continued in iniquity, flattering themselves that when occasion arose, they would gain the power they needed by allying themselves with the heathen. “When Ephraim saw his sickness,” the prophet declared, “then went Ephraim to the Assyrian.” Hosea 5:13. “Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” Hosea 7:11. “They do make a covenant with the Assyrians.”