MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US’

MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US’ 

By Tuese Ahkiong

Who were the only people who had access to God’s presence until Christ arrived?  Old Covenant Israel

  

Luke 23:26-31

²⁶ And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. ²⁸ But turning to them Jesus said, “DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, DO NOT WEEP FOR ME, BUT WEEP FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN. ²⁹ For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ THEN THEY WILL BEGIN TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ ³¹ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

***Christ is quoting from Old Testament prophecy of the latter days judgment upon Israel and sticks the events He is speaking of here within the life time of His audience.  First Century Israel, the “this generation,” is the target audience of His prophecy.

A large section of Scripture speaks of “last days” or “latter days.”  Within context, a majority of the passages are speaking of “The Last days “ and “latter times” of Israel, the old covenant.  These phrases are NOT defined as the last days of human history of the latter times of the universe.  It is specifically the last days of the old covenant age which was taking place in the 1^st century until the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. when the old covenant officially passed away.

Isaiah 2:2

² It shall come to pass IN THE LATTER DAYS that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,

***The latter days are the latter days of Israel or The Old Covenant.  The New Testament was written in the last days of the old covenant because the new covenant age was coming in.

Isaiah 2:19-21

¹⁹ AND PEOPLE SHALL ENTER THE CAVES OF THE ROCKS AND THE HOLES OF THE GROUND, FROM BEFORE THE TERROR OF THE LORD, AND FROM THE SPLENDOR OF HIS MAJESTY, WHEN HE RISES TO TERRIFY THE EARTH.

²⁰ In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
²¹ TO ENTER THE CAVERNS OF THE ROCKS AND THE CLEFTS OF THE CLIFFS, FROM BEFORE THE TERROR OF THE LORD, AND FROM THE SPLENDOR OF HIS MAJESTY, WHEN HE RISES TO TERRIFY THE EARTH.

***God prophesied judgment upon His old covenant people for their idolatry in the latter days.  Israel became Mystery Babylon, mother of harlots.  She murdered Yeshua, The Messiah (Jesus Christ), His Apostles, disciples, scribes, saints... and this brought about the end of Israel as the covenant people of God.  

Hosea 10:8

⁸ The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, AND THEY SHALL SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, “COVER US,” AND TO THE HILLS, “FALL ON US.”

***Hosea, too, speaks of the latter days of Israel in which judgment would fall.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-10

³ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ⁴ Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith IN ALL YOUR PERSECUTIONS AND IN THE AFFLICTIONS THAT YOU ARE ENDURING.

⁵ This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which YOU ARE ALSO SUFFERING— ⁶ since indeed GOD CONSIDERS IT JUST TO REPAY WITH AFFLICTION THOSE WHO AFFLICT YOU, ⁷ and to GRANT RELIEF TO YOU WHO ARE AFFLICTED AS WELL AS TO US, WHEN THE LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS ⁸ IN FLAMING FIRE, INFLICTING VENGEANCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD AND ON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. ⁹ THEY WILL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT OF ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD and from the glory of his might, ¹⁰ when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

***Were the Thessalonnians afflicted?  Yes.

Did Paul not write to them that God would give them relief when Jesus would be revealed from heaven?  Yes.

Is Paul a false prophet?  NO.

Did Jesus afflict the Thessalonnian persecutors in His revelation in flaming fire?  Yes.

Did Christ give the Thessalonnians reflief?  Yes.

 

Revelation 6:14-16

¹⁴ The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, HID THEMSELVES IN THE CAVES AND AMONG THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS, ¹⁶ CALLING TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS, “FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM WHO IS SEATED ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB,

***The events in the book of Revelation are said to be near, soon to take place, coming soon, quickly at hand TO the 1^st century audience.  This includes the event above described apocalyptically.  FULFILLED by 70 A.D.