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Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

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again to this place Jeconiah, <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Jehoiakim king <strong>of</strong> Judah, with all <strong>the</strong><br />

captives <strong>of</strong> Judah, that went into Babylon, saith <strong>the</strong> Lord; for I will break <strong>the</strong><br />

yoke <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> king <strong>of</strong> Babylon."<br />

Jeremiah, in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> priests and <strong>the</strong> people, said that it<br />

was <strong>the</strong> earnest wish <strong>of</strong> his heart that God would so favor his people that <strong>the</strong><br />

vessels <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord's house might be returned and <strong>the</strong> captives brought back<br />

from Babylon. But this could only be done on condition that <strong>the</strong> people<br />

repented and turned from <strong>the</strong>ir evil way to <strong>the</strong> obedience <strong>of</strong> God's law.<br />

Jeremiah loved his country and ardently wished that <strong>the</strong> desolation predicted<br />

might be averted by <strong>the</strong> humiliation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people; but he knew <strong>the</strong> wish was<br />

vain. He hoped <strong>the</strong> punishment <strong>of</strong> Israel would be as light as possible;<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore he earnestly entreated <strong>the</strong>m to submit to <strong>the</strong> king <strong>of</strong> Babylon for <strong>the</strong><br />

time that <strong>the</strong> Lord specified.<br />

He entreated <strong>the</strong>m to hear <strong>the</strong> words that he spoke. He cited <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong><br />

prophecies <strong>of</strong> Hosea, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and o<strong>the</strong>rs whose messages <strong>of</strong><br />

repro<strong>of</strong> and warning had been similar to his own. He referred <strong>the</strong>m to events<br />

which had transpired in <strong>the</strong>ir history in fulfillment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prophecies <strong>of</strong><br />

retribution for unrepented sins. Sometimes, as in this case, men had arisen in<br />

opposition to <strong>the</strong> message <strong>of</strong> God, and predicted peace and prosperity, to<br />

quiet <strong>the</strong> fears <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, and gain <strong>the</strong> favor <strong>of</strong> those in high places. But<br />

in every past instance <strong>the</strong> judgment <strong>of</strong> God had been visited upon Israel, as<br />

<strong>the</strong> true prophets had indicated. Said he, "The prophet which prophesieth <strong>of</strong><br />

peace, when <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prophet shall come to pass, <strong>the</strong>n shall <strong>the</strong><br />

prophet be known that <strong>the</strong> Lord hath truly sent him." If Israel chose to run<br />

<strong>the</strong> risk, future developments would effectually decide which was <strong>the</strong> false<br />

prophet.<br />

But Hananiah, incensed at this, took <strong>the</strong> yoke from Jeremiah's neck and<br />

broke it. "And Hananiah spake in <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> people, saying, Thus<br />

saith <strong>the</strong> Lord: Even so will I break <strong>the</strong> yoke <strong>of</strong> Nebuchadnezzar king <strong>of</strong><br />

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