All three of today’s readings are highly interesting, but we see we have made comments on the Kings and Corinthians chapters previously so we decided to look more closely at Jeremiah and his references to “the latter days.” A couple of weeks ago in Ch. 30 we encountered the words “at that time” and the statement “in the latter days you will understand” the intentions of the mind of the LORD when, at that time, he executes his “fierce anger” that will “burst upon the head of the wicked.” [v.23,24]

Of israel we read, it is a time when “I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: it is Zion for whom no one cares!” [v.17] All nations are anti-Zion (Israel) today! These words link in with Ch. 25 where Jeremiah writes, “the LORD, the God of Israel said to me; ’take from my hand this cup of the wine of my wrath and make all nations to whom I send you drink it.’” [v.15].

He did not literally travel to all nations, but his message has gone to all nations in these latter days. Among those mentioned in this chapter are Gaza, Edom and Elam (v.21-26) climaxing with a sweeping statement “and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth.” [v.26]. He then repeats this for emphasis, the LORD has an indictment (accusation) against all nations; he is entering into Judgement with all flesh” [v.30]

Our chapter yesterday (48) ended with the prophecy “Yet I will restore the fortune of Moab in the latter days”. Now ancient Moab ceased as a nation before the time of Christ, it is not mentioned in the New Testament and became largely desert. The start of today’s chapter (49) is about the Ammonites and says, “afterwards I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the LORD” [v.6] The territories of Ammon and Moab make up today’s Jordan, which has only existed as a nation since 1922 and only come into prominence as Israel also became a nation.

The last verse (39) today says, “But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD” Where is Elam? The TIMES ‘Concise Atlas of WORLD HISTORY’ has a map showing it precisely in the position of Iran today. Elam became part of ancient Persia (Daniel 8 v.2) and went into oblivion, as with the other nations, until the 20th Century.

We live at the climax of history, and while we cannot be entirely sure what a number of the prophecies refer to, it is plain what will be the main event in that climax. Verse 4 of tomorrow’s chapter plainly states, “In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come and they shall seek the LORD their God ... Come, let us join ourselves the LORD in an everlasting covenant ...”