Commentary on Habakkuk and the End of the USA

By COGwriter

Habakkuk was a Hebrew prophet. Some observe a memorial to his death on January 15th. He had important messages on faith. Additionally, he had an important message related to the work and also for the 21st century, something that looks to specifically apply to the USA.

The Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906 reports this about him:

HABAKKUK (; LXX. Ἀμβακούμ; Vulgate, “Habacuc”):

Prophet; author of the eighth in the collection of the twelve minor prophetical books. The etymology of the name of the prophet is not clear. It seems to be a loan-word representing the Assyrian “hambaḳûḳu,” a garden-plant (Friedrich Delitzsch, “Prolegomena,” p. 84; König, “Historisch-Kritisches Lehrgebäude der Hebräischen Sprache,” ii. 1. 473, on the vocalization), and has the appearance of being a writer’s pseudonym (F. E. Peiser, “Der Prophet Habakuk,” in “Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatischen Gesellschaft,” 1903, i. 12). That he was a Levite has been urged on the strength of the postscript to ch. iii. (verse 19, “on my stringed instruments”), which indicates that he owned instruments: only a Levite was authorized to use an instrument to accompany his songs in the Temple. The superscription of the Septuagint apocryphon Βὴλ καὶ Δράκωυ, in the Codex Chisianus, also designates him a Levite.

Around 605-625 B.C. Habakkuk wrote a short book of the Bible that has a lot of implications for the time that we are now in.

This article intends to cover that entire book.

Before getting to that, there is something called the Habakkuk Commentary or :

Pesher Habakkuk, labelled 1QpHab (Cave 1, Qumran, pesher, Habakkuk)--it was among the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 and published in 1951. ... What is more significant than the commentary in the pesher is the quoted text of Habakkuk itself, which is very close to the Masoretic Text (for which the oldest complete copy dates to the 11th century AD). The biggest differences are word order, small grammatical variations, addition or omission of conjunctions, and spelling variations, but these are small enough not to change the meaning of the text. (Habakkuk Commentary. Wikipedia, accessed 12/14/25)

Its commentary, which is over 2,000 years old, is sometimes of interest. The scroll contains the text of the first two chapters of Habakkuk. And sometimes, sparingly, is quoted in this article.

Why?

Because the late Dr. Herman Hoeh noted:

Besides the Isaiah scroll, the Qumrân caves secreted "The Habakkuk Commentary" -- the Book of Habakkuk with a verse-by-verse misinterpretation of two chapters of the prophecy (Hoeh H. The BIBLE Versus the DEAD SEA SCROLLS. Plain Truth Magazine, May 1963)

And while much of the commentary is inaccurate, it does have a couple of interesting points, which this article will quote. That said, the main value of the Commentary on Habakkuk is that it helps prove that the Masoretic Text of that Old Testament book as it confirms that text.

Now to Habbakuk Chapter 1:

1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. (NKJV)

The Literal Standard Version and Duoay Rheims Bible are similar with:

1 The burden that Habakkuk the prophet has seen: (LSV)

1 The burden that Habacuc the prophet saw. (DRB)

Burden is an interesting choice of words. This seems to imply that being a prophet is a weight to carry. And, it is.

1:2

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.

Habakkuk is frustrated that God is not acting the way Habakkuk wants or as quickly as he wants. We probably all feel that way at time.

1:3

3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Habakkuk continues to complain about what he has seen and the lack of justice in his day. He also mentions perverse judgment, which is something we have often seen the USA, British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand courts.

To us humans, aspects of God's plan can certainly seem delayed. God told Isaiah:

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Back to Habakkuk 1:5, God replies to him:

5 “Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 

So, God tells Habakkuk that he does have a plan. A plan that people will not believe even though God will reveal it–which He does through His prophets, like Habakkuk.

While some claim that this was only for the past and have despised my quoting of this, notice that it is basically also quoted in the New Testament:

41 ‘Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.‘” (Acts 13:41)

So, there is clearly a duality in Habakkuk 1:5 as it is also cited in the Book of Acts.

I believe that the Continuing Church of God is helping fulfill that. We are preparing for the short work of Romans 9:28 (see Preparing for the 'Short Work' and The Famine of the Word) as we lead the final phase of the work (see The Final Phase of the Work). We also have the fruits of the Philadelphian remnant (see Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God?).

No xWCG group has had the type of growth in the 21st century that the CCOG has had–and this happened despite not having the large amounts of money like some other groups have had available. Nor have any other group had the amount of signs that God promised for the last days (for details, check out the article: Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).

That said, I believe that verse 5 is not the only part of this chapter with duality.

1:6a

6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth,

While the Chaldeans were not precisely the same people as the ancient Babylonians, some Chaldeans sat on the thrones of Babylon and the Bible tends to lumps them togher prophetically (Antion G. Minor Prophets - Lecture 19 - Habakkuk 3:1 - Zephaniah 1:9https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getlectureav&InfoTitle=MinorProphets&InfoID=1419001797&byGraphicList=byGraphic&page=1&return=lectureav).

Dr. Herman Hoeh wrote:

The Chaldeans were divided, not an organized nation. A part of them was transplanted to Babylon. At Babylon they became the ruling class. ...

The artists of the Middle Ages who beautified Rome (modern Babylon), were Chaldeans from the north of Italy. Now turn to the Bible. Today's Babylon (Rome) is called in prophecy "the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride" (Isa. 13:19). (Hoeh H. The Origin of the Nations! 1957)

1:6b

6 ... To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 9 They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.

The leopard comment brings to mind the leopard kingdom of Daniel 7:6. The prophecy about being swift brings to mind the blitzkrieg that the Germans did in WWII, and swift destruction will come from the Europeans to the USA and its British-descended allies in WWIII. Notice that they come from the east, and that they will gather captives. Becoming captives is a prophecy against the the descendants named Israel (a name that was bestowed up the sons of Joseph in Genesis 48) in Amos 7:7.

1:10-11

10 They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.

11 Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.”

These passages also bring to mind the prophecy in Isaiah:

5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so {HIS MIND CHANGES?},
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
'Are not my princes altogether kings? (Isaiah 10:5-8)

Now, getting back to Habakkuk:

12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? 

So, Habakkuk is wondering why God would use the wicked Chaldeans to punish the Israelites, who Habakkuk sees as less wicked.

Some also might argue that about the Europeans/Assyrians being used to punish the USA and its British-descended allies. But, before going further, Isaiah 10 shows that after the punishment hits the USA and its British-descended allies, that the King of Assyria will be punished:

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."

13 For he says:

"By the strength of my hand I have done it,
And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;
Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,
And have robbed their treasuries;
So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people,
And as one gathers eggs that are left,
I have gathered all the earth;
And there was no one who moved his wing,
Nor opened his mouth with even a peep."

15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?
Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?
As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,
Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!
16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts,
Will send leanness among his fat ones;
And under his glory
He will kindle a burning
Like the burning of a fire.
17 So the Light of Israel will be for a fire,
And his Holy One for a flame;
It will burn and devour
His thorns and his briers in one day.
18 And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field,
Both soul and body;
And they will be as when a sick man wastes away. (Isaiah 10:12-18)

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the old Radio Church of God did teach that Habakkuk 1 had future fulfillment and tied it in with Isaiah 10:

Habakkuk-is entirely devoted to a prophecy ... war is to be fought once again between whites-between Israel of Western Europe and America on one side-and a combination of the sons of Asshur, Javan and the Chaldeans on the other! Read Isaiah 10 and Habakkuk 1, together with Isaiah 48. (Hoeh H. The Race Question. Plain Truth, July 1957 p. 22).

Here are some passages of Isaiah 48:

12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob,And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. 13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.

14 "All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; He shall do His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 15 I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper. (Isaiah 48:12-15)

The last verse is similar to Isaiah 10:6 where God sends the Assyrians to punish descendants of Israel, but also Isaiah 10:12-18 where the Assyrians will be punished for it.

Note: Many Protestant commentators identity the "him" of Isaiah 48:15 (Adam Clarke's Commentary; Barnes' Notes on the Bible; Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible; Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary; Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament; Matthew Henry's Commentary; Pulpit Commentary; Wycliffe Bibe Commentary) as Cyrus whose way will prospoer, who is NOT mentioned in Isaiah 48. The one that God will use who will prosper for a time is the end time Babylonian (Rvelation 18:9a) King of the North (Daniel 11:36).

Continuing in Isaiah 48:

16 "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me."

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. 18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river,And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand; His name would not have been cut off Nor destroyed from before Me."

20 Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, "The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!"

21 And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

22 "There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked." (Isaiah 48:16-22)

We see that the faithful should flee Babylon that will be destroyed, which is also taught in Revelation 18:

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day — death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (Revelation 18:1-8)

Isaiah 48 also shows that the wicked, the Babylonian/Assyrian/Chaldeans will not get away with their destruction.

1:14 Habakkuk complains that the Chaldeans are bad and mean:

14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad.

This idea of catching men with a hook and nets suggests making people slaves. This will happen again--see also: Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?

1:16

16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity? (Habakkuk 1:12-17)

Notice that in the above the one getting punished will be punished by someone who, in certain ways, is worse than the one who will be punished. So while some believe that in certain ways the USA and its Anglo-allies are more “righteous” than the Beast power that will destroy it, the reality is that this is part of God’s plan.

Chapter 2

1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

So after he complains, Habakkuk waits for God to respond.

2:2

2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

What will happen is so bad “That he may run who reads it.”

Yet, most do not take it seriously enough, and that includes most Christians:

The Habakkuk Commentary states:

And as for the words, so he may run who reads it, their interpretation (pesher) concerns the Teacher of Righteousness, to whom God made known all the mysteries (rāzîm) of the words of his servants the prophets (1Q p Hab. vii 1-5).

In the end times, the teachers of righteousness would be the faithful Christians.

Many people will wonder and Philadelphian Christians are to answer questions.

The Apostle Paul wrote Timothy:

7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. (2 Timothy 2:7)

Notice that Christians we are to strive to get understanding in ALL THINGS. This will help you "instruct many" as is prophesied for end time faithful Christians in the NKJV, the LSV words it as follows:

32 ... and the people knowing their God are strong, and have worked. 33 And the teachers of the people give understanding to many (Daniel 11:32-33, LSV)

Are you one knowing God with understanding to teach that understanding to many?

Hopefully, you are gaining in understanding.

God's people are to:

5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! (Proverbs 4:5)

14 Wise people store up knowledge, (Proverbs 10:14)

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)

And with that wisdom and understanding all the faithful need to be able to teach as the situation arises.

The Apostle Paul also wrote:

24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:24)

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6)

Not only should be always speak with grace, we also need to have the knowledge of how to talk and answer questions.

15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

The prudent in the end time seek and aquire knowledge and will teach it.

The Apostle Peter wrote:

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15, KJV)

And while that ability is needed in all ages, notice the following end time prophecy:

32 ... the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. (Daniel 11:32, ESV)

33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; (Daniel 11:33)

The old Radio Church of God taught:

Daniel prophesied: "The people that do KNOW their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32). Such a statement could refer only to God's people. Now notice what follows: "And they THAT UNDERSTAND among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days" (verse 33). Here is a very brief summary of how God's Church has been persecuted down through the centuries.

Some commentators has incorrectly applied this to the Jews. But it could not refer to the Jewish people of our day! The Jews do not KNOW their God, nor do they UNDERSTAND, nor do they instruct many in the ways of God.

This prophecy concerns GOD'S CHURCH. (Neff L. Beware of False Brethren! Good News, January 1960)

Others have also taught it:

Dan. 11:32-33

"Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. [God grant that we will be such faithful people of God.] And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering."

God's people will be persecuted but will warn the world. They will do a mighty work at the time of the end, just at the time when this great false leader will come in and place the abomination of desolation

(Meredith RC. Gospel of Matthew--Program 27, Bible Study https://members.lcg.org/bible-studies/gospel-matthew-program-27).

Sadly, many have forgotten this prophecy--or at least what to do about it--even though it is to be fulfilled within the next decade or so.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Paul is disappointed that the Christians he was communicating with had not grown more in knowledge. (Hebrews 5:12)

Notice that Christians are supposed to be able to be teachers--yes that ability to instruct is also a New Testament concept. Those who learned as they should have are subject to being used by God to instruct many.

When Jesus returns, His people are called volunteers:

2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

3 Your people shall be volunteers
In the day of Your power; (Psalms 110:2-3)

Do you want to be one of the volunteers of Jesus?

You should.

Isaiah teaches that God's people are to be His witnesses:

10 "You are My witnesses," says the Lord, (Isaiah 43:10a)

29. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We are obligated to obey God rather than men. 30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31. Him has God exalted by His right hand to be a Prince and Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel. 32. And we are His witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those who obey Him." (Acts 5:29-32, A Faithful Version)

How can Philadelphian Christians be witnesses, take action, and instruct many if they are not prepared?

PHILADELPHIAN CHRISTIANS TAKE THE PROPHECY IN HABAKKUK 2 MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY THAN THE LAODICEANS AND OTHER CHRISTIANS.

Dr. Hoeh taught:

 Now, let's take a look at an interesting verse in the Book of Habakkuk, which is the one, of course, that is quoted when Paul wrote to the Hebrews about living by faith. In the minor prophet, chapter 2, verses 1 to 4:

   "I will stand on my watch and of course sit down on a high tower, watch to see what God will say, what I will have to answer the men when I am reproved, if I give warning and nothing happens."

   So this is, of course, the picture of somebody who's watching to see if an approaching alien army is going to defeat the place. The Lord answered me and said:

   "Now write the vision which you've had." And, of course, the vision is very interesting, ... "And make it plain upon tablets that whoever goes through it may read it clearly," that's the sense of it. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, and at the end, it will speak and not lie. And though it tarries and you have warned that it's coming and it never seems to come, yet wait for it, because it will surely come and will not tarry forever." ...

   "Behold, his soul which is lifted up in vanity and pride is lifted up and is not upright in him." ...

   "The just, those who are forgiven, those who live according to the commandment, the just shall live by his faith."

   Now, this is an interesting thing because it implies that the question of living by faith is as much a matter of something other than even obeying the commandments. It is a matter of trusting that what God said through the prophet will occur, even if it seems to appear to have been a lie because it hasn't happened. (Hoeh H. Herbert Armstrong An Apostle Not A Prophet. Sermon: April 1, 1978)

2:3

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Notice that the prophecy that is being discussed is for the appointed time of the end.

Daniel 8:19, 11:27, 29, 35 all use the same Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3 does (with Daniel 11:29 the most precisely the same). Daniel 11:29 and 35 are just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. Therefore, the appointed time of the end is related to the start of the Great Tribulation, not 3 1/2 years after that.

However, our Australia critic wrote:

Revelation 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

So, the hour of judgement has come and it will be in one day that it will all hit. This is why it is so important that as Habakkuk was told, “make it plain and write it on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” That, I believe, is the appointed time written about in Habakkuk. It seems like it is tarrying, but at the appointed time God’s judgement on Babylon will come.

While Babylon will be judged, this is not the "appointed time" of Habakkuk 2:3.

Understand that the European Beast reigns for 42 months (Revelation 13:5), so consider that our critic has the appointed time of the end after that. Yet, that is not consistent with other passages that use that expression.

2:4b

4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him;

This is a prophecy for our time–and will affect the proud who is not upright.

2:4b

4 ... But the just shall live by his faith.

The Apostle Paul referred to the tarrying and the just living by faith, before going into a discussion on faith, as he wrote:

10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 "For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him."

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 10:36-11:3)

Many people are aware of the scripture about the just living by faith, but relatively few have realized that God had the prophet Habakkuk write that over 2400 years ago.

Now consider that even though Habakkuk was frustrated about how long God waited to take certain actions, he still maintained faith in God.

We are to do the same.

Notice that, as the Apostle Paul wrote, we are not to turn back because Jesus' return has not yet happened--as it will.

The old Radio Church of God put out the following:

What Does It Mean to "LIVE BY FAITH"?

If you are not living by faith, you are not a CHRISTIAN. Yet many who CALL themselves Christian don't even know what it MEANS to live BY FAITH.

   "Now the just shall live BY FAITH: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
   But what IS faith?
   Many people, when they realize they must live by faith, make the mistake of confusing faith with EMOTION.
   Other people think they are exercising faith by looking for a sign. For example, some, even when praying to God, FEEL that God hears them and is going to answer that prayer because they have some emotional feeling or experience about it. They think this is a sign that God will answer.
   Other people try to "work up faith," which, to them, means an emotional feeling. They become so sentimental about it that they are convinced God will answer because of their human sanctimonious inner-conviction.
   Sentimentality, feelings and emotions ARE OF THE FLESH — not of the Spirit of God which is from ABOVE. These feelings of sentimentality are not evidence on which to base your faith. They are in the class of what can be seen, smelled, tasted or felt.
   But "FAITH is the CONFIDENCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT SEEN" (Heb. 11:1).
   Then, To LIVE BY FAITH DOES NOT MEAN that you go around with some sentimental FEELING, act in a sanctimonious manner which most people call "spiritual," or follow after physical or mental signs.

Acting on What We Know

   Living by faith does not mean reasoning and supposing what God would have us do. It means we come to KNOW what God would have us do. We come to know God's will by diligent SEARCHING and STUDY of His Bible which instructs us in His WAY. Also through prayer to God that He will reveal to us HIS WILL.
   God has not made every minute DECISION for us. In many instances He has given us only the over-all principle. Through His Holy Spirit He then gives us the SOUNDNESS of mind by which we MUST APPLY that principle. After study and prayer, we step out in faith to make our decision, based on God's instructions and the understanding He has given us. We must TRUST Him IN FAITH not to hide, but to reveal the one correct solution to us.
   THIS IS ACTING ON FAITH. Faith is not merely what you need in order to have God answer your prayers — it is what you need in order to obey God. Faith is a gift of God to enable you to obey Him.

How Faith Works

   The Holy Spirit comes into our minds to CLEAN US UP and replaces our human, carnal-mindedness with sound spiritual-mindedness.
   Jesus Christ actually comes into us and begins to live HIS LIFE in us (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9-11; I Cor. 3:16). Not only did He GIVE HIS LIFE in payment for the VILE SINS that you and I have committed, thereby reconciling us to God, but He comes into these vile, carnal minds and begins to CLEAN THEM UP of the FILTH that is there.
   The extent and manner of His love for us is truly WONDERFUL!
   Our part is to REPENT, not just of our foul deeds which we have committed in the past, but actually to repent of being the carnal, fleshly, sensual beings that we are. We need to want to be as God is.
   We must want to be AS GOD IS and NOT AS MAN IS so badly that we are willing to give up, to bury this old self, with all of its sensual pleasure seeking, and to cling and strive to KEEP NEAR TO GOD so that He will CONTINUE to come in and clean us up. He must renew our minds daily, that day by day our action, behavior, and thoughts parallel those thoughts and actions which are in the mind of Jesus Christ.
   This is, in fact, a marvelous spiritual CREATION which God IS PERFORMING. BY FAITH God creates in us a holy, spiritual character, which shall live for all eternity. BY FAITH WE must INDEPENDENTLY make the decision to let God create His Character in us. Our new mind must come to be COMPLETELY WITHIN THE LAW and pattern of behavior of the HOLY GODHEAD.
   The person who fails to step out on faith DAILY and HOURLY is weak and senseless. All that he is and all that he can ever be, is DEPENDENT UPON GOD.

What Our Job Is

   The Church of God, which is the body of Jesus Christ, is given a COMMISSION. This commission is a job or a work to be performed by the Church as a whole. That commission is stated clearly in Matthew 28:19-20: to carry this GOSPEL to the world during this end time before the Kingdom of God shall be set up. And also, that the Church does feed and nourish the individuals within that Church on the Word of God (John 21:15-17, Acts 20:28).
   We are in the Church only if God the Father has GIVEN us of His Holy Spirit and PLACED us within the body of Jesus Christ. Now this body has many members as outlined in Romans 12:4-8. Not all of us have the same job; not all of us do the same things. But ALL of those in whom the Spirit of God resides ARE A PART OF THE BODY and all collectively will be working toward the over-all COMMISSION OF THE CHURCH.
   That member of the true Church who is living by faith will be active in his part of the over-all work of God. He will be praying diligently for the work as a whole, that the Gospel will go out in accordance with God's will in all the power and authority that God will allow. He will also be praying for the brethren's overcoming and growing in grace and knowledge. Our prayers should include the leaders whom God is using, that they might be inspired and rightly guided.
   Pray for the individuals within the Church, that they might be performing their calling so that the WHOLE Church is nourished and growing in every way of God. Christ's Message must go out to this DARKENED WORLD BEFORE this age ends in cataclysmic horror. The Church member who does not feel that calling and who is not actively doing his part will certainly FAIL in HIS calling. He lacks true purpose. He is without a goal. Those who are Co-Workers in the work of God should not overlook the importance of THEIR calling which is included in Romans 12 verse 8. God has actually called many to contribute of the POWER of their financial earnings. It takes much money to purchase radio time and equipment, and to sustain the growing staff working full time to complete Christ's commission! We can ALL take this admonition to heart and ACT on it IN FAITH. We should all give liberally (see margin reference verse 8) according to our ability. This also includes giving liberally of our time in prayer which is powerful and effective toward fulfilling our commission (Jas. 5:16).

Stepping Out

   To STEP OUT ON FAITH then, you must become aware of WHO God is. You must also be aware that GOD HAS OPENED YOUR EYES and set you in the Church, the body of Jesus Christ. That God is INTERESTED in you PERSONALLY and individually. You must realize that it is God's will to GIVE YOU HIS HOLY SPIRIT and to create in you PERFECT CHARACTER. You must also be aware that if you FAIL to HEED and OBEY properly, that you will have failed the TEST OF LIFE and shall DIE for all eternity.
   Through STUDY we KNOW what to HOPE for because God has revealed within His BIBLE what things shall be. FAITH in God will assure us that our hope shall certainly come to fruition and that the promises of God, which are not yet seen, are as sure as if they were standing before us right NOW. Then we will step out, guiding our actions according to the Word of God.
   As Solomon said in Eccles. 12:13, our duty is to fear God and keep His COMMANDMENTS — by faith.
   This is the kind of LIVING FAITH, which Paul wrote of in Hebrews 11, that is REQUIRED for salvation. It is the faith PROVED by WORKS. Works which involve STEPPING OUT, giving, helping, and otherwise guiding our lives, not by sight, or feel, or taste, but by the revealed laws of God. God's Word is SURE, and HE WILL NOT FAIL TO PERFORM IT once we learn to trust God in absolute faith.

(Ellio J. What Does It Mean to "LIVE BY FAITH"? Good News, 1961)

Let me add that the Apostle Paul also wrote the following:

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Christians trying to walk by faith must have a sense of the reality of God, even when society, the world's educated, etc. oppose it or when certain circumstances look impossible. Christians must be actively conscious of His existence. The Apostle Paul wrote:

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV)

That is why we have literature such as the following:

• Is God’s Existence Logical? 
• Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? 
• Is God Calling You? 
• Proof Jesus is the Messiah 
• The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? 

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ABSOLUTELY PROVE THAT GOD EXISTS, THAT THE BIBLE IS THE RELIABLE WORD OF GOD, THAT JESUS IS THE SAVIOUR, AND THAT GOD HAS A LOVING PLAN YOU WANT TO REMAIN PART OF, NO MATTER HOW THINGS LOOK.

Furthermore, you must believe that He is capable and willing to respond to the needs of those who diligently seek such intervention.

Now, what if something appears impossible?

Well, notice a story regarding Abraham published by the old Worldwide Church of God:

Abraham's Example

   Abraham did not doubt that God would fulfill His promise to make him the father of many nations - even though what he saw, the physical evidence, told him otherwise. Abraham and his wife Sarah were long past the age when couples have children. Sarah even laughed at the whole idea that they would have a son in their old age (Gen. 18:12). But "... Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). Abraham had simple confidence that God would indeed perform what He had promised to do. He had hope even when the physical circumstances told him he should have none (verse 18). Abraham's concept of faith is summed up in verses 19-21 of this same chapter:
   "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body [he did not walk by sight!] now dead [i.e., impotent], when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
   Here is the simple definition of Abraham's faith. He is the father of the faithful (cf. Rom. 4:11, 16). Abraham is our prime example of faith — next to Jesus Christ Himself!
   Faith is therefore predicated upon knowing the will of God {AS WELL AS REALIZING THAT GOD EXIST}. When we recognize His promises and claim them in confidence, we are exercising faith. The greatest evidence available is the fact that God has promised something. This is the basis for faith. This information overshadows the physical evidence in many cases. Yet, this is not blind, unknowing faith. It is based upon a clear understanding of the will of the living God. (Orchard B. The Path To Living Faith. WCG, 1975)

A faithful person is not unsure. A faithful person does not waver in faith, but is sure that God is there and that He hears our prayers.

James made this clear when he was discussing the matter of asking God for wisdom:

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)

The Apostle Paul also wrote:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The faithful will be rewarded. The faithful diligently seek God. Followers walk by faith and live by faith--Habakkuk realized that.

For more regarding faith, we also have a free eBook: Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen.

Now back to Habakkuk 2:5

5 “Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples.

The above is a prophecy about a nation. A nation which has a lot of drunkeness (which would include similar feelings from drugs). A nation with a lot of pride. A people with massive desire, massive lust for things. So much so, this is a nation that the next verses show ends up going into massive debt.

2:6

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his — how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 

Actually, with an admitted debt of about $40 trillion dollars and plans to increase that much further, the USA has increased pledges more than any nation in the history of the planet. And on a per capita basis, the United Kingdom is one of the most indebted nations on the earth itself.

2:7

7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it.

Before going further, let me state that a critic from Australia correctly points to the word plunder in Habakkuk 2:8 is the same word as in Isaiah 33:4--he then incorrectly says that this proves it is the Chaldean power in Habakkuk 2:

Isaiah 33: ...

2 O Lord, be gracious to us;
We have waited for You.
Be their arm every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee;
When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;
4 And Your plunder shall be gathered
Like the gathering of the caterpillar;
As the running to and fro of locusts,
He shall run upon them.
So the one who is treacherous, will be dealt treacherously against.

Pay particular notice to verse 4 where it says “Your plunderer.” This is the same Chaldean who God said He would raise up in Habakkuk to do His work.

Well, if one pays attention to verse 4, as well as the context, one sees that this does not say "Your plunderer"--instead it says "Your plunder"--perhaps suggesting God's plunder against the nations. I also checked with over 40 translations and not one says "Your plunderer."

That said, the USA and British peoples have plundered many nations. And through debt, some of them are still doing that a lot. They have also been involved in numerous wars. And there is violence in their lands.

Notice that destruction will come from creditors who will plunder them per Habakkuk 2:8.

Between actual debt and investments in USA companies, Europe is a major creditor to the USA.

We know from Zechariah and Isaiah that the Babylonian power is prophesied to plunder and will be later punished for it:

6 "Up, up! Flee from the land of the north," says the Lord; "for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven," says the Lord. 7 "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon."

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the Lord. (Zechariah 2:6-11)

6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. ...

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." (Isaiah 10:6, 12)

Notice that destruction/plundering is prophesied as a curse:

27 'And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me,
28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury;
and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. ...
32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.
33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you;
your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. (Leviticus 26:27, 28, 32, 33)

Now we know from Daniel that destruction will come from Europe to the power on earth with the mighty with strongest military who was also prosperous:

24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. (Daniel 8:24)

24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:24)

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)

The "he" in Daniel 8:24 and 11:39 is the European "King of the North" (Daniel 11:40). This conquering is in concurrence with Habakkuk 2:6-8. Since the USA has the strongest fortresses in the 21st century, we can see that the USA is prophesied to be destroyed. We also see that the European King of the North will "prosper and thrive" when the mighty people are destroyed, and notice also that the USA is being plundered as the "land is divided for gain."

Consider also that many "holy people" will be destroyed when the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are conquered as we see in Daniel 8:24.

Consider also that the above debt prophecy in Habakkuk will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. "The message was true, but the appointed time was long ... in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come," Daniel 10:1,14), so it was not fulfilled anciently with the Chaldeans as some believe.

Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end.

As far as “violence of the land” as a contributing factor, this would seem to include crime, military missions, and perhaps riots/civil unrest, but might it also include promotion of violent sports? Is the USA government not giving shameful counsel regarding matters such as sexual immorality and abortion?

Notice the following prophecies related to debt:

5 ... if you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.  (Deuteronomy 15:5-6)

15 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

16 "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. ...

43 "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

45 "Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever.

47 "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. (Deuteronomy 28:15-16, 43-51)

Ezekiel's writings confirm that those who made profits improper will be punished:

13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. (Ezekiel 22:13-15)

Borrowing money that will not be paid back is a "dishonest profit" which the American and British peoples have been living on for the past few decades.

Now the Habakkuk Commentary of the Dead Sea Scrolls has the following identification:

Interpreted, this concerns the Wicked Priest who was called by the name of truth when he first arose. But when he ruled over Israel his heart became proud, and he forsook God and betrayed the precepts for the sake of riches. (COMMENTARY ON HABAKKUK (1QpHab = Pesher on Habakkuk) Translated by G. Vermes and revised by R.A.Kraft accessed 12/15/25 https://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rak/courses/225/texts/HabakkukCommentary?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

While this is a prophecy related to Israel, it is a prophecy related to end time Israel, the leader of which is the United States consistent with Genesis 48:16-19 where Jacob/Israel placed his name on the descendants of Joseph's son Manasseh and said he would be great (see also: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?). It is not a prophecy related to an ancient Israelite priest.

Although some have claimed that Habakkuk 2 is really only a prophecy for the Babylonian Beast (or ancient or end time Chaldea), that is in error for several reasons. The fact that the prophecy will tarry (seems like it takes a long time to fulfill) shows that this cannot be a prophecy for “the end time Babylonian Beast” as some have asserted because the end time Beast will not be accumulating debt for many years before it is taken over, whereas the USA has been doing so for five decades–the Babylonian Beast will not have power for but a fraction of that time.

Furthermore, please understand that the foreign nations that the EU owes money to are Switzerland, the USA, and Japan. They are not prophesied to rise up against Europe.

Additionally, neither China nor Russia hold massive amounts of European debt.

Consider also that the Bible shows that the Babylonian Beast power will be taken over by Russia and nations all around the world and it will not be because of monetary reasons:

50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…

17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver;
And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)

11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)

Thus, end time daughter of Babylon will not be taken over because of debt from creditors as the attack will not be related to wanting money!

But, debt will be a factor in taking over the USA per Habakkuk 2 and Deuteronomy 28!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Notice also the following from the Commentary on Habakkuk from the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls (over 2000 years old; translated in the 1950s by F.F. Bruce):

God commanded Habakkuk to write the things that were coming upon the last generation, but the fulfilment of the epoch he did not make known to him. (1Q p Hab. vii 1-5)

While ancient commentaries like this are NOT scripture, this particular one shows that those who understood the Hebrew language around 2000 years ago believed that Habakkuk’s words had NOT then been fulfilled and were for the time of the end.

The official US government debt nearly doubled under the Obama Administration:

According to the US Treasury, the debt of the USA as of 01/19/2009 (the day before Barack Obama took office) was 10,628,881,485,510.23 (https://treasurydirect.gov/NP/debt/current).

According to the US Treasury, the debt of the USA as of 01/19/2017 (the day Barack Obama left office and the day before Donald Trump took office) was 19,944,429,217,106.77 (https://treasurydirect.gov/NP/debt/current).

Those who thought that the Trump Administration would fix that are in error as the following shows:

According to the US Treasury, the debt of the USA as of 01/19/2021 was $27,752,835,868,445.35 (https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny)

And these debt figures do not include state and local government debt, nor consumer or corporate debt.

Furthermore, the debt has risen by over 7 trillion dollars under the Biden-Harris Administration. And an additional $2 trillion so far under the second Trump Administration.

As as how much foreigners are owed, notice the following December 2024 report:

Foreign creditors already hold a net claim of $22.5 trillion (and growing) on U.S. assets. (Amoss D. From Biden to Trump: Navigating the Economic Ship Through Troubled Waters. Jim Rickard’s Strategic Intelligence, December 2024, p. 10)

The USA has been setting itself up for the penalties prophesied by Habakkuk.

Raising debt, not cutting spending, remains the US government’s plan.

Notice the following from Daily Reckoning:

Americans Don’t Realize They’re Being Cooked

January 11, 2023

We Americans are frogs. We are frogs wallowing blissfully in a pot of fatally warming water.

We boil gradually away, unaware… comfortable… arrogant… and ignorant.

That is, we the American people have grown so accustomed to the warmth enwombing us — and for so long — we are incapable of detecting the ratcheting heat.

We will never jump the pot. We are simply too comfortable inside it.

We refer specifically and unequivocally to the warming water of the American fiscal setting.

The nation is spending itself into hot water.

Why?

The United States national debt runs to $31.5 trillion, approximately. The nation’s debt-to-GDP ratio comes in at 124%…

Interest rates have been on the jump since the summer of 2020.

After guttering along near 0.50% that peculiar summer, the 10-year Treasury yield presently exceeds 3.5%. It recently exceeded 4%.

Interest payments on the debt have jumped in consequence.

In 2017 — merely five years distant — interest payments scarcely exceeded $200 billion.

During the plague year of 2020 they hovered near $300 billion.

In 2022 interest payments verged upon $400 billion.

Meantime, the Congressional Budget Office projects these expenditures will triple over the decade ahead.

Glancing further out, CBO projects interest payments will near $66 trillion over the following 30 years. They will likewise absorb nearly 40% of all federal expenditures by 2052.

The frog in its pot will be well and truly cooked.  …

Meantime, debt runs riot, the economy runs to conditions nearly recessionary, the debt-to-GDP ratio ticks remorselessly higher…

And the American citizen wallows away in the increasingly warming water that envelops him.

He mistakes it for comfort. He will one day learn otherwise.

Alas… he will learn too late. https://dailyreckoning.com/americans-dont-realize-theyre-being-cooked/

The biblical reality is that debt will be a major factor in the downfall of the USA, etc.

Furthermore, the old WCG did teach that Habakkuk 2 had future application:

Habakkuk … God also said that this vision was to be written for our benefit today. … (Habakkuk 2:3). God showed Habakkuk that He will punish all the unrighteous at the end-time. … (Habukkuk 2:8, 10, 16-17) (Armstrong HW, editor in chief. THE MINOR PROPHETS SPEAK TO US! Youth Bible Lessons, Level 7, Lesson 9, 1985, p. 8)

So, yes, the old WCG understand that Habakkuk 2 was prophetic for the end time–not that it was full fulfilled thousands of years ago (which many in certain COGs wrongly believe).

On the other hand, some will discount Habakkuk because it is prophetic.

Do you believe the words that God inspired Habakkuk to write? If so, do you really understand what is going to happen to the USA, UK, and their Anglo-descended allies relatively soon?

There is also a YouTube video related to this: Was USA debt and destruction predicted 2,600 years ago?

Habakkuk Chapter 3

3:1

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.

Now this was not a normal prayer. It was an emotional one that probably was sung.

Most scholars understand Shigionoth to be:

• A musical direction, or

• A type of song or chant, possibly indicating how the text was to be performed.

• A highly emotional, passionate, or impassioned style

• Irregular rhythm or shifting tempo

• Possibly a lament that moves through intense emotional states

That is was a passionate musical style--wild ecstatic rhythym--is what the WCG once taught in a sermon (by Gary Antion, 1986/7. https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getlectureav&InfoTitle=MinorProphets&InfoID=1419001797&byGraphicList=byGraphic&page=1&return=lectureav).

2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.

In the 1980s, Gary Antion said that was related to the end time work of the church and may also be a reference to the work of the two witnesses..

Here is something that was written in 1973 for the old Ambassador College by Dean Blackwell:

Why do you think in Habakkuk, God said that He’d “revive His work in the midst of the years”? Would this be said if they were doing the work in all the time of the New Testament Church?

You might note that in Habakkuk 3:2, he says: O Eternal, I have heard thy speech and was afraid: O Eternal, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

He is referring to God reviving His work in the midst of man’s last century. He said that God would make known what is happening and what’s going to happen in man’s last years, in the day of His wrath. He requested that God remember mercy and hide His people in a place of safety.

The work needs to be done in the 21st century. Will you truly support it?

3 God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran.Selah

Teman may have been close to Petra per Gary Antion.

3 ... His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.

5 Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet.

This is a reference to God and His power.

3:6a

6 He stood and measured the earth;

We also see something about God measuring the earth in Job:

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)

3:6b

6 ... He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled.

8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers,Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? 9 Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah
You divided the earth with rivers.

1:10 Antion: Jesus will come back in glory and power

10 The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, At the shining of Your glittering spear.

12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. 13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah

Yes, Jesus returns for salvation:

28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

Then we see Chaldea blamed:

14 You thrust through with his own arrows The head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret. 15 You walked through the sea with Your horses, Through the heap of great waters.

Habakkuk responded:

3:16

16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.

The troops will include not just angels, but the resurrected Christians per Gary Antion.

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls —

The above is because of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

We need to realize that it is God that is our strength. The deer's feet is a reference to the ability of fast movement.

The most high hills have to do with support, probably in the temple of God, but the most faithful Christians.

Habakkuk had complaints and thought God should do things sooner than He intended.

Do not think that the prophets of old were so much different or even better than you.

That is also confirmed in the New Testament, as James wrote about Elijah:

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:17-18)

Despite his complaints, Habakkuk knew that the just were to live by faith.

Christians in this time are to also live by faith, as well as to walk by faith and not sight.

Habakkuk wrote that, though it looks like it takes a long time (tarries), a greedy debt accumulating power will one day being taken over by creditors.

The USA is the most indebted nation in the history of humanity. The rising USA debt cannot continue indefinitely–there will come a major price to pay.

Habakkuk 2:6-8 cannot be talking about the end time Babylonian/Chaldean power being taken over by creditors as 1) they do not have major foreign creditors like the USA and UK have and 2) when that European power is crushed, it will not be related to financial matters according to Isaiah 13:1, 17. Furthermore, the reason this occurs, according to the Bible, it that God has them take vengeance on the end time daughter of Babylon per Jeremiah 51:11. It is NOT them as creditors rising up.

In the third chapter, Habakkuk is referring to the return of Jesus.

Jesus will return and we can have faith and confidence in that.

And we most certainly should.

Thiel B. Commentary on Habakkuk and the End of the USA. https://www.cogwriter.com/habakkuk.htm COGwriter (c) 2025 1216

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