Minor Prophets XXXVI: The Heart of Rebellion Is A Heart of Darkness

“On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the LORD." Amos 3:14-15 

In Amos 3:14-15 which part of society is particularly under Amos' scrutiny and God's wrath?
As a result of disobedience, Bethel (site of original golden calf erected by Jeroboam I) is particularly focused on here because it is the heart of the rebellion and the impetus and source of the sin that precedes their eventual downfall. This verse is very clear: The ultimate cause of the downfall had its origin in spiritual apostasy…”I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.” By cutting off the horns of the alter God would destroy their method of asylum (i.e.: Joab in 1 Kings 2:29). Israel’s entire man-made religious system will be brought to the ground which includes it’s religious leaders. We see this in the world system today also. People in their intellectual enlightened arrogance become their own God and gradually drift away from God into apostasy. As a matter of fact they openly "flip off" God expecting no punishment due for their spiritual rebellion. They trust in the power of man and ignore or even mock the existence of God shaking their fists to the sky. They drift so far that they don't even know God or recognize the things of God. They are so reprobate that they do not even realize they are reprobate.

Verse 15 goes on to state that the Lord will also, “tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished” God would also tear down and destroy the homes of the rich or royalty-or those that could afford mansions, summer and winter home or homes adorned with ivory. We are seeing Israel’s upper-class and religious elite come into sharp focus in God’s judgment. God was going to punish false religion and its acolytes and misuse of wealth and power. Even God’s own altar would not give them refuge from His wrath.

As a result of disobedience, Bethel (site of original golden calf erected by Jeroboam I) is particularly focused on here because it is the heart of the rebellion and the impetus and source of the sin that precedes their eventual downfall. This verse is very clear: The ultimate cause of the downfall had its origin in spiritual apostasy…”I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.” By cutting off the horns of the alter God would destroy their method of asylum (i.e.: Joab in 1 Kings 2:29). Israel’s entire man-made religious system will be brought to the ground which includes it’s religious leaders.
Verse 15 goes on to state that the Lord will also, “tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished” God would also tear down and destroy the homes of the rich or royalty-or those that could afford mansions, summer and winter home or homes adorned with ivory. We are seeing Israel’s upper-class and religious elite come into sharp focus in God’s judgment. God was going to punish false religion and its acolytes and misuse of wealth and power. Even God’s own altar would not give them refuge from His wrath. In the end there will be no more fists being shaken at the sky, only a fist coming down on God's people to punish them for their spiritual rebellion.